If Jack Mason was aiming for vintage vibes, the brand nailed it with the Strat-o-timer. Coming in on the tail end of a banner year for affordable GMTs, the Strat-o-timer looks and feels like a watch that has been around for a long time. Taking its cue from the seminal GMT Master 6542, with its iconic Pepsi bezel, red-tipped arrow GMT hand, and lollipop seconds, the Strat-o-timer manages, somehow, to be retro and fresh at the same time.

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A large part of its success is, well, its lack of excess. The Strat-o-timer dial, for instance, is straightforward with chunky, applied block hour markers and a simple baton handset. Text is relegated to the bottom half of the watch, and the logo is pared down. It has the unpretentious charm of a department store skindiver from the 50s. And yet, each element is finely crafted, leaving subtle touches to speak volumes.

Those hour markers, for example, have a polished, beveled edge which slants toward the center of the dial and have been back-filled with U-shaped plots of BGW9 Super-LumiNova (the GMT hand is equipped with C3). The baton handset, too, has finely bevelled edges on either side of a flat, lumed-filled plane, and the opposite end of its lollipop seconds is coloured in red, white, and blue. I particularly like the nostalgic Strat-o-timer script.

The Start-o-timer is the sort of watch that reveals itself slowly over time with elusive details–like the engraving of the brand logo on its finely knurled, screw down crown. Or the double-edged bevelling of its polished bezel. Other details pop with much less subtlety, like the double-domed sapphire box crystal, through which many beautiful distortions can be gleaned at angles. Or the milkly sapphire bezel insert.

But what really differentiates the Strat-o-timer from other GMT Master-inspired watches is the cushion case. Made from 316L stainless steel and measuring 40mm in diameter, the Strat-timer case has a lovely, unified brushing along the top and through the lugs. This is offset by the mirror polish along the curvaceous mid-case. The overall impression is organic, like a sea-smooth pebble. The watch is also a conservative 47mm lug to lug and 13mm thick with its dome. Like a diver, it promises a considerable 200m of water resistance.

Originally, I was surprised with the caliper reading, as the watch wears smaller than its already prudent dimensions might suggest. I suspect this is due, in part, to the cushion case, but also to the broad bezel and large hour markers, which visually shrink the dial space.

The back of the watch has a display window, also fashioned from sapphire and attached to the watch with four screws. Through it, you can see the Miyota 9075. Production models will also sport a customized rotor, engraved with the brand’s name and striping. This final touch is not visible on the prototype featured here.

The movement, like Seiko’s NH34, is at the forefront of this latest wave of GMTs. However, unlike the NH34, the Miyota is a traveller GMT with a jumping hour. This means that the wearer can set the GMT hand to the time at the point of origin and then simply adjust the local hour hand while traveling. The 9075 is also a 24-jewel, 4Hz calibre with a smooth sweeping second hand. Under normal circumstances, the movement is accurate to within -10/+30 seconds a day. However, Jack Mason regulates the movement in house so that it will be accurate to +/- 5 seconds per day. It has a 42-hour power reserve.

The Strat-o-timer comes standard on a stainless steel, jubilee-style bracelet with screwed links, tapering nicely from 20mm down to 16mm. It has quick release lug pins and a signed, milled clasp. The prototype has four levels of micro-adjust; however, the production model should be capable of on-the-fly adjustment with a “glide-o-lock” system.

In addition to the Pepsi reference, Jack Mason will offer the Strat-o-timer in a Coke bezel with grey dial, as well as an orange and black bezel with a silver dial.

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Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 40mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 13mm Thick (/w Crystal) 20mm Lug Width Bidirectional 24-Hour Bezel Screw Down Crown & Display Case Back 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Double-domed, Box Sapphire Crystal Sunray Blue Dial Applied Markers Baton Handset X1 C3 & BGW9 Super-LumiNova
Movement	Miyota 9075 Traveller GMT Regulated In-House (+/- 5 secs/day) 24 Jewels 28 800bph 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet /w Screwed Links, Milled Clasp & On-the-Fly Micro-adjust

Jack Mason Strat-o-timer GMT

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Of Interest

The Strat-o-timer is currently available for preorder on the Jack Mason website, with deliveries beginning in March. The first 500 units reserved will be accompanied by an early bird bonus package that includes an exclusive two-strap set of FKM rubber and leather. Those who order now will also receive three leather bag tags, a digital print of the original design sketch, and first access to the brand’s next launch–the Seatrek 40.

For the first time, Jack Mason will be assembling and regulating the watch in the United States.

Quibbles

Like the hour makers and handset, the numerals in the sapphire bezel insert are lumed with BGW9; however, in the prototype at least, there is a noticeable difference in the strength of this lume in comparison to that of the dial elements.

Final Thoughts

The Jack Mason Strat-o-timer is an attractive timepiece. It oozes retro charm. But more more than that, it exudes quality. There is a certain heft to it in hand or on wrist. The level of fit and finish instils confidence. Clearly, a great deal of thought has gone into the design of the various elements, as well. The crystal is gorgeous. The dial is effortlessly balanced, and the 7-link bracelet is robust and comfortable. Only a year ago, it would have been difficult to envision an automatic traveller GMT of this quality for under $1000. Now enthusiasts are being spoilt.

The Strat-o-timer is currently available for pre-order at $999USD. For more information, please visit the brand website.

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About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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