Vario Versa – A fun, yet serious dress watch

Few watch brands are bold enough to craft true dress watches these days, especially the timelessly small ones on leather straps. Vario, however, took that risk—and it’s paying off.

The last time I came across such a standout dress watch from a microbrand was the Lorier Zephyr, which I’ll be reviewing soon. But Lorier might have some serious competition with the Vario Versa, a watch that’s just as refined, if not even more distinctive!

So, here’s my honest take on the Vario Versa.

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. Dual-dial design offers versatility for both casual and formal occasions.
2. High-quality 316L stainless steel case with polished and brushed finishes.
3. Durable sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
4. Excellent value for the price, with two Swiss quartz movements.
5. Comfortable Italian leather strap with quick-release pins.
6. Long battery life of up to 6 years.
7. Fun and unique flip case mechanism.

Cons:

1. Slightly bulky case due to the flip mechanism, adding extra height.
2. Painted blue hands on the white dial lack a uniform blue sheen.
3. Strap length may be too short for larger wrists (above 18cm).

Packaging

The packaging of the Vario Versa isn’t what you might expect from a dress watch—nothing overly fancy or extravagant. 

That said, it’s far from cheap. In fact, it’s quite practical. The small travel pouch is incredibly durable, with a hard shell that offers solid protection for any watch in your collection, perfect for traveling. You can wear one watch and safely carry a spare without worry.

For this price range, I think it’s a smart choice. To me, it’s either a luxurious box or a functional travel pouch—anything in between just feels unnecessary.

Design

Alright, let’s dive into the design of the Vario Versa. Where to begin?

Before we get into the standout feature—the flip case—let’s talk about the overall look.  

Aesthetically, this watch exudes a strong 1930s-40s gentlemanly vibe, back when smaller, refined dress watches were the norm, and sports watches hadn’t yet taken off. Wearing this timepiece makes me feel like I should be sipping scotch, puffing on a cigar, and listening to some old-time jazz.

I went with the black-and-white dial for the contrast. The black side, with its visible screws and numerals, feels slightly sportier, while the white dial is much more suited for formal occasions, pairing perfectly with a shirt and blazer—and no screws in sight on that side.

Of course, mine is one of the more classic, dressy options. But if you’re after a splash of color, Vario offers other models with more vibrant dials, along with the standard black or white.

In terms of size, it’s almost perfect for a traditional dress watch—not too small, not too large. My only minor gripe is the height of the case, but given the dual movements and two dials, it’s tough to make something this slim without hiking up the price.  

Functionally, the flip case is easy to use and convenient. It’s not quite as effortless as a JLC Reverso, but those are far more complex and expensive. To switch dials, just take off the watch, flip it, and fasten it again—a task made simpler by the deployment buckle.

Overall, I’d say Vario really nailed it with this design, both in form and function.

Quality

Overall, the quality of this watch is truly impressive for the price point. There are a few minor details that could be improved, and honestly, I’d be willing to pay a bit extra to see those adjustments made.

Case and crown

The case is beautifully polished, with a strong and noticeable distinction between the two finishes. The sides of the case are brushed, while everything you see from the top when checking the time has a sleek, polished finish.

When you flip the case, the interior finishing isn’t quite as refined, but that’s understandable since it’s only visible during the flip and doesn’t impact the overall look.

As for the crown, there’s nothing particularly standout, but it gets the job done well. It’s a bit hidden, tucked partially inside the case, but still easy to pop out when needed. It has a satisfying click and is easy to turn using your thumb, extending just enough from the dial to make it functional without being obtrusive—a smart design choice for usability.

Dial & Hands

Both dials on the Vario Versa are impressively well-executed, especially when viewed up close. 

Each dial is set beneath a square, flat sapphire crystal with an inner AR coating. While the anti-reflective coating doesn’t make a huge difference in visibility, I do appreciate the shine the flat sapphire provides—it gives off a similar sleek look to many Rolex models, which also feature flat sapphire crystals.

The printing is crisp, with the white enamel dial standing out in particular. There’s a subtle curvature to the print, giving it a rounded, shiny texture that isn’t immediately visible to the naked eye but becomes clear under a loupe.

Now, let’s talk about one of the few issues I have with this watch: the hands.

While the hands are well-shaped and relatively thin, the problem lies in the finishing. On the white dial, the blued hands are clearly painted, and it’s noticeable. The sides lack the same blue sheen as the top, which is a common issue when hands are painted rather than heat-blued.

On the darker dial, the hands are coated in white paint, but the minute hand has a small imperfection where a bit of paint sticks up in the center. 

Luckily, both of these issues are barely noticeable to the naked eye, given the watch’s compact size. So while my complaints may seem petty, I felt it was important to point them out. That said, they don’t take away from the overall charm and quality of the watch.

That said, you’re still getting excellent value for your money here. However, I’d gladly pay a premium for heat-blued hands and slightly better execution on the painted ones. After all, the hands are the essential part of telling the time.

Strap & Buckle

The leather strap that comes with the Versa is top-notch—supple yet sturdy, with a nice thickness and strong black-on-black stitching. 

I particularly love how it tapers down to a slim width at the bottom of my wrist, making the watch feel less bulky. That’s especially helpful, as square watches tend to look and feel larger than they are.

For the price of this watch, the quality of the leather strap is impressive. It even includes quick-release pins, making it super convenient to swap out straps.

The standard pin buckle is nothing special, but I really like the deployment clasp. It’s a generic design, but it works well with the watch, especially for easily switching between the two dials. 

I’d highly recommend opting for the deployment clasp for this very reason. It also helps balance out the heft of the watch, which is a bit heavier than your typical dress watch due to its functionality.

Movement

The Vario Versa uses two Ronda Slim Tick 1062 movements, which are excellent choices for this design. Not only are they slim enough to fit two stacked movements, but they’re also of repairable quality—meaning no plastic parts, and they can be serviced, a rare feature in many modern quartz movements.

These movements also boast an impressive battery life of up to six years, so you won’t need to worry about changing batteries too often. 

Given the watch’s unique design, replacing the batteries is a bit more of a hassle compared to other watches, but most watchmakers should still be able to handle it without any issues.

On the wrist

The Vario Versa sits comfortably and stylishly on my 17 cm wrist. As I mentioned earlier, the size of this watch is ideal for a dress piece, though it does have a bit of added height due to the complexity of its design.

I’d say this watch could comfortably fit wrists as small as 15 cm and up to around 18 cm or more. However, be aware that the straps aren’t particularly long, as noted on Vario’s website. With the current strap, I wouldn’t recommend it for wrists larger than 17.5–18 cm, as you may not have enough strap left to loop through.

Here’s a quick tip: I also found the strap a bit short for looping, so I moved the loose loop to the other side of the fixed loop. This stops the loose loop from sliding off the strap’s tip and adds a bit more visual balance to the overall look.

Price

The Vario Versa is priced at $428 USD or €383, which is incredibly fair considering all the features you’re getting—like the flip case, dual dials, and two high-quality quartz movements. It’s rare to find a watch with this much to offer at this price point.

That said, it’s not surprising. Vario has a reputation for delivering excellent value for the money. I’ve reviewed their Trench Field Watch before, and I was equally impressed by the price-to-quality ratio. They consistently deliver more than you’d expect for what you pay.

Conclusion

Vario has once again nailed it by creating a watch that stays thematically true to a specific era—in this case, the 1920s to 1940s—while offering something truly unique, packed with features and options at an exceptional value.

The Vario Versa is charming, distinctive, well-built, and beautifully finished. It’s also just plain fun to wear. I love starting my evening with the black dial and then, halfway through the night, flipping it to the white dial for a change of vibe—and then maybe switching back again. 

At the end of the day, that’s what’s important about watches—they’re meant to bring us joy and be fun to wear. Let’s not take this hobby too seriously, right?