A great company to deal with! Had an issue with one of my watches. Sent it in. Got it back within 2 weeks. Works perfectly! No charge!
I have two and they are well built!

 

Great to hear when people do good things!👍

 

I read "Torsk-Diver" as "Desk Diver" and thought to myself how brilliant it would be for someone to release a Desk Diver with like, 50 meters of WR and a non-functional helium escape valve.

So you could show off your hefty, shiny dive watch at the office even though you have no intention of ever wearing it in the ocean. 🤣

 

I've had my purple/bronze Torsk Diver now for about six weeks and I think it's fantastic! Fit and finish is superb for the price range and it is running at +3 sec/day over this time period. Also nice to see a young person like Alan who has an appreciation for history.

 

Nice looking watch.

Tsao has done a good job (from what I can tell) of launching a brand and expanding its base by focusing first on building a local reputation. They are located in Baltimore and the Baltimore tie-ins to their products are extensive: from the Torsk Diver named after the WWII-era USS Torsk submarine docked in Baltimore, to the many purple and orange watches as nods to the Ravens and Orioles, and even a line of quirky (IMO) Natty Boh watches that honor the old local brewery. And now working to use steel from the collapsed Key Bridge for an upcoming watch.

The latest version of the Torsk Diver - the OP's picture above - is a great looking watch.

 

He is a very good guy. I have his diver as well and when researching it, I reached out to Tsao with a question and he responded directly. Very nice, very knowledge, and very accessible.

This is how customer service should be for all reputable companies.

Enjoy your watch and don't let that great lume blind you!!

 

That was the amazing thing…….i would have bought the watch just to support him, his company, and what he represents even if I didn’t really like the watch. The unique experience will make it a keeper.

 

Hi all,

I just ordered the Tsao Bronze Torsk-Diver Pro Onyx Black pictured below.

I've been wanting a bronze watch for quite some time but was a bit hesitant so I wanted to find one that looked handsome and yet was reasonable in price.

Very interestingly, I used their websites "Chat" function this morning to see if I could Facetime someone there so I can actually see the watch dial in different lights. Not knowing who I am dealing with, they said "Sure" and gave me their cell contact info. A short time later, I call the number provided via FaceTime and who answers? Alan Tsao himself......the Founder of Tsao.

What a pleasant, insightful person with a real passion for watches. We spoke for about 15 minutes looking at the watch along with the white version in different lights, he explained the strap it comes with, an optional leather strap, and so on. Just clearly a wonderful refreshing young entrepreneur and business man who enjoys direct relations with his customers and has a true passion for making every watch design reflect Baltimore history on some level. Quite an amazing story.

https://www.inc.com/sam-blum/baltimore-founder-watches-steel-from-collapsed-key-bridge.html

One To Watch: The Baltimore Watch Brand Making Movements In Maryland

Alan Tsao has lofty goals for his young company.

www.hodinkee.com

Based on the conversation alone, I ordered immediately a couple of hours ago and can't wait for my Tsao to arrive.

Best of luck to Alan and all at Tsao on their continued journey.

View attachment 18688252

I'm in OZ and purchased a TSAO Founders Edition in 2019, which I still have. I think TSAO were just coming into the market.
I also had communication with Alan and he came across as a nice guy & he couldn't help enough, just love folks like that .
Well here's mine. FOUNDERS EDITION Bronze-Grey No.231. Enjoy your newbe when it arrives, sure nice lookin'.

 

Hi all,

I just ordered the Tsao Bronze Torsk-Diver Pro Onyx Black pictured below.

I've been wanting a bronze watch for quite some time but was a bit hesitant so I wanted to find one that looked handsome and yet was reasonable in price.

Very interestingly, I used their websites "Chat" function this morning to see if I could Facetime someone there so I can actually see the watch dial in different lights. Not knowing who I am dealing with, they said "Sure" and gave me their cell contact info. A short time later, I call the number provided via FaceTime and who answers? Alan Tsao himself......the Founder of Tsao.

What a pleasant, insightful person with a real passion for watches. We spoke for about 15 minutes looking at the watch along with the white version in different lights, he explained the strap it comes with, an optional leather strap, and so on. Just clearly a wonderful refreshing young entrepreneur and business man who enjoys direct relations with his customers and has a true passion for making every watch design reflect Baltimore history on some level. Quite an amazing story.

https://www.inc.com/sam-blum/baltimore-founder-watches-steel-from-collapsed-key-bridge.html

One To Watch: The Baltimore Watch Brand Making Movements In Maryland

Alan Tsao has lofty goals for his young company.

www.hodinkee.com

Based on the conversation alone, I ordered immediately a couple of hours ago and can't wait for my Tsao to arrive.

Best of luck to Alan and all at Tsao on their continued journey.

View attachment 18688252

Oh, you'll love the watch. I'm on my third from them.

I'd get the Key Bridge one, but I'm saving up for a Wempe or Tudor... so no can do, even though it's an amazing looking watch.

Alan does a hell of a job on his designs, and Maryland Watch Works regulates the sin out of the watches when they assemble them.

Since we're sharing stories - when I picked up my Balt-Pilot, it was hand delivered by Alan in Towson, MD - I was visiting my daughter at school there, and we arranged to meet up so I could get the watch.

Wear it in good health!

 

Oh, you'll love the watch. I'm on my third from them.

I'd get the Key Bridge one, but I'm saving up for a Wempe or Tudor... so no can do, even though it's an amazing looking watch.

Alan does a hell of a job on his designs, and Maryland Watch Works regulates the sin out of the watches when they assemble them.

Since we're sharing stories - when I picked up my Balt-Pilot, it was hand delivered by Alan in Towson, MD - I was visiting my daughter at school there, and we arranged to meet up so I could get the watch.

View attachment 18688568
View attachment 18688567

Wear it in good health!

Wow! That’s awesome.

Thank you. I’m sure I will.

 

Met Alan last year at an event he was hosting outside of Baltimore. Top notch guy!

 

Alan’s shop is a couple hours from me. After chatting with him online, I scheduled an appointment to visit. Not a big place, but he’s the real deal. I tried on a bunch of watches and ended up with the Torsk-Diver as well. It’s a phenomenal watch! Two weeks ago, I wore it to a jeweler to try on a couple of Rolexes. They gushed over it. In person, it seems much nicer than the price. I’ll be shocked if you don’t adore it.

 

Surely I’ll enjoy it! Looks great on your wrist. Wear it in good health.

 

Well, thanks to ya’ll & the positive feedback on their watches, I checked out their website. Is there a button below the crown for something?

 

I don't own one, but I don't believe it's a button. It looks like it's part of the case and functions as a crown guard.

 

Absolutely love a brand that cares about their customers and their product!

 

Oh, you enablers....

 

Looks good. The name is a bit odd though. When Italian person would ask you the brand of your watch and you're like Ciao!

 

They're pretty nice. I've bought two for gifts (I'm not a big fan of their watches myself) and very approachable. I've met Alan and his partner at their office before and he's very entrenched into the Baltimore landscape. Given the watches he has done (public and private) I'm not at all surprised he has been given the chance to do one for the FSK bridge. Now if only he could ever get his Old Bay secret compartment watch ever made . . .

 

I've been eyeing the Torsk diver for a bit now, like the 22mm lug width on this size diver. I'm concerned about the thickness and how it wears though. Any owners out there who can comment on the case thickness or have profile pics? Thanks.

 

When I receive it I can compare it for you to my Omega PO 43.5 and my Seiko SLA023……both of which are in the 15-16mm tall range where as the Tsao is 13.6.

 

What micros are all about. Great job Tsao!

 

Alan is a really good guy and it doesn't surprise me at all that you talked with him directly. He stands behind his products and always has time to talk watches. As a Baltimore guy I'm really proud of what Alan is doing.

 

As a Baltimore guy I'm really proud

You could have just stopped there... 🤣

 

Love hearing stories like this. Too often people who don't buy microbrands will spout off why they haven't and will not buy one, for reasons which are real-world sketch, at best.

More often, it's like this - much of the time, you are in direct contact with the owner, usually a fellow watch-nerd, and especially if something legit goes wrong, they will do their utmost to make things right. Yes, there are exceptions, but this has been my experience with a number of microbrands and their owners.

 

 

Saw a green Torsk diver with the bronze case the other day. Might be the green dial watch I've been looking for. Word is, there's an Old Bay automatic on the way. With real Old Bay. Truth!

 

You should use their Chat function on their website to setup a Facetime to see the green Torsk. Very likely Alan will respond and Facetime with you while answering any questions you have. BTW, the white bronze Torsk looks awesome too.

 

Such a cool experience, Getting to chat with Alan Tsao himself must have been really insightful.

 

Unheard of service. Thanks for sharing.

 

I'm in:

Pulled the trigger at the District Time show in DC last weekend. Got to see Alan again and made the deal. Awesome guy and awesome service. Also feel very good in regard to supporting a local microbrand.

 

Looks outstanding!

 

The lume is actually fairly striking on mine (though I'm no photographer):

Even the crown: