Reviewing the Second Hour Sattelberg MKII

Australian watch company Second Hour has these days burst onto our radar with an eclectic fluctuate of watches that efficiently showcase the sheer variety of varieties in the marketplace, and having these days had a chance to check out the very rectangular and Paintings Deco Memoir, it’s time for one factor totally completely totally different as we take a look at the Second Hour Sattelberg Mk2.

As you’d anticipate it’s an improved mannequin of the sooner Mk1 – additional about that later – and it’s worth a second to consider the significantly unusual determine. Along with being a peak in Austria, Sattelberg is usually a village in distant Papua New Guinea on excessive of a mountain.

After World Battle 1, the Australian authorities was given responsibility for the Pacific island, positioned off the coast of Cairns, however it certainly was occupied by Japanese forces in World Battle 2 sooner than being recaptured by Australia after what grew to change into typically generally known as the Battle of Sattelberg.

So it’s an very important determine, with military and historic roots that stretch once more an incredible distance. On the once more of the case, you’ll uncover the Sattelberg advertising and marketing marketing campaign dates and co-ordinates, to underline the significance.

It’s perhaps barely ironic then that there’s a Japanese Miyota movement inside, given the historic context, nonetheless we should all the time most likely let that slide and stick with trendy watchmaking fairly than the geopolitics of the earlier. The 9015 is solely a tremendous movement with a 42-hour vitality reserve, which makes good sense in a watch like this, guaranteeing every the reliability and good price that might be a continuing hallmark of Second Hour.

Significantly this watch retails for decrease than £450, and for that you just simply truly do get an horrible lot. Second Hour has become acknowledged for its intricate dials, and this watch isn’t any exception, with an intriguing two-tone sunburst and matte remedy that marks it out from most rivals. It might not be for everyone – some people will little doubt desire a plainer dial – however it certainly’s undeniably distinctive, because of the orange accents as correctly. There’s a flat sapphire anti-reflective crystal to help simply keep in mind to see each little factor accurately and the whole face truly pops.

The brushed and polished stainless-steel case is furthermore coated in scratch resistant supplies, which ought to help keep the Sattelberg Mk2 making an attempt pristine for years to come back again, wherever you take it over the world: it’s accessible in a zip-up journey case. Three colours will be discovered – copper, blue, and black – with an aesthetic that diverges considerably from the distinctive Second Hour Sattelberg (unsurprisingly typically generally known as the Mk1). The first Sattelberg was far more of an overtly military watch, and much plainer in mannequin.

However on the latest mannequin we see intricate evolutions in every house: alongside the colours, perhaps basically essentially the most notable change is the reality that the watch now has a pronounced rehaut in contrasting white, which gives rather more depth and complexity.

The date window continues to be above the six o’clock place, nonetheless has adopted a selected spherical porthole fairly than an rectangular window, whereas the ‘sword’ arms are identical to sooner than. The obtrusive exception is the excellent seconds hand, with an infinite triangular pointer to extra enhance legibility alongside the military vibe.

At 40mm, the final watch dimensions are almost good, enabling it to take a seat down comfortably on the wrist – and that comfort is enhanced by a push button micro-adjustment clasp on the buckle, to help receive the appropriate match.

This excellent bracelet (moreover brushed and polished) is one different of the areas that Second Hour has focussed on and the usual is evident, with a nice articulated wrap-around actually really feel that helps to steer clear of any gaps in one of the simplest ways it sits (all too usually a problem at this comparatively modest price degree).

It’s really this unstinting consideration to component, which is evident virtually in all places, that’s basically essentially the most compelling facet of the Sattelberg Mk2 for me. There’s hundreds occurring inside the final construction to create an actual feeling of texture and depth, notably the rehaut and chapter ring talked about earlier.

The dial, whereas controversial to some, is easy ample to be taught and readability is enhanced at night time time on account of these diamond-cut arms that are liberally coated with blue BGW9 lume. In precise reality, this watch is perhaps rather more readable at night time time than it is in the midst of the day.

Whereas it undoubtedly isn’t a dive watch, whatever the instrument watch actually really feel, you proceed to get 100 metres of water resistance – better than ample for 99% of the inhabitants – and a screw-down crown, with Second Hour pressure testing each little factor to ensure that these claims are completely dependable.

It’s a watch which you would placed on in most circumstances, which you’ll not ever have to worry about – and that is its biggest vitality. ‘Cheap prime quality’ is slightly little bit of a cliché inside the watchmaking world, nonetheless the alternatives from Second Hour on a regular basis come close to this supreme, with a two-year assure moreover.

Due to this, the Sattelberg has already proved to be a enterprise success, with the first manufacturing run shortly selling out: no shock because of the basic premium actually really feel and finish.

It’s exhausting to place this watch firmly into a specific fashion as a result of it overlaps various varieties. Nonetheless, if pushed exhausting, I’d most likely title it a ‘sports activities actions space watch’ – if such an element exists (It does now).

Nevertheless this Sattelberg would possibly really be worn nearly as a robe watch, on account of its comparatively slim profile, whereas the dearth of a crown guard moreover affords it extra space watch vibes. The fast-release bracelet signifies that it’s easy ample to embellish up with a leather-based strap as correctly, in that case desired.

Certain, some aficionados need their watches to be additional focussed in a selected house fairly than being all points to all people. Nevertheless for someone who merely wants a well-made frequently watch that offers prime quality with price for money, the Sattelberg Mk2 is definitely worthy of nice consideration – notably as a result of it’s significantly completely totally different from all the other mainstream producers we’re already very conscious of.

• Case Supplies : 316L Stainless Metallic with 1200 Vickers ground hardening – case, bracelet and clasp

• Case Diameter : 40mm

• Lug to Lug : 47mm

• Thickness : 10.5mm (with crystal)

• Lug Width : 20mm

• Crystal : Flat Sapphire crystal with 6 layers of internal AR coating

• Movement : Miyota 9015 Automated (42 hours vitality reserve)

• Water Resistance : 100 metres

• World : Swiss SuperLuminova BGW9

• Bracelet : Screw pin, 7 hyperlink bracelet with quick launch spring bars

• Inclusions : Screwdriver and shipped in our exhausting sporting, custom-made made, zip up journey case

• Assure : Two yr worldwide assure