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ReviewBrilliant In Bronze: The MeisterSinger Bronze Line

MeisterSinger, the German brand famous for its watches that use a single time-telling hand, entered the ‘Bronze Age’ of watchmaking with three of its most famous timepieces—the No03, the Perigraph and the Metris—now dressed in bronze

Priyam Bagga January 3, 2020

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Do you find steel too pale for your wrist, but feel like gold is just a bit too excessive? Well then, bronze is your answer. Bronze took centre stage as one of the case materials of choice last year. With a look that’s eye-catching and contemporary, bronze cases develop a unique patina over time, which makes them appear aged, warm and distinctive. Even MeisterSinger, with its fine single-hand timepieces, jumped on board this trend by releasing the Bronze Line at Baselworld 2019.

In the past, bronze was the material most commonly used to craft scientific instruments thanks to its resistance to corrosion. It makes sense then that the brand has chosen to present its instrument-like, minimalist watches (and here, the Perigraph, in particular, stands out) in bronze avatars. So versatile are these bronze beauties that they would not look out of place on board a ship, in a laboratory or a glittering gala!

The Three Meis-keteers

The Bronze Line comprises MeisterSinger’s three most popular watches—the N^o03, the Perigraph and the Metris—dressed to impress in majestic bronze. All three members of this lovely edition come swathed in a bronze case, with a blue sunburst dial that complements the case wonderfully. The patina that these watches will develop over time will be unique to every single timepiece. The colour of the dial is actually the perfect choice considering the myriad hues that the bronze of the case is likely to reflect as it ages. Each timepiece comes attached with a dark brown calfskin leather strap that takes their vintage appeal to the next level.

These watches exude symmetry and minimalism. One of the most subtle design elements showcasing these ideals are the numerals, which are all in double digits—with zeros added to the single-digit Arabic numerals—a MeisterSinger staple. The cream colour of the hour markers almost perfectly matches the hue of the case, while every quarter-hour mark has been painted a bright red for easy readability. The three watches are powered by the ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, which beats at 28,800vph and provides the wearer with a power reserve of 38 hours. The single hand—a feature of all MeisterSinger watches—has a red tip for improved legibility, and has been coated in Super-LumiNova to make keeping time effortless even in low light conditions.

The N^o03

The N^o03 is perhaps the cleanest member of the already minimalist collection. With a hefty case, sized at 43mm, the N^o03 has an impressively bold presence on the wrist. However, the neat aesthetic of the watch face—with only a small date aperture at six o’clock, and nothing else cluttering the dial—ensures that the design steers clear of ostentation despite the large size. This watch is water resistant to 50 metres. The N^o03 is definitely the most recognisable member of this collection.

The Perigraph

This is an interesting member of the Bronze Line, for it has a unique date complication that’s aesthetically so much more interesting than a simple window on the dial. There is a rotating disc displaying odd numbers, and the date can be read with the help of a red pointer at 12 o’clock. Like the N^o03, the Perigraph also has a 43mm case size and a water resistance rating of 50m. Here too, the movement is visible thanks to a clear caseback.

The Metris

The smallest of the three, with a case size of 38mm, the Metris wins in terms of its functionality despite its dainty size, given its 200m water resistance. This timepiece features bold numerals and a magnified date window at six o’clock. The Metris is the only member of the collection without an exhibition caseback. It comes with a solid six-fold screwed stainless steel caseback, emblazoned with the brand’s logo. However, don’t let its sporty functionality fool you. The nuance seen in its multifaceted case and curved lugs, make it perfect in an office setting as well, making it an incredibly versatile timepiece.

If you’re a fan of simplicity and restraint, you’d do well with a MeisterSinger timepiece strapped to your wrist. Add to this austereness a vintage-inspired aesthetic, and what you’ve got is a simple timepiece that not only harks back to a bygone era but, with its unique single-hand design, looks avant-garde and unconventional as well. Does the MeisterSinger Bronze Line offer the best of both worlds? We think so.