Except those big famous brands, most micro watch brands created in China I have seen are homage brands, Merkur is an exception, it is not simply a homage because a lot of watches made by them have some unique designs, some watches can even give me a surprising impression when see them for the first time. Besides, Merkur is the brand in China that has a very close relation with some popular Chinese elements which you can only find on those Chinese watches made in the old times. Merkur is a very young brand, but I think they will succeed as long as they have creative designs in future, making homage watches can bring a great amount of sales in a short period, but it is not the right way for a brand’s long-term development.
This is my sixth Merkur watch I have bought, actually each Merkur watch in my collection is not expensive, the price is much affordable than other homages I bought. Merkur said it is a pilot’s watch, but I do not find any obvious features that make it a modern pilot’s watch, perhaps those pilot watch made in the old times by Chinese watches factories are like this one, so this Merkur is just a tribute to these vintage pilot’s watches made in China.
The case is measured to be 38mm in diameter, not including the crown. That’s a correct case size for a vintage pilot’s watch made in the past. The watch looks very nice on my wrist, not big or too small. The polished case has four narrow lugs that are arcuated, round bezel feels smooth on the edge. There are two cap-style buttons up and below the middle crown, they are for chronograph usage. My overall impression about the case is its simple but refined design.
All your focus must be on its dial, which is ivory and looks a little yellowish, plus the light yellow nylon band, both are two main elements making the watch full of vintage style. The red color usage on the dial is very eye-catching, central second-chronograph hand, minute-chronograph hand and the five-pointed star are all in red color, especially the red star at 6 o’clock, it is the soul element of the entire watch, aha, just my opinion. Those arrow-shaped hour markers are in yellow gold, so are hour hand and minute hand, but not look too yellow gold, the gold tone is light. The Merkur has a working chronograph, so both small hands you saw on the subdials have real functions.
The exhibition crystal back is a big feature I like on the watch, the inner engine is a manual winding movement that has chronograph feature, looking from the back, the inner machine has a stunning construction, it is too complicated for me. About this movement, I have an advice for you, do not rotate the crown too many times when winding the watch, no more than 20 rotations. By the way, this movement has a short power reserve, I suggest you wind it to gain enough power every day. Well, the movement is not a problem for me, I like the watch’s style most.
