I did it “my way”
As someone who loves tech, I’m a big fan of customization and the ability to make something truly “mine.” Everything I use daily is customized to my preferences: my phone, my PC and laptop, my mechanical keyboard, and basically every peripheral I use. If an object can be unique, 10/10 times, I’ll change it to make it my own. In terms of watches, we can change straps, of course, and a new strap can feel like a completely different watch, but what about changing the case colour too? The folks at Liberum allowed me to check out the DMD 001, a modular watch that can change both strap and case options thanks to the implementation of quick-release spring bars and two simple screws.
While the DMD 001’s aesthetics caught my eye, the story of how the brand came into existence touched my heart and made it more remarkable. As many know, I’m often connected to watches with great stories, and the story behind the birth of Liberum is fantastic.
This brand was inspired by my son Mattia Libero, who was caught in the summer of 2021 coloring with different colors a watch he found inside a drawer during a summer day. When I saw him and asked for an explanation I could see he felt half guilty, but was also half proud of himself. He said to me while laughing: “but why can’t you change when you want the color to leave those things under the glass anyway?” That’s where the idea clicked.”
–Liberum Watches
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Key Features of the Liberum DMD001
Long story short, I was excited to check out the watch before it got in my hands, and once it arrived, I couldn’t wait to switch out the case and strap options to see how each colour looked on my wrist. Liberum offers two dial colours (black and white) and seven case and bracelet options (Grey stock, brown, blue, electric blue, green, red and lime). I was lucky enough to get the Electric Blue and Lime variants; as I said in previous articles, vibrant colours are starting to find me, and I’m here for it. Now, you might ask yourself, how do you change the cases?
It’s as simple as undoing the two screws. If you remove the straps, you’ll see two screws underneath. If you remove those screws, that allows the inner case, which houses the dial and the movement, to be removed from the outer case, and you can swap cases with ease!
When I put the DMD 001 on my wrist, it gave a vibe similar to a G-Shock, specifically a CasiOak: comfortable and rugged. It felt like a watch I could wear daily, and its overall dimensions allow for a comfortable wearing experience. The watch features a 42mm Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) case with a 49mm lug-to-lug. This flexible material combines rubber and plastic compounds, allowing for a soft, durable, reliable material and an excellent
choice for a watch case.
Paired with the TPE case is a 20mm Polyurethane (PU) strap, which feels soft and supple and forms on the wrist quickly. Overall, the DMD 001 is exceptionally comfortable, wears closer to 40mm and sits relatively flat on the wrist, giving a great, budget-friendly sports/daily watch experience.
Specs
| Case | 316L Thermoplastic Elastomer 42mm Diameter 49mm Lug to Lug 11.9mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal White Dial Printed Indices Baton Handset C1 Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Seiko NH35 24 Jewels 21 600bph 41-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Polyurethane Strap |
Liberum DMD 001
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Quibbles
My quibble is short and sweet: the strap. Yes, it’s comfortable, but those with a smaller wrist may struggle. As I wear it now, I’m on the last hole of the strap, and there’s still some wiggle room, so those with wrists smaller than 6.75” may have difficulty wearing the DMD 001.
Final Thoughts
The Liberum DMD 001 is a great watch. It uses durable case and strap materials to create a watch suitable for daily wear. I thought I’d leave the good stuff for the end. As I mentioned, the watch is a fantastic budget-friendly option, retailing for $180 ($245 CAD). Additional case and strap combos cost $29 ($39 CAD), and I should mention you can’t buy the straps and cases separately; it’s only $29 for both. An automatic watch with a reliable movement, 100m of water resistance, sapphire crystal and fun for under $200? I think it speaks for itself. For more information or to order one, please check out Liberum.
