Hands-OnEarthen Debuts With Three Ceramic Case Field Watches Priced At Under A Grand

We got to spend some time with all three watches in the debut collection ahead of their release. They're sporty, robust, restrained, and highly legible, with some watch-nerd-level design cues and elements. Of course, the differentiator here is the ceramic case, available in black and white, and nicely sized at 38 millimeters in diameter and a reasonably thin 10 millimeters thick. Earthen Company co-founder Johnathan Chan, well known in collecting circles as one of the principals behind Hong Kong's The Horology Club, says the new model trio aimed to create the ultimate ski watch that's 100 meters water resistant, readable, and rugged. 

"Ceramic allows us to play with colors and finishing textures in a way steel can't, while staying true to the proportions and details we love in vintage watches," Chan says. "They're meant for active wear, so it was important for us to be able to get that water resistance," he adds.

Of the three, the 'Overcast' in black ceramic with a black dial is the most classic in presentation. The case is compact, with brushed surfaces and angles on the bezel and lugs that recall vintage case forms. The dial features a contrasting minute track and Arabic numerals in white with the underlined brand name above and the subtle mountain logo below the handstack in the same shade. The lumed hands and indices are a warmer beige tone. 

The double-knurled, screw-down crown is a standout detail, offering solid usability and highlighted by a splash of color between the knurlings, which makes it easier to operate while wearing gloves. It comes on a dandy-looking khaki green (Earthen calls it 'sage') sailcloth rubber strap that feels and wears high-quality, and certainly gives this watch military-adjacent vibes. Like the other models, it also ships with a matching nato strap if that's your jam.

While I was initially drawn to the 'Overcast,' it was the 'Blue Bird' (named for that perfect sunny, post-snow dump ski day) that eventually won me over. The dial is full lume, and that's just cool. It glows aggressively when charged, a practical win, even if it sacrifices some readability of the grey numerals and indices in daylight. The white dial version is housed in a white ceramic case that announces the fact that this watch is made from the earthen (hence the name of the brand) material in a much more obvious way than in black. 

The white ceramic has a slightly glossy appearance compared to the brushed finish of the black case. The Blue Bird model features a splash of baby-blue paint between the dual crown knurls that rightly matches the sailcloth strap. Finally, the 'Whiteout' model features a black dial, similar to the Overcast but without the beige tones for the hands and indices. It's housed in the same white ceramic case as the Blue Bird and comes on a white strap. With a black color accent on the crown, it's the true black and white choice here.

The ceramic case, large steel crown, well-considered dial, and sailcloth strap give this watch a premium feel that belies its sub-$1,000 price. And beyond the stainless steel, circular-brushed closed caseback beats a Miyota 9039 automatic movement. Its rotor is loud, but the Japanese movement certainly gets the job done and feels solid and responsive when engaging the crown.

The Summit collection represents an impressive first outing for the team from Earthen, a group of enthusiasts and collectors who have incorporated many of their favorite elements from much pricier watches into this budget offering. It's designed to be a tough timepiece, not just for skiing and snowboarding, but for the gamut of outdoor pursuits. Trust us when we say it's also engaging when gazed at in the comfort of the great indoors, particularly the Blue Bird when you turn down the lights.

Earthen is making 100 pieces of each model to start, but says they will restock when, and if, the first series sells out. The watches are available for order now, and they'll be shipping from Hong Kong, Chan says, so U.S. customers should be mindful of the tariff rates. They currently sit at 10%, but, as always, are subject to change, depending on the political trade winds.

For more information visit Earthen Company's website.