Just a few short weeks ago, Vero introduced their officially-licensed Smokey the Bear watches that were inspired not only by the bear himself, but the era in which he came into existence. Today, we?re taking a look at the Smokey ?44. It?s inspired by the military watches of the 1940s, blended with a wildfire-themed color palette and a depiction of the friendly-but-stern bear right at 12 o?clock on the dial. This officially-licensed piece of Smokey swag is a great representation of both Vero as a brand and what Smokey the Bear stands for. Vero isn?t all talk either, being that 10% of all sales go directly back to the US Forest Service for conservation efforts. Let?s take a closer look, and remember ? only you can prevent wildfires.

$450

Hands-On: the Vero Smokey ’44

Case
Stainless steel

Movement Seiko NH38A automatic

Dial
Black, textured

Lume
Green SuperLuminova

Lens
Sapphire

Strap
Leather + canvas

Water Resistance
120 meters

Dimensions
38 x 46mm

Thickness
12mm

Lug Width
20mm

Crown
Screw down

Warranty
10 years

Price
$450

Case
Clocking in at a comfortable 38mm, the case of the ?44 wears really well on my 6.75? wrist. There?s nothing overly notable about the case, and I say that in a good way. It?s a straightforward field watch with a sturdy case that inspires confidence that it?ll stand up to whatever you want to throw at it. With 120m of water resistance, the ?44 has more than enough protection from H2O for...