Vero celebrates Smokey Bear’s 80th anniversary with a pair of forest-ready bronze field watches
Buffy Acacia
Field watches are exactly the type of watches you should take camping. They’re compact, comfortable, legible and durable, perfect for hikes or picking up firewood. But if you’re camping in a wooded area, there’s something else you should keep in mind. Smokey Bear has been the face of the U.S. Forest Service ever since 1944, acting as a consistent reminder to use safe campfire practices and properly extinguish the coals to prevent forest fires. 80 years after his first appearance, he’s been honoured with a depiction on this Vero Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition watch.
The dial
Even if you’re not American, there’s a good chance you’ve seen some of those iconic Smokey Bear advertisements. The catchphrase “only you can prevent forest fires” is truly part of collective consciousness after so many years, and it’s actually America’s longest-running public service announcement. Smokey Bear’s face and characteristic campaign hat have been printed at 12 o’clock on the Vero dial, with “ONLY YOU” printed below rather than any brand name. The symbol printed between the centre pinion and 6 o’clock is reminiscent of the broad arrow from British military field watches, but with extra lines to look like a pine tree.
Aside from the Smokey references, the Vero Smokey Bear is a pretty striking watch. The Arabic numerals are printed boldly, with generous gilt outlines, and the double-lined minute track looks neat and tidy. The vintage-style poire hour hand and syringe minute hand evoke the 1940s styles of Smokey Bear’s origins, and the counterbalanced seconds hand adds another touch of detail. Two matte-textured dial variations are available, the first in a forest-appropriate deep green, and the second in navy blue.
The case
The firefighters of the U.S. Forest Service never wore brass helmets as those in London used to, however, the bronze case of the Vero Smokey Bear still evokes that warm, golden glow that we associate with firefighting. Bronze is a fun material for an outdoorsy watch anyway, as it will form a unique patina depending on your wearing habits and skin chemistry. Its micro-blasted texture helps create more of a tool watch look, and accentuates the small section of polish on the stepped bezel. The shape of the case is pretty in line with the 1940s field watch style, perhaps with more refined edges and an increased size for modernity. The 38mm diameter is a great middle-ground for average wrists, as is the 46mm lug-to-lug length. At 12mm tall, it’s quite comfortable for an automatic watch with 120m of water resistance. For clarity, that means it’s safe for swimming.
The strap
The Vero Smokey Bear is supplied with two straps, both with bronze hardware to match the case. The first is a thick brown leather strap which has rustic stitching across its top, as well as quick-release spring bars for an easy exchange. Spare spring bars are included for the black canvas NATO strap, as well as any third-party straps you may be interested in trying. The lug width is 20mm, so you’ll have no trouble finding other straps which will fit.
The movement
The Vero Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition is powered by a Seiko NH38, which has been one of the go-to microbrand movements for years. Not only are they highly affordable to the extent of being cheaper to replace than to service, but they’re also exceptionally reliable and have a solid reputation for accuracy well within tolerance. It’s a true time-only three-hander with no ghost date position, approximately 41 hours of power reserve, and a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour.
The verdict
Every box a field watch could tick has been ticked in regards to the Vero Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition. The bronze case makes it feel that little bit more special than if it were stainless steel, and it feels like it works thematically with the appearance of Smokey Bear. Considering the water resistance and crowd-pleasing dimensions, there really aren’t any nitpicks to think of. There are certainly much more affordable watches out there that are loaded with the same movement – however they’re probably not made of bronze, and they certainly don’t support the U.S. Forest Service with 10% of all sales.
Vero Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition pricing & availability
The Vero Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition collection is available now from Vero’s online boutique. Vero is following a staggered batch release model, with the next batch shipping on September 3rd, 2024. As mentioned earlier in this article, 10% of all Smokey Bear watch sales go directly back to the U.S. Forest Service. Price: US$824
| Brand | Vero |
| Model | Smokey Bear 80th Anniversary Edition |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) x 12mm (T) x 46mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Bronze |
| Water Resistance | 120m, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Forest Green or Brilliant Blue |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Brown leather strap w/ bronze hardware & quick-release spring bars, black or blue canvas NATO strap w/ bronze hardware |
| Movement | Seiko NH38A, automatic, regulated in the US |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Available now, staggered batches |
| Price | US$824 |