Brew has a certain retro aesthetic on lockdown, particularly within the expansive Metric collection, and they keep finding new ways to push the envelope further within that established framework. The newest member of the Metric family brings an entirely new digital complication into the mix, paired with analog time keeping. It’s an ana-digi watch but not quite in the way that we’re accustomed to seeing. Rather than the typical digital module you’d find in a watch of this nature, this Metric takes a more niche approach, with a single 30 second timer espresso countdown, complete with animated percolating coffee cup at its conclusion.
Espresso equipment and culture is a big part of Bew’s lore, and it’s something that’s been thoughtfully, and sometimes playfully integrated into the watch designs. Within the mainline Metric Retro, for instance, the green chapter ring cedes to a yellow segment between 25 and 35 seconds to signify ideal brewing time for a shot of espresso. The coffee bean iconography also appears on dials across the lineup. Above all, the design of brewing equipment served as the original source of inspiration for many of the details found in the case and dials of early releases. That said, the watches still hold plenty of appeal and charm even if you aren’t an espresso-phile.
The Metric Digital Blend is exactly what it says on the tin, a funky retro clock sitting atop a digital readout. There’s a new design style being displayed in the full name of the watch appearing on the analog dial, opposite an ‘extraction shot-time’ label advertising the digital functionality. There’s some levity in the way it’s all arranged, which plays into the overall personality of the design. The top half looks like a clock you’d find at a diner in the late ‘50s, while the bottom half is a pure ‘80s nostalgia.
The split dial sits within a TV shaped steel case that measures 37.5mm by 43mm, sitting 13mm high. The integrated flat link bracelet remains a feature, though it does sit under a hooded lug with a quick release spring bar, so this can be swapped to other strap options from the look of it. This is a wonderful platform on the wrist, and here it’s showing quite a bit of range. There’s a bit of a cheeky quality to this one, and at $425 it feels exactly on point. According to Brew, this unique configuration of complications is a world’s first, something I don’t doubt for a moment. I love seeing new creative design elements come to life within the Metric, which has a seemingly endless capacity for whatever Brew can dream up for it. Brew