Enrique can rightfully be called the Swiss watchmaker of custom flashlights. He builds his creations with the robust construction of a Rolex, the precision of a Breitling and the understated elegance of a Blancpain. His latest light, the aluminum Aeon—which I've had the pleasure to review—continues in that tradition. Staring down into the reflector, I almost expected to see the words "Swiss Made" emblazoned on the front bezel.
This is a light that exudes quality and class, from its "just right" knurling, to its subtle brass accents, to the perfection of its black, HA III hard coat. It makes you wonder why everyone can't do HA III this well. I, for one, am tired of hearing custom builders tell buyers that we shouldn't expect top flight cosmetics in a megabuck flashlight because it's intended to be a tool. Enrique proves that you can build lights that are as beautiful as they are rugged.
But let's get to the real question at hand: does the Aeon have what it takes to claim the crown as an ultimate EDC? Notice that I didn't say "the" ultimate, because I don't think that such a light exists. What qualifies as "ultimate" for you depends entirely on your priorities for choosing an EDC. My ultimate since I bought it has been the Nautilus, which I own in both Ti and Al versions. It meets my priorities of superb build quality, small (but not too small) form factor, dual light levels, KISS operation, very bright, high-quality, fully regulated output and amazingly generous runtimes. When the Aeon arrived, I couldn't help but wonder: had Enrique really managed to stuff Nautilus performance into a CR2 form factor?
The answer, as I discovered, is an almost unqualified yes. When I compared the beams side-by-side in a hypercritical white wall test, what surprised me most was the nearly complete lack of any difference. Sure, the tints were different—more about that shortly, but suffice to say that the Luxeon lottery is alive and well, even for Cree emitters. But the beam quality was astonishingly close. With both lights positioned about 8 feet from the wall, the Aeon threw a slightly wider overall beam with a very slightly wider hotspot. That surprised me, given that it had the smaller reflector. Hotspot brightness seemed about equal. But I felt the Nautilus edged out the Aeon in the corona, with a brighter and more even distribution of light.
I really like Enrique's philosophy when it comes to building custom lights: specify clear design goals for the light, then execute them as simply as possible using the best parts available. "Best available" applies to the emitter, as well, though tint variations remain a constant. When it comes to tint against a white wall, my Al Nauti is different from my Ti version, while the Aeon is yet another flavor of "white." I'd say my Al Nautilus is the clear lottery winner, seemingly a pure and neutral white without being too cold. The Aeon, on the other hand, has the warmest tint of the three, reminding me of a Luxeon UV1J. Of course, the tint differences become much harder to distinguish in real-life lighting situations, but even then, I still prefer the Al Nautilus.
So, which to choose: Aeon or Nautilus? Obviously, any self-respecting CPFer should be buying both, but if you could pick only one, the choice would come down to which is more of a priority for you when selecting an EDC: smaller form factor or longer runtime? When all is said and done, those are really the only differences that make a difference between the Aeon and Nautilus lights. (And that says a lot about what Enrique has achieved with the Aeon.) Yes, I think the Nauti has an edge in beam quality, but not enough to sway a decision. For my tastes, the CR2 form factor is a bit too small, while longer runtime is very important. Of course, I EDC a light in my briefcase rather than my pocket or on a key ring, so the larger size/heavier weight of the Nautilus doesn't matter. For a comfortable and almost unnoticeable pocket carry, the Aeon clearly betters the Nautilus, and it's the only light of the two which is small and lightweight enough for a key ring.
Someday there will be a better version of both these lights. Emitters, batteries and circuits will be improved over time, which is inevitable. But the build and design quality of the Aeon and Nautilus is as good as it gets, and the purchase of either light today could undoubtedly serve you well for many years to come, if not a lifetime.
This is a light that exudes quality and class, from its "just right" knurling, to its subtle brass accents, to the perfection of its black, HA III hard coat. It makes you wonder why everyone can't do HA III this well. I, for one, am tired of hearing custom builders tell buyers that we shouldn't expect top flight cosmetics in a megabuck flashlight because it's intended to be a tool. Enrique proves that you can build lights that are as beautiful as they are rugged.
But let's get to the real question at hand: does the Aeon have what it takes to claim the crown as an ultimate EDC? Notice that I didn't say "the" ultimate, because I don't think that such a light exists. What qualifies as "ultimate" for you depends entirely on your priorities for choosing an EDC. My ultimate since I bought it has been the Nautilus, which I own in both Ti and Al versions. It meets my priorities of superb build quality, small (but not too small) form factor, dual light levels, KISS operation, very bright, high-quality, fully regulated output and amazingly generous runtimes. When the Aeon arrived, I couldn't help but wonder: had Enrique really managed to stuff Nautilus performance into a CR2 form factor?
The answer, as I discovered, is an almost unqualified yes. When I compared the beams side-by-side in a hypercritical white wall test, what surprised me most was the nearly complete lack of any difference. Sure, the tints were different—more about that shortly, but suffice to say that the Luxeon lottery is alive and well, even for Cree emitters. But the beam quality was astonishingly close. With both lights positioned about 8 feet from the wall, the Aeon threw a slightly wider overall beam with a very slightly wider hotspot. That surprised me, given that it had the smaller reflector. Hotspot brightness seemed about equal. But I felt the Nautilus edged out the Aeon in the corona, with a brighter and more even distribution of light.
I really like Enrique's philosophy when it comes to building custom lights: specify clear design goals for the light, then execute them as simply as possible using the best parts available. "Best available" applies to the emitter, as well, though tint variations remain a constant. When it comes to tint against a white wall, my Al Nauti is different from my Ti version, while the Aeon is yet another flavor of "white." I'd say my Al Nautilus is the clear lottery winner, seemingly a pure and neutral white without being too cold. The Aeon, on the other hand, has the warmest tint of the three, reminding me of a Luxeon UV1J. Of course, the tint differences become much harder to distinguish in real-life lighting situations, but even then, I still prefer the Al Nautilus.
So, which to choose: Aeon or Nautilus? Obviously, any self-respecting CPFer should be buying both, but if you could pick only one, the choice would come down to which is more of a priority for you when selecting an EDC: smaller form factor or longer runtime? When all is said and done, those are really the only differences that make a difference between the Aeon and Nautilus lights. (And that says a lot about what Enrique has achieved with the Aeon.) Yes, I think the Nauti has an edge in beam quality, but not enough to sway a decision. For my tastes, the CR2 form factor is a bit too small, while longer runtime is very important. Of course, I EDC a light in my briefcase rather than my pocket or on a key ring, so the larger size/heavier weight of the Nautilus doesn't matter. For a comfortable and almost unnoticeable pocket carry, the Aeon clearly betters the Nautilus, and it's the only light of the two which is small and lightweight enough for a key ring.
Someday there will be a better version of both these lights. Emitters, batteries and circuits will be improved over time, which is inevitable. But the build and design quality of the Aeon and Nautilus is as good as it gets, and the purchase of either light today could undoubtedly serve you well for many years to come, if not a lifetime.
. As DM51 has mentioned, regular cleaning and maintenace of the region and O-ring eliminates such a possibility. Third, I would have liked to seen at least one tritium slot milled in along the lines of the Orb Wee.
) is tolerable and extra runtime is is needed.
