Watch Review: MSTR "Chief"
The Down-Low:
MSTR “Chief” CH105RB Watch
MSRP: $250
Site: http://www.mstrwatches.com/Silver--W...6-CH105RB.aspx
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This men’s watch from Meister Watches (German for “Master and pronounced as 'mys-ter') is one of their many models in a very unique brand lineage. Their vision for something eye-catching is clearly seen.
They are gathering popularity in the US, Japan and were even featured in G4. MSTR (abbreviation of the brand) has collaborated with various figures in UFC, NBA, and many more. They are an emerging company, looking to make their presence known in the Canadian market.
Intrigued?
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How about now? Let’s check it out!
Presentation
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First impressions out of the box were not so good.
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I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the wrong cushion for the box, but for $250, I at least expect the box to close fully.
Exterior
At 47mm, it’s not the biggest watch I’ve experienced but the octagon frame surrounding it makes a commanding presence and takes up valuable wrist space.
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I’m not a fan of the ‘big’ watches, but it’s starting to grow on me.
When you pick it up, it definitely makes its’ presence known. It’s a heavy watch for sure. The stainless steel casing definitely gives it a good contrast to the white face and rubber strap (something I’ll discuss more).
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Quality all around is very good for what you pay for and I love the little details; exposed screws, the very industrial crown guard, even numbering instead of the usual odd numbers.
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The crown guard gives a resounding ‘click’ and doesn’t look nor feel fragile.
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The casing is definitely beefy and it feels like it can exceed the 100m mark but the rubber seal will probably give first or the crystal.
I wore it around downtown and whoever I talked to definitely asked about the watch. If you’re going to have a watch like this, you better like small talk.
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I compared the case to one of my biggest watches, a 42mm Mondaine Railway Giant Watch and a recognizable Seiko SKX 'Pepsi' Diver. You can see the block framing creates a larger-than-life look.
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Overall, the exterior qualities are very well given the price-point.
Dial
Moving on to the dial, I like unique and very seldom numbering of even numbers. Nice touch. I also like the layering of the face; like there’s a second piece on top and it’s being held by the two screws on the face.
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I tested the lume and it’s pretty bright. I don’t expect it to be diver-watch bright but it’ll do.
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Crystal
The crystal is your typical mineral and I do get glare on direct sunlight. I don’t expect AR coating on a $250 watch but if they plan to do an automatic movement, they should perhaps try to get that coating as a feature.
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Movement
The movement however is a different story. So it’s a typical calendar movement with the crown doing double-duty; one pull works the calendar and the second is to adjust the time.
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When I went to adjust the date, it took three rotations for it to adjust one day. It felt flimsy and didn’t have tactile feedback. Usually, there’s a ‘feel’ whenever you move a calendar movement, like when you’re shifting gears. It felt too buttery.
The one major, critical aspect that I feel is choking the watch down is the rubber strap. Granted, it is quite softer and less stiff than G-Shock watches; comfy to wear all day. I got rid of my G-Shock because it always felt like it would snap at any minute.
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The watch’s one strength is also its’ greatest weakness. It’s so soft that the surface is slick so the loop is very prone to slippage. It gets annoying having to re-loop every time you walk or brush the watch around something. I would suggest adding a second loop to keep the base locked. I’m actually thinking of replacing the strap altogether.
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Other than those two issues, it’s a great watch for someone who likes industrial design; a big attention-getter (like myself); is a fan of Bell & Ross without getting hit the big price-tag.
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As long as MSTR continues to improve and expose themselves further into the North American scene, they have potential to compete against a big heavyweight with the ‘teens’: Nixon.
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never thought that'd be an issue to be judged upon in a watch review. But good valid point. However, I do think most people wear watches on their non-dominant hand though. So, I would only mark that as a minor issue.
