Sternglas Naos Automatik Review | Why Sternglas Watches Are Crushing Instagram
Sternglas are crushing social media right now. From my experience, their targeted adverts with attractive looking watches are all over my Instagram feed, despite them only having 24,000 followers. The fact I’ve had so many recommendations to try this brand suggests that they’re having plenty of success with this strategy.
These watches certainly look great online, but how do they stack up in person?
Sternglas Naos Automatic Review
Here is the Naos Automatik watch, currently retailing for £270 on their website. You can typically find a discount code on these with a bit of trawling – expect to pay closer to £240.
When I saw this watch on paper, one watch sprung to mind. The MVMT Arc Automatic. The same watch that Alpha M shilled the hell out of in that infamous ‘better than Rolex’ video a while back.
The specs showcase a few things they have in common.
Both have:
316L Stainless steel case
Miyota 821A automatic movement
Genuine leather strap
Minimalist designs
A ton of social media marketing behind them
There are a few differences which we’ll certainly cover, but I’m sure you can understand my curiosity here. Is this another MVMT wannabe or is it something different?
This is a pretty new brand, based in Germany and while their watches are quality-checked there, they’re constructed elsewhere. I’d imagine somewhere in the Far East, though their website doesn’t specify.
Design
The primary selling point with the Sternglas Naos is going to be the appearance, as it is with many watches out there. Overall, I really like the design of this one, starting with the actual size of the watch. This piece has a 38mm diameter, which just fits fantastically on my wrist. So many watches these days are 40mm or over, it’s refreshing to have an option this size, I feel it’s a sweet spot for most wrist sizes. This model has a snug 42mm lug to lug size, with a depth of 13mm.
The Sternglas Naos is Bauhaus styled, with very little clutter. I opted for this black version, as, based on the photographs, it looked more premium than the alternatives. This one features an inner ring of slim hour and second markers, with the numbers strategically positioned on the outside. I like this, it’s really tastefully done and offers a really unique aesthetic. A lot of minimalist watches have fundamentally the same design as one another, with standardised chapter rings around the perimeter, so I’ve really grown to like this.
The hands match the look well and are the perfect choice here, they’re still really slim and there’s something else that I really like. You’ll notice the second and minute hand perfectly extend to cover the hour markers as they work their way around the face. If you have a touch of OCD, that’s something you’ll likely also appreciate.
The logo is small and in the typical place, with the only additional writing being the German spelling of the word ‘automatic’.
Additionally, the black date window is something I really appreciate. I’d say the majority of watch brands at or below this price range are a tad lazy with these, putting plain white date rings on dark watches; making them stand out like a sore thumb. This blends in perfectly, even the font matches well; this is a great example of how a date window should be implemented. Proportionally it all looks great. If I have any complaints, it’s that the dial does lack a bit of texture, it’s all printed, though I guess it does make the design look even simpler.
Case CONSTRUCTION
The case is really well constructed. This Sternglas has a high-shine finish throughout and is made of the standard 316L stainless steel used in loads of wristwatches. Wherever they have sourced this from, I think they’ve done a really good job, this feels weighty and solid. Six screws hold the rear of the watch in place; the seal providing 50m of water resistance, which is suitable for general purpose tasks but not swimming. The crown is fairly standard and functions well enough.
There are a couple of areas where this is clearly better than the MVMT Arc. The first of which is the glass. This is double-domed Sapphire crystal, with an anti-reflective coating; just what I like to see, this will provide unbeatable scratch protection, substantially better than the mineral glass on that MVMT.
Watch Strap
Another is the strap. This one came with a German-made genuine leather band. This isn’t the best grade of leather; however, it’s performed really well in the time I’ve been testing this one. It started off feeling rubbery, but has worn in far better than I expected, becoming one of the most comfortable straps I’ve tried. It has a subtle Sternglas branding on and this dark brown goes really well with the watch. This also features the quick release tabs, which make strap changes incredibly easy and fast. Unless you’re after a different look, you won’t need to alter the strap for a long time.
The movement inside this watch is a fairly standard Miyota 821A, this is a solid automatic movement that can be purchased individually for around £35 online. Is this the best movement for a watch at this price point? Not really, you can get similar movements for less elsewhere. Does it suffice as part of this whole package? Yeah, I’d say so.
Looking at the Sternglas automatic as a whole, I see a couple of things. Firstly, there are some trade-offs. This isn’t going to appeal to those of you who love a brand with history and heritage, Sternglas was founded in 2016. Furthermore, if you’re after pure value for money on a material level, you can get watches with similar construction and movements for less elsewhere.
Here, you’re paying for good design decisions, and yes, that is a thing. For instance, other minimalist watches like the Junghans Max Bill are often recommended online; yet, on paper don’t offer the highest specifications for the money. You only get mineral glass, low water resistance and unspectacular movements. You’re paying a premium because the design is beautiful. The precision and thought that has gone into them is evident even for watch novices. It takes someone with skill to create something that looks this good.
Am I saying this Sternglas watch is as good as a Junghans? Absolutely not. However, I think the watch looks really good and I don’t mind paying more for that.
So, Are Sternglas Watches Good?
The size of this is perfect, the dial is far from generic, the watch feels great and for a microbrand, I think they’ve done a really good job with this one. It’s also one of the most comfortable watches I’ve worn, which surprised me, I’m unsure whether it’s the shape or the case material itself, but it sits there very nicely indeed and has given me no issues.
I think the asking price of £260 is slightly on the high side considering some of the competition, but for those who like the design, it may well be worth it. I’d definitely take it over the Arc from MVMT though, I think this looks better and it has superior materials.
If you’re looking at this brand, I’d say this Naos Automatik is probably better value than the comparative Sternglas quartz pieces, though isn’t as slim.
