Vaer · Microbrand · United States

Vaer S3 Tradition 36mm

Ref. S3-TB · In production · 2023 · Field, Explorer

Design reference: Rolex Explorer refs. 1016 and 5500 (per Vaer)

Vaer S3 Tradition 36mm, black dial with tan numerals, on steel bracelet
Photo: Vaer
  • Vaer S3 Tradition 36mm on khaki nylon strap
From $179 to $249
  • Miyota GM12
  • 36 mm × 8.4 mm
  • Sapphire crystal
  • 100 m water resistance

Movement

Type
Quartz
Tier
Entry
Complications
Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Frequency
n/a
Power reserve
n/a
Hacking
n/a
Accuracy (factory)
-20 / +20 s/month

Case

Diameter
36 mm
Lug to lug
43 mm
Thickness
8.4 mm
Lug width
20 mm
Material
Steel (316L)
Hardening
—
Water resistance
100 m
Crown
Screw-down
Case back
Solid, screw-down
Bezel
Fixed

Crystal & dial

Crystal
Sapphire
Shape
Flat
Anti-reflective
Yes (side not stated)
Lume
Super-LumiNova Old Radium (25 layers) on dial and hands

Bracelet & clasp

Style
Oyster
Links per row
3
Solid end links
Yes
Solid links
—
Link attachment
Screws
Taper
20 → 16 mm
Quick release
Yes
Half links
—
Clasp
—
Micro-adjust
Tool (pin holes), 4 positions
Diver extension
—

Straps

Strap 1
Silicone, quick release, Included primary black silicone "Ocean" strap
Strap 2
Nylon, quick release, Khaki quick-release nylon strap, the free second-strap choice; the Premium steel bracelet can be chosen instead

Weight

Head only
46 g
On bracelet
—
On strap
—

Prices

VariantConfigurationTypePriceUSDAs ofSource
Allsilicone strap + nylon strapMsrp179 USD$1792026-10-21link
Allsilicone strap + Premium steel braceletMsrp249 USD$2492026-10-21link

About this entry

95% of key specs known. Missing: hardening.

Asian-assembled 36mm S3 quartz with Vaer's Explorer-style 3-6-9 "Tradition" dial: black matte dial with tan numerals and markers, no date. Kept separate from the S3 Field 36mm because it shows no date; the 40mm S5 Tradition is a separate model. Brand spec list: 36mm, 43mm lug-to-lug, 8.4mm thickness (not stated whether it includes the flat crystal), 20mm lugs, 10 ATM, 316L steel, locking screw-down crown, flat sapphire with AR coating (side not stated), 25 layers of Old Radium Super-LumiNova on dial and hands (Vaer lume rating 7/10), 40-month battery life, -10/+20 sec/month, "Assembled in China"; the sizing paragraph gives a "case weight of 46 grams" (recorded as head weight), the same as the dated S3 pages. Movement: the spec list says "Japan Made GM12", a date caliber, while Vaer's S3/S5 Tradition overview says both sizes come "without a date complication", every photo shows a dateless dial and the list omits the "date window" line of the dated S3 pages; recorded as a GM12 with the date not shown, as on the S5 Tradition 40mm, but the caliber could not be confirmed independently. The spec list's "Matte black PVD coating" is a template error: the overview describes a brushed stainless-steel case and the photos show plain steel. Screw-down caseback per the overview and Vaer's 2022 S3/S5 brochure; solid caseback in the gallery photos. The overview calls the lume "C3 Superluminova in an 'Old Radium' paint". Bracelet option is labelled "+$90" but the bracelet bundle is USD 249, USD 70 over the strap bundle; the listed prices are recorded. Bracelet recorded is the Premium Steel Bracelet ("S3/C3 Swiss Quartz 36mm" fitment, code BRVSBR36A as in the watch SKU): screw links, custom-fit end links, quick-release pins, 20-16mm, milled clasp with four micro-adjust positions at the clasp (Vaer bracelet page and FAQ). Vaer says the Tradition design was introduced in spring 2020 (in the C3/C5 USA quartz line) before moving to the Standard Issue S3/S5; the S3 Tradition store listing was created on 1 August 2023 (release year inferred from that). No independent review was found. No hardening treatment is mentioned. The strap bundle was in stock on 2026-10-21; the bracelet bundle was sold out.

Last verified: 2026-10-21. Edit or correct this entry.

Sources