Fleur De Lis Watch Reviews - An Affordable MoonPhase automatic watch?

Fleur De Lis is a relatively new watch company based in Australia. They have one model I have for review which is currently in stock dubbed the AL-01 which has a price of $435 AUD, and takes slight hints from watches such as the Patek Nautilus and AP ROYAL OAK. The second Automatic Moonphase model is quite a stunning piece and original in design which will be released in the coming months.

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AL-01

​Case

The AL-02 is crafted of solid 316L steel and is entirely brushed, feauturing a diameter of about 42MM across. The watch is certainly well cut and crafted and feels like it should cost a lot more than it actually does in my
opinion. Some nice features are the drilled lug
holes, and large crown guards. The caseback is rather solid and features a unique design which is quite subtle, but still noticeable. The case itself feels like it should be rated deeper than 50M, but that is what is stated from FDL on their website. This allows the end user to get the watch wet a bit, but not a piece id take for a dip in the pool if you know what I mean. Overall, I am
happy with the case cut and finish, and do not really see any errors here.

Dial

The dial itself appears to be a deep grey color and features horizontal elevated planks across. The markers themselves are lumed with superluminova which glows green in color, and is not that bad. A nice detail if you look real close is the printed text at 1:00 “No Guts No Glory”, not really sure what that means - but it sounds cool! Everything is very symmetrical which I do like and I think that is how a no nonsense dateless watch should look. Hovering over the dial is a nice piece of genuine sapphire crystal which really does not give off much glare, and is certainly legible when out and about.

Movement

If you did not notice already the words “Swiss Heart” below 6:00, this watch IS powered by a trusted and reliable Swiss Quartz no date Ronda movement. These are pretty much the go to movements in higher end time
only Swiss models, and for good reason. They are extremely accurate, have a 3-4 year battery life, and tough as nails.

Leather Band

The embossed genuine leather brown band is integrated into the lugs, just as a Nautilus is. It has a decent butterfly deployant which made it really easy to adjust the strap straight out of the box by gliding it into position. However, one must realize this pretty much is your only strap option considering these are custom fitted for this specific model. I can predict they will be releasing different bands in the future as this is a usual request from watch brands that use this method - such as Oris and Patek Philippe. Overall, it is comfortable and gets the job done.

Fleur De Lis Will Moonphase Automatic

Case

The Moonphase is their latest prototype which will be available for Pre-Order by Summertime. This watch is obviously going to cost more due to the movement and quality it boasts ( $690 USD ). The case is solid 316L highly polished steel and comes in at 41MM wide with 20MM Lug widths. It definitely does have a bit of wrist presence, and allows us to read and adjust the moonphase a bit easier due to that.

Dial

The classic quint essential sophisticated mens dress watch, if you want to call it that. The light
grey dial really struck me on this one and looks right at home with its moonphase subdial
at 6:00 and long slender classic hands. The date cutout is quite subtle, but definitely still legible
at a glance. I like how everything is proportionate and no aspect looks too large nor small. A nice detail
is the classic numerals and railroad track surrounding the outer portion of the dial, as well as the long stick seconds hand reaching into the chapter ring. Most will definitely buy this watch for the true moonphase, which is stunning in a bright blue/gold pallet. Finally, a genuine sapphire rests upon this beautiful
classic dial
​for that luxurious feel.

Movement

The Selitta SW 280-1 is housed inside this model which is definitely a not so common Selitta calibre. It has a true moonphase function, a quickset date, hacking, and manual winding. The actual movement is displayed through a screwed caseback and it can be seen in its’ gold color. You can expect around 38 hours
of power reserve while
it beats away at 28,800 BPH. In terms
of accuracy, this example is running at +6 seconds a day which is good in my
​book!

Leather Band Equipped

The genuine leather Quick-release band is quite similiar to the strap on the AL-01 , but toned down a bit. It has a nice supple feel on the wrist and conforms
nicely out of the box. It does feature that same butterfly clasp with a signed buckle, which some prefer while others aren’t huge fans. However, with watches such as this strap changes are common and many do swap out to their own preferred watch strap brand.

Conclusion

Furthermore, I think FDL is really onto something with their newest release which is expected late 2019. They are taking classic design hints from horologically sophisticated and historic brands and embedding that DNA into parts of their watches. The quality is definitely there for the money, and I cannot wait to see what they have to offer us watch geeks in the future. Please do watch the full hands-on video on the Youtube channel.