ReviewYour Hometown Or Soul-Town On Your Wrist: The MeisterSinger City Edition Watches
Whether we were born there, live there, or feel the most at home there, most people have that one place that’s like no other for them. MeisterSinger gives you the opportunity to wear a tribute to your soul-town on your wrist, with the 2018 City Edition watches—Mumbai and Delhi
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Every major city in the world has that one structure or monument that is symbolic of the town itself. The Eiffel Tower means Paris, the Statue of Liberty represents New York, the Sydney Opera House says it all, and the Big Ben is unmistakably London. Silhouettes and graphical depictions of these structures are used to represent their hometowns in all sorts of visual communication. So, when MeisterSinger decided to make a series of City Edition watches, picking one or more iconic silhouette for each city was the most simple, yet effective way to go about it.
The Latest City Editions
The 2018 City Edition from the German watch manufacturer pays tribute to 58 significant cities and towns from around the world, including our very own Mumbai and Delhi. While most of the City Edition watches feature a series of iconic structures from the cities they depict, the Mumbai and Delhi editions feature just one each. Printed on the transparent casebacks of these watches are two-dimensional line drawings of the Gateway of India and India Gate, respectively. Aside from the casebacks, the watches made for each city are identical. Like all other MeisterSinger offerings, these City Editions are also single-hand watches with markers around the dial to represent every five minutes. The single-hand concept is meant to draw attention to how moments in life are to be cherished rather than rushed through. And while you cherish your time, you can also cherish the place where you most like to spend that time.
A Tribute To India’s Biggest Metropolises
On the Delhi City Edition, you see the most identifiable structure of our capital city—the India Gate. A war memorial, paying tribute to the soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives during World War I (1914-18), India Gate was built in 1921. Designed by English architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, the structure has hints of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. On the Mumbai edition is the famous Gateway of India. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the Gateway of India in Colaba, Mumbai is often pictured along with the historic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, as the combined skyline on that seafront. However, it stands on its own as an iconic structure. Built to commemorate the visit of then Emperor of India, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, the Gateway was designed by Scottish architect, George Wittet, and was completed in 1914. Located exactly where vessels would dock on sailing to Mumbai, the Gateway became a ceremonial entrance to the country for nobility and dignitaries. The height of the India Gate allows the drawing to cover a good part of the caseback of the Delhi edition. On the Mumbai edition, the width of the Gateway of India has it covering about half the glass back, almost framed by the oscillating mass of the automatic movement, when the watch is held in a particular position.
The Watches
It’s only when you flip each watch around when it’s off your wrist, will you see the depictions of the cities’ monuments. Looking at the watch on your wrist, you’ll see an elegant, classical timepiece, and no one would know what the watch represents. That’s probably a good thing because as much as you may love a city, you probably don’t want it in your face at all times.
Set in a steel case 43mm in diameter, each watch comes with a vintage saddle leather strap. On the face, behind the domed sapphire crystal glass is a dial in ‘sand grey’—a pale grey that forms a decent backdrop for the blue hand and other markings. There is a date window at six o’clock with digits that go with the two-digit Arabic numeral hour markers—a staple of MeisterSinger presented in that manner for a balanced look.
Behind the dial is an automatic Swiss-made movement from movement manufacturer Sellita. Offering a power reserve of 38 hours, the movement comes with an Incabloc anti-shock system. While that shields the mechanism, the case’s 50m water resistance provides additional protection. The exhibition caseback also includes the name of the city, along with the unique serial number of the watches, limited to five pieces each.
With just five watches per city, each piece is a coveted one. Whether you live in Mumbai or Delhi or neither, if you have any emotional connection with either of these cities, one of these City Edition watches is meant for you. The Gate or the Gateway—which is the one for you?
