Now, the more clever amongst you – or those with really good memories – might be asking how we could be revisiting a watch when it’s coming from a brand that we’ve never reviewed before? Well, things change over time, and amongst those things are watches and watch brand names. So, today, we’re talking about the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer.
You see, we have looked at this watch before – or it’s forbear, at least. Back in 2012, it was known as the Offshore Professional Field Engineer, and now it’s known as the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer. Under the old name (and style) we did do our own hands-on review, which you check out here (part 1, part 2, part 3). This time around, due to them being built-to-order, we’re just talking about the new watch.
And you might wonder, well, why is Patrick talking about a chronograph? Back when I checked out the older version, I really got to liking the piece, even if I wasn’t particularly using all of the functions. Here, we’ve got the same sort of functions (base is still the Valjoux 7750), but there is a very noticeable change – the day/date windows. These are custom to the brand, and presented just below the logo (ie, where you’d normally expect the date window to pop in).
In my opinion, the new dial configuration of the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer is an improvement over the original as well. It’s still got the dimensionality and layers, but we’ve got some additional color popping in. I’m also a fan of the tachymeter bezel being added (though you can get the Roman numeral one instead if you like, and am really glad the knurling stayed present on the crown and pushers.
At the end of the day, the asking price of £1650 (~$2,300) feels pretty reasonable – as we said before – for what you’re getting here. Particularly for the fact that the fellow behind the brand, Lorne Gifford, is actually traveling the world as a field engineer (hey, look at that title!) and putting his watch through some more extensive paces than we might actually put the watch through ourselves (some photos of that are in the gallery below). So, if you’re in the market for a small-brand chronograph with a storied movement in it, the Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer should be on your short list to check out. marinechronometer.co.uk
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Marine Chronometer Co Field Engineer
- Price: £1650
- Who we think it might be for: Well, for field engineers, for one. Or for anyone who wants a chronograph from a small brand ready-built to handle whatever you can throw at it
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? Probably not, since I’m not much for chronographs
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Wouldn’t mind seeing what Gifford could do – in this design language – for a GMT (I mean, he is a traveller!)
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: All the thought and effort that goes into the creation of the watch (seriously, check out the details on their site)
Tech Specs from Marine Chronometer Co
- 44 mm diameter, 14.5 mm thick, 132 grams on leather composite strap
- Bespoke 316L low carbon stainless steel Faraday cage outer case, mechanically isolated rhodium plated Cu inner movement holder
- Dual sealing on all outer case penetrations, triple seals on floating crown, all case components in 316L, 316H or Cr22
- Three layered shock resistance with mechanically isolated movement and floating crown
- Perfectly flat single crystal sapphire front & back crystals
- Anti-reflection vapour coating on inner faces of sapphire crystals
- Bespoke triple complication, 25 jewel, modified Swiss Valjoux movement with anti-magnetic timing & drive chains
- Custom grade movement with temperature resistant Be-Cu balance wheel & Co-Ni-Cr-Ti-others alloy hairspring
- Machined and rhodium plated Cu-Zn mainplates, blue head screws
- Unique in-house movement modifications and replacement of day & date system, all parts Cu-Zn
- Timing to within chronometer standard (4 sec/day, 0.5 sec/C.day)
- Self-winding mechanism with approx 4 hours of normal wear to fully wind & Co-Ni-Cr-Fe-others alloy mainspring
- In-house self winding rotor with cut out Trident and individual serial number engraved onto rotor arm, rhodium finished
- 48 hour power reserve, protected against overwinding
- Hour, minute and 1/8 second chronograph, day and date display
- Pressure rated to 10 ATM with each watch tested to 12 ATM and the outer case deigned and tested for a collapse pressure of 30 ATM
- Long term climate tested in the arctic, tropics & deserts
- Bespoke 4 layer dial designed for low-light and harsh-light visibility, electrically continuous with outer case
- Bespoke handset with C1 Super Luminova solid wafers in hour and minute hand and C3 hour markers on dial
- No luminous markings on subdial or second hands to ensure clear night time legibility of hour and minute hands
- All dimensions, layouts and colour shades based on numerical ratios from the Fibonacci sequence
- Leather strap with profiled natural rubber core and inner anti-sweat lining
- Fixed departure angle of strap from case to provide maximum comfort and stability on slim as well as thicker wrists
- 316L stainless steel butterfly-hinge strap clasp with engraved Trident logo
- 316L stainless steel bracelet with Trident logo deep engraved into butterfly clasp. Adjustable links secured with 316H double headed screw bolts
- Both the bracelet & strap are included with each watch
- Leather presentation and travel case suitable for up to 2 watches
- 2 year Warranty & a Lifetime Guarantee
- Standard build is with a Tachymeter bezel case, with the Roman Numeral bezel case available as a no cost option
