2020’s been a great year for microbrand field watches.
Words/Photography: Me. I had the Chronicle in my hands for approximately two weeks.
I have tiny wrists. If you’ve read more than one of my reviews, this fact would be something you are all-too familiar with.
Yes, I am quick to bemoan my wimpy wrists. As the trend of oversized cases continues to grow, fewer of the interesting watches being made are sized right. And hey, watch brands of the world… I’m not the only person with small wrists!
When Benedict Ong, founder of Mitch Mason watches, contacted me about a review of the upcoming Chronicle (on Kickstarter soon), I was all over it.
The Chronicle is a 36.5 mm military-style field watch. Powered by the Japanese-made Miyota 9039 automatic movement, and with sapphire glass (and all the usual trimmings that microbrands tend to bring to the market), the Chronicle looked to be on-paper exactly what I am looking for in a field watch.
And while my time with the Chronicle was brief, it very much lived up to my hopes. This is a shorter preview versus my usual in-depth hands-on review, as I only had the watch for a couple of weeks.
The Chronicle hits Kickstarter on September 1.
Mitch Mason Chronicle Specifications
- Model: Chronicle
- MSRP: $499
- Case Diameter: 36.5 mm
- Alternate Models: Four colorways
- Movement: Automatic, Miyota 9039
- Complications: None
- Power Reserve: Est. 42 hours
- Water Resistance: 200 m / 660 ft
- Crystal Material: Sapphire
A Handsome Daily Wearer
Note the 200 m of water resistance, achievable as a result of its screw-down crown. Thanks to its angular profile, standard-sized case (and no, I refuse to call 36.5 mm small; 40 mm used to be oversized!), and sapphire glass, the Chronicle can be the everyday, everywhere watch and take it all in stride.
The piece I had was a field grey colorway, which ships with a quick-release brown Italian-leather strap.
The pale green-grey dial and blue seconds hand combination is relatively muted, but handsome nonetheless. But, when I pre-order mine (and I intend to), I’m going to grab the very handsome steel blue version shown here:
The version I had on-hand was a review-sample and comes with all the usual “this watch may not be reflective of the final version etc. etc. disclaimers.
Still, the pre-production model I had was made well enough and passed all the usual up-close and personal inspections. The textured dial, along with the imprinted inner ring and model/brand livery, are free of visual blemishes and look good. Equally impressive of the ample coating of Swiss Super-LumiNova® lume. All hour markers, along with the inner sections of the hour and minute hands, and easy to see in the dark.
Miyota 9039 Automatic Movement Inside
Introduced in 2018, the Japanese-made Miyota 9039 is part of Miyota’s “premium” line of automatics. Which it’s accuracy is pretty average at -10/+30 seconds daily deviation, it does come with all the quality-of-life features you’d expect on a modern mechanical movement. As such, it hacks, hand-winds, and is good for a 42-hours of power reserve.
While Mitch Mason opted to conceal the movement with a solid case back, the engraving is very satisfying in how it successfully fuses multiple textures and finishes. It’s also well done and looks great when inspected. Go ahead, show it off!
I’m really excited for the Chronicle
It’s not often that a watch gets me all jazzed up, but the Chronicle absolutely does it for me. I love it’s sizing, ample dose of lume, always-appropriate good looks, excellent water resistance, and choice of movement. All of this for under $500? Thank you very much.
Get yours: live on Kickstarter on September 1.
Mitch Mason Chronicle Photo Gallery
2160×1440 resolution
