This Week in Watches: October 10, 2020 Birthday Edition

Welcome back to This Week in Watches for October 10, 2020 the Birthday Edition. Birthdays are this week’s theme because it seems so many people have them in October. There’s yours truly and so many others — the result of New Year’s revelry perhaps? Now, let’s try to find some suitable gifts.

Norqain Freedom 60 GMT

Our first apt birthday gift comes from Norqain in the form of the new Freedom 60 GMT and, folks, if you’re buyin’ I’m in! These newest additions to the field watch styled Freedom collection add the chronometer-certified NN20/2 manufacture GMT movement with independent hour hand and 70 hours of power reserve. So yes folks, this is what watch snoots refer to as a “real GMT”.

You can choose it in stainless with black dial or bronze with a gorgeous brown dial. All are 40mm by 49.2mm with a 14.5mm thickness and boast 100 meters of water resistance. The first will retail for €3,190 and the bronze, which is limited to 300 pieces, for €3,490. Norqain offers incredible fit and finish and we cannot wait to go hands-on with these. More info is on the Norqain site.

Norqain Freedom 60 39

If simple is more your birthday style, Norqain has something else that will suffice. On the heels of the GMT, we also get new three-hand models in a smaller form factor. Until now, the Freedom 60 has come in a 42mm case with date. The new Freedom 60 39, however, weighs in at, you guessed it, 39mm. It’s available in steel with anthracite dial or bronze with cream dial and uses the chronometer certified NN20/1 with 70 hours of power reserve.

In addition to the smaller diameter, it has a length of 48mm, height of 11.4mm and lug width of 18mm. These look incredibly clean and also wonderfully finished. Personally speaking, I think the Freedom collection is my favorite. €2,490 is your price of entry for steel and €2,730 for bronze. The watches are available now on the Norqain site.

Magrette Pacific Waterman

Pack your bags because you’ll need to travel to New Zealand for the next birthday idea because that’s the home of microbrand Magrette. The company has only been around for a few years, but already has a dedicated following. I’d expect that to continue with the new Pacific Waterman models. Whether in bronze or steel, these watches remind me a bit of vintage divers like the Seiko “Poor Man’s 62MAS” or even the so-called baby Panerai 1000 meter.

The rounded squared-off case is a looker and at 42mm by 51.5mm with 13mm of case thickness, these 500 meter divers should fit those with medium sized wrists and above. Magrette chose the tried and true ETA 2824-2 automatic and eschewed the date function. Each feature a sandwich dial and come with rubber and leather straps. You can now pre-order these pieces on the Magrette website for delivery in December. The bronze lists for $765 and the steel for a reasonable $665.

Junghans Form A Titan(ium)

Maybe your birthday target is a bit of a design geek. If so, look no further than Junghans because they have loads of Bauhuas-inspired watches in their collection. The newest addition is the Form A Titan. These 40mm automatic watches use the J800.2 (ETA 2824-2) and contain a matte case and dial. Of special note is the downward curved dial with imprinted minute markers around its edge. Even thought the watch is a slim 10.7mm in thickness, it has 100 meters of water resistance and a display case back. Junghans offers the Form A Titan in a number of dial styles and strap materials, but I’m partial to the darker version above with buffalo strap. Pricing starts at an approachable $1,095. Head here for more information.

Junghans Max Bill MEGA Solar Titanium

Our final watch this week could be for the no fuss person on your birthday list. The new Junghans Max Bill MEGA Solar Titanium is one of those watches that will hook up to a radio signal in Japan, USA, UK, or Europe and adjust the time. Best of all, these watches keep the beloved Max Bill styling that makes it one of the most popular lines from Junghans. These titanium pieces come in at 38mm and just 9mm in thickness with a domed acrylic crystal. 30 meters of water resistance make them useful for normal wearing as well. Like the Form A above, these watches start at $1,095 and are available in a number of dial and strap choices. Visit Junghans for more on the Max Bill MEGA Solar.

Thanks for tuning into This Week in Watches and if it is your birthday this month, have a great one!