(1,555 words)
Introduction:
A year and a half ago, the new microbrand Prevail released its initial offering, the Onward. It received much fanfare amongst those who worked in the industry. At trade shows, it seemed that writers, other brand owners, and bloggers could not help themselves from leaving the shows without an Onward on their wrist. Having a greater breadth of knowledge of the industry and its offerings allowed these individuals to immediately recognize that there was something special at Prevail’s booth, which was manned by the founder, Hassan Madras, and on occasion, the brand’s watch designer, Matt Smith-Johnson. From years of exposure to watches, those marinated in the industry spotted the case’s bespoke shape and design and an utterly fresh take on the military watch genre. Its functionally forward design and its two dial variants, which extended outwards to their own bezel designs, spoke to a level of cohesion that watches at much higher prices at times struggle to achieve.
The Onward Future Field Watch in the launch colour way Standard Black
In the real world, this cohesion resulted in a reliable, sturdy, and unexpectedly attractive timepiece. In this article, we will first go over how the Prevail Onward has performed in the last eighteen months, and then we will explore the new variants and how they change the landscape and scope of this model line.
Living with the Prevail
My review over on the Watch Clicker spoke highly of the Onward series of watches, yet it could not predict how much of a success they would be. The metric for success, in my possession at least, relies on how much the watch is actually worn. Though neither of my two Prevails unseated the one watch which I wear on most days, it was with me at all times, ready to be called upon.
I own both the Field and Tactical variants of the Onward, and the Field was the watch which found its way into my workbag for regular use. On occasions where I needed to put on a copious amount of bug spray or sunscreen, my Omega X33 went into my bag, and the Onward went on my wrist.
The Onward was also worn in scenarios where I could easily forecast my arms being submerged in or exposed to hazardous materials. Most of the focus of the fixed lug design is spent on the added security, but not having to rely on springbars also makes these watches incredibly easy to decontaminate and clean. Watches with bezels, extra pushers, bracelets with points of flexation and pins, all introduce additional challenges when it comes to sanitizing your wrist-mounted instrument after an incident or a hard day at work. To be clear, after any incident outlined above, or even after a day of diving, all of my instruments, including my watches, are thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated. This includes all springbars, pins, and screws.
The slightly raised bezel, which gives the sapphire crystal some added protection, made tossing the watch into my bag an afterthought. The Tactical version’s bezel offers more protection with extra ridges which mirror the dial’s cardinal hour positions. The Onward may have gone a week without being reached for, but it was always there, ready to go.
The Rhonda Quartz Calibre 513 movement is the perfect driving force for such a timepiece and my case-specific scenario. The watch never required winding or exposure to light, so it was and is always ready to go. Upon launch, some unobservant account holders on various social media platforms said they would have preferred a mechanical movement before looking at the Onward’s price. Not only does this movement keep the Onward affordable, but it is actually what its intended customers want and use. Every release from Prevail has to be viewed through the lens of the strides made to make the watch as attainable as possible. This was and remains Mr. Madras’ primary mission for Prevail.
In my interview with Mr. Madras and Mr. Smith-Johnson over on MainSpring, they outlined the initial goals for the watch and how it evolved into its ultimate form. From his time in the military, Mr. Madras got to see firsthand what soldiers wore in the field, and what their demands for their timepiece became once their tour of duty was complete. Both the watches in the field and once back home were all quartz. The majority of these watches were G-Shocks, and for good reason. Casio G-Shocks are relatively affordable, dependable, and durable enough to withstand an extended tour overseas. Watches from Marathon, Omega, Tudor, and other mechanically focused brands were rarely, if ever, seen in the field. Mr. Madras wanted to give veterans a durable watch they could wear in both their service and civilian lives, and if they decided to pursue an extended career in security services. Both Onwards comfortably succeeded in their mission, never missing a step, while in my possession and, from what I could tell, among other customers.
There was one factor that arose only a couple of times during my initial review window for this watch, but it has arisen more than three dozen times since. The Field version of the Onward was on my wrist for an extended period of time this past summer, and one of the establishments I frequented had seniors, some of whom were veterans. Every single one of them, sometimes on multiple occasions due to living with dementia, commented that my Onward Field looked like a watch they or those in their platoon would have worn. Mr. Madras set out to make a futuristic military field watch, most evident in the Tactical version, but the Field variant tugged at the nostalgic heartstrings of those in my vicinity.
At first, I thought this was solely due to the traditional field watch dial layout, but the watch’s designer, Mr. Smith-Johnson, pointed out another factor which contributed to this. In most cases, watches that were either commissioned by the military or available for soldiers to buy shared several characteristics out of necessity. Primarily due to cost, the cases of these watches had to be rather simple in their finishing. The all-brushed cases had little to know chamfers or contours, and the dials were kept simple. To meet the $295 USD price point, Prevail had to employ similar manufacturing methods to those used in the case. This immediately drew the attention of onlookers who had served in the distant past at the Onward Field and made it easy for them to see themselves wearing the watch in their past lives.
Furthermore, the manufacturing of the case resulted in all blemishes, damage, and wear of the watch registering as patina rather than as damage to the eye. These Onwards are watches which will gain an immense amount of character the longer they are worn.
What’s New
Not one to rest on its laurels, Prevail has added two new colourways to both its Field and Tactical variants. While the Shadow Grey builds on the momentum of their most popular model, the Standard Black variant, the Sunshine Orange truly introduces something new to the lineup.
The PVD-cased Shadow Grey models come at no extra cost to the customer and allows the Onward to remain discreet. This is safeguarded by the dark grey strap’s buckle also being in PVD. Traditional admirers of the brand will find a lot to love here. Those who purchase the Shadow Grey model will be surprised by how much more compact the watch appears. Visually, the muted presentation of this specific model easily makes it the choice for those who want a tool watch which does not attract any attention.
The Sunshine Orange model took me by surprise, for it is my favourite Onward model in Tactical form. The main design feature of the Onwards, which takes admirers aback in person, is its multi-level dial. This design feature leaps off the dial when in orange. The diminished contrast between the orange and white markers draws one’s eyes to the small shadows cast on the dial by the raised elements. Often, we laypeople rely on strong points of contrast to better define a trait, but different gradations of contrast will do wonders. As seen in this case, it adds a level of nuance that really makes the design choices of the Onward shine. The Sunshine Orange models also benefit from a PVD crown, which further directs one’s attention inwards from the case.
If I were to buy an Onward today to accompany the Standard Black Field model, I would definitely buy the Tactical Sunshine Orange. This new adaptation offers an immense amount of character, which at once retains its tough stance, while stepping away from the military-inspired vibe and comfortably into active lifestyles such as extreme sports, outdoor wear, camping fishing and hunting.
Closing Thoughts:
The new additions to the Onward lineup further expand the brand’s offerings while also highlighting their design prowess by showing the extended legs of a great design. The brand’s first full year in the markets demonstrated a strong appetite for the watches they make. The market has also spoken in support of Mr. Madras’ efforts for veterans through the brand’s donation of a portion of every sale to the Heart and Armour Foundation. It is my hope that Prevail can soon expand on its initial success and potentially bring us an entirely new model. Their vision has proven resoundingly stout, and I cannot wait for it to be further expanded upon.
– Time of writing: January 15th, 2026