Hands-On With A Trio Of Land-Dweller Models

March 13, 2025

In the weeks leading up to Watches and Wonders 2025, we saw leaks related to a new watch called the Land-Dweller. The idea sent people into a tizzy. Here was a watch with a strange name and a familiar case. But was it real? Just after midnight on April 1st, we learned that the Land-Dweller was not only real but also a proper collection of watches. We saw them in Geneva, and today, I ll share some firsthand impressions. continues to master the art of giving people some of what they want but never exactly what they expected. Let s face it: a lot of folks have been asking for a GMT-Master II with a ceramic Coke bezel, and it s still not available. Instead, the most powerful watch brand on the planet brought a mix of watches. Frankly, I thought it was one of the better years in recent memory. The biggest news, of course, was the Land-Dweller collection. has re-entered the integrated-bracelet market with a blend of reissue and innovation. Now that the hullabaloo has quieted, let s discuss the collection.The storm after the calmFor those who have never attended a show like Basel or Watches and Wonders, it s important to understand a weird phenomenon. At Basel, even the haters would nonchalantly hang out near the brand s booth and wait for the shutters to raise on opening day to reveal the novelties. Now, though, sits back and has a chuckle because the company reveals its watches virtually at one minute past midnight on opening day. Then, someone like me gets to write up a brand-new collection like the Land-Dweller. Yes, the entire watch media collective arrives on the first day of the show feeling like a mess due to the silly late-night release.Know this - the Land-Dweller collection was big news on the Palexpo floors. Everyone was talking about the watches. The overarching feedback was positive, but few liked the dials in standard format. However, the movement, for those who cared about the significance, received overwhelming praise. Approximately 10 and a half hours after the embargo broke, we got to handle the watches. Here are my thoughts.Handling part of the Land-Dweller collectionI m thankful that now allows our entire team to attend the meeting at Watches and Wonders. In the past, two or three members were allowed, and it was a bit of a buzzkill. This year, we met in a large room, and the good folks at passed around most of the novelties. I say most because three Land-Dweller models were available to us. A 40mm steel reference, a 40mm platinum model, and a 36mm Everose piece with diamonds were the three representatives. While none of the three examples I saw would be my choice, the sampler provided a good feel for the model line.First impressionsAgain, you can dislike and its watches, but go hands-on with a brand-new model, and one overriding feeling sets in. Namely, the brand produces one hell of a watch. From the moment I held the new Land-Dweller, it was abundantly clear that the watches are beautifully made. For a large producer, truly knows how to finish a watch. That s a key impression because the Land-Dweller, unlike a traditional Oyster-cased watch, is all about the finishing.Weirdly, made little to no reference to the old Oysterquartz or Date 1530/1630 that used nearly identical cases. As an Oysterquartz owner, that pained me, but it allowed me to look at the latest collection and compare. The new Land-Dweller case is full of chamfers, angles, and surface finishing. All of it is carried out precisely in that way, making soft and sharp edges feel deliberate. When I compare them to the older pieces, the latest watches feel thinner, more jewelry-like, and more expensive. Then, there are the bracelets.I ve said this countless times, but it bears repeating. No one produces a bracelet quite like . The suppleness, finishing (again), and concealed (inside and out) clasp are unlike anything remotely in this price range. Other brands that claim to compete can t seem to master creating an accessory this comfortable. Yes, the Land-Dweller is a return to the integrated-bracelet market, but every should be considered for this genre. Why? Because when a bracelet is as good as an Oyster, Jubilee, or President, it s rarely removed for a strap.Key detailsPer my recap above, the Land-Dweller dials caught a lot of flak. The laser-engraved honeycomb motif gained decent approval, but the open 6 and 9 felt large for the dial. Most of us wished for more batons la Datejust. Yet, now that two weeks have passed, I ve warmed up to the look. Would I choose the current dial over a simpler variant? Probably not, but it s not offensive. Other little details, such as the honeycomb-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand, are modern and somewhat exciting for the normally conservative brand.The 7135 caliber is awesomeHere again, the haters had little room to complain when it came to the movement in the Land-Dweller. The new 7135 may be a tweaked 7140, but the differences are monumental. A silicon hairspring, ceramic balance staff, and the new Dynapulse escapement make this a force to be reckoned with. Did I mention that the watch is a high-beat with a frequency of 36,000vph and has 66 hours of power reserve? During our meeting, after reviewing the escapement, rolled out a humble brag about wanting to increase the frequency to make the watch even more accurate. We were also told that the caliber has been under development for the better part of a decade. Finally, it even looks good through the display case back.Predictably great on the wristWith a mere 9.7mm thickness, the Land-Dweller is lovely on the wrist. The flat Jubilee bracelet drapes perfectly, and the clasp is unnoticeable. Regarding the case, it feels expensive and perfectly honed to meld into the wrist. Weirdly, and I wasn t the only one to say this, the Everose model, with its diamond bezel and baguette-cut diamond indexes, felt the most subtle! The fluted white gold or platinum bezels shine, and the non-diamond dials are bold in the light.Regarding the sizes, the 40mm versions somewhat fit my wrist. Everyone else on the team with a larger wrist found them perfect. For me, the smaller models felt exactly like a 36mm - no more and no less. All of the watches felt substantial, but the platinum model felt as if it could successfully anchor a small boat during a squall.Some nigglesI mentioned the okay feelings about the Land-Dweller dials, but were there any other concerns? If I m being honest, I don t like the model name. I guess that wanted to differentiate these pieces from the normal Datejust line, which is fine. However, Land-Dweller feels like a lengthy title that doesn t say much. Plus, like most other watches not named Submariner or Sea-Dweller, this watch is perfectly suitable for non-land use thanks to its 100m water resistance rating.Also, I think this watch platform would be perfectly suited for two-tone and yellow gold models, but perhaps those will come in the future. Finally, I d like darker dial options, even if doesn t change the texture or design. Black and dark blue would be lovely.The significance of the Land-DwellerInterestingly, has ceded the integrated-bracelet market for more than 20 years until now. Perhaps the allure became so strong that it was impossible to ignore. Or maybe the company wanted to wait for the new 7140 movement to reach industrialization. We ll never know, but the end product is a seriously impressive offering if the design is to your liking. Cross-shopping a Royal Oak or Nautilus with a would have sounded strange (to me, at least) before now. With the Land-Dweller, now has a bona fide competitor with a movement that takes no prisoners.For the rest of the integrated-bracelet watches on the market, I can only send my regards. Lack of availability of these new models will be the only lifeline. I say that because the Land-Dweller starts at CHF 13,300, and I think most people would opt for a over many other brands at a similar price level. Is this a perfect release? No, but it s a damn good one, and it looks even better in the metal.Watch specifications Brand Model Land-DwellerReference 127234 (White Rolesor 36mm) / 127334 (White Rolesor 40mm) / 127235 (Everose 36mm) / 127285TBR (Everose 36mm Diamonds) / 127335 (Everose 40mm) / 127385TBR (Everose 40mm DIamonds) / 127236 (Platinum 36mm) / 127286TBR (Platinum 36mm Diamonds) / 127336 (Platinum 40mm) / 127386TBR (Platinum 40mm Diamonds)Dial Intense white with honeycomb motif, applied indexes and Arabic numerals with Chromalight, and date window (White Rolesor and Everose) / Ice blue with honeycomb motif, applied indexes and Arabic numerals with Chromalight, and date window (Platinum) / Intense white or ice blue with honeycomb motif and baguette-cut diamond indexes (Everose and Platinum)Case Material 904L stainless steel with white gold bezel / 18K rose gold with or without diamond-set bezel / platinum with or without diamond-set bezelCase Dimensions 36mm (diameter) 9.7mm (thickness) / 40mm (diameter) 9.7mm (thickness)Crystal SapphireCase Back 904L stainless steel / 18K rose gold / platinum with sapphire display, screw-in Movement 7135: automatic with manual winding and hacking, 36,000vph, 66-hour power reserve, 39 jewels, silicon hairspring, ceramic balance staff, Dynapulse escapement, chronometer certifiedWater Resistance 100 metersStrap Stainless steel, 18K rose gold, or platinum flat Jubilee bracelet with concealed claspFunctions Time (hours, minutes, seconds) and datePrice CHF 13,300 (36mm Rolesor) / CHF 14,200 (40mm Rolesor) / CHF 40,100 (36mm Everose) / CHF 43,900 (40mm Everose) / CHF 84,200 (36mm Everose Diamonds) / CHF 98,400 (40mm Everose Diamonds) / CHF 56,400 (36mm Platinum) / CHF 60,600 (40mm Platinum) / CHF 90,500 (36mm Platinum Diamonds) / CHF 111,500 (40mm Platinum Diamonds)Warranty Five years