Blok returns, and this time, it’s definitely not for kids
Tom Austin- The brand behind the ultimate kids’ watch is back – but this time, it’s not just for kids.
- The Blok 38 is a 38mm watch, capturing all the personality of the kids’ model just with blown-up proportions for big kids (and adults).
- Available in 4 variations, the Blok 38 also upgrades to a quartz GMT movement.
In 2023, a new watch brand was born in the wake of Swatch x Omega’s paradigm-shifting MoonSwatch. Not only did the MoonSwatch remind everyone that watches don’t need to be stuffy and boring, they also reminded us that they don’t need to be made of the finest unobtainum metals to be desirable either, with the MoonSwatch’s Bioceramic shining a light on ceramic and plastic watches. Meanwhile, over in the hills of South Carolina, USA, a new independent brand by the name of Blok was doing something similar, but very, very different.
Blok’s initial philosophy was simple. They wanted to produce watches for kids that would help them learn the vital skill of timekeeping but also have the durability and levels of quality that we, as watch enthusiasts, find so crucial. The resulting watch, the Blok 33, was designed to not only a tool for youngsters but also a product through which watch enthusiasts could help connect their children and families with the wonderful world of watch ownership, teaching them about the importance of looking after something and cherishing it. But of course, kids will be kids, and these things will get bashed around, so it was imperative that the watch needed to survive anything that little hands can throw at them – or the watch at, as the case may be.
The Blok 33 was a cult hit: a tiny 33mm destro plastic watch that was as hard as nails, colourful, vibrant and fun, and could help a child learn to understand the concept of timekeeping. The brainchild of the brand’s founder, design engineer Neil Ferrier, Blok came about from the desire to make something fun and non-conforming, and with Neil’s background in developing some of the most interesting engineering projects you’re likely to ever see, it came as no surprise that the brand quickly started to break moulds (except the ones used to make these watches’ cases, of course). There was just one major problem, and for Neil, it was a big one: all those people who were so captivated by the original Blok watch and bought one for their kids, well, they all wanted one for themselves.
And so, in late 2024, the Blok 38 is finally here. Like any great company, Blok listened to their customers, and even better, the young minds wearing the smaller variations. Blok has spent the last 18 months or so subtly updating their collections with improvements to functionality and comfort, and now finally blown up the proportions so we bigger kids can get involved in the fun too.
The watch case remains the same, only larger. It’s now 38mm in diameter and made from the same Swiss nylon polymer which is comfortable to wear and feels quality to the touch. This model now features a steel core, not only to make mounting the internal hardware simpler but also to give the watch a reassuring weight. This was something important to Blok because as a brand, they are all too aware of people’s perception of quality and its relationship to weight. That’s not to say it’s now a tank – far from it – but it feels like a quality piece of well-engineered equipment rather than something that could almost float away.
The rotating bezel, featuring the unique timer function for timing 5, 10, 15 and 30-minute increments, is also now lume-filled, a very welcome addition for lume fans. The great thing about this bezel is (as Andrew, Adrian and George from the About Effing Time crew highlighted on their podcast) that on the original watch, this type of timing bezel would be great for helping adults manage their time better in everyday life. And I must say, it makes absolute sense. Do you want to spend only 15 minutes on these awful emails? Easy, set your Blok. The case is also water resistant to 100 metres, thanks to a screw-down stainless steel crown and caseback design. This means that this is actually a proper, analogue plastic watch that is as functional as it promises to be. Even the bezel click has been engineered to match that of Neil’s very own Artisans de Genève Rolex Submariner. The devil is in the details with Blok.
There are 4 colour options to choose from, ranging from a dark blue Discommon Edition (Discommon being Blok’s parent company, where Neil Ferrier’s main engineering experiments take place) to a black with yellow and grey accents; a white with grey and pink accents; and finally an utterly bonkers full glow-in-the-dark edition. Yes, the entire case glows in the dark on this one.
Underneath the bright, clear and uniquely laid out dial is a Swiss-made quartz Ronda GMT movement, modified to remove the movement’s date function. Blok wanted to keep things clean and simple from the get-go, as kids don’t really need to know what the date is, and this character element remains for the big kids’ version. The quartz movement comes with a theoretical battery life of 6 years, so there’s not a lot to worry about here: set the watch as you need to, and away you go. Finally, the watches come supplied with a recycled MIL-SPEC nylon band with 316L stainless steel hardware, which has slightly changed from before. Some kids were commenting on the old strap feeling a little “itchy” at times, which is actuailly something my fastidious 9-year-old niece commented on about her own Blok 33. The new strap is soft, malleable, and fits nicely on the wrist. There have been no complaints this time around.
The Blok 38 is a long-awaited watch from a relatively young brand that is taking large steps forward in doing things differently in the watch world. There’s no need for watch brands to take themselves too seriously, and the growing popularity of the brand amongst kids and big kids alike speaks volumes. With each Blok 38 costing around US$400 for this level of attention to detail around functionality, they have thrown their hat in the ring against some tough competition, and if I’m completely honest, Blok is knocking them out of the arena with the 38. It’s a cool, fun, inexpensive watch that has oodles of character and will have everyone asking, “Ooo, what’s that?” and that’s really what gets us watch enthusiasts excited.
Blok 38 pricing and availability
The Blok 38 is available now directly from Blok. Price: US$379 (black, grey), US$429 (glow-in-the-dark, Discommon)
| Brand | Blok Watches |
| Model | BK38 |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) |
| Case Material | Swiss nylon polymer |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Lume-filled colour contrasting with 24-hour markers |
| Lug Width | 20mm (fixed bar) |
| Bracelet | Recycled nylon NATO strap |
| Movement | Ronda GMT, quartz |
| Battery Life | 6 years |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, timing bezel |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$379 (black, grey) US$429 (glow-in-the-dark, Discommon) |