Yet another pictorial review. This time it is the turn of the Magrette Reggattare Bronze watch from Magrette Watch Company in Auckland, New Zealand.
First up, I am sure most of you will know the controversy related to the watch. Yes, the case is not actually bronze but brass. Musical instrument grade brass actually and Magrette was not the only victim in this sad but true story.
However I must say that my experience in this whole event was great and that the owners of Magrette has been very upfront about the issue and how the matter was finally resolved.
Anyway, on with the review.
The Magrette Regattare Bronze. We shall call it such, although the case it not bronze. Who knows, one day it might become a collectible. The case design is very familiar as it does look like the design of an Italian/Swiss watch company design. However, all similarities ends there. :)
The case is well made, as you can see from the photographs below. The watch is pretty heavy, but comfortable on the wrist. I like it. The case is 43mm across and 46.5mm with the crown. Lug width is 24mm, so you have lots of straps to play with. Lug to lug is 53mm and the watch is 16mm thick. This is due to the domed sapphire crystal.
You can see the patina starting to show. It is very slow, I suspect due to the Taiwan weather (and lack of wrist time).
The case is well made and has a matte finish. The curved lugs makes wearing the watch easy on smaller wrist and is very comfortable.
A closer view of the case and the patina that is forming. It is (I believe) a three piece case design.
The straps are held by screws. You will need two flat head screwdrivers to undo the strap screws.
The watch features a screw down crown made of stainless steel. The crown is easy to use and comes in at 6.5mm in diameter and is 3mm thick. The crown is signed with the Magrette logo. The crown is polished.
The crown has a 3 positions, although the watch does not have the date complication that the movement offers.
The case back is made of stainless steel. The choice of stainless steel is a good one in case there are people who are allergic to the brass used. Same goes to the crown.
The case back has a display window, but you can't see the movement. Magrette has chosen to put in a piece of Kauri wood instead. It is a nice, a touch of history and a piece of New Zealand. The watch is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces and it is serialised on the wood. You will also find the Magrette logo in the center of the wood.
You will find the following on the case back: Auckland, New Zealand, Regattare Bronze, Self Winding Movement, 5 ATM. The case back has a polished finish. While the choice of stainless steel is great as case back material, would (in the long term) the watch suffer from dissimilar metal corrosion?
The dial is brown in colour and is very 'clean'. The watch is a simple 2 hand watch telling just the time. I like such dials as it makes reading time easy. The hour markers are marked 12, 03, 06 and 09 at the 4 major quadrant (ala another Italian brand) while the rest have simple bars.
At the 12 o'clock position, you find the brand name and at 6, the model with BRONZE rendered in red. Nice touch. Around the outside of the hour markers you have the 24 hour indication. It is small enough not to be distracting.
The hands (simple 2 hand watch) is bronze/ brass/ gilt. (?) What ever it is, it is nice against the brown background of the dial.
The are no minute markers on the dial, so the length of the hands is moot (sufficient long to differentiate the minute and hour hands). The dial and hands are well made. The lume of the watch is not that great (hour markers are luminous). However the hands are pretty bright.
A close up view of the dial and the hands. The printing on the dial is great and you can see the hands are well made. Passion is in the details and here you can see it. Magrette has chosen to cap off the top of the center pinion. Nice touch.
Another view.
The crystal is sapphire with AR coating on the inside. The crystal is slightly domed, which I like.
The watch in its full glory.
The watch is powered by a Miyota sourced automatic movement. It is a 21 jewel offering a 45 hours power reserve. It is hand wind capable but non hacking (well can't verify as there is no seconds hand and I am already half deaf).
The watch is rated water resistant to 5 ATM.
Patina....
This strap came as a replacement or extra as part of the resolution of bronze/ brass case. It comes fitted with a brass buckle. The strap, as with other Magrette straps, is very well made and very comfortable.
It is signed with the Magrette logo.
The bronze/ brass buckle.
Already starting to patina. As with the case, the patina is rather slow.
I do like the strap. It is very comfortable.
The watch was originally fitted with this brown strap with a stainless steel sewn in buckle. This was later replaced with the strap shown above.
Extra straps that comes with the package. All the leather straps are well made and very comfortable.
The Magrette signature red on the inside of the black strap.
Rubber strap. Well made and also very comfortable.
Overall I have to say that I like the watch. It is well made and a very comfortable as a daily wear watch. It would have been better if the case material was bronze and not brass.
However it is not getting enough wrist time and I have decided that it deserves better. The watch will be going to a better home where it will be loved and used. Only selling it because it is going to a good friend. :)
