Hands-On With The New Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales Of The Sea
It has been a few years since we last featured Mitch Mason on Fratello. We reported on the brand’s Maelstrom dive watch series, which has been quite a success for the Singaporean brand. The new Maelstrom Tales of the Sea is an updated version of the initial Maelstrom. It features a revised dial with a lot more depth and detail. This gives the Maelstrom renewed relevance, so it is time for us to find out more about this newest Mitch Mason release.
We first wrote about Mitch Mason five years ago when the brand’s Chronicle debuted. Considering that Benedict Ong founded the brand in 2019, he was quick to release his first model. Fast-forward a year, and that’s when the first Maelstrom series saw the light of day. It quickly put the Mitch Mason name on the map for fans of up-and-coming microbrands. The vintage-inspired Maelstrom with its compressor-style case garnered substantial praise, as did Ong’s great eye for detail. So when the new Maelstrom Tales of the Sea was announced, I was excited to find out what had changed.
The story of the Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales of the Sea
The new Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales of the Sea is mostly about evolution rather than revolution. It makes complete sense. After all, there’s no reason to change something that people already appreciate completely. However, I love the fact that brand founder Benedict Ong took up the challenge of optimizing the Maelstrom. Some of the design updates are obvious. You will see the dial is different by taking just one quick look. But that is just the tip of the iceberg; indeed, there is plenty more to discover.
Let’s begin by reminding you what the Maelstrom is all about. This compressor-style dive watch features a 40mm stainless steel case with a 12.5mm thickness, a 47mm lug-to-lug, and a 300m depth rating. This case is completely brushed and has two large crowns on the right side.
The upper crown at 2 o’clock controls the internal dive bezel, and the crown at 4 o’clock adjusts the time. Complementing the case is an all-brushed H-link bracelet, creating a look that oozes function. But that’s how it should be because this is a proper tool watch at heart.
A newly updated sandwich dial
The brand has paired the brushed case and bracelet with a new stamped teal dial that sees some significant updates, the first of which is the color. This teal hue is a lot more vibrant than the prior black, gray, blue, and green options. The second change that immediately catches your eye is the wave pattern in the central portion of the sandwich dial.
This pattern adds depth and injects the watch with some visual pizzazz compared to its predecessors’ sunburst dials. Additionally, the minute track features a concentric pattern that provides another layer of detail.
Three of the four initial Maelstrom models had vintage-inspired lume, while only the gray slate version had white lume. The new Tales of the Sea version also features white lume, but the brand has decided to use more of it. As it is a sandwich dial, the lume used for the large numerals is applied to the lower layer. On top of that, white lume is also used for the remaining hour markers and the hands. But Ong decided to also include more Super-LumiNova on the internal dive bezel. That’s why the markings for the first 20 minutes now also light up in the dark in addition to the rest of the dive bezel’s markers. This all results in a watch that you can use on land and in the water, both in the daytime and darkness.
A Miyota 9015 inside
The new Maelstrom also features an updated case back. Its design still features the energetic humpback whale, but in this new version, it is accompanied by Mitch Mason’s new brand mascot, Mitch. To be honest, I am not sure whether this new design is an improvement. The previous design was perhaps too detailed, but it also suited the serious tool-watch character of the watch a bit better. Then again, the case back is usually touching the wrist, so I never get too wound up about it.
Hidden behind the updated case back is Miyota’s caliber 9015. This automatic movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 42 hours of power reserve. The caliber is part of Miyota’s line of premium offerings and a popular choice among affordable microbrands. The standard accuracy is -10/+30 seconds per day, which is nothing too spectacular. However, from experience, we know that the 9015 is a reliable movement that generally runs more accurately than Miyota claims.
Wearing the Mitch Masons Maelstrom Tales of the Sea
Putting the watch on my wrist, it felt pretty well made. What I wasn’t a fan of, however, was the clasp. It is decent at best, and we have seen better from quite a few microbrands these days. The same goes for the quality of the bracelet. While it is on par with some other microbrands, we have seen others raise the bar, essentially setting a new standard for bracelets and clasps. But that doesn’t affect the wearability of the watch, to be honest. The bracelet wraps itself nicely around the wrist and balances out the case perfectly.
The Maelstrom Tales of the Sea wears nicely and has quite a bit of character. Regarding the dial, the first visual reference that came to my mind was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris. That’s certainly not a bad reference, and it’s another watch with quite a bit of character. I love that the two oversized crowns add functionality besides character. They are easy to use and, thanks to the rifle knurling, easy to grip. This makes adjusting the time and/or date and the bezel super easy.
Final thoughts on the Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales of the Sea
This new Mitch Mason Maelstrom Tales of the Sea is a fresh, updated take on a proven concept. With this model, Mitch Mason offers an affordable dive watch that has plenty of personality. The updates show a clever eye for refinement that fans will undoubtedly appreciate. The watch is available now on the Mitch Mason website for US$629.
Considering what you get for the money, there will be plenty of fans who will love to get their hands on the new Maelstrom Tales of the Sea. After wearing the watch for a full week, I completely understand why. The updates give the Maelstrom more character and several refined details that make it even better.
How does this release from Mitch Mason look to you? As always, we’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
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