Watch Review: Frank Forta Moraine Collection - Turquoise (A Piece Of Natural Beauty On Your Wrist)

Frank Forta's first release is something breathtaking. Inspired by one of the most photographed lakes in Canada, the Moraine collection captivates the natural beauty of this famous lake and fits it on your wrist. Oh, and it tells time.

The Inspiration Behind The Moraine Collection:

If you have ever visited Banff, Alberta, you've likely heard of or seen Moraine Lake. Nestled in the heart of the mountains, Moraine Lake is a little slice of heaven on earth. A picturesque, intense blue-green glacial-fed lake right in the heart of the mighty Canadian Rockies.

Frank Forta creator Jean-François took direct inspiration from the lake after visiting it numerous times and always being in awe of its beauty. Over the course of five months, Jean and his team travelled to Moraine Lake on multiple occasions to study the changing colours of the glacial-fed lake. The four watches in the Moraine collection best represent the vibrant colour variations of the lake.

Box And Presentation: 

Inside the matte black slipcover donning the Frank Forta name is a black leather box with some nice stitching around the border. A lovely touch. Opening the box reveals the watch sitting on a leather cushion.

Inside the top of the box, you'll find a sleeve with a little placard describing the watch and its inspiration, and a manual explaining how to set the date and time with pictures. There is also a small screwdriver to adjust the mesh bracelet. A nice added feature for those who don't have small slotted screwdrivers handy.

A Dial Like No Other: 

I must admit that pictures do not do this watch justice. The focal point of this watch is the dial. Depending on the model you get, the dial will shimmer lovely shades of blue, green, or both in the case of the turquoise dial.

Depending on the lighting, the watch will shine bright or have a duller, more muted appearance, almost like Moraine Lake on a sunny day as compared to an overcast or cloudy day. It's quite beautiful.

Four Dials To Choose From:

Frank Forta has four colours in its Moraine Collection based off the density of the glacial rock flour found in Moraine Lake throughout the year. The colours (from highest density to lowest) are as follows:

Azure

Teal

Turquoise

Emerald

"What the heck is glacial flour?" I hear you asking. Simply put, glacial flour is a fine sediment from glaciers that has a similar consistency to flour (hence the name). Because of its fine consistency, it can easily be suspended in water, which is what gives glacial-fed bodies of water their vibrant blue-green colour.

For a more in-depth explanation on glacial flour, check out this article.

Case And Strap: 

The cases of all Moraine Collection Frank Forta watches measure in at 42mm in diameter, 10.5mm thick, and a lug to lug width of 22mm. Atop the watch sits a sapphire crystal, which is extremely strong and scratch resistant. 

I decided to go with the matte black case which, in my opinion, makes the turquoise dial pop. Silver and titanium cases are also available for all dials.

The crown screws down, and the water resistance of the watch is 10ATM (100 meters). Don't take that as a challenge; we wouldn't recommend more than a leisurely swim while wearing this watch (maybe in Moraine Lake).

If you opt for the black case variant of any of the four models in the Frank Forta Moraine Collection, you receive both a steel mesh strap and a rubber strap. The steel mesh strap does have some heft to it, and I think it looks amazing on the watch. However, I did notice that it is a bit of a hair grabber. More on that later.

I'm generally not a huge fan of rubber watch straps, but I decided to put on the rubber strap for a day. My arm didn't sweat like I expected, and it was quite comfortable. I would still prefer to keep the watch on the mesh strap, but the addition of a rubber strap is a nice little bonus.

Both straps have quick release spring bars, which makes swapping between them a breeze. This also means you don't need to invest in a spring bar removal tool.

Movement: 

Inside the Moraine Collection case sits a reliable Ronda 705 quartz movement. These movements run off a single 371 watch battery and have five years of battery life.

Jean, the founder of Frank Forta, told me that the company uses the gold-plated Swiss variant of the Ronda 705 movement that contains five jewels.

As far as quartz-driven microbrand watches go, this is an excellent choice when taking the overall price into account. You get a dependable movement inside an incredibly beautiful watch.

Negatives: 

As I mentioned earlier, the steel mesh strap is a bit of a hair puller. I, myself, do not have hairy arms, but I did notice it tug a few times. Perhaps I had the strap sized too loosely. This isn't a deal breaker as the watch would look good on a leather strap, or even sailcloth for an extra adventurous look.

The only other issue I have with the watch is with the date window. Personally, I'd go without it and just let the breathtaking dial be the entire focal point, but since there is a date window, we must address it. I find this window to be a bit on the smaller side, which makes it difficult to read at a quick glance.

Summary

Frank Forta has truly encompassed the natural beauty of Moraine Lake in their Moraine Collection series of watches. Even better, this beauty can now fit on your wrist. For a 42mm watch with a quartz movement, 10ATM water resistance, top-notch packaging, and a stunning dial, the Moraine watch is worth checking out.

Compared to other watches in its price range, its overall quality and design put it above the competition.

A watch of this caliber and beauty should be double the price, but you can save an extra 15% by using our Esteemed Gentleman associated link by CLICKING HERE. The discount will be applied at checkout. This discount code can be combined with any sale Frank Forta may be running.

*Disclaimer: the link above is an affiliate link. If you purchase a Frank Forta watch using the link, We make a small commission. It helps us continue to create articles and keep the website running.

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