The Mitch Mason Chronicle was our debut into the world of watches. It was our interpretation of the ideal field watch, a perfect mix between modern functionality and vintage design.

The Chronicle was inspired by the military field watches of World War II. It epitomizes the definition of the "daily beater" watch, built as the perfect tool for every situation all year round.

It was during this period where men transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches for their evident practicality. On the battlefield, it became a concern for soldiers to have a means to coordinate their maneuvers with extreme precision, yet be able to read time at a glance under any condition. As such, watches had an exceptionally legible dial with high-contrast and generous applications of lume. Water and dust proofing were also key criteria to withstand the harsh elements of war. Movements used were simple and indestructible. All these attributes have been thoughtfully incorporated into the Chronicle.

Launch and pricing details

It was introduced through a Kickstarter campaign in 2021, which was fully backed within 5 minutes. The Chronicle has since been sold out. Its retail price was US$499.

Dial

The dial of the Chronicle was designed with symmetry as a priority. It had prominent 12, 3, 6 and 9 hour numerals, and elongated cardinal hour markers. This has since become one of Mitch Mason's signature design features.

The Chronicle was available in two editions, contemperory and heritage.

For our contemporary editions, we had the Steel Blue and Jet Black colorways. A two-layer sandwich dial construction accompanied by raised lume markers provided astounding visual depth. The brass dials were delicately brushed, yielding a rich texture that allowed the Chronicle to transform in different lighting conditions. This offered a modern punch while remaining faithful to the DNA of military watches.

The heritage editions paid closer homage to the watches of the 1940s. They came in the Desert Sand or Field Grey colorways, wich were meticulously chosen for that classic vintage feel. We opted for no logo (brand name only) and Arabic numerals printing on the dial for historical relevance. The heritage line pampered one with a potent dose of nostalgia while adopting the latest technologies in watchmaking.

Hands

It was important to us that every component of the Mitch Mason Chronicle held its own. We wanted a handset that was truly iconic to our brand because it is the first element we notice when glancing at our wrist to tell the time.  

The one of a kind pattern on the hour hand resembled a knot, symbolizing the Mitch Mason desire to intertwine vintage elements with modern design.

Each second hand was chosen to add character and complement the dial in a color palette that was carefully curated to exhilarate. We wanted a feeling of excitement every time wearers picked up your Mitch Mason Chronicle. 

Case

We took the fundamentals of the field watch from the 1940s and gave it a contemporary spin. The Chronicle stayed true to classic proportions. Its modest 36.5mm case size and substantial 43.5mm lug-to-lug length struck the perfect balance between style and comfort for all wrist sizes.

The conventional field watch has a round case with straight lugs, but we aimed to stand out. We refreshed the straightforward case with a three-dimensional and dynamic profile that grabbed attention at all angles. The case design took inspiration from Seiko's "Grammer of Design" by Taro Tanaka, a design philosophy which we believed should be given more attention to. Complemented with high-polishing and hand-brushed finishing, the Chronicle was built to be versatile and good looking in all situations.

Caseback

Specifications

Variants: Steal Blue, Jet Black, Desert Sand, Field Grey

Case and bracelet material: 316L stainless steel

Case diameter: 36.5mm

Lug to lug length: 43.5mm

Lug width: 20mm

Thickness (without crystal): 12mm

Thickness (with crystal): 13.5mm

Movement: Miyota 9039

Water resistance: 200m

Bracelet taper: 20mm to 16mm

Crystal material: Sapphire

Crystal profile: Double domed

Crystal AR coating: 5 layers (super AR)

Dial layout/format: Sandwiched or printed

Dial texture: Vertically brushed or matte

Lume: Old Radium Super-LumiNova®

Hands: Signature Mitch Mason design

Case finishing: Brushed and polished

Crown: Signed

Caseback: With decorative coat of arms artwork