Before diving into the review, I’d recommend reading The Story Behind Walker & Crown: Passion, Persistence and the Spirit of the ’80s. In that feature, I sat down with founder Jonny Walker to learn about the inspiration behind the brand and the journey he and his wife, Colette, have taken to bring it to life. Understanding their story adds another layer of appreciation to what they’ve created.
Walker & Crown’s debut Revival Series embraces everything that made the 1980s unforgettable, arcade machines, neon lights, cassette tapes, bold colours and unapologetic design. Rather than producing another vintage-inspired diver or field watch, the British brand has created four distinct personalities, each representing a different mood from the decade.
The Revival Series consists of four distinct models, each representing a different side of 1980s culture. The initial launch, however, will focus on just two of them, with the first production run limited to 100 Laser Drift and 100 The Clerk watches.
Laser Drift
The model reviewed here. Walker & Crown describes it as “the dreamer” of the collection. With its black DLC-coated case and synthwave-inspired dial, Laser Drift channels neon-lit city streets, arcade cabinets, and late-night electronic music.
The Clerk
The sophisticated member of the family. Featuring a clean silver-toned aesthetic and paired with a leather strap, The Clerk balances vintage elegance with modern practicality.
Memphis Beat
Inspired by the bold geometry and playful design language of the Memphis design movement. This version embraces color, creativity, and pure pop-culture energy.
Electric Lagoon
A colorful and expressive interpretation of the New Romantic movement. Bright, vibrant, and full of personality, it captures the emotional side of the decade.
All have similar Specifications:
- Case Size: 37mm x 37mm with 10mm thickness
- Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel and with Black DLC Coating(Laser Drift)
- Movement: Miyota 9039/9015 Automatic
- Crystal: Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal
- Lume: BGW9 Super-LumiNova
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Bracelet: Micro-adjustable Quick-Release Bracelet
- Additional Strap Included
- Quick-Release System
For this review, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with two of them: the stealthy Laser Drift and the colourful Memphis Beat. While both share the same architecture, they couldn’t feel more different on the wrist.
Let’s see our Heroes
The presentation immediately sets the tone. Rather than arriving in a generic watch box, the Revival Series comes in a boldly designed, colourful presentation case that perfectly captures the energy of the 1980s.
Open it up, and you’ll find one of the coolest details of the whole package: a cassette tucked neatly inside. It’s a brilliant nod to the era that inspired the collection and adds another layer of nostalgia before you’ve even strapped the watch on.
The cassette isn’t just there for show either.
Hidden inside is an NFC chip that instantly opens a dedicated Spotify playlist inspired by that particular model. It’s a small touch, but one that adds another layer to the experience. Every watch has its own soundtrack, making the unboxing feel surprisingly immersive.
Inside the box you’ll also find an additional quick-release strap, a welcome inclusion that lets you transform the look and feel of the watch in seconds. The Laser Drift is paired with a black and red nylon-leather composite strap, perfectly complementing its synthwave-inspired aesthetic, while the Memphis Beat comes with a black Saffiano leather strap for a more refined contrast to its vibrant dial.
Let’s talk about the watches
The Laser Drift is easily the more dramatic of the two.
The black DLC-coated case immediately gives the Laser Drift a stealthy, almost tactical appearance, while the electroplated magenta grid dial injects it with unmistakable ’80s synthwave energy. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the dial is how it constantly changes with the light. Depending on the angle and lighting conditions, the grid can glow with vibrant magenta and red hues, appear much more subtle, or even disappear almost entirely. It’s a playful effect that gives the dial far more depth and character than first impressions might suggest.
The matching DLC-coated bracelet completes the look perfectly. Everything feels cohesive, almost like the watch was designed to disappear into the darkness until light suddenly reveals its colourful personality.
Then there’s the Memphis Beat.
Its white dial explodes with playful geometric shapes in pink, teal, yellow and black, directly inspired by the Memphis design movement that defined so much of the decade. Despite the colourful execution, the layout remains remarkably easy to read, helped by the clever decision to place a circular dial inside the square case which leaves some empty white space on every corners.
It’s impossible not to smile when looking at it.
Despite their very different personalities, both models share a clean and well-balanced dial layout and applied indices. At 12 o’clock you’ll find the Walker & Crown emblem with the brand name positioned just below it. At 6 o’clock, the dial is kept equally simple with only the Automatic and 10 ATM markings alongside the water resistance text.
That said, this is one area that will change on the final production models. Walker & Crown has decided to remove the water resistance text from the dial and instead engrave it on the caseback rim. I think it’s the right decision. It gives the dial a cleaner, less cluttered appearance while also elevating the overall finish of the watch.
Both models feature anti-reflective sapphire crystals, allowing the dials to remain clear while adding durability expected from a modern everyday watch.
One last thing to mention, to ensure excellent legibility even in low-light conditions, the watches are equipped with a generous application of BGW9 Super-LumiNova. Lume shots are never easy to capture, so hats off to the true lume champions out there. I gave it my best shot to show the performance, but it’s one of those things that is always better experienced in person.
The Case
Both watches use the same 37 × 37 mm stainless steel case measuring just 10 mm thick.
The square shape gives the watches far more wrist presence than the dimensions suggest, yet they never feel oversized. The integrated lugs keep the overall profile compact, making them wear comfortably even on medium-sized wrists.
The only real difference between the two is the finish.
Laser Drift receives a full black DLC coating, reinforcing its stealthy identity, while Memphis Beat keeps the natural stainless steel finish, allowing the colourful dial to take centre stage.
One small observation from my time with the Laser Drift is that the black DLC finish tends to show dust particles more readily than bare stainless steel, something I noticed particularly while photographing the watch up close. In everyday wear it’s barely noticeable to the naked eye, but macro photography has a way of revealing every tiny speck.
That said, Walker & Crown has applied an anti-fingerprint coating to the bracelet, and it works surprisingly well. The bracelet stays looking clean during normal wear, with most of the dust and fingerprints only becoming apparent under the unforgiving scrutiny of a macro lens. It’s a small but thoughtful detail that helps preserve the watch’s stealthy appearance.
With 100 metres of water resistance, the Revival Series is perfectly equipped for everyday adventures(from casual swimming to tropical rain and so on). Helping achieve that rating is a screw-down crown, which adds an extra layer of protection against moisture and dust.
The crown itself measures 5.5 mm and is easy enough to operate, though I personally wouldn’t have minded if it were just a touch larger. When I mentioned this to Jonny, he explained that increasing its size wasn’t really an option. Due to the case’s distinctive bevelled edge, a larger crown would have looked out of proportion with the overall design.
The movement and wearability
Both of the watches are powered by the Miyota 9039 automatic movement.
This is a sensible choice. It’s reliable, easy to service and has proven itself in countless independent watches over the years, not to mention it helps to keep the thin profile. With no date complication, both of the watches benefit from a cleaner dial, allowing the design to remain perfectly balanced.
Let’s talk about wearability, because I was genuinely surprised about the comfort on the wrist.
At just 10 mm thick, the Revival Series wears exceptionally well. The integrated bracelet hugs the wrist nicely, while the quick-adjust clasp makes it easy to fine-tune the fit throughout the day.
Despite their distinctive styling, neither watch feels like a novelty piece. They wear like genuine everyday watches, just with considerably more personality than most.
Whether you prefer the dark synthwave aesthetic of the Laser Drift or the joyful colours of the Memphis Beat ultimately comes down to taste.
The good news?
Despite sharing the same platform, each model in the Revival Series has its own unmistakable personality.
Final thoughts
For a debut collection, I think Walker & Crown has done an impressive job.
The Revival Series doesn’t try to follow trends or blend into the ever-growing crowd of vintage-inspired microbrands. Instead, it embraces a bold identity built around the spirit of the 1980s, and it does so with confidence. From the distinctive designs and thoughtful packaging to the quality of the finishing, these watches feel like products that have been carefully considered rather than rushed to market.
Between the two models, my personal favourite remains the Memphis Beat. There’s something undeniably joyful about its playful colours and geometric dial that makes me smile every time I look at it. That said, I can absolutely see the appeal of the Laser Drift, with its stealthy look and playful design.
It’s also worth remembering that the watches I reviewed are pre-production prototypes. The final production models will feature a cleaner dial with even less text, a small refinement that I think further improves the overall design. The first models are expected to become available in October.
I genuinely hope Walker & Crown does well. Jonny and Colette have poured their hearts, time and savings into building this brand, and that deserves respect. At the same time, these aren’t watches designed to appeal to everyone and I don’t think they’re trying to. Their bold, retro-inspired aesthetic is unapologetically niche, which means they’ll need to find the enthusiasts who connect with their vision. If they do, I think Walker & Crown has every chance of building a loyal following.
For a first release, this is a confident and thoughtfully executed debut. I’ll certainly be watching with interest to see how the Revival Series is received once it reaches collectors’ wrists later this year.
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