For those who had been to ask any of my coworkers or associates about my type in the case of watches, the phrases “tactical,” “diver,” and “device” would doubtless come to thoughts. It’s no secret that I’ve an affinity for watches with extra utility than simply telling time, and an excellent clicky bezel is perhaps my favourite fidget toy of all time. As somebody who has had a desire for black and olive drab colours for years, once I dove into watches, it appeared like black and typically blue had been the one colours obtainable, particularly on the worth vary I thought of spending on a watch. That stated, as I’ve discovered extra about watches and found some attention-grabbing microbrands making daring and adventurous divers, I additionally realized that if I wished one thing extra colourful, I’d have a number of choices if I expanded my attain to non-diver sports activities watches.
With the rising variety of stealthy gadgets in my assortment, I’ve wished so as to add one thing to my assortment that you just would possibly describe as “flashy” to stability issues out a bit. Working to interrupt this mould that I’ve created for myself, I wound up coming throughout the Mandala Mk3 by Second Hour Watches, and thought that it’d make an attention-grabbing addition to my assortment of tactical and power targeted items. Actually, once I wore this watch residence from the workplace for the primary time, my girlfriend instantly remarked, “That isn’t a watch I’d count on you to put on, however I prefer it,” and that’s precisely the response I hoped for.
Earlier than I dive into the watch and my expertise with it, you is perhaps questioning simply who Second Hour Watches is? Effectively Second Hour is the creation of a husband and spouse duo (Peter and Akira) primarily based in Melbourne, Australia, who based the corporate in 2019. Second Hour has developed a curated assortment of watches, every with its personal distinctive character and design cues, drawn from each Peter and Akira’s life experiences. For those who’ve made it this far and assume you might need heard of Second Hour earlier than, you might remember them from our “Under The Radar Watches” podcast episode.
With the Mandala, particularly the salmon colorway that I personal, the dial is clearly the star of the present. Second Hour describes the dial itself as hypnotic and I’ve to agree. As I’m sitting right here, scripting this assessment, I discover myself consistently wanting on the guilloche therapy, completely enamored with how vibrant the salmon tone of the dial is, and the best way it shimmers when mild hits it. There’s one thing about the best way the guilloche sample has been crafted that appears to choose up the smallest quantity of sunshine that I can’t clarify, but it surely makes this dial virtually glow at occasions, whereas additionally nonetheless being legible in vibrant mild.
On the wrist, the Mandala feels incredible and is pleasing to put on for hours on finish. Regardless of having a show caseback, which does add a little bit of thickness, it feels just like the case hugs my wrist completely. For the reason that Mandala case is 40mm in diameter, 10.5 mm thick (together with the crystal), and has a lug to lug of 47mm, it wears very equally to my Omega Speedmaster, if not barely smaller. Between the micro-adjust clasp and screw-pin hyperlinks, I used to be in a position to shortly measurement the bracelet, and I’m even in a position to fine-tune it all through the day if my wrist swells or shrinks.
Regardless of this being an proprietor’s assessment, what sort of fanatic would I be if I didn’t dive into the technical specs of the watch? Ranging from the surface, the chrome steel case and 7-link bracelet have been hardened to 1200 Vickers, an enormous enchancment over the bottom hardness of chrome steel, which averages 150-200 Vickers. Second Hour has tucked that stunning guilloche dial behind a flat sapphire crystal, which has a number of layers of inside anti-reflective coating. These two issues in tandem work to maintain the Miyota 9015 inside secure and operating for years to return. For those who’re like me and luxuriate in having the ability to see inside your watch, you’ll be glad to know there’s a sapphire show caseback that permits you to see each the motion and the engraved rotor inside. It’s additionally value noting that the Mandala Mk3 options 100 meters of water resistance, so that you gained’t have to fret about that unplanned dip within the pool whereas sporting it.
Having spent a great deal of time with it now, the Mandala is precisely what I wished it to be: one thing boldly totally different from the items in my present assortment. With very exceptions, most of my watches function both a black dial, a Black DLC case, or a mix of each. each seen attribute, the mandala breaks the mould I’ve created for myself: it has a really daring dial, a lot of polished surfaces, and it’s not one thing I’d ever contemplate sporting on a nylon strap, though a sailcloth pairing might be fairly good if accomplished accurately.
As watch fans, we regularly speak about having watches for particular events or utilizing a watch to mark a life occasion, however I beforehand felt that I might attain into my watch field, select a watch at random, and it wouldn’t stand out for each day put on. Whether or not I used to be heading into the workplace, occurring date night time, or heading to a press occasion, the one factor that modified (with regard to my watches) was the form of strap I’d put on them on (for these questioning, nylon/ sailcloth for the workplace, leather-based for date night time, and bracelets for formal occasions). Nevertheless, with the Mandala, I’ve a watch that might be worn daily, however can also be an amazing selection for these moments once I need my watch to face out.
On the finish of the day, the Mandala line of watches gives an attention-grabbing proposition by its huge number of dial colours. I’d go as far as to say that the Salmon colorway gives probably the most quantity of “flash” for these in search of one thing on the flamboyant aspect, whereas a extra subdued possibility, just like the midnight black, might be an amazing candidate for each day put on. In fact, on the finish of the day, it’s actually all private desire. With a retail worth of round $600 on the time of writing this text (after foreign money conversion), the Mandala combines each frequent microbrand options and specs with some extra unusual ones to create a really aggressive sub $1,000 microbrand providing. Second Hour
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