The Farer 36mm Three Hand Collection Review

TL;DR: Farer's 36mm Three Hand collection delivers exactly what the brand does best — distinctive design and confident colour — in a case size collectors have been asking for. The La Joux-Perret G101 movement with 68-hour power reserve punches above the Sellita-powered competition at this price. The Discovery Red is the standout variant. Honest criticisms: 50m water resistance feels conservative for £925, and the collection won't convert anyone who doesn't already appreciate Farer's aesthetic. But if you're after a well-made 36mm piece with genuine personality, this is a strong option in a segment that's mostly playing it safe.

Farer has built its reputation on colour and confidence. While other brands default to black and blue dials, this British independent releases watches in burnt orange, seafoam green, and deep burgundy — and makes them work. We've recommended them in our [microbrand guide] for exactly this reason: they look like nothing else at their price point, and they back the design up with real build quality.

The new 36mm Three Hand collection continues that approach while addressing something people have been asking for: a smaller case size. If you've been waiting for Farer to scale down, or if you simply prefer the proportions of a 36mm watch, this delivers.

The Case for 36mm

The market has shifted. Where 40mm+ was the default five years ago, serious collectors increasingly appreciate moderate sizes — watches that sit on the wrist rather than dominate it. Farer's previous three-hand offerings came in 39.5mm or above. The 36mm collection is a direct response.

The smaller case genuinely changes the proposition. A three-hand layout — hours, minutes, seconds, nothing else — benefits from tighter proportions. There's less empty dial space demanding visual complexity to justify itself. The design language that made Farer popular reads cleaner at this size.

Specs: What You're Getting

Case: 36mm diameter, 41.2mm lug-to-lug, 10.4mm thickness, 20mm lug width. Polished steel bezel, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, exhibition caseback. Water resistance rated at 50m.

Movement: La Joux-Perret G101 automatic. 4Hz (28,800 vph), 24 jewels, 68-hour power reserve.

Price: From £925 on Farer's website, with choice of leather strap, rubber strap, or Milanese bracelet.

Available variants: Discovery Red, Black Velvet, Resolute Sorbet, Erebus, and Universal.

The Movement: La Joux-Perret G101

The LJP G101 is where this collection separates itself from most of the competition at this price. This isn't a Sellita SW200 or a Miyota 9015 — it's a step up, and you can feel the difference.

The 68-hour power reserve is the headline figure. Leave it on the desk Friday evening, pick it up Monday morning, and it's still running. That's nearly three full days of running time — a genuine practical advantage over the 38–42 hour reserves common in this segment.

Through the exhibition caseback, the finishing is respectable: brushed surfaces, bevelled edges that catch light, and a decorated rotor. It's not haute horlogerie, and nobody's pretending it is. But it rewards inspection in a way that a Sellita or Miyota viewed through a display back simply doesn't. The LJP choice signals that Farer is positioning above the crowd, and at £925, the movement alone justifies serious consideration.

For comparison, Christopher Ward uses the Sellita SW200 in their similarly-priced pieces — a proven workhorse, but with shorter power reserve and less refined finishing. The LJP gives Farer a tangible technical edge at the same money. Where Christopher Ward wins is brand maturity and the breadth of their range. Different strengths.

The Variants: Which One to Buy

Discovery Red is the one most people will be drawn to, and for good reason. Deep red sunburst dial, applied baton markers, syringe hands filled with Super-LumiNova, Arabic numeral at 12. This is Farer doing what Farer does — a colour that would never survive a marketing committee at a bigger brand, executed with enough restraint that it works for daily wear rather than just Instagram photos. If you already own conservative pieces and want something with personality in the rotation, this is the one.

Black Velvet takes the opposite approach. Matte black dial with a velvet-like texture that absorbs light rather than reflecting it. The polished applied indices pop against the dark surface in a way they wouldn't against a glossy black dial — it's a more interesting execution of "black" than you'd expect. This is the variant for people who like Farer's design philosophy but need something that works in a suit without drawing comments.

Universal offers the most restrained colourway for collectors who want the case construction and movement quality without the bold colour. Makes more sense as a first serious watch or as a daily wearer in professional settings.

Resolute Sorbet and Erebus round out the collection with additional personality. The Sorbet leans playful; Erebus goes darker. Between the five variants, most people will find something that fits their wardrobe.

How Does 36mm Actually Wear?

Diameter is only half the story. The 41.2mm lug-to-lug measurement is what determines how the watch sits on your wrist — and at that figure, this works comfortably from about 6-inch wrists upward.

The 10.4mm thickness keeps it from feeling chunky. The lugs curve toward the wrist rather than sticking out flat, which matters more than most people realise for day-to-day comfort. This isn't a larger watch scaled down awkwardly to hit a number; it's designed for this size from the ground up.

On a 7-inch wrist, it reads refined rather than small. Those coming from 40mm+ pieces may need a day or two to adjust, but most people adapt quickly and don't go back. Anyone already wearing vintage pieces will find these proportions immediately familiar.

Bracelet and Strap Options

Available with leather strap, rubber strap, or a steel Milanese bracelet — all at the same £925 price, which is a nice touch. Most brands charge extra for the metal option.

The Milanese mesh works well with certain variants, secured with a butterfly clasp. Leather options use the Granolo leather strap — textured calf leather that develops character over time. Quick-release spring bars on all options mean tool-free swaps in seconds, which matters when the same watch is doing office duty during the week and casual wear on weekends.

Honest Criticisms

50m water resistance is conservative. At £925, most competitors offer 100m. You can wash your hands and get caught in the rain, but you're taking it off before the pool. For a daily wearer at this price, that's a compromise worth acknowledging. If water exposure matters to you, Christopher Ward's Sealander at similar money offers 100m with a screw-down crown.

The aesthetic is polarising by design. Farer's colour confidence is also its limiting factor. The Discovery Red is stunning — but it won't suit everyone's wardrobe, and the brand's visual identity means even the "restrained" variants have a specific look that you either connect with or don't. This isn't a criticism so much as a reality: try before you buy if possible, or make sure you've seen the dial in varied lighting via owner photos rather than just studio shots.

Bracelet quality is good, not great. The mesh and link options are perfectly adequate for the price, but they don't match the refinement of Christopher Ward's bracelets at comparable money. The watch is better than the bracelet, which is a common issue in this category and not unique to Farer.

The Verdict

If you want a 36mm daily wearer with personality and you don't need serious water resistance, buy the Discovery Red. It's the pick of the range — the variant that most fully expresses what makes Farer worth choosing over safer options. The other variants deliver the same movement, case, and build quality if a different colour suits you better.

If water resistance or bracelet refinement matter more than design distinctiveness, the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander is the better buy at similar money. Both are good watches. They just prioritise different things.

If you've already read our [microbrand guide], you know we rate Farer for doing what most brands don't: looking distinctive without being gimmicky. The 36mm collection reinforces that. The water resistance and bracelet could be better — but what this collection does well, it does very well.

Key Takeaways

The 36mm case is well-executed — designed for this size from the start, not scaled down from a larger model. Wears comfortably from 6-inch wrists upward.

The LJP G101 movement is the highlight — 68-hour power reserve, better finishing than Sellita alternatives, and a tangible step up from what most competitors offer for the money.

Discovery Red is the standout variant — Farer's colour confidence at its best. Black Velvet is the smart alternative for professional settings.

50m water resistance is the main compromise — conservative for the price, and worth considering if daily water exposure matters to you.

Christopher Ward is the closest competitor — CW wins on bracelet quality and water resistance; Farer wins on design distinctiveness and movement spec. Both are good choices for different reasons.

Price: £925 with choice of leather, rubber, or Milanese bracelet at no extra cost. Strong value given the movement and finishing.

Handled the new collection? What's your take on the 36mm sizing — overdue or unnecessary? I'm curious whether the smaller case changes anyone's mind on Farer.