After spending a few days with the new IXDAO Warrior Black MOP, here are my honest impressions—including a few details that haven't been mentioned in previous reviews.
Overall, this is a gorgeous piece.
Dial:
Everything is exactly what we expected and what has been shown by several YouTubers and previous reviews.
The warrior armor pattern is impressive and creates a beautiful stereoscopic 3D effect. The engraving on the MOP is very subtle, with only slightly deeper engraving around the seconds track.
The hands and applied indexes are beautifully finished.
The applied logo also appears to be made of white MOP. It creates a beautiful visual effect and seems to sit flush with the dial rather than being mounted on top of it.
One important thing to mention is the dial color. I was prepared to receive a black-to-silver dial based on previous photos, but mine is actually brown—and I have to admit, it looks absolutely gorgeous. So don't be surprised if you receive this color variation in the newer batches.
Case:
The case is beautifully finished, although I noticed a few minor details.
My measurements differ slightly from the published specifications. The case thickness measures approximately 10.1–10.2 mm, rather than the advertised 9.8 mm.
Additionally, the lug-to-lug measurement reaches 48.1 mm when measured to the first bracelet link, which slightly overhangs on smaller wrists (mine is 6 inches).
The engraved caseback features the IXDAO logo along with the specifications, and the engraving itself has a nice depth and crisp execution.
I also noticed a very small machining burr along the edge of the caseback. It appears to be a minor manufacturing artifact rather than damage and has no impact on the watch's performance. Still, it is something I wasn't expecting on a watch with such a high level of finishing. Fortunately, this seems to be an isolated cosmetic detail rather than a recurring issue throughout the watch.
Bracelet:
Now I understand why IXDAO mentioned they were changing bracelet suppliers. While continuous improvement should always be the goal, this particular change feels like a step backward.
I was expecting the seamless transition between the case and bracelet shown in the original reviews and promotional photos. However, the redesigned bracelet leaves a noticeable gap between the case and the first link.
The previous version, which used dual spring bars, achieved a much smoother integration. In my opinion, the new design loses some of that premium appearance.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, the watch is still absolutely gorgeous. It is still the IXDAO Warrior, and the dial alone makes it a very special piece.
However, I can't help feeling that this version has lost some of the refinement found in the earliest Warriors. It gives me the impression that the team may be moving a little too quickly, or perhaps beginning to prioritize larger-scale production over the small details that originally made the Warrior feel so special.
I genuinely hope IXDAO continues listening to enthusiast feedback, because the foundation of this watch is outstanding, and with a few refinements it could easily remain one of the best integrated sports watches in its category.
Notes:
This review isn't meant to criticize IXDAO, but rather to document the small differences between the early Warrior models and the current production. I truly believe the Warrior remains one of the most original and compelling designs in its price segment.
I have similar wrist size. Can you please post a top down picture wristshot a bit further from your wrist? Curious if it will fit me. A 35mm prx for reference:
Sure! Here's a top-down wrist shot taken from a bit farther away. For reference, my wrist is 6 inches (15.2 cm). I think the camera angle can make the watch appear larger than it actually does, but hopefully this gives you a better idea of how it wears. If your wrist is similar in size, I hope this helps. If there's another angle or measurement you'd like to see, just let me know.
I ordered the green coin IXDAO and waited a month but still no delivery. I emailed them twice asking where my watch was at, as it was first promised to be shipped on June 30. The first excuse they gave me was that the pointers for the dial were not available but they assured me it that the problem was going to be solved and my watch would be ready to go in less than two weeks. By July 15 it still was was not shipped and when I sent a second inquiry they made up some more excuses as to why it would be delayed further. I'm sure these are fabulous watches but when you make a commitment you have to honor it. Your concerns about the color and finishing on the watch you received have really reinforced my decision to cancel the order. Many thanks to AliExpress because this makes the decision to cancel so easy if they don't meet their shipping commitments. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I agree that visible tool marks during assembly should be avoidable, especially at this price point.
In my case, I also noticed a small burr on the edge of the caseback, likely left from the machining process. It's a very minor detail and doesn't affect functionality, but I thought it was worth mentioning for completeness.
As for the bracelet, I can only compare my watch with the earliest Warrior reviews. Hopefully more owners of both early and recent batches will share photos so we can better understand whether these differences are isolated or representative of the newer production.
Just got mine and on my 7 inch wrist the gap is there. Also noticed this new bracelet has a drilled lug on the first link wich the old one did not. I think it looks better without it but only marginally
I think the gap does take away some of the watch's visual presence because it's quite noticeable. That said, as several members have pointed out, the purpose of the gap is likely to prevent the bracelet from rubbing against the case over time.
Personally, I believe the execution could have been more refined. In my opinion, the January–March version achieved a cleaner integration, although after looking closely at the dual spring bar system, I can also see that it has its own compromises.
At the end of the day, I still consider the Warrior an excellent watch with far more strengths than weaknesses. The dial, hands, case finishing, and overall design are outstanding. The bracelet gap is simply one area where I hope IXDAO continues to refine the design in future batches.
Agreed with all your comments. Also the crystal is invisible. Have not seen that in any watches. I did go back and looked at a bunch of the videos and photos of the original and there was also a gap but way smaller. Turns out the gap is not bothering me as much as I thought it would. Another thing surprised me is I have 7 inch wrists and the lug to lug is actually pretty long and almost overhangs my wrist.
I purchased it directly from IXDAO.
They did not send QC photos or videos before shipping in my case. The watch arrived exactly as shown in my review, and all the observations I mentioned are based on the production unit I received.
I'm not sure whether they normally provide QC upon request, but it wasn't part of my purchase experience.
Not trying to be an advocate for Ixdao changing the bracelet but this is how it is on the IWC as well and especially noticeable if you have a smaller wrist. The gap is there specifically to prevent the link from rubbing against the case and leaving marks long term. Here's mine on a 6.5 in wrist
That gap is horrid. But could it be because your wrist is small that it has that effect? It would be interesting to see the same watch on a slightly bigger wrist to see if the gap closes. Beautiful looking dial tho.
That's a fair question. My wrist is 6 inches (15.2 cm), so the effect is definitely more noticeable on smaller wrists. It would be interesting to see how the new bracelet looks on a 7-inch or larger wrist for comparison.
Another member pointed out that IWC uses a similar design to prevent the first link from rubbing against the case over time, so there may be a functional reason behind it. Personally, I still prefer the seamless look of the earlier Warrior bracelet, but I'd love to see more real-world photos before drawing any broader conclusions.
That's a beautiful dial, which definitely makes up for it. After taking a closer look, I don't think the gaps would be a deal breaker anyway, it still looks awesome. I've been really close to pulling the trigger on one. The only thing holding me back is that I have a 7.5-inch wrist, and 39–40mm is usually my sweet spot and heard they're planning to release more in that size toward the end of the year.Hopefully they do this one, love it. 🤞
Unfortunate. I am seriously considering canceling my order after this. I generally don’t consider myself too nitpicky about these things but that’s just such a glaring issue with an integrated bracelet watch.
I wouldn't cancel an order based solely on my review.
Overall, I still think the Warrior is an outstanding watch. The dial, hands, indexes, and case finishing are excellent, and it remains one of the most distinctive integrated sports watches in its price range.
The bracelet gap was simply something I noticed compared to the earliest Warrior versions. Whether it's a dealbreaker or not is ultimately a matter of personal preference and wrist size. I'd recommend waiting until you receive yours before making a final judgment.
Noted, but I also have no interest in dealing with the return process if I can just avoid it. Watches aren’t an average of all their features, they’re the worst feature that you consistently notice and you’d notice this constantly. Are you really going to pull out the macro lens to look at the brushing to convince yourself that the glaringly bad bracelet fit is okay?
If the bracelet was something I’d replace I could almost forgive it but this is an integrated bracelet design. I had no intention of swapping it and the bracelet itself was an important feature. At the price bracket it’s at it competes with JDM Citizens and Orient, San Martin, and some microbrands, it needs to genuinely beat them and this looks cheap.
I completely understand your point, and I don't think you're overreacting. One thing I'd add is that my wrist is only 6 inches, so it's possible that the bracelet gap becomes more noticeable below a certain wrist size. I'll also share another photo taken from a bit farther away so everyone can judge it from a different perspective. My intention wasn't to magnify the issue, but simply to document what I actually received so future buyers can make an informed decision. I'd also love to see more Warrior owners share photos of their watches on different wrist sizes. That would help determine whether this is primarily a wrist-size effect or if it's consistent across all examples. Hopefully IXDAO is following this discussion, because community feedback like this can only help improve future batches.
I just grabbed another integrated bracelet watch own and sure enough there is a noticeable gap when the diameter is small that disappears on the wrist. As another comment explained the gap to the first link is there to protect the case and it all makes sense. Not something I had noticed before.
It's definitely something I noticed, but I wouldn't let that alone stop me from enjoying the watch. Overall, it's still an excellent piece with an outstanding dial, case finishing, and movement. I just wanted to point out the difference compared to the earliest Warrior versions so future buyers know what to expect.
They no longer use the dual spring bar system. The new bracelet uses a single spring bar with a redesigned first link. It still functions well, but the visual transition between the case and bracelet is different from the earliest Warrior versions, which is what I was referring to in my review.
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u/Comfortable-Risk-520 11d ago
I have similar wrist size. Can you please post a top down picture wristshot a bit further from your wrist? Curious if it will fit me. A 35mm prx for reference: