This cool collaboration that I didn’t see coming but makes total sense brought together two companies from Singapore together to bring an amazing kit of EDC goodness. The Boldr Safari T-Rex kit comes with watch, bracelet, 2 glow in the dark patches for your EDC pouches, and the Nitecore TINI 2 flashlight. The TINI 2 is quite small but lights shit up strong, with up to 200 lumens in its 2x OSRAM P8 LEDs. If that’s not bright enough for you, just toggle the instant turbo for a quick 500 lumens burst! “TINI 2 torches are made from strong aluminum alloy with an anodized finish. The torch is rated IP54 for protection against water damage (all sides) and dust ingress, all the while updating you with real-time info on brightness level, battery life & remaining runtime, user mode, and voltage via the screen.”

https://www.boldrsupply.co/products/the-t-rex-by-boldr-x-nitecore

The watches specs:

WATCH SPECIFICATIONS

Case: 40mm stainless steel black PVD
Bezel: 60 minutes 120 clicks uni-directional steel bezel with aluminium insert
Movement: Japan SII NH35A Automatic Movement
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
Crown: 3 o’clock screw-down crown with custom embossed BOLDR logo
Dial: Embossed T-Rex artwork on black dial
Hands: C3 hour-hand, while minute-hand with Japan Superlume
Lens: Flat sapphire crystal with multiple anti-reflective coating
Band: Quick-release stainless steel bracelet with push-pins links.
Case with bezel thickness: 12.3mm
Lug size: 20mm / 0.78 in
Lug to lug: 46mm / 1.81 in
Case Back: Exhibition case back with limited edition artwork
Individually numbered

The flashlight specs:

500-lumen brightness over 89 meters
5 brightness levels, up to 8hr runtime at 15 lumens
LED: 2 x OSRAM P8 LEDs
OLED Real-time Display
IP Rating: IPX54
Impact Resistance: 1m
Dimensions: 46.6mm x 25mm x 12.5mm / 1.83″ x 0.98″ x 0.49″
Head size: 14.7 mm / 0.58 inch
Feature: Rechargeable via USB-C port
Material: Aer-grade Aluminium alloy construction

The stealthy black PVD stainless steel case is simple yet beautiful. I switched out the bracelet for some these pics because I thought this custom Blueradish straps leather combo looked awesome. Boldr definitely designed a great grab n go watch here with the T-Rex Safari. I also wanted to show how it can change the look of the watch from the bracelet to the leather.

Let’s talk about function here. The bezel is set up in 60 minutes that are marked off in engraved numerals and indices that are filled with lume. The lume glows like a flashlight and how appropriate that this watch comes with a Nitecore Torch TINI II. I really like how easy it is to grip ahold of this bezel. It’s so satisfying to slowly turn the bezel to listen and feel each of the 120 uni-directional clicks. Auditory and tactile goodness!

The bezel itself is made of steel and the insert is made of aluminum. There is something classic about an aluminum bezel insert. Boldr did something that I like and don’t on this case design. Let me explain what I mean. I really like are the drilled lugs, but what I don’t like are the quick release spring bars. I’m not going into one of my rants, but I do want to send this message to Boldr and all companies who use quick release spring bars. Are you ready?!? IF YOU USE QRSB’s, PLEASE INCLUDE A PAIR OF REGULAR SPRING BARS PLEASE FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIKE WEARING OUR WATCHES ON STRAPS. Thank you!

The screw-down crown sits nicely between two crown guards that offer there protection to their crowned prince. This prince is detailed with an embossed Boldr ‘b’ logo. Like the bezel, the crown is also equally as easy to grip ahold of whether to screw it in/out, or to manually wind the SII NH35A automatic movement or to set the time. Boldr kept the lugs relatively short which keeps the watch at a size ideal for those with smaller wrists. In addition to being drilled, Boldr added chauffeuring to the lugs which adds some extra detail to the profile of the Safari.

Boldr Tuesday is a weekly occurrence on my social medial and during this review it was upon us like a fierce beast hunting its prey. This watch is a great example of a grab n’ go watch. I love that style of watch because once you strap it to the wrist, you don’t have to worry about it. You can beat the crap out of it and it continues to enjoy the time on your wrist.

For those size conscious folks, the Safari comes is 40mm x 12.3 and the PVD finish allows the watch to seemingly disappear when it’s on your wrist but at the same time it has a nice wrist presence. This may be a relatively simple piece but Boldr still managed to pack it full of details. One of those details is the Boldr ‘b’ logo on the counter balance of the second hand. I just love that tiny little but impactful design.

Obviously the T-Rex skull logo on the dial is a favorite detail. What I love about it besides how cool it looks, is that depending upon the lighting you are in, the skull is either quite visible and then under other lighting it almost completely disappears. One thing on this watch that doesn’t seem to disappear is the lume. This is where this watch truly shines. I love how Boldr used different lume applications for the hands. They used C3 for the hour-hand, while on the minute-hand with Japan Superlume. The bezel and the hour markers glow bright as a torch. Speaking of torches, the included TORCH TINI 2 is the perfect light source to charge up the lume on this watch, especially when you use the “turbo” button and blast the watch with a blast of 500 lumen!

I can’t get enough of this dial. It’s simple, yet detailed. I love how Boldr made the T-Rex skull so stealthy and subtle, but when you hit that light and angle just right it is like wow! How damn cool. The flip side to that is, under other lighting the T-Rex skull disappears into oblivion like the dinosaurs themselves.

The California dial was the perfect choice for this watch. It just works so well. Boldr went full stealth mode with the PVD case and matching bracelet for this watch. I’m a custom leather guy myself, so I prefer the look of this watch on this custom Blue Radish straps. There’s nothing wrong with the bracelet that came with this watch, my personal preference is leather. I do like the details that Boldr added to this bracelet that can be seen in the picture below. The “crack” is actually topographical line art that signifies flowing water/river. Which is pretty ironic, because I just read a news article recently, that due to drought like conditions a river was at an all time low and there were fossilized dinosaurs prints in the river bed.

Boldr completed the theme of this collaboration watch with Nitecore, with the T-Rex footprint on the caseback. It would have been ultra cool if they did some lume treatment to the caseback, but I’m a spoiled nerd like that. This caseback highlights Boldr’s dedication to their design of the T-Rex theme.

The Nitecore TINI II is exactly what it’s name implies. It’s tiny, compact yet it’s extremely bright. You can see how compact the TINI II is in the pic below. This thing is surprisingly bright considering the two “bulbs” are no bigger than pencil erasers. This is the perfect nerd light to charge up the lume on your watch. The flashlight is rechargeable and has a display screen that indicates the battery life.

This is such a cool package. If you are into EDC and watches, this is definitely a kit to consider. It even comes with two patches that easily attach to your EDC Velcro pouches. What could make these more cool?!? Well, how about the fact that they glow in the dark!!!!

I have been trying to rotate my EDC gear to get out of that rut of carrying the same shit every day. Putting my gerbergear knife to use. In the caseback shot below, I included the caseback that I designed for Boldr many moons ago. I carry it as a good vibes coin.

As I have been enjoying this watch for about a month or so, and I have to say that the dial is hands down my favorite detail. The hands are proportioned to the dial exactly how I prefer them to be. Allow me to elaborate further on this topic. I prefer when the tip of the hour hand grazes the hour markers while the minute hand extends almost to the outer edge of the markers. Ideally I prefer the second to reach the seconds track but extend just into it so that there’s a bit of overlap. That overlap allows timing to the second much easier. Though the Safari’s second doesn’t quite overlap, it’s still a good length.

I included the above golden hour lume shot for you all to see how insane this lume is. I will include a lume shot that will be shot in pure darkness at the end of this review.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with this Boldr T-Rex Safari/Nitecore collaboration watch. Bold nailed the whole grab n’ go concept with this one. It’s an ideal summer beater watch that you can strap on your wrist and forget about until you need it. It’s a fun watch to wear. It’s extremely comfortable and has a great stealthy wrist presence.

This kit comes in at a frog hair under $500 which I think is a great deal considering what you get. You get the watch on a bracelet, the Nitecore TINI Il torch, and two glow in the dark Velcro patches. For me, the highlights of this watch are the lume, the T-Rex skull dial and the handset. The EDC torch/flashlight was definitely a draw for me as well.

As I wrap up my review of the watch, it appealed to me on a few different levels. First off, it’s an affordable grab n go watch that can handle the abuse. I know some people get upset when they sustain some scratches on their watch. This watch was made for that ASA (adventure sustained abuse) and without breaking your wallet. This watch also appealed to me because of the dinosaur theme. I’ve been obsessed with dinosaurs since I was a kid. I think Chris Pratt should have worn this watch for the Jurassic World movies.

I appreciate the EDC gear that came with this watch. It made this kit very appealing to me. The Nitecore TINI II has now replaced my Eagtac flashlight as my everyday carry torch. I love how it is exactly what the name implies, tiny! The battery life display screen just adds to the why I want to carry this and not the Eagtac. The Eagtac is a great flashlight but seeing how much battery life is left before I need to charge it is so damn helpful. It always sucked when my Eagtac would just die mid-use. The glow in the dark patches go perfectly on my Notorious EDC AGP! If you have a Velcro pouch, these would definitely be a cool addition.

The bracelet is an added bonus to this watch. It’s a pretty standard bracelet and clasp but I like that Boldr added some flair to the buckle with the crack/lightning bolt. The watch wears extremely comfortable on the wrist, both on the bracelet, a NATO and a custom leather strap. I don’t like doing wrist shots for a number of reasons, but the more important reason of why I don’t is that I never liked seeing a watch on someone else’s wrist because it skewed my imagining the watch on my wrist. Maybe I am the weird exception here or maybe others feel that way too. I like to highlight the details of a watch without my hairy arm impeding upon the picture.

Thank you all for reading. See you next month!

Thank you to Boldr and Nitecore as well!

About Nitecore:

“Nitecore has a global distribution network covering more than 100 countries and regions. And a dedicated service center in Singapore means you don’t have to worry about faulty lights and warranty claims.

Nitecore is the only flashlight brand that has won all 4 international prestigious product design awards: Grand-slam award winner of the American International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), German iF Design Award, Red Dot Design Award and the Japanese G-Mark (Good Design). This means we’re always on the cutting edge of flashlight technology, and you are too when you own a Nitecore light.

With over 100 technology patents, Nitecore lights and chargers can never be replicated by competitors, and are completely unique in every market. So the next time you hold a Nitecore in your hands, know that countless hours of research, development, and user testing has gone into it, including multiple technology patents.”