When Farer first dropped its Aqua Compressor back in 2017, it was one of those watches I didn’t pay much attention to. But I should have. Between the titanium case and the offbeat use of color, the curiosity stuck with me longer than I expected. Now, nearly a decade later, Farer’s bringing the model back with a small batch of updates that feel more like well-earned maturity than a total overhaul.
The biggest change is something you won’t notice unless you flip the watch over. After years of running Sellita movements, Farer has moved to the La Joux-Perret G101. The G101 has a longer 68-hour reserve and shows up finished to the higher “soignée” grade with a graphite PVD coating. The custom rotor has a brushed golden wave motif, which sounds like marketing fluff, but honestly, it looks good and fits the brand’s detail-first design language. It also sets Farer apart from the usual spec-sheet suspects in this price range.
What hasn’t changed is the case. Still cushion-shaped, still made from grade 2 titanium, and still weighing a barely-there 62 grams. The dimensions feel right at 41mm across and 45mm lug to lug. Thickness is a manageable 12.5mm. This is a real compressor case, too. The water pressure helps seal the gaskets as you dive, rather than relying purely on gnarled screw-down features. That said, both crowns are screw-down and double-gasketed, and the internal bezel mechanism at the lower crown still rotates with satisfying feedback.
There are three versions this time around, and each one lands with a little more confidence than previous runs. The black-dialed Endeavour sticks to familiar territory but adds texture through a new grained surface. The green-tipped seconds hand adds just enough flair, and the pale blue lume on the hour and minute hands plays nicely with the more muted layout. It’s still the cleanest of the trio, and probably the most versatile.
The Ocean Blue version is the outlier, both in color and presence. It’s based on the full-lume format of the earlier Ocean White but trades the light titanium case for one coated in dark blue PVD. Paired with a matching blue rubber strap, it’s the most visually aggressive of the new models. Up close, a wave pattern sits under the lume layer, giving the whole thing a kind of “dive helmet meets design studio” vibe. It works, especially if you’re the type to rotate summer straps weekly.
Then there’s the Hecla in hunter green. This one goes hard on texture with a raised waffle dial and applied numerals at the cardinal points. The markers are Lumicast, which combines Super-LumiNova and ceramic to build out dimensional shapes that glow in low light. They have a slightly chunky look, but in a good way. It’s the most field-ready of the group and the most likely to look good on canvas.
Pricing remains approachable. Both the Endeavour and Hecla come in at $1,295, with the Ocean Blue slightly higher at $1,350. Farer also continues to support the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust with each Aqua Compressor sold. Over £53,000 has already been raised through previous models, which gives this release a little extra substance.
Farer didn’t reinvent anything here, and that feels like the right call. These new Aqua Compressors bring a quieter level of refinement that longtime fans will notice right away. The updated movement, the lume upgrades, the dial textures—each choice feels deliberate and collector-minded. This isn’t about shock value or trying to go toe-to-toe with bigger names. It’s just Farer doing what Farer does best, a little better than before.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.