[F]Try out the redesigned Jack Mason Canton

In the last 5-10 years, American microbrands have skyrocketed in popularity. Monta, Traska, Nodus, Autodromo, Lorier, the list goes on and on, and their success is interesting. Another brand that has been making waves lately is Jack Mason. What started as a fashion brand but repositioned during the COVID pandemic to focus on making more high-quality watches has seen this Texas brand quickly become a success. The 2022 Jack Mason Strat-o-timer GMT became a fan favorite, followed by the Hydrotimer diver’s watch and the Ellum dress watch. In the next step, Jack Mason will release its first watch bearing the “Swiss Made” label. It’s time to check out the new Jack Mason Canton.

If you’re a watch fan, you’re probably familiar with the name Jack Mason. I’d heard of the brand before, but had never actually seen one of their watches. I first became aware of Jack Mason because the Strat-O-Timer GMT, released in 2022, was the first microbrand watch to feature Miyota’s 9075 caliber. This movement became extremely popular because it was the first widely available flyer-style GMT caliber in an affordable watch. As a result, it has been featured in a number of new GMT watches over the past two years. While the Miyota-powered Strat-O-Timer was a great first for Jack Mason, the brand is now introducing another first. The new Canton is the brand’s first Swiss-made watch.

The New Jack Mason Canton Story

Jack Mason Canton isn’t something entirely new. Canton is a watch the brand has been around for a while, but it has been completely redesigned. For those of you who don’t know Jack Mason, one of the co-founders is Peter Cho. He worked as a watch designer for many years in Switzerland for various brands, including Movado. But after 20 years, his focus shifted to making a quality American watch brand. Jack Mason, Cho, and the rest of the team are taking steps to make that happen. And with Canton, the Dallas brand combines its Texas roots with Swiss watchmaking to produce some interesting results.

Let’s start with a bit of history. As mentioned above, the Jack Mason Canton is not entirely new. However, the previous version was quite different. The watch featured a Miyota movement with day and date display at the 3 o’clock position and a dial separated by large “12” and “6” numerals. For the new Canton, Cho has redesigned the watch from the ground up. To be fair, there is definitely a Rolex vibe to this watch. The new design is influenced by the Oyster Perpetual and Datejust, giving the Canton a much more balanced and serious presence.

New Jack Mason Canton specs

Let’s take a look at the specs. The new Canton comes in a 40mm stainless steel case that is water resistant to 150m, is 10.8mm thick, and measures 46mm from lug to lug. The case has a slim profile that makes it very comfortable to wear. Additionally, the stainless steel is hard-coated (1,200 Vickers), meaning you can wear the Canton every day without worrying about it getting scratched. The case is also very well finished, with deeply brushed surfaces and contrasting polished bevels.

The case houses a dial with a crosshatch pattern and sunray finish. The dial is available in four colors: black, white, green, and the blue that I received for review. Thanks to the sunray finish, the blue dial appears metallic rather than matte. It features white Super-LumiNova filled markers, and the brand’s star logo represents the Lone Star State’s flag.

The lower half of the dial features the name “Canton” along with text regarding the depth rating and automatic movement. As you can see, the date window is located at the 6 o’clock position and features a date disc in the same color as the dial and white numerals. The hands match the overall design well; all three hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova, which glows blue in low light conditions. One notable detail is the red, white, and blue tip of the seconds hand, which represents the colors of the Texas flag.

La Joux-Perret G100 Movement

Flip the watch over to reveal the soigné grade La Joux-Perret G100 movement. This caliber operates at 28,800vph, has a 68-hour power reserve, and is accurate to ±7 seconds per day. It also features a tungsten rotor that proudly displays the Texas Lone Star logo. The movement is nicely finished and commands quite a striking presence.

The Canton comes on an Oyster-style bracelet with brushed outer links and polished central links. It matches the contrasting finish of the case and tapers nicely from 20mm at the end links to 16mm at the clasp. The quality is very good and the large milled folding clasp makes it very comfortable. It also includes a tool-free fine adjustment system, making it very easy to use.

In addition, the bracelet is highly adaptable as it can be shortened or lengthened considerably, allowing you to easily size the watch to your wrist and therefore make it more comfortable to wear.

Wearing Jack Mason Canton

On the wrist, the Jack Mason Canton is very comfortable to wear every day. The size and proportions are perfect for a 19cm (7.5 inches) wrist. Overall, the watch is pleasant and sturdy, and the quality of the finishing on the case and bracelet is quite good. Design-wise, it’s hard to shake the Rolex vibe, but that’s not a bad thing for the Jack Mason. There are plenty of watch fans who love the Rolex aesthetic, but aren’t willing to spend the 6,500 euros required for an Oyster Perpetual, or even more for a Datejust. For them, there’s a great, more affordable alternative in the new Canton.

But while the overall silhouette may look familiar, many details set this watch apart. The crosshatch pattern dial and the subtly tinted second hand are good examples. Additionally, the reference to Texas isn’t all that obvious if you don’t know what the colors and the Lone Star logo represent. But if you do, you’ll remember that Jack Mason is a Texas brand. Whether it’s a good thing or not is a very personal matter. I think it will resonate with many American buyers. But as a European who has visited the US many times, I have yet to experience the Lone Star State. It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, but that’s another story.

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Overall, Jack Mason has done a great job updating the Canton. With a new and more attractive design, a great automatic caliber, and upgrades to the overall quality and finish, this is a great effort from the Dallas-based brand. Additionally, the watch is very wearable thanks to its slim profile, perfect proportions, and excellent ease of use of the bracelet and clasp. All these improvements also come with an updated price tag; the new Jack Mason Canton will retail for $1,499 USD. Jack Mason is hoping that with their new Swiss-made Canton, it will be a great alternative to entry-level Swiss brands.

American microbrands can also be added to that list of contenders. For watch fans looking to buy an American branded watch, Jack Mason’s Texas roots may be a deciding factor. Overall, this new Canton is a great update and a solid effort from the brand. Spec-wise it’s very impressive, and there are plenty of watch enthusiasts who love this aesthetic, so we’re sure the new Jack Mason Canton will find its way into fans’ hands.

For more information, visit the official Jack Mason website Let us know what you think of the new Jack Mason Canton in the comments section.

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