A bit over a year ago, we brought you news of a new model from Morphues Watches, the Cinema. Today, we’re going to give you a a hands-on review of this watch (the first of two models from them we’ll be looking at).
At first glance, it’s easy to see the inspiration for this watch comes from the movie theater; here is a quick overview of the various cinematic references you’ll find upon closer inspection:
- The dial looks like a film reel, complete with texturing to make it appear as if film is wound
- The crown has the appearance of a projector lens (especially when unlocked and extended)
- The silicone strap is imprinted with the design of a strip of film
- The font used for letters and numerals is reminiscent of the deco era of movie-making
So, right off the bat, you can tell this is a watch for someone who loves movies. That covers the form; what of it’s function? Inside the 45mm stainless steel case you’ve got the workhorse ETA 2824-2 movement taking care of time- and date-keeping functions. On top of the case, you’ve got an AR-coated sapphire crystal, which buttons up the package (screw down case back) to net a 50m water resistance rating.
In terms of daily wear, this watch is quite pleasant. The thin (only 10.4mm thick!) case fits under any cuff quite nicely, and the case didn’t wear overly large. For a watch at this price point (more on that in a moment), the silicone strap seems an odd choice, but it is in keeping with the theme. In the end, it was well suited to daily wear (for the time I had with it).
Now, back to the price. Given the fact that there are only 150 of these hand-assembled watches in existence, you know you’ll have a premium at play here. Morpheus is currently asking $1950 (product page), which doesn’t seem wildly out of line for the limited nature and uniqueness of the piece. I do wish there was a higher quality strap that it came with, but that’s easily remedied in the aftermarket, should you so wish.
