It can be quite a treat to see a brand come along and then start to explore new avenues of design. One such of those brands would be Rossling & Co. We became aware of them early on in their kickstarted existence, and just recently they started up a new project, with a design that takes their previous design in a new direction. So, what does the new Rossling & Co Metropolitan collection have in store for you?
To my eye, the Rossling & Co. Metropolitan is very much a 60’s-inspired watch. This comes courtesy of the domed sapphre-coated mineral crystal, which gives a flat top surface and that lovely distortion at the sides. That paired with the squared-off shoulders of the 40mm case makes for that 60s look, especially once you add in the clean dial with the applied, polished, stick indices. Yeah, at 40mm, it is definitely larger than those originals from the 1960s, but I think it’s fitting in modern tastes, giving you a watch that is set for the office (or with a suit) while still giving a slightly vintage vibe.
Under the domed crystal of the Rossling & Co. Metropolitan we have the aforementioned clean dial, either in blue, black, or white. Color is not the only decision you’ll have to make, though. You can also choose to go with a date display (which nets a Miyota 9015 movement) or an open-heart dial (which shows off part of the Miyota 90S5 movement). My preference is for the date display variant, as it feels a bit more period/thematically correct. Spinning over the dial is a nice enough handset, well-proportioned to the dial size, and a great seconds hand. The one quibble I have with the handset is that the soft curves on them feel incongruous to the watch. They don’t look out of place, per se. It is just that, with all the straight edges to the design, I think a squared off (or, I guess rectangular would be the actual shape) handset would give things just a little more oomph.
Rounding things out, the Rossling & Co. Metropolitan has a a leather strap tucked into the 20mm lugs, with a faux Croc pattern embossed on it. This sort of strap fits in with the dressier design of the watch, but I am a little sad to not see some of their more unique offerings (like the tweed strap) making an appearance here. Then again, the tweed might stand out a bit much, but perhaps something like a nubuck would fit the overall look while giving that twist to the material.
As you can see, the quibbles I have with the Rossling & Co. Metropolitan are precisely that – quibbles. On the whole, this is a very solidly designed watch. Add in that you can pick up a Rossling & Co. Metropolitan for only $349, and it really is a watch that should find home in many a watch box. And the funding levels on the project prove that out. They have already hit over 200% of their funding goal, with 52 left to go in the project. I do not doubt that the Rossling & Co. Metropolitan will be produced, and we will certainly work to get one in for a hands-on review. What do you think – does the world need another 60s-inspired dress watch? The comments section awaits! rosslingco.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Rossling & Co. Metropolitan
- Price: Earlybird pricing starts at $349
- Who we think it might be for: You want a vintage look for the office with modern reliability
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Yes, I could certainly see that happening
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Experiment with a more squared-off handset
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The 60s look and feel
Tech Specs from Rossling
- Case Diameter: 40 mm
- Case Thickness: 11.9 mm
- Lug/Strap Width: 20mm
- Double-Domed Bubble Crystal
- Solid Stainless Steel 316L Case
- Screw-Down Exhibition Caseback
- Miyota Cal. 9015 or 90S5 Automatic Movement (Japan)
- 20 mm Faux-Croc Genuine Leather Strap with Leather Backing
- 5 ATM (50 m) Water Resistance
