While I don’t know from personal experience, I can speculate that it must be incredibly difficult to produce a high quality, attractive and functional diver style watch that isn’t completely derivative in its style and design.  It must be difficult because I’ve seen so many manufacturers try and fail.  Then I got the opportunity to sample the BOSCHETT  Reef Ranger from BOSCHETT TIMEPIECES. 

Right off the bat, I was extremely impressed with the packaging.  I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for a big, fancy wood box that a lot of watch companies ship with their watches.  However, as pretty as they are, they often stay in the closet or in a drawer.  The Reef Ranger comes with a really nice and functional leather case that can be used as a travel case for the watch – both attractive and functional.  The watch also comes with screwdrivers that can be used on the adjustable links – nice touch. 

The Reef Ranger packs some pretty impressive specifications – the 316L stainless steel 42mm diameter case has an attractive blend of both polished and brushed finishes applied and is water resistant to 300 meters/1000 feet, which means this watch can be used as a serious diving tool.  A unidirectional rotating graduated bezel sits on top of the case, which the back side is sealed with a screwed down, laser engraved case back.  The bezel is scalloped bezel was easily gripped, and turned with precise clicks.  On the 3 o'clock side of the case is winding crown which is a perfect size and shape for this watch, and signed with the BOSCHETT TIMEPIECES insignia.  It was a pleasure to use when hand winding this watch.

Beneath the sapphire crystal is a watch dial that’s both attractive and functional.  Once cannot help but be drawn in by the iridescent blue background of the dial, which provides a very nice contrast with the hands and markers of the Reef Ranger. Smart design choices abound here which improve legibility – an orange-red tipped second hand, and the use of actual Superluminova on the hands and markers all help to make the deal very easy to read in any light.  To assist in reading the date, the Reef Ranger has nice strong magnification "bubble" over the date window. 

At the beginning of this review, I commented on how difficult it must be to produce a high quality, attractive and functional diver style watch.  I believe that BOSCHETT TIMEPIECES has done just that, and done so at an incredible price point of just $495.00.  Clearly behind the BOSCHETT TIMEPIECES, there are some serious “watch geeks” – folks who know and collect watches, and know what other watch enthusiasts (geeks) want and expect.  I think that’s probably why, more than any other reason, you’ll be impressed with the Reef Ranger.  It quite literally has everything the true watch geek would want in a mechanical diver.  Impressive functionality and strong aesthetic value - neither of which sacrificing the other.  A regulated version of the venerable ETA 2824 at the heart of this watch, making it Swiss made inside and out – something you very rarely find at this price point.  All this, in a smart, attractive package.  Amazing.  I truly hope that the online watch enthusiast community will support BOSCHETT TIMEPIECES and embrace the Reef Ranger – the watch is available in four different dial colors (the collection is viewable here:  http://www.boschett-timepieces.com/collection.html).  Order instructions can be found here:  https://boschett.startlogic.com/store/catalog/index.php