VAER C5 Dirty Dozen Ameriquartz – $299 – $419

UPDATE: Congrats to M. Galdeano who won the drawing for the VAER C5!

Enter here to win the 40mm VAER C5 Ameriquartz used for photos in the below review. It’s a simple email and name form, we don’t sell your info, and we won’t even auto-add you to our own email list. Dead line for entry is 11:59pm ET on Saturday, August 6th 2025. One entry per person. Winner will be notified by email, and once we get necessary info, we’ll send the winner the watch we used for the review below. Big thanks to the folks at VAER for sending along a watch for review and subsequent giveaway. As Dappered never keeps press samples from brands, we either have to send samples back, or pass them along to you guys. So yes, thank you to VAER.

Pricing note: Base price on Vaer Watches includes two straps (usually rubber and fabric). Price goes up from there if you instead choose one of the optional leather straps or a stainless steel bracelet.

• model: C5 Dirty Dozen
• size: 40mm width, 48mm lug-to-lug, 10.4mm thick, 20mm lug width
  • Also available in a smaller 36mm version.
• movement: USA-built FTS Ameriquartz 70200A
• water resistance: 100m
• crystal: Single domed sapphire w/ AR coating
• etc: Assembled in the USA. Screw down crown. Various optional stainless steel bracelets, some even with on-the-fly micro adjusters. Utilizes both BGW9 & Old Radium lume.

Some of VAER’s many strap options.
Final price depends on your choice.
(Strap options depend on model and stock availability)

Can VAER even be called a “micro-brand” anymore? Their maturation over the last few years has seen them create and produce an impressive variety of styles, price points & movements, all while providing in-demand details like quick release straps (& bracelets!), models with both larger and smaller size options, and even some American assembled watches running off American made movements.

They got cheap “imported” models. They got spendy Swiss Automatics. They’ve got divers, field watches, and sporty chronos. Small watches, bigger watches, and stuff in-between. Classics as well as colorful outliers. They’ve even teamed up with NODUS to provide an optional bracelet with an on-the-fly micro adjustment.

Micro-brand? More like a unicorn. They’re doing a lot of what no one else can. And their assembled in the USA Ameriquartz powered C5 & C3 Field Watches exemplify that.

American Assembled. Ameriquartz Movement.

The C5 is their heritage military inspired field watch. The classic design and impressive specs combine to make it a perfect GADA (go-anywhere, do anything) wristwatch, which can be dressed up or down, and especially excels in the realm of smart-casual “in-between.” It looks good on a fabric or rubber strap. It looks right at home on leather. And spend the extra coin on an optional bracelet, and you’ll have a terrific (quartz powered) alternative to Hamilton’s Murph… for ~40% of the Hammy’s price.

40mm diameter. Shown on a 7.5″ wrist.

At 40mm in diameter and 10.4mm thick, it’s a pleasantly mid-sized tool watch. Has some presence but not too much. And if you want to keep it seriously classic, their C3 is a more period correct 36mm option. The C5 40mm wears comfortably and not clunky. Each watch comes with a base/standard FKM Rubber “ocean” strap, as well as another strap of the purchaser’s choice. Some of those optional straps have a steep price for the upgrade (steel bracelet +$90, Horween leather straps +120), but there are also a couple of no-extra-charge options too. The single pass “recon” strap shown in our review is one of those. It’s a quality strap. A little stiff at first, but it’s smooth and comfortable and breaks in quickly. The brushed hardware is nice too, with slightly softened edges so there’s no pokey or sharp bits.

Each watch comes with two straps. The standard rubber on the left,
and a second strap (leather, fabric, bracelet) which is up to the purchaser.
All two piece straps have quick release pins for easy swap-outs.

The crystal is sapphire, water resistance is 100m thanks to the screw down crown, and the 10.4mm case thickness avoids the “chonk” some watches can come with. It’s not a razor thin dress watch, but it can absolutely fill that role when on an optional leather strap or stainless steel bracelet. If you’re traveling and traveling light (or just want one watch to do it all while staying put), the C5 is a terrific option thanks to its versatile looks and easy to swap in and out quick-release pin equipped straps and bracelets. Even the lume is cool. Or more accurately, lumes. Two different colors. The C5 and C3 utilizes both BGW9 & Old Radium lume.

Field watch looks, but with 100m of water resistance, 
a screw down crown, and a sapphire crystal, 
it’s good to go almost anywhere (wet or dry.)

One of the biggest selling points for many will be the “USA-iness” (not a word… yet). The C5 and C3 are assembled in the USA, and beating inside is the Mesa Arizona created Ameriquartz movement from FTS Manufacturing. American watchmaking is all but an echo from the past. So for VAER to commit a couple of of their models to not just American assembled but American run at their core, that. is. something. (Sidenote: To offer other, cheaper, “imported” models is just flat out brilliant business. Meet people where they are, right? Give people what they want.)

Assembled in the USA.
Even the movement inside it is American.

The C5 may have heritage looks, but VAER as a brand is thoroughly modern. While much of the watch industry is struggling to adapt to rising prices and whipsawing demand, VAER is producing really good watches at a variety of accessible price points, with the options (multiple quick release straps, different sizes, variety of available quartz and automatic movements) watch wearers are now understandably demanding.

The C5 is a highly capable and handsome example of VAER’s impressive attributes as a brand.

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

–Walter Payton

Men’s style is super loud right now.

And the “look at me” thing has trickled down to the more affordable price points:

Target. J. Crew. Banana Republic.
Giving the people (lonely, scared, and yearning to be seen) what they want?

But it’s a mistake. It’s often sad, self-destructive nonsense. Here’s why.

Wearing excruciatingly loud stuff will draw attention to the wearer. Once they have that attention, they often expose themselves, in that moment, as being nothing more than an attention seeker.

Which will only torpedo their struggling confidence even more, leading their craving of attention to only grow, thus resulting in even less validation and feelings of acceptance… and the cycle continues.

Even the chicken isn’t impressed.

It’s freaking sad, man. It’s desperation. Posturing. A sartorial bridge to nowhere. A brightly suited, designer-logo wearing boy who cried wolf.

And as someone who has had rolling, ego-mutilating, crushing anxiety attacks for years now, I speak from experience.

My insecurities haven’t necessarily manifested themselves in wearing loud outfits. This job and how this website is positioned prevents that. But that’s probably one of the reasons why I’ve positioned Dappered so. Y’know, as a sort of self-regulating preventative measure against stepping out and garnering unwanted attention.

This is what it looks like to want attention but then hate it when you get it.

Hell, even my Doc said it:

“I’m diagnosing you with severe clinical depression. But you’re high performing. I have to ask. Do you hear voices?”

F*cking great. Thanks. Also, no. Not yet at least.

What I’m saying is I 100% understand what it’s like to be the loudest one in the room, and then suddenly realize you’ve exposed yourself as the weakest one in the room.

I might very well be doing that right now, with this post you’re presently reading.

Look, if the wearer of something absurdly (key word: absurdly) loud and flashy truly believed there was a “there” there within them (something to be admired, some sort of capability, something powerful and purposeful and truly “cool”), then they would feel absolutely zero need to draw such intense attention to themselves.

And all it takes is one, small moment. One misplaced exhale, and their entire mental house of cards will come tumbling down.

“Look at me!”
“Okay, I’m looking, now what.”
“Sh*t.”

Dammit lady, get that mic outta my face.

So what’s the solution?

Build and maintain a foundation. One that supports you and doesn’t sabotage you. One that reflects on the outside how you want to feel about yourself on the inside. No we don’t have to look the same. Yes this will all mean different things to different people. And of course we’re all gonna have fun with bright colors and prints now and again. C’mon, I’m not arguing for a universal “blah” uniform.

Yet you want to build a foundation which acknowledges dressing well is a means to an end. Or many different if not complimentary ends. Just avoid the trap of believing that dressing well in and of itself is somehow noble, exemplary, and unique. It’s not.

We all want to be acknowledged. Recognized as worthy by those we admire. That’s how we evolved. Because groups of people who like and value each other, working together, are more likely to survive when things get tough.

But noise for the sake of noise doesn’t do that.

Be known for more than your clothes.

“Where do I even start?” It’s a question that’s often asked by guys who have decided to put a little more effort (or any effort) into their appearance. And it’s a great question. Dappered was created, in part, to catalog and learn from the slip-ups made along the way. It’s not easy. And if you’re not at least a little mindful, you can end up wasting a ton of time and money.

As always, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. These aren’t rules. There are always exceptions, and these are more guidelines really. Also, keep in mind that one can go too far in this whole pursuit of “style” thing. It’s easy to overthink and obsess. Keep in mind that style is a means to an end, not the end, and you’ll be looking (and more importantly feeling) better than ever in no time. So by request, here’s what’s hopefully the most useful batch of posts on this site.

10 Tips for Building an Affordable, Versatile Wardrobe

Colors, styles, and what to prioritize. Making sure all your things can do more than just one thing.

How to dress up without REALLY dressing up – 12 Tips

Because sometimes you want to look better than you have to, without going overboard. 12 tips for looking a little more put together without looking overdressed.

How to buy your first suit

An all encompassing guide to buying your first suit. The mistakes to avoid, where to save money when you can, and the importance of the tailoring which needs to get done after. Plus fit tricks, the risks of online vs in-person shopping, and more.

What To Ask Your Tailor to Do: 4 Basic Suit Alterations

Reference this handy infographic when you’re not exactly sure what areas you should ask a tailor to fit to your measurements. These four basics will ensure you look like you are wearing your clothes, and your clothes aren’t wearing you.

From Oxfords to Sneakers: The 5 Styles of Shoes Every Guy Needs

Pick one pair of shoes from these 5 styles and your footwear needs will be covered for the majority of life’s adventures. These are the essential shoes that every stylish guy needs to manage weddings, job interviews, work, travel, dates, and the like.

Shoe Care Essentials – How to Care for your Shoes (dress shoes, boots, sneakers)

What you need to protect, clean, condition, store, and repair. A 101 for essential shoe care.

10 Things I’ve Learned over the Last Decade of Dressing Well

Over the lifetime of publishing Dappered posts, our editor has learned A LOT. This site came into being because he wanted the clothes he put on his body to match the mentality he was creating about presenting himself well to the world. The style featured on Dappered may not completely resonate with you, but you’ll likely relate to at least a few of these ten observations.

Skimp or Spend? A Buying Guide for Men’s Style

Spending a big amount on an addition to your wardrobe can be intimidating. That doesn’t always have to be the case though. Here’s our guide to choosing which pieces are worth spending more cash on, and which are not.

Three Key Pieces of Advice for Beginners, Intermediate, & Experts

Things to keep in mind for the style newbie, for the guys who have been at it for a while, and for the self appointed style “experts” out there. Even if you’re just starting out, read ahead, and maybe tuck that info away for later use.

• 3 Key Pieces of Advice for Guys Just Getting Into Style
• 3 Key Pieces of Advice for the Intermediate Style Enthusiast
• 3 Key Pieces of Advice for the Self Appointed Style Experts

How many shirt buttons should I leave undone? 1, 2, or more?

How choosing how many shirt buttons to leave undone is a lot like drinking.

The Difference Between a Blazer, Suit Jacket, & Sportcoat

Didn’t know there are differences? This handy infographic explains it all. Then head here for the Top 5 Blazers/Sportcoats a guy should own, with suggestions.

How to look like you should be taken seriously – 10 Style tips

Style choices to make for those times when how you’re perceived is critical.

10 Professionals a Well Dressed Guy Needs in His Corner

As is often the case, it’s not what you know, but who you know. It’s important for every well dressed guy to have, well, his “guys” (or “gals”) who are his go-tos for looking good, kicking back, and staying healthy. Surround yourself with these important pros, whom you trust and like, and you’ll be well ahead of the rest.

How to Dress Business Casual with Style – 10 Tips for Men

Whether working from home on a video call, or your office has gone more casual. Here’s how.

Oxfords vs Derbys & More – Shoe Style Jargon 101

Not sure what makes one dress shoe look a little sleeker, and/or a bit more dressy, than another? Have you heard the terms “Oxford”, “Blucher”, “Derby” and “Balmoral” thrown around, yet don’t know what the heck those terms mean? Once again, we have an inspired infographic to help explain the nuances that set each shoe apart.

The Power of “Boring” and the Danger of Boredom

We are living in the age of relentless novelty. Where “new” has supplanted “good” in terms of what we are told to value. Where there is no greater sin than to be boring. Quiet. Still. But just because something is “something” …that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any good.

The Top 10 Dress Shirts to Own

Dress shirts aren’t made just to be worn with a suit. You can pair them with denim and a casual blazer in the right situation. Look to The Top 10 Dress Shirts to Own for guidance.

12 Basic Laundry Tips to Keep your Clothes Looking their Best

A lot can go wrong in the washer and dryer. Avoid ruining your clothes with these tips.

How to Iron a Dress Shirt

Which parts to iron first, the “undo” button on most irons, and more tips and tricks.

20 Reasons for a guy to dress well when he doesn’t have to (or want to)

Because dressing up is getting rarer and rarer. And sometimes we plain don’t want to. Here’s 20 reasons to give it a go all the same.

10 Common Men’s Grooming Mistakes

We all make them. A few stray hairs here, some dry skin there, or just too much cologne. This post is a good reminder of grooming habits to keep in check. And don’t worry, you’ll get the above picture when you read the post. Or maybe you just did.

When should I wear a Tie? – 10 times you should

Ties are an endangered species in our increasingly casual culture, but when you need one… you need one. 10 times a tie is called for.

What To Look For In…

In our “What To Look For” series, we lay out the attributes that make an affordable garment or accessory worthy of your hard earned cash. Here’s what to look for:

• In a Good, Cheap Sportcoat or Blazer
• In a Good, Cheap Pair of Shoes
• In a Good, Cheap Watch
• In a Good, Cheap Suit

Style Scenarios – Suggestions on What to Wear & When

Looking for curated outfits already put together? Then check out our Style Scenario series. From weekend casual to traditional wedding, or just a cocktail on a patio, it’s good to see a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and personality.

The Suit Style Purchase Priority Guide

If you’re just getting into “suiting up“, but have no idea which styles to add to your wardrobe first, let this be your guide. A suit can be a big investment, so figuring out what suit is the best investment first, and then moving on down the line, can help you avoid making purchases you regret later.

The Versatile Gray Suit, 3 Ways

1. Casual
2. Tieless with a pocket square
3. All dressed up with a tie

A series of style scenarios showing how easy it is to dress up, dress down, and dress in-between with a medium gray suit.

The Fit Priority Rankings

When it comes to looking good in your clothes, fit is key. A well fitting, $250 suit will look 10x better than an ill fitting $1500 suit. But some garments, or areas on an item, are more important than others. Look to The Fit Priority Rankings for guidance on what pieces of clothing look best tailored, and which garments you can get away with not tailoring.

The 3 people who actually care about what kind of watch you’re wearing

This one’s for (some of) the luxury brand watch wearers.

The Best Suits Under $500 – Four Brands that Deliver

Good fabrics. Good fits. From $300 – $500. Bang-for-the-buck brands for suiting up on a budget.

What to pack when traveling light and in style

Plus eight outfits. Getting there, being there, and getting home. All in style.

Repair, Don’t Replace – Getting Your Goodyear Welted Shoes Resoled

Because fixing the things you already own and love is always the more affordable way. What’s worth it, when to do it, and what to expect when you’re getting your welted shoes fixed, recrafted, etc.

10 things a well dressed guy might worry others think about him

Some have unshakable confidence. A lot of us don’t. And that’s okay.

From Gym, to Home Gym – 10 Things for a Great Home Workout

What’s the point of dressing well if you’re neglecting your physical and mental health? Your clothes will fit better, you’ll be physically healthier, and far and away more importantly… you’ll feel better, think faster, and generally have a better outlook on life. So let’s get a sweat on, right at home. Because there’s no excuse if “the gym” is right… freaking… there.

How to Sweat Less while staying in Style – 10 tips

Some of us sweat more than others. And even if you don’t sweat much, dressing well can sometimes be a warmer-than-average proposition. But it doesn’t have to be that way! You just need to know a few tricks. Here’s ten strategies for reducing your perspiration levels while looking your best.

5 Clothing “Fit Tricks” Every Guy Should Know – Illustrated

Shoulders! Handshakes! Hugs (sorta). Because the fit, is it. Tricks that aren’t tricky. Pull up a wall. Let’s lean in.

10 Things that’ll change your look for the better, that aren’t clothes

It’s easy (once you get the hang of it) to create a polished look on the outside by putting on some stylish, well fitting duds. But what about self care that has nothing to do with clothes? Ever heard the saying “putting lipstick on a pig?” Right. You can be dressed to the nines in the best of the best, but that can easily be all for naught if you’re simply papering over the underlying cracks. Use these tips to work on those less superficial aspects of yourself.

12 Little Things that’ll help you look better than 95% of other Men

You have the basics down. You know what to look for in a suit and what to have a tailor possibly do to it. You know you don’t have to dress like a slob in your downtime. You know the difference between a sportcoat and a suit jacket, and an oxford and a derby. But what about that last, little bit, that can help you stand apart from the rest of the well dressed fellas out there? Y’know, without overdoing it. Here’s a dozen things that could help you do just that.

Working from Home: 8 tips for a #Dappered home office experience

The environment in which you do your work, if possible, should be as yours as much as the clothes you choose to wear. Both can go a long way to helping productivity and confidence.

5 Suit styles that aren’t Navy or Charcoal

Suits for those who love suiting up, and want to splurge on something other than navy and charcoal. Where to go after you’ve got the basics covered.

25 Signs you really SHOULDN’T buy that thing you really want to buy

The glaring signals that you should really put your wallet back in your pocket. (Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash)

10 Sneaky, Easy, and Cheap Ways to Dress Up

Dressing up doesn’t always mean dressing to the nines. Being subtle about it is often the way to go. And it’s also cheaper this way! Here are 10 ways to work a little style in on the sly, while also staying on budget.

Why Pursuing Perfect Fits & Impeccable Style is Stupid

In the online world of men’s style where guys post pictures of themselves, things can get “judgey” real quick. So take it with a grain of salt. That wrinkle you see in the shoulder of a suit jacket in a picture? In real life, when you’re actually moving around, it won’t be an issue. Just a friendly reminder to not take all of this too seriously. Enjoy the process of finding your own style, and leave the negativity to the trolls.

How To Wear a Blazer with Jeans

Why it still works, plus 4 outfits: Sharpest, Smart Casual, Casual/Creative, and a special nothing over $100 edition.

10 Things you need to take good care of your clothes and shoes

So you got a bunch of cool clothes and shoes. That’s awesome! But there are a few things worth acquiring that’ll help you keep those shoes and shirts and suits and all that in good shape. Good, easy maintenance & smart storage will do wonders for the life of your wardrobe.

20 Reasons to wear a watch

Everyone carries a smartphone, so why bother wearing a wristwatch? Here’s why.

10 Skills to Master for a truly Stylish Home

From our Dappered Space series. Use these skills to make your space reflect your style just as well as your clothes do.

8 Cleaning Tips (to make it easier)

Another classic from our Dappered Space series. Because having a cool, stylish place to call home is all for naught if it’s filthy.

The argument for dressing with quiet style, when men’s fashion is loud as hell

“The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.” And some of us know that first hand, from our past mistakes.

Double Time: A series on Affordable Two Watch Collections

Double Time is for guys who like watches, but don’t necessarily want a big collection. What we’re going for here are two watches, at different affordable budgets, which as a team can fill just about any style need in every-day life. A casual watch and a dress watch. Those are basically the parameters.

Stop trying for Great. Get good at being Good.

The argument for good, and the argument against great. Great is overrated. Great gets all the publicity. And great is often (always?) espoused by… wannabes. People who love to talk the talk, and aren’t even close to walking the walk. Instead, go for consistent, daily “good”, and you’ll hit “great” arguably much more often than if you would’ve been chasing great all the time. Counter-intuitive yes, but chock full of so much pragmatism that you’ll drown in the efficacy.

Dressing well is a tool. Use it to do something other than dress well.

Getting dressed can be surprisingly difficult. But even when you get good at it, it’s still just knowing what clothes look better on you than others. Use your sense of style for more than just aesthetics. It’s a tool. Go do something with it. The world is your oyster. Get to shuckin’ you handsome devil!

25 Irrefutable Men’s Style Rules

Unarguable, indisputable, unassailable! Especially rule #25.

Why Influencer Marketing is Trash

It’s arrogant, short sighted, and poisonous. I hope they keep it up.