Field watches are great, they’re robust, reliable, not showy. The sort of thing many watch people and just normal guys gravitate to – real tools.

Only aren’t they sometimes – a bit samey, a bit boring, a little formulaic.

Scottish microbrand Paulin thought so – and as a result of that they launched the Neo. Their fun, affordable field watch.

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So the field watch – when that comes to mind you think of something with a steel case, time only, arabic numerals on the dial, likely a strap and a mechanical movement.

You’re probably picturing a hamilton khaki field or maybe some sort of rolex explorer

Not this – this Paulin Neo B. A watch that looks like none of these.

Now B means this is the orange and blue version of this watch – but there’s a grey dial, a sort of tiffany blue and a red.

Quite frankly I’m pleased that Paulin did not lend me the red as I feel like this would have been an instant buy. And I’ve got savings to make.

However this orange and blue looks incredible on camera – it photographs and films very well. There’s something about studio lighting that really does bring out the dial on this watch which is of course a major talking point of this watch.

Now Paulin are the sub company of anordain – that microbrand who make excellent enamel and porcelain dialed watches – so of course this is a focus here.

Something that many field watches neglect – you might get a texture or two, a little graining but a field watch is flat – it doesn’t play with the light in the way watch journalists talk of.

But this with its anodised aluminum does. But not in a bling way. See field watches can basically all take their origins back to the dirty dozen of the second world war. The mod set the challenge of a robust and waterproof watch – 12 brands would contribute options.

These pieces were not meant to be bling, they were not meant to catch light and be seen from half a mile away the other side of a marina. This watch does not have this, it still has that tool watch like aesthetic but with that add dash of colour and fun.

See I think what really defines a tool watch is not the material its made out of or the shape of the watch, or even the colour of the dial. But instead it’s a focus on a couple of things that overlap with the minimalist watch.

A field watch is characterized by a brutalist exposure of raw material – so that’s brushed finishings, grain on the dial. Unobscured reality and by crafting a dial out of aluminum Paulin do this in a way that channels the anordain zest.

With the neo Paulin say you can have your robust watch, but it doesn’t need be boring. In fact it’s quite boring, until you catch it in the right light – just like many a classic and adored field watch.

However this does not mean that this watch is just a gimmick dial. 

As far as microbrand NH35 based watches I’ve come across this is possibly the best version. I don’t know if Paulin secure themselves better versions of these movements or what but winding this movement feels incredible. The resistance in the crown is perfect and it is a size that’s easy enough to wind but not completely ridiculously large.

The movement doesn’t have a custom rotor like other microbrand watches at this price point but you’re not going to be looking at the movement, the dial will keep your attention.

Personally I really do like the handset on this piece. The whole in the minute hand is a fun quirk of the Paulin lineup when it aligns with the indices it’s a nice little treat. But I would say if they seconds hand could be blue matched to the arabic numerals that would I think make this an bolder piece without undermining its field watch nature.

At 38mm wide with a 48mm lug to lug and only 11.6mm thick including the domed sapphire the watch really is one of those pieces that is enthusiast pleasing.

The watch case is well constructed and it does feel like an improvement over the cheaper Paulin modul d that the team leant to me as well.

So then this is a fun looking watch, it feels like a field watch, but does that mean you should buy it?

Well my answer is maybe. If I decided I was buying a Paulin I would get a modul d – I’m boring and I’d feel like this watch while I feel it’s cool and well priced I simply would struggle to style it and end up not wearing it.

But then if you don’t care and just pick up what you fancy knock yourself out. I say.

However a word of warning. 

I feel like the sapphire while not massively high is the sort of thing that I would catch a lot, but then I have an issue with the fabric strap that this one is on. This is Paulin’s new quick release fabric strap and the clasp is quite nice. But bought separately to the watch it’s 52 pound and that’s a lot, and it’s not the most comfortable. Overall I prefer those seatbelt like fabric watches.

If I bought a Paulin it would be on the mesh bracelet like that  the modul Paulin sent to me came on. But to each their own.

Now then Paulin Neo B – the AURA system scores on the doors. This is my semi objective holistic method of ranking watches

And we have

Aestheticism 8 – it’s unique and bold but I will say it looks better in photos than real life

Utility – so value for money 8 again

Romanticism – 8 again. £570 for a handmade watch is pretty romantic

Authenticity – 8 again this watch isn’t trying to be a swiss watch but something cool, fun and different.

So that’s a total of 32 out of 40 – a pretty high scorer.