Manchester Watch Works Equinox Prototype

You know what the world needs now? I know what you're thinking, "Love, sweet love," and, yes, you and Burt Bacharach are right; however, I was thinking "1970's inspired watches." They were playing with some great designs back then; creative, envelope-pushing designs rich in color and shape. Granted, they weren't all winners, but there is so much material to draw upon that would look fresh and new today. Every time I see a new Submariner style diver, Panerai clone, or (God help us) "minimalist" watch, I wonder why more microbrands haven't tapped into the expressive concepts of the Me Generation. Some have already found this muse, like Chris Vail's Lew & Huey Spectre, Chip Yuen's Aevig Valkyr, Stephan Trimbos's Stuckx Bull, and Kyle Schut's Curve-Chrono. The latest micro to boogie on back is Doug Kim's Manchester Watch Works, whose new project, the Equinox, borrows elements from two 1970's Omegas. He provided a blue dial prototype for review.

The Equinox has its roots in the Omega Genève Dynamic, a slim, oval cased automatic that has long held a special place in my heart. Doug started sketching his version of that watch's "eyeball" dial, which soon evolved into a layout closer to the geometric, yet equally groovy, Omega Constellation Megaquartz. He ultimately settled on a circular index with long markers and a 6 o'clock date window inside a rectangular case with bowed sides, as if the pronounced ring was pushing the walls of its frame. All of the branding and text is kept within this ring, so there isn't much of it. Just the MWW name and logo up top, and "Automatic" at the bottom in a slightly elongated and lightweight font, which (and I admit, this is a nitpick) makes "MWW" appear blocky in comparison. Polished baton hands and a wedge-shaped, "speedometer needle" second hand echo those of the Dynamic. There are only two colors available: black with a light blue second hand, and royal blue with an orange second hand. Both dials have a sun ray effect. It is a lovely dial that is equally striking at night when the BGW9 SuperLuminova pops to life.  

The dial is set deep below a flat mineral crystal in a brushed stainless steel case. Micro brand buyers have come to expect sapphire as a matter of course, but that gets tricky when you have to cut a custom shape. Mineral keeps the cost down. The display case back is also mineral, secured with four screws. A sturdy, signed crown at 3 o'clock screws down, contributing to the watch's respectable 100m water resistance. I appreciate the crown's function, but I do wish it were slightly shorter. Its size and shape would be better suited to a tool watch than the more fashion-forward Equinox.

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