When I first discovered Fathers in 2025, it wasn’t only their watches that caught my attention. I also really liked the idea behind the brand, family, the bond between generations and watches as objects that can carry memories and stories from one generation to the next. As someone who became a WatchDad in 2023, that naturally resonated deeply.

Since then, I’ve had the chance to spend some proper time(more than a year now) with one of their models. The first Fathers I tried was the Horizon Cocktail Attire, which I reviewed previously. It turned out to be the perfect GADA for me. It got a lot of wrist time, came along on plenty of adventures, and was simply a lot of fun to wear and, to be honest, it still is.

I enjoyed wearing the Horizon so much (well, I still do, actually) that I was genuinely curious to try another one from them. This time, I wanted to see what they could do with something a little more elegant, which is how the Meridies ended up on my wrist.

It is a dressier model from the lineup, but I went for this particular colour version because I didn’t want to take the elegant side too seriously. The bright yellow/orange colour gives it a more relaxed and playful character, which I think suits me much better

I’m very grateful to Matteo, one of the founders, for helping me get this model. This is an unpaid review, though, and everything you read here is based on my own thoughts and experience with the watch.

Just a small note before we dive into it: the dial can look quite different depending on the lighting, so you’ll see it shift from bright yellow to warmer, more orangish tones across the photos.

Let’s meet our hero

The Meridies arrived in a really nice presentation box, and it’s clear that Fathers has put some thought into the whole experience. The outer packaging is clean and minimal, with the Fathers logo, and opening it reveals the watch sitting securely on a soft cushion inside a fitted tray.

Alongside the watch, there’s a small booklet introducing the brand and its story, as well as the warranty documentation and information about the customized Swiss Landeron F100 movement. Fathers also includes their “Fathers Promise”, covering the watch with a five-year warranty.

I always appreciate details like these. Of course, the packaging doesn’t change the watch itself, but it makes the whole experience feel more personal and complete.

And then you get to the watch.

The star of the show is the yellow oil-pressed dial. Fathers uses an oil-press technique to create its signature monogrammed centre, giving the surface a subtle texture that becomes much more visible as the light moves across it. The execution is impressive, and the texture is genuinely beautiful, not to mention it gives the dial some real depth.

Depending on the light, the colour can change quite dramatically, moving from a warm yellow to an orangish shade. It gives it a lot more life than a simple flat dial would have.

The layout is nicely layered. Around the outside is a white minute track with five-minute markers, followed by a flat outer section with applied silver indices. These catch the light beautifully as you move the watch around your wrist. Moving towards the centre, you get the traditional Fathers signature design, with the applied Fathers logo at 12 o’clock and the brand name sitting just below it.

The small seconds at 6 is a particularly nice touch. It keeps things balanced while giving the Meridies a more traditional dress-watch feel. There is also a metal chapter ring around the small seconds, with 10–20–30–40–50–60 seconds printed on it. Rather than feeling out of place, I think this detail adds to the watch’s vintage aesthetic, giving the dial a slightly old-school character that suits the overall design really well.

That said if there’s one detail I could see being refined a little further, it would be this ring. Making it slightly thinner could give the area a cleaner, more subtle look while still keeping that nice vintage character.

The hands are another detail I really like. They are thicker at the base and gradually taper towards the tips, giving them an elegant shape while maintaining good legibility. They also work particularly well with the applied indices, creating a nice consistency all over the face of the watch.

Legibility is excellent in both daylight and low-light conditions, with a good amount of lume on the hands and indices that makes the watch easy to read at night.

The Case and Wearing Experience

The case is made from 316L stainless steel and measures 38mm in diameter, with a thickness of 10.5mm and a 46.7mm lug-to-lug. These proportions work really well for the character of the Meridies, giving it that classic dress-watch feel without making it feel too small or delicate.

On my 17cm wrist, it sits comfortably and has just the right amount of presence. The relatively compact 46.7mm lug-to-lug keeps it nicely contained, while the 38mm case gives it enough wrist presence without feeling oversized. At 10.5mm thick, it should also slide easily under a cuff. If, l you actually wore that sort of clothing. That said, the fun dial colour also makes it work surprisingly well with casual outfits, so I wouldn’t feel the need to save it only for dressier occasions.

The case also features an anti-scratch treatment, which is always a welcome addition, especially on a watch that I can see getting plenty of wrist time.

A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects the dial, while the 100m water resistance is more than enough for a tropical storm or a swim in the pool. I’d leave more demanding activities like diving or jet skiing to a purpose-built watch, especially with the push-in crown rather than a screw-down one like on the Horizon. For the Meridies, though, this setup makes perfect sense and the 100m rating is more than enough. As a side note, I’d probably swap the leather strap for a rubber one if I were taking it into the water.

Turn it over and you get a satin-finished steel case back with a glass porthole showing the movement inside(more on that a bit later). The case back is secured with six screws, giving the watch a nice technical touch despite its more elegant personality.

The Movement

Inside the Meridies you’ll find something quite interesting: the Landeron F100, a Fathers-customized version based on the L24S6. It features 24 jewels, runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, and provides around 42 hours of power reserve.

I always appreciate when a brand puts its own touch on the movement rather than simply using it as-is. The customized F100 adds another layer of personality to the watch and makes it feel more connected to the Fathers identity.

The movement itself is beautifully decorated, not to mention the real highlight which is the rotor. It features the Fathers logo, along with a small decorative detail based on the brand’s traditional design. It also carries the Calibre F100 inscription, while on the other side you’ll find the Latin phrase “Omnia Tempus Habent”, meaning “Everything has its time.”

These are small details, but they make a big difference when you turn the watch over. At this price point, I have to say, this level of decoration is genuinely impressive. It makes the exhibition case back much more interesting and gives you something to discover beyond simply being able to see the movement working away.

For a watch with such a traditional and elegant appearance from the front, finding this much attention to detail on the back is a really nice surprise.

The Strap

The watch comes on a fine Italian leather strap with 19mm lugs. The leather works very well with the character of the watch. It doesn’t try to compete with the dial, which is already doing most of the talking. Instead, it keeps things simple and lets the warm colour take centre stage.

The 19mm lug width also helps maintain the slightly more delicate proportions of the 38mm case, so I understand why Fathers went with this size. That said, personally, I would have preferred the more traditional 20mm lug width. It’s a much more common size, and most watch collectors probably have a good selection of 20mm straps at home, making it easier to switch things up.

The Italian leather strap is a great match for the Meridies, and it’s the kind of combination that works well with a shirt or something a little smarter. At the same time, I wouldn’t feel the need to reserve the Meridies strictly for formal occasions. To be honest, I could also imagine this particular version looking great on a beads-of-rice bracelet. I think the rounded, vintage-inspired feel of a BOR would work really well with the case and add another nice option for wearing it more casually. That is something I might try out in the future.

Final thoughts

In this particular version, I think the colour is what makes the Meridies so much fun. It’s not the kind of serious dress watch that you only bring out for formal occasions. The yellow/orange dial gives it a playful personality, while the overall design is still refined enough to wear to an important meeting, a dinner or any occasion where you want something a little smarter on the wrist.

What I really enjoy is how much the colour changes depending on the light. It can move from bright yellow to warm orange tones in a second. It makes experimenting with different lighting and photography a lot of fun, because the watch can look quite different from one shot to the next.

Then there is the movement, with its beautiful decoration and custom rotor. The exhibition case back gives you something to enjoy from the front and the back, and I found myself turning the watch over from time to time just to have another look at those details. It’s a small thing, but it adds another layer of enjoyment to the Meridies.

All of the above mentioned, make the Meridies a very versatile watch. It has the elegance you expect from a dressier piece, but enough personality to stop it from feeling too formal and can be an everyday carry easily.

Most importantly, though, it feels like a Fathers watch.

It carries the brand’s ideas about family, connection and appreciating the moments we have, but expresses them in a subtle and thoughtful way. There’s a sense of purpose behind the design without it ever feeling like the watch is trying too hard to tell its story.

And I think that’s what makes the Meridies so enjoyable to wear. It’s a watch with a serious side, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously and in this colour, that’s exactly what I love about it.

Specification:

• Case: 316L stainless steel with anti-scratch treatment
• Dimension: 38mm (46.7mm lug to lug) and 10.5mm thick
• Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Dial: Oil-pressed Yellow dial with Fathers monogram
• Movement: Fathers-customized Landeron F100, based on L24S6
• Water resistance: 100m / 10 bar
• Strap: Fine Italian leather
• Price: 1040 USD

Link to the wathces:
https://fatherswatches.com/en/collections/small-seconds-always