It’s been a few years since I last featured Mitch Mason on Fratello. We have reported on the Maelstrom Dive Watch series, a brand that is extremely successful for Singaporean brands. The new Maelstrom Tales of the Seas is an updated version of the first Maelstrom. It features a revised dial with more depth and details. This will allow Maelstrom to give new relevance, so it’s time to learn more about this latest Mitch Mason release.
We first wrote about Mitch Mason when the brand’s Chronicle debuted five years ago. Given that Benedict Ong founded the brand in 2019, he quickly released his first model. Fast forward a year and that’s when the first Maelstrom series saw the light of day. For fans of the up-and-coming micro-brand, we’ve put Mitch Mason’s name on the map. The vintage-inspired maelstrom with a compressor-style case has attracted considerable praise, as well as the big eyes for Ong’s details. So when the new Maelstrom Tales of the Sea was announced, I was excited to learn what had changed.
Mitch Mason Melstrom’s story
The new Mitch Mason Melstrom Tales of the Sea is mostly about evolution rather than revolution. That makes perfect sense. After all, there’s no reason to change something that people are already totally grateful for. But I love the fact that the brand founder Benedict Ong has taken up the challenge of optimizing the maelstrom. Some of the design updates are clear. You can see that the dial is different with just one quick look. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Certainly there is a lot to discover.
Let’s start by reminding us what Maelstrom is. This compressor-style diving watch features a 40mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 12.5mm, lug-to-lug 47mm, and a depth rated of 300m. This case is completely brushed with two large crowns on the right.
The 2 o’clock upper crown controls the internal dive bezel, and the 4 o’clock crown adjusts the time. Complementing the case is a full-length H-Link bracelet, creating a look that oozes out the functionality. But this is the right tool watch for the mind, so it’s what it should be.
Newly updated sandwich dial
The brand combines a brushed case and bracelet with a new engraved teal dial that sees some important updates. The first is the colour. This teal hues are much more vibrant than the previous black, gray, blue and green options. The second change that immediately catches the eye is the wave pattern in the middle part of the sandwich dial.
This pattern adds depth and injects visual pizza compared to its predecessor’s sunburst dial. Additionally, Minute Track features a concentric pattern that provides another layer of detail.
Three of the four early malarial models had vintage-inspired rooms, but only the grey slate version had white rooms. The new Tales of the Sea version also features a white Lume, but the brand has decided to use it more. Because it is a sandwich dial, rooms used for larger numbers are applied to the lower layer. In addition, white Rumet is also used for the rest of the time on the marker and the hand. However, ONG decided to include more Super Luminova in its internal dive bezel. So, the marking for the first 20 minutes will brighten up even in the dark, in addition to the remaining markers on the dive bezel. All this brings clocks that can be used on land and water, both in the daytime and in the dark.
Miyota 9015 inside
The new Maelstrom also features an updated caseback. Its design still features an energetic humpback whale, but in this new version, Mitch Mason himself is accompanied by him. To be honest, I don’t know if this new design has been improved. The previous design was probably too detailed, but it was a bit suitable for the serious tool watch character on the watch. Again, the caseback usually touches the wrist, so I don’t get too caught up in it.
Hidden behind the updated case is Miyota’s Calibre 9015. This automatic movement runs at 28,800VPH and provides a 42-hour power reserve. Calibers are part of Miyota’s premium product line and are a popular choice among affordable microbrands. The standard accuracy is -10/+30 seconds per day, which is not spectacular. However, experience shows that the 9015 is a reliable move that is generally performed accurately than Miyota claims.
Mitch Masons Mareelstrom Tales of the Sea
I put the watch on my wrist and it felt pretty well done. But what I wasn’t a fan was the clasp. It’s still at best, and has been more popular recently by a considerable number of microbrands. The same goes for the quality of the bracelet. It’s comparable to several other microbrands, but others are raising the bar and essentially setting a new standard for bracelets and clasps. But to be honest, that doesn’t affect the wearability of the watch. The bracelet is wrapped nicely around the wrist, balancing the case perfectly.
Maelstrom Tales of the Sea is nicely worn and has a pretty personality. As for the dial, the first visual reference that came to my mind was the Jaeger-lecoultre Polaris. It certainly isn’t a bad reference, but another watch with quite a few characters. I love that the two oversized crowns add features beyond the characters. They are easy to use and easy to grip thanks to the rifle loop. This allows you to adjust the time and/or date and make the bezel extremely simple.
Final Thoughts on the Mitch Mason Melstrom’s Story
This new Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales of the Seas is a fresh, updated take on proven concepts. With this model, Mitch Mason offers affordable diving watches with plenty of personality. The update shows a clever eye of refinement that fans will definitely appreciate. This watch is available on the Mitch Mason website for $629.
Considering what you get for money, there will be many fans who want to get a new Maelstrom story of the ocean. After wearing the watch for a week, I fully understand why. The update makes it even better with Maelstrom’s character and some refined details.
What does this release from Mitch Mason look to you? As always, I would like you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
This is a partnership post. Read about transparency here.
