Vaer · Microbrand · United States
Vaer R1 Racing Chronograph 38mm
- Seiko VK63A
- 38 mm × 14.4 mm
- Sapphire crystal
- 100 m water resistance
Where to buy
Movement
- Caliber
- Seiko VK63A
- Type
- Meca-quartz
- Tier
- Mid
- Complications
- Hours, Minutes, Small seconds, Chronograph
- Frequency
- n/a
- Power reserve
- n/a
- Hacking
- n/a
- Accuracy (factory)
- -20 / +20 s/month
Case
- Diameter
- 38 mm
- Lug to lug
- 46 mm
- Thickness
- 14.4 mm
- Lug width
- 20 mm
- Material
- Steel (316L)
- Hardening
- —
- Water resistance
- 100 m
- Crown
- Screw-down
- Case back
- Solid, screw-down
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Finishing
- Brushed and polished
Crystal & dial
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Shape
- Box
- Anti-reflective
- Yes (side not stated)
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova W20 on dial (25 layers) and hour/minute hands
Bracelet & clasp
- Style
- Jubilee
- Links per row
- 5
- Solid end links
- —
- Solid links
- —
- Link attachment
- Screws
- Taper
- 20 → 16 mm
- Quick release
- —
- Half links
- —
- Clasp
- —
- Micro-adjust
- Tool (pin holes), 4 positions
- Diver extension
- —
Straps
- Strap 1
- FKM rubber, quick release, Included primary black "FKM Dive Strap" (tropic style); a second strap or a bracelet is chosen at checkout
- Strap 2
- Nylon, quick release, Khaki quick-release nylon strap, a free second-strap choice
- Strap 3
- NATO, Single-pass nylon strap (khaki on Cream, orange on Orange), a free second-strap choice (fitted with spring bars)
Weight
- Head only
- —
- On bracelet
- —
- On strap
- —
Prices
| Variant | Configuration | Type | Price | USD | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cream | FKM strap + nylon strap | Msrp | 539 USD | $539 | 2026-10-21 | link |
| Cream | FKM strap + Premium jubilee bracelet | Msrp | 659 USD | $659 | 2026-10-21 | link |
| Orange | FKM strap + nylon strap | Msrp | 539 USD | $539 | 2026-10-21 | link |
| Orange | FKM strap + Premium jubilee bracelet | Msrp | 659 USD | $659 | 2026-10-21 | link |
Variants
| Name | Reference | Dial |
|---|---|---|
| Cream | R1-CRM38 | cream with red, black and cream subdials |
| Orange | R1-ORG38 | orange with black and cream subdials |
About this entry
84% of key specs known. Missing: weight, hardening, end links.
USA-assembled meca-quartz racing chronograph in Vaer's cushion-shaped R1 Racing case; the 42mm R1 Racing and the R1 Oceanracer are separate models. Brand: 38mm, 46mm lug-to-lug, 20mm lugs, 10 ATM, 316L steel, locking screw-down crown, box sapphire with AR coating (side not stated), Seiko VK63, "40-month battery life", "-10/+20 sec/month timing tolerance" (Seiko's spec: +/-20 s/month). Thickness: the spec list says "12.6mm case thickness" and the sizing text "12.6mm in height (14.4mm with crystal)"; 14.4mm recorded. Two Broke Watch Snobs also gives 12.6mm (crystal not mentioned). Crystal shape: Vaer says box sapphire; Worn & Wound (2023) called it a "bubble" sapphire and Two Broke Watch Snobs "single-domed"; Vaer's wording kept. The VK63 has a date, but Vaer's R1 guide says the R1 has no date function (no window in the photos), so complications are set; the 24-hour indicator at 3 is also shown. Fixed steel bezel without scale (Worn & Wound); brushed top and polished sides (Two Broke Watch Snobs); "deep stamped screwdown case-back" (Vaer guide). Lume per the 38mm spec lists: 25 layers of W20 on the dial, W20 on the hour and minute hands (the 42mm page says 15 layers). The "case weight of 70.6 grams" in the sizing text is the D5 39mm figure repeated across Vaer's pages, so no weight is recorded. Every R1 ships with a black FKM strap plus a free nylon strap or a paid upgrade; the only bracelet offered is the Premium Jubilee (+USD 120): five-piece links, custom-fit end links, tapers to 16mm (watch page strap guide), screw links and four micro-adjust positions in the clasp (Vaer's bracelet FAQ for its Premium bracelets; Worn & Wound's 2023 launch report also mentions four micro-adjustments). Lined Horween leather (+USD 120) and, on the Cream, an FKM waffle strap (+USD 30) are other options, not recorded as prices. Worn & Wound reported pre-orders at USD 399 in February 2023 (the 42mm listing went live in October 2022), so no single release year is recorded. Orange added April 2025; its page shows a "Limited Release" banner without an edition size. On 2026-10-21 both colourways were in stock except the Cream with jubilee bracelet. No hardening treatment is mentioned.
Last verified: 2026-10-21. Edit or correct this entry.
Sources
- Vaer R1 Racing Chronograph Cream 38mm USA (product page, technical details and prices) accessed 2026-10-21
- Vaer R1 Racing Chronograph Orange 38mm USA (product page) accessed 2026-10-21
- Vaer R1 USA Racing Chronograph product details and operation guide (June 2023) accessed 2026-10-21
- Vaer Premium Jubilee Bracelet (product page, R1 Racing 38mm fitment) accessed 2026-10-21
- Vaer FAQ, Premium vs Standard steel bracelet accessed 2026-10-21
- Worn & Wound, Vaer gets funky with the R1 USA Racing Chronograph (February 2023) accessed 2026-10-21
- Two Broke Watch Snobs, Vaer R1 Racing Chronograph review (August 2025) accessed 2026-10-21