NTH Subs
By Chester Hopkins
New Brand Gives A
Nod To History
S
hould an homage watch improve on the original? And, if so,
“The Sub is arguably the most recognized and desired of all watch
what would constitute an improvement? For Chris Vail, and the
designs. We’ve always admired it, but with so many homages already
makers of the new NTH brand, one clear element called for an
out there, never saw the point in making one,” said Vail. “Thankfully,
upgrade in their new line of submarine inspired watches – size.
“First we designed the case we wanted,” said Vail, president of
Janis Trading Company in Pennsylvania, which also produces Lew
and Huey watches. “Most sub(marine) homages are larger and thicker
we’ve got some persistent friends. They helped us understand what
was missing, and what we could do differently, at a time when we were
ready to hear it.”
The result is the new NTH brand of seven different submarine-in-
than the originals, many with a blocky shape. We set some aggres-
spired timepieces. NTH is either pronounced “enth” as in Nth degree or
sive goals – we wanted legit water resistance, in a case no more than
N.T.H for Nod To History, whichever your image of the brand conjures
40mm wide and as thin as we could make it, but with an organic shape
up for you.
emulating the curves and lines of the original.”
Originally, Vail and his partners were reticent to take on the sub-
They are all 40 mm wide and only 11.5 mm thick, making them
much lighter and easier to wear than most sub homages. And all
marine genre of watches. After all, the waterfront is littered with brands
come with the 28,000 VPH Miyota 9015, one of the best three-hand
that have dove and never resurfaced after taking the plunge into the
automatics on the market. Prices range from $600 to $675. Available
sub watch depths.
at janistrading.com
Sub Lug View
Sub Crown View
74 FUNCTION | AboutTime Magazine