Momentum Sea Quartz 30

In 1980, Magnum PI hit the airwaves and for the primary 3 seasons, Tom Selleck as Magnum wore a Chronosport Sea Quartz 30. Some followers will keep in mind him carrying a Rolex Pepsi GMT, which is true as that’s what he wore for five seasons and thus is way more memorable to the followers of the present. However true followers keep in mind the unique and though the Chronosport is now not round, technically its predecessor is. They’ve launched a replica of that unique piece, the Momentum Sea Quartz 30. And this has been fairly the discharge, and the response has been loopy. Momentum put out the primary preorder in January, for $198, the unique worth of the 1980 Chronosport, and that batch bought out in a short time. They launched a second preorder for Might supply and people are bought out, and the web site states you may signal as much as be notified when the third preorder will go reside. Right here we’re on the finish of February and this watch just isn’t at the moment in inventory, and is probably not till the third or fourth quarter of the yr, primarily based on how issues are going. Why is it so well-liked? Is it worth? The design? Nostalgia? We are going to focus on all of it right here right now.

Specs:

• 42mm Stainless Metal Case
• 47mm Lug to Lug
• 11.3mm Thick
• 20mm Lug Width
• 93 grams in weight
• Screw Down Crown
• 300m Water Resistance
• Sapphire Crystal and Bezel Insert
• Ronda 507 Quartz Motion
• Tropic Rubber Strap
• Made in China, Assembled in Vancouver

Value $259 USD

https://momentumwatch.com/merchandise/sea-quartz-30-42mm-black

So for these not conscious, Chronosport began within the Seventies (or apparently within the 60s and bought to a North American firm within the 70s) and the proprietor of Momentum, Simon, owned that model along with his brother. Now, between 1980 and right now, there’s a lot that occurred, and as a substitute of rehashing a whole lot of what I talked about within the video and likewise getting method off observe as there’s a lengthy historical past there, I’ll simply say Chronosport ceased operations within the mid-80s to 90s, and Simon went on to proceed working St. Moritz, which is an organization out of Canada that has made watches for numerous manufacturers and did begin their very own model as effectively, Momentum, which actually began to select up steam within the 2000s. Chronosport in Europe, within the 90s, had nothing to do with this Chronosport. And past this Sea Quartz 30, Chronosport made a whole lot of cool watches, together with extra variations of the Sea Quartz, the UDT famously worn by Stallone in Rambo First Blood Half II, and numerous others. So if you wish to see a whole lot of what they produce, go forward and google Chronosport.

Image discovered on Reddit

We will discuss historical past all day, however as a substitute, let’s discuss what you get with this new Momentum Sea Quartz 30. I’m instructed precise classic Chronosport fashions had been despatched to China (sure it’s produced in China, assembled in Vancouver) to have the ability to make this replica, and with out with the ability to deal with an actual Chronopsort in hand, I can solely go by pictures and say it seems fairly shut, however I’m certain watch historians might discover variations or decide it aside, half by half, however to my eye, it seems like they did a great job. And one factor to say, no these weren’t Monnin instances (who made CWC and the Heuer mannequin), as many believed they had been. The unique fashions had been made by Swiss MRP, in Switzerland, and did a little analysis, I additionally noticed Le Jour watches used this case made by MRP again within the day as effectively. One factor that’s the similar is the 42mm chrome steel case, and one factor that’s modified is now as a substitute of a bakelite bezel insert, it’s now sapphire.

Taking a look at pictures on-line, it appears to be a fairly devoted recreation, and since this case design has been accomplished by so many manufacturers, it’s really iconic. The highest of the Momentum Sea Quartz 30 case is brushed however the remainder of the case is extremely polished, however I like how they transition from brushed to polished with a big chamfer. The crown is extremely polished in addition to the bezel, and whereas my expertise with the crown operation has been optimistic, I am unable to say the identical for the bezel. The bezel is de facto tight and exhausting to grip, probably as a result of excessive sprucing, probably as a result of mechanism, however both method, I do not discover the bezel motion to be nice, however I do notice that is additionally a $259 watch, so I am unable to anticipate perfection both.

Momentum did a great job recreating the dial, the paddle-style palms, the printed markers with raised SuperLuminova utilized to it, and the day/date (Chronosport did make a date solely as effectively, I believe it was the Sea Quartz 1000). I additionally like how they replicated the emblem and model identify on the dial, with a Momentum M emblem and the identify beneath. Presently that is the one dial shade obtainable, the matte black dial with the orange minute hand. Among the pictures you see on-line might present the colour of the indices and the bezel numbers to be extra of a yellow or patina lume shade, however it’s in truth C3 inexperienced shade. Above the dial, between the rehuat (flange) and the sapphire crystal, you will notice there’s a fairly thick white O ring seal. That bezel insert is sapphire as effectively, and that is without doubt one of the causes that Momentum mentioned they did not go together with the unique producer, saying they could not do the sapphire bezel insert. Unsure why they could not, or if that’s only a line they’re giving to justify having it made in China. I do not assume many will care, and I assumed having it made in China stored the price method down, which is sweet for the patron.

On my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist, this actually is nice to put on. The 42mm measurement is my candy spot and the brief lug to lug retains it from overhanging my wrist coupled with the flat and actually plain case again, that is snug, but in addition stable feeling watch on the wrist. The strap can be lengthy sufficient to suit my wrist with a couple of half inch to spare.

However there are some things to debate. The case again of the Momentnum Sea Quartz 30 as you see beneath is apparent, just about like the unique would have been, and I do not thoughts that in any respect, however the all-high polished again, together with the lugs and such, is simply asking for scratches, particularly whenever you do strap modifications, or use this watch as a beater, which I am certain many will do. The Tropic Rubber strap does have quick-change pins, so when you maintain these straps or use different quick-release ones, you may mitigate the opportunity of scratches however let’s have a phrase about these pins.

They’re, from my expertise with them over the previous few weeks, not precisely very sturdy. Quite a few instances I discovered just a bit little bit of stress can knock them misplaced, and that was on each shade of strap I’ve right here, so it wasn’t restricted to only one. Talking of colours, sure, it comes with both a black or orange tropic, (you may select which shade on the web site at checkout) however Momentum additionally provides different colours within the strap part, and I’ve them ship a protracted inexperienced as effectively, as I believed it might be a great combo. However again to these pins. Sure, they’re handy and I didn’t discover the straps coming off whereas truly on the wrist, however they simply do not feel that safe to me. On the very least, one thing to concentrate on.

Lastly, we check out the lume, and to make this simple, I am going to simply give it a grade of B-. Initially charged it’s good and brilliant, however the bezel would be the first to fade, relatively rapidly I’d add, and the dial will just about fade fully after 2-3 hours. So no, this isn’t Seiko or Citizen lume, however it does glow properly and would not simply fade inside seconds both.

For years I noticed individuals saying they’d love a homage to the Chronosport, and now with this Momentum Sea Quartz 30, they get greater than an homage, as it’s being made beneath the helm of the unique proprietor of the 80s icon. I believe the pricing is excellent for what it’s, and hopefully, it stays that method as $259 is a really inexpensive worth for a great, stable watch, particularly today. Sure, it’s quartz, I imply, it says it proper on the dial, as was the unique, and like many quartz, that second-hand would not all the time hit the marker useless on, however who is aware of, if there’s demand, possibly we’ll get an auto model of those sooner or later.

Within the meantime, will probably be fascinating to see how lengthy it takes till these are in inventory on the Momentum web site and usually are not solely obtainable for preorder. The watch is probably not good, however no $259 watch is, and actually, with the nostalgia that surrounds these, they most likely might have even charged extra and nonetheless maintain promoting out. Remember, when you do get one, it’s best to develop a mustache and cease by the thrift retailer and seize a Hawaiian shirt. I did not, however it’s best to.

Extra data: https://momentumwatch.com/merchandise/sea-quartz-30-42mm-black

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