Vario Versa Year of the Horse Review: My Favorite Watch of 2026
- Jilliano Romano
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
Have you ever been looking for something for a long time? Then, after an arduous search, you finally find it, it ends up being a bit disappointing. Well, I had a similar experience, except I had the opposite of disappointment with the Vario Versa. Instead, it far exceeded my expectations, and quickly became one of my favorite watches. In fact, according to my trusty Wrist Tracker app, it’s my most worn watch of 2026 thus far.
Vario is a Singapore-based microbrand, which is celebrating its 10th year anniversary this year. Not only is this a significant accomplishment for an Asian microbrand in an industry dominated by Western competitors, it’s impressive for a microbrand in general. For context, the oldest microbrand is Christopher Ward (UK microbrand-cum-independent founded in 2004), and the next oldest microbrands that come to mind would be Baltic, which was founded in 2016 just like Vario. In this industry, microbrands are more likely to fold up than they are to reach 10 years. So, what has allowed Vario to not only survive, but thrive after a decade?
From Straps to Watches (with Straps)
In 2016, Ivan Chua - who had a passion for watches and expertise in graphic design - started Vario to offer good looking, yet durable straps to fellow watch enthusiasts. Although I haven’t confirmed this with Ivan directly, I suspect that creating his own watch was a goal from the onset. Unlike other brands called StrapHabit, the brand name - Vario - suggests that the brand was never meant to remain only a strapmaker; instead, it was destined for a real watch.
One year later, Ivan Chua launched the Vario Eclipse on Kickstarter, which was successfully funded. With a design modeled after the understated dress watches of the 1960s, and variants for quartz (Seiko VH31) and manual (Miyota 6T33), the watches still look good to this day, but if one criticism could be made, it’s that they lacked that Wow factor. What was next for Vario?
In the next 3 years, Ivan and Judy (his partner in both business and in life) would launch four more successful Kickstarter campaigns for watch travel cases (which are fantastically compact, by the way), leather straps for Apple Watches, and their WW1-inspired 1918 Trench Watches. Once again, I really like these watches. When every brand is focused on creating WWII inspired watches, here came Vario with watches inspired by the very first wristwatches worn by men, instead. It was a really interesting concept, and it was incredibly successful on Kickstarter. They followed this up with another campaign for the Empire watch, which I think are great watches that could double as daily wears, as well as fun weekend watches (depending on the strap - I wonder where we can get a good strap?).
In the three years after their final Kickstarter campaign, Vario continued to release new straps, new models, and their star in the microbrand scene was still on the rise, although it wasn’t as high as some may have initially expected. At this point, they were 7 years removed from their launch as a strap brand. Was this it for the brand?
The Vario Versa
In 2023, Vario successfully managed to combine the vintage-inspired designs that made their watches to that point so successful, as well as the Wow Factor that some potential customers were searching for. The Versa is a dual-face watch that you can easily flip to reveal a different watchface or dial, and the best part? Each side can be set to a different timezone. Or, you could set both sides to the same time zone.
Ivan was inspired by the Art Deco designs of mid-century America, but saw the potential in the functionality of the industrial age, as well. Like the Streamline Moderne train that partly inspired the aesthetic of the Versa, the Versa’s case is extremely functional and convenient. Essentially, Vario created a rectangular, stainless steel frame reminiscent of a Cartier Tank, but made its metal frame thicker. Then, the two-sided watch is placed inside the frame, and screws are drilled into it on both sides of the steel frame, allowing the user to freely flip it upside down at a moment’s notice. To tell you the truth, I don’t really understand how it is possible, or how it was made; only that it looks great, while being extremely convenient.
With the Versa, it felt like Vario had firmly established itself as a powerful player in the microbrand space. Now that Christopher Ward is a true independent brand, capable of producing its own in-house movements, it’s difficult for me to think of any other microbrands besides Vario that has released such an original watch, which - ironically - brings me to a major critique that I’ve seen levied against the Versa.
Isn’t it an Homage?
No. The answer is a firm no.
For everyone who would say that the Versa is an homage of a JLC Reverso, or worse, of being a cheaper version, I think this is not even remotely accurate. The case silhouette, for one, is completely different. Due to the way the Versa is made, it is not as wide or as long as the Reverso, and the dual crown configuration at the top and bottom also makes a big difference between the two watches. Additionally, the way that the Reverso reverses is by pulling the entire watch to the side - almost like you’re sliding a pizza out of a brick oven - and then flipping it over (I hope you don’t do this with your pizza). Thus, the Versa reverses vertically, while the Reverso reverses horizontally.
The only thing the two watches truly have in common is that you can flip them over, but the mechanism by which you flip the Versa and the Reverso are completely different. If one were to call the Versa an homage of the Reverso, it would be the equivalent of saying that the Doxa Sub 200 is an homage to the Rolex Submariner, because they both have diver bezels, and 200M of water resistance. Yes, they share key features, but they are almost entirely different in terms of design, manufacturing, and intent.
Why Did I Buy This Watch?
In 2025, I was at the Manila Pen Show to represent my company when I ran into someone from my high school (shoutout Paolo). At the time, I was wearing my trusty Seiko Speedtimer, and almost immediately, I clocked (pun intended) that he was wearing a Versa. This was a watch that I had only become familiar with just six months prior, so I was pretty surprised that I would see it in person, much less that I would know the person wearing it.
Like any normal watch enthusiast, I immediately asked him to show me how to flip the watch face, and I was hooked. I knew I wanted it, but the only thing holding me back was that I wasn’t enraptured with any of the current models. So, I decided to just wait, and see if they would be releasing any new colors for the Versa.
The Year of the Horse
If you have read my previous article about the best Lunar New Year Watches for 2026, or my Youtube video about it, then you will already know that I purchased the Vario Versa Year of the Horse, and that it’s been a great watch for me ever since.
When I first saw this limited edition watch, I bought it almost instantly, because it checked off so many things for me. It had a red dial, which I loved. It also had a white dial, which meant that even if the AR coating was underwhelming, it wouldn’t have terrible reflections, either way. It was a rectangular shape, which made it completely different from any of my other watches. It was also dressy, and considering most of my collection are field watches and divers, having a dressier piece covered for a huge gap in my collection (I do have a Sternglas Naos which you could argue is a dressy piece, but I’ll be writing an article in the future explaining why I disagree).
The watch on my wrist is comfortable, and it is paired with a comfortable red-leather strap, which tapers from 20mm (yay, it has a normal lug width!) to a sleeker 18mm, and comes equipped with a deployant clasp, which I thought I would hate, but surprisingly, I did not. I’m really not a fan of deployant clasps on both bracelets and straps in general, but the clasp doesn’t dig into my wrist the way that most other watches do.
The white dial side has numerals at the 12, 9, 6, and 3, as well as a minute track, which makes it quite easy to read. The monochromatic look is nice, making it extremely versatile with different strap options, as well as outfits.
On the flipside (pun intended), there’s a gorgeous crimson red dial with gold flecks scattered across the watchface. In Japanese design, sprinkling flecks of gold leaf is called Maki-e (蒔絵), and it’s actually a popular technique used for bowls, fountain pens, and of course, watches. I’m not sure if these are real flecks of gold, but it definitely looks the part. In comparison to its straightlaced counterpart on the other side, it is marginally more difficult to tell the time at a glance, but since there is still a white minute track on the borders, it’s definitely still legible.
Right above the 6 o’clock mark is the Chinese character for Horse (done by Wang Xi Zhi), which I thought was a nice touch. It’s worth noting, however, that some people may argue that this dates the watch, and restricts it to being a Lunar New Year watch. I do understand this perspective, although I still disagree, because it feels more like a nod to the source of inspiration, rather than a blatant gimmick.
Just like how many collectors - myself included - may use a watch purchase or acquisition to commemorate (or as an excuse) a significant life event, I think you can easily do the same with the Vario Versa Year of the Horse, and it has the added benefit of having an actual symbol on the dial that denotes the year.
Is This Watch Perfect?
Definitely not. No watch is perfect. Ironically, one of the greatest issues with its convenient flipping mechanism is how easy it is for the watch to shift within the steel frame. It’s a minor nitpick, but I do find it annoying at times when I simply flex my wrist, or I’m in the middle of typing, and I can feel that the watch has flipped upward slightly, as if it’s trying to reverse to the other side by itself.
The watch can feel a bit thick due to its design. For me, it really doesn’t feel that way, but my fiancee and a good friend of mine have both complained about this, and it’s still valid to point out, even though I don’t think it could possibly get thinner without removing the second quartz movement.
The movement is extremely reliable, and I have zero complaints about it. That being said, if you are the type of person who doesn’t like quartz watches, then this watch is definitely not for you. Fortunately, Vario has already developed a mechanical prototype, so the perfect Versa for you may be on the horizon.
A Permanent Piece
It is bold, and perhaps even a little premature, to say it, but this Vario Versa is a permanent member of my humble little collection. Maybe five percent of that is because the brand has some of the best customer service I have experienced, but I simply love how it looks, the novelty, and its origins.
I strongly believe that if we want to someday have the perfect watch on our wrist, we should go out there and support brands - whether they are a microbrand, an independent, or a part of a huge Group like Swatch or LVMH.
Vario, as one of the oldest microbrands at the moment, probably could have thrived even without creating the Versa. If they had simply created more standard three-hander watches with striking dials, no one would have complained. People would have still continued to support the brand.
But, they took a chance with the Versa. As someone who works for a microbrand, I know - intimately - how difficult it is to produce an all-new case design, and how expensive it can be to do so. Despite all of this, Vario launched the Versa at a sub-500 USD price, making it accessible to everyone who wants something new and unique without paying the price tag that so many luxury brands would charge.
If you like beautiful watches, you should get a Versa. If you like telling the time in two different timezones, you should get a Versa. I’m glad I did, and I already know that this will not be the last Vario watch in my collection.
Purchase your own Vario at the following link: Vario Versa Year of the Horse.
Movement | 2x Ronda Slimtech 10621 Jewel Quartz |
Water Resistance | 50M |
Case Thickness | 12mm |
Case length | 39mm |
Case width | 26mm |
Great review! Love reading it! Strange I didn’t feel that shift at all with mine. Maybe different wrist size.