SEVENFRIDAY Free-D
SEVENFRIDAY is a fascinating brand with an unusual take on timepieces. The first collection, known as the P-Series, took the watch world by storm with its rounded square cases and complicated-looking dials, and was affordable at around $1,000. This cemented SEVENFRIDAY’s position in the watch world.
Despite the unprecedented success of the P-Series, SEVENFRIDAY found it difficult to replicate the same dramatic results in subsequent series, namely the M and V-Series. The P-Series is a really good piece of work and they really raise the bar to a whole new level.
That’s why we were really intrigued when we found out that SEVENFRIDAY had launched a new timepiece with an interesting case in Free-D form. For the author, learning about the existence of Free-D was like browsing the watch forums while he was waiting for dinner in 2013 when he first heard wind of the P series. But the main question is: does Free-D live up to our high expectations for it?
Free-D was produced in early March this year to mark the brand’s 10th anniversary. It’s also done in style, with an outrageous 3-D printed case that looks unlike anything we’ve ever seen. In this case, we absolutely love the brand’s approach, as they could have celebrated the occasion by simply taking an existing watch and making minor tweaks.
The main highlight of this timepiece is undoubtedly the case, which is quite futuristic and modern. It’s a large watch with great wrist presence, but it’s equally polarizing among collectors. This watch is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, although we do hope that many collectors and enthusiasts will have continued interest in this watch’s striking aesthetic.
One thing’s for sure: this piece, even without the big publicity, has garnered quite a bit of attention over the past few months. Maybe it’s a new strategy for the brand, or a way to gauge public interest before deciding whether 3D printing is feasible. Either way, this is an interesting watch, and SEVENFRIDAY may have managed to crack the code again.
Case, Dial and Hands
The new 52.8mm SEVENFRIDAY Free-D is a bold timepiece featuring a 3D printed case combined with the brand’s signature rounded square case.
The 3D printed shell is made from PA11, a sustainable castor-based polyamide. The product is digitally manufactured using HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology with dye RAL, an advanced dye technology specially developed in Munich. The end result is a rather rough looking case that’s actually quite charming to the touch.
Inside, the Free-D features SEVENFRIDAY’s signature rounded square case. The inner case is made of titanium with a domed sapphire crystal to complete the look.
Next, we have the dial and hands. The watch is equipped with three rotating discs, similar to the M series. The chronograph components are fairly intuitive, with each of the three discs showing the hours, minutes and seconds with the help of a triangular pattern.
The dial also features some 3D printed elements that fill in the negative space inside. The inclusion helps reinforce the concept of using 3D printed components, but more importantly, it also shows the uniqueness between the interior and exterior cases. The latter is important, otherwise it might look as if the 3D printed case was an afterthought, which certainly won’t be popular with many collectors.
Overall, the Free-D is indeed a bold and stylish piece. This watch is imposing, looks ultra-modern and striking. We love the design concept and how the brand stands out by incorporating 3D printing into its timepieces.
It’s also worth noting that despite its size, the use of a combination of polyamide and titanium means the watch is fairly light. This, along with the relatively short lugs, means it’s very comfortable on the wrist. Granted, this watch may not be suitable for people with relatively small wrists, but for the author (whose wrist measures 6.5 inches in circumference), the Free-D was oddly a perfect fit for his timepiece in the weeks he used it. cheap watches for sale
Powering the Free-D is the Sellita SW300-1 movement. Self-winding movements should be familiar to our readers as it is the movement of choice for many fledgling and entry-level brands. The movement has a power reserve of around 42 hours and beats at 28,800 bph. We can’t determine the level of finish, in part because the bottom cover is blocked by the outer 3D-printed casing. Still, we don’t expect anything beyond industrial-grade finishing, as seen with most typical Sellita-based movements.
In the description, it is also noted that SEVENFRIDAY chose to use a Sellita movement for this watch rather than the Miyota movement commonly found in other SEVENFRIDAY watches. The use of a Swiss movement definitely elevates the timepiece, although it only works to a certain extent. Thankfully, though, for the Free-D, the main highlight is the overall aesthetic of the case, so the movement isn’t the focus at the moment.
SEVENFRIDAY Free-D is a statement piece. It’s bold, loud and outrageous – no doubt about it. It is unabashedly different. In the weeks we owned the review replica watches, it was often assumed that the Free-D was made by an independent watchmaker for a five-figure price tag.
In terms of competition, no watch can compete directly with the Free-D. However, we think there are still some watches that share some similarities with this SEVENFRIDAY.
As we mentioned before, SEVENFRIDAY Free-D is a statement piece. It’s not just the owner who makes the statement, but more importantly, so does SEVENFRIDAY. Free-D proved that SEVENFRIDAY was more than a one-trick pony, and that they were capable of breaking away from the success of the original P-Series.
We do hope that Free-D sets the stage for SEVENFRIDAY and allows the brand to challenge the norm and create a timepiece as exciting as the original SEVENFRIDAY timepiece. 3D printing, especially the watch industry, is still in its infancy, and there is still a lot for players to explore. SEVENFRIDAY can certainly use their knowledge here.
We know what the brand is capable of and we do want to see replica SEVENFRIDAY be such a huge success again. Perhaps, Free-D might just be the beginning of something new – a savior freeing them from the burden of past success.