Magrette is a brand that I will freely admit I have a soft spot for. The Magrette Regattare 2011 was my first automatic watch, and since then, I have reviewed a number of the watches that have come from the New Zealand brand. Things have been quiet for awhile, but now they are back with a big splash. Introducing the Magrette Moana Pacific Waterman GMT.
For me, when I see the Magrette Moana Pacific Waterman GMT, it’s immediately recognizable as a Magrette watch. First, you’ve got that cushion case in a comfortable 42mm size, into which you’ve got a crisp sandwich dial set in, complete with the crisp and bold Magrette logo. So, the base is definitely there. Then, things take a turn from what we’ve seen before.
First off, the Magrette Moana Pacific Waterman GMT has a GMT complication. Sure, Magrette had a dual-time before, that was done via the internal bezel. Here, we’ve got a true GMT hand, paired with the GMT scale appearing on the bezel (either in a blue ceramic or aluminum Pepsi insert). This brings another change. Gone are the Miyota movements, and insteaad, we’ve got an ETA 2893 at work. This also gives us the switch up of the date window appearing down at 6 o’clock.
Past that, the Magrette Moana Pacific Waterman GMT has a handset that I don’t recall seeing before – wider sword-style hands for the hour and minutes, and a stop-signal one for the seconds. For lume, we also get some fun coloration, with blue being used for local time (so, main handset and dial) and green for travel time (the GMT hand and the bezel).
To my eyes, the Magrette Moana Pacific Waterman GMT is a perfectly lovely watch, and it puts into play one of my favorite complications. If you are sailing that same boat, you’ll have some hard choices to make. Well, two, actually. First, do you want your watch case to be stainless steel or CuSn8 bronze? Second, do you want your bezel in the blue-and-red aluminum insert (Pepsi is the flavor of the year, it seems) or in a more durable ceramic, which is all blue? For me, while I like the Pepsi, I think the steel and ceramic is the winning combo.
But, as I say, you’ve got the choice to make for your own pre-order. The pre-order period is open right now, with a nice discount taking the total price down to $780 (retail price will be $890). If you pre-order, you’ll be putting $380 down right now, and then the remainder ($400 plus another $35 for shipping) due when shipping closes in, currently anticipated for February 2020. If you’re interested, get your orders in, as only 150 of each case (so, 300 total) are planned for at this time. magrette.com
Tech Specs from Magrette
- Movement: Swiss Made ETA Caliber 2893-2 GMT
- Case dimensions: 42mm excluding the crown, 50.7mm lug-to-lug, 14.5mm tall, 22mm lug width
- Case finish: Brushed stainless steel or CuSn8 bronze, each with stainless steel engraved case back
- Bezel: Engraved ceramic or two-tone aluminum, both fully lumed with Swiss Super-LumiNova®
- Crown: Screw down crown, signed with Magrette shield
- Crystal: Sapphire (box style), anti-reflective coating
- Dial, hands & bezel: Contrasting Swiss Super-LumiNova® blue (local time) and green (GMT time)
- Water-resistance: 500m/1650ft water resistance. Viton® gasket used on case back.
- Strap: Vintage minimal stitch leather and TROPICTM-style blue rubber, each with signed buckle
- Limited release: 150 pieces per case initial issue
- Includes Magrette custom travel case.
