This Reader Review from Dave Ryan has it all: drama, suspense, and a MKII so handsome that you want to bring it home to your parents.
I’m a watch enthusiast from Canada and I started acquiring watches about five years ago. I went through a phase where I wanted classic, iconic designs. The problem here is that in order to obtain these watches you almost certainly have to buy vintage. While there is nothing wrong with vintage, they carry a certain degree of risk with them and a definite need of attention and funds to operate effectively. I’ve always enjoyed the pure utilitarianism of military watches and have indeed owned a few myself. Alas after a few bad experiences have boycotted vintage altogether.
Enter the MKII PMWF Graywater GMT. It ticks all the boxes: classic iconic design, vintage military look, modern movement and case. Add all this to the fact it was an extremely limited run of 50 watches all numbered and it seems I just couldn’t go wrong. The case and hands pay homage to Benrus military type 1 coming in at 41mm with 20mm drilled lugs (which in my opinion every watch should have). The case is bead blasted to a matte finish and extremely well machined.
The MKII Graywater is water resistant to a Depth of 300m with a screw down crown and helium escape valve, so it can in fact be used to that depth. The crystal is domed and sapphire with an AR coating (though I have a hard time getting photos of it without accidental selfies reflecting in the crystal). The bezel is 120 solid clicks, easy to grip and turn with a 12 hour bezel insert and a slight curve that continues the dome of the crystal into the case.
The dial of the Graywater has luminous markers at the 1-12 as well as a yellow 24-hour track for the GMT hand and all four hands are lume filled. The GMT hand is distinguished by its yellow colour and rocket shape, though in the middle of the night the GMT and hour hand can be hard to tell apart. The lume is a fantastic blue colour that I adore. The dial the text “PMWF” under the 12 and a circle “R” above the 6 as well as an MKII at the very bottom almost unnoticeable. Something not apparent at first and in most photographs is that the dial has two finishes, a glossy center finish that ends at the hour track where a matte finish begins. One qualm for me is the date window. I’m of the opinion they should be colour matched or left out all together but it’s not a deal breaker and hasn’t taken away from my enjoyment of the watch at all.
The movement is an ETA 2893 adjusted to six positions and is a very smooth operating movement from a trusted source. The watch came with a five link engineer style bracelet with a divers extension as well as a rubber band that’s soft and comfortable right away, the bracelet and buckle of the rubber band have a matching bead blasted finish to that of the case and are signed. Both are very comfortable and the watch wears great. It’s case back is no nonsense and states the specs and the # of the individual watch from 1 to 50. This watch instantly took the position of favorite in my stable and has held that title ever since. Add to that mine is #1/50 and it makes it that much cooler.
In conclusion Bill from MKII has done a great job and if you like the style of the watch and have the opportunity I’d recommend it highly. I know I’ll be buying another model from him in the future.
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