TRIWA Time for Peace 2.0 Humanium Watch Hands-on Review: Melting More Guns
If you haven't heard of the Stockholm based watchmaker who is building watches using metal upcycled from molten illegal guns: You must have missed our first review on TRIWA featuring the 'Time for Peace' watch - an elegantly yet rugged 39 mm automatic timepiece that's the embodiment of both toughness and a symbol for peace.
TRIWA has now come up with the second generation of these 'gunmetal' watches, this time in quartz only. How does the 'Time for Peace 2' compare with its predecessor? We go hands-on to find out.
Same Delicate but Strong Features
At a quick glance, the two 'Time for Peace' models look identical in both design and size. Invoking the old saying: "If it ain't broke..." you know the rest.
It has the same 'sandwich' construction where the hour indices are recessed, with 3, 6, and 9 hour markers being Arabic Numerals and a double bar to mark the 12 o'clock position. You can see the same pencil watch hands with lume applied, and the same bright red second hand. The red highlight carries to the date window as well as the decorative red dot on the side of the crown.
The Humanium steel only comes in the standard steel color this time, instead of the slate grey option in the first generation. The unique makeup of the steel doesn't seem to give it any distinguishing difference in tone or sheen from normal stainless steel.
Stronger Emphasis on Peace
Upon close inspection, there's a visible difference in the logo on the watch face, this time made bigger and bolder than the first. The back of the watch also features a large 'Humanium metal logo', instead of the words 'TIME FOR PEACE' in the first generation.
Miyota Quartz movement
Though the first Time for Peace watch we reviewed was the HU39GUS that featured a Miyota 9015 automatic movement, the Time for Peace 2 is exclusively available with a Miyota 1S13-3H Quartz movement only.
The advantage the quartz movement has over the automatic is obvious: accuracy, a slightly lighter weight (Which can only be noticed if you put the two watches side by side), and of course affordability at $249 MSRP.
TRIWA did not cut corners however even with a quartz watch, as the crown still features a screw in design as does the automatic model, which should improve the water resistance performance.
Recycled PET Strap for Dress up and Down
The Time for Peace 2 is paired with a recycled PET canvas strap, just as its predecessor was, which I have been a fan of since my first encounter. The strap is quite sweat resistant, much appreciated for watch wearers like me who struggle with sweat issues. The fact that the canvas is made of recycled PET plastic that minimizes its environmental impact makes it even better. It makes you wonder why more watchmakers aren't using this type of strap that seems like a winner in both function and aesthetics.
The canvas straps have the profile of leather dress watch straps, a great look for both semi-formal and casual occasions. With a change of a strap, the TRIWA Time for Peace 2 won't have any trouble passing for a formal dress watch, making them a versatile timepiece to wear on business trips.
Final Verdict
For business travelers, reliability, versatility, durability and portability is what you want to look for in a timepiece, and the TRIWA Time for Peace 2 ticks all the boxes above. The Humanium case is the bonus feature, the symbol of peace also providing a meaningful talking point when meeting new people.
For its simplicity, durability and the story it tells, we are awarding the TRIWA Time for Peace 2 with our Staff Pick badge, as one of our staff's favorite travel watches in 2021.
David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travelers.
