Texas based brand Jack Mason is taking a big step with their popular Strat-o-timer collection this week with the reveal of two new references rendered in titanium that will serve as the base of a new dive focused take on the formula. The new watches embrace a new material, but also present a new, more original vision of the design, which is always a welcome step for brands in this realm. If the original Strat-o-timer GMT felt a little too on the nose with its design, these new divers will feel like a refreshing interpretation that retains a healthy dose of personality.
Stepping back, it’s common to see young brands looking to put themselves on the map lean into well known and understood design language, which can ensure a customer base right off the bat. The challenge then becomes forging a more unique voice in a manner that feels cohesive, and not a full on departure from the starting point. Jack Mason has gone through several iterations of this since their founding in 2015, and the evolution has come a long way. Browsing their current catalog will reveal plenty of relatively familiar looking designs, with some unexpected color and texture flair making a strong statement of intent. The new Strat-o-timer Diver GMT feels familiar, but it’s also a big move toward a more unique design language.
The new watches begin with a familiar kind-of cushion shaped case that appears to retain a 40mm diameter and 13.2mm thickness. Here, the big shift is the material, which is now grade 2 titanium that’s received a hardness coating for extra scratch protection. The watch also includes a seven link titanium bracelet, and a spare black rubber tropic style strap for good measure. This watch is being launched in two variations: cobalt with a blue dial and bezel; and anthracite, featuring a dark grey dial and bezel pairing. Each uses a ceramic bezel, and enjoys a 200 meter depth rating.
This is a diver’s GMT, meaning the bezel is fully indexed to the minutes, which has relegated the 24 hour scale to the inner portion of the dial. Every odd hour is placed between the lume filled blocks marking each hour, and a small, more interesting 24 hour hand is used to track those hours. This watch uses the Miyota 9075 caliber, so it is a ‘traveler’ style, meaning the hour hand is independently adjustable to make a quick adjustment to local timezones a breeze. Jack Mason has adjusted the movement to within +/- five seconds of accuracy per day. Because of the changes to the dial, the date window has been shifted to a circular aperture so as not to compete with the additional information around it.
In total, these are handsome new watches to the Strat-o-timer collection, and represent an import shift for the brand. They are handsome, and feature more original details throughout, all while offering the same value proposition the brand is known for. Both watches will be priced at $1,399 when they go on sale beginning November 7th. Jack Mason
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