At the beginning of this year, I introduced my faithful readers to Moto Koure,
a new Australian micro brand. Their debut model, the MK I, is a racing
chronograph with hints of Heuer Silverstone combined with a generous
helping of 1960's Jaguar. I liked what I saw in the pre-release and now
that a fellow collector was good enough to drop one in my hands for a
review, I am pleased to report that the finished product exceeds my
expectations.
Moto Koure offers the MK I in
several colors with either a Seiko NE88 column wheel automatic or a VK64
MechaQuartz hybrid movement. The watch featured here is a burgundy dial
MechaQuartz. Being a thrifty enthusiast, it is the one I would most
likely purchase myself. While I love mechanical chronographs, and the
NE88 is certainly attainable, the VK series' marriage of quartz
timekeeper and mechanical chronograph module offers a satisfying sweep
and snap-back for a list price of $635 AUD ($468 USD), less than half
that of the automatic.
Nothing about the MechaQuartz MK I
betrays its budget status. Its appearance is nearly identical to that of
its pricier sibling. In the tradition of many automobiles, the most
obvious difference is the dashboard trim; this one has a silver diamond
plate "surfboard" surrounding its subdials while the automatics wear
wood grain. There isn't a bad color combination in the collection, but I
particularly appreciate the rich burgundy on the review watch as it is
relatively uncommon.
The stick markers and hands are
filled with "old radium" SuperLuminova. To my eye, the lume is more of
an apricot than the warm tan normally associated with that color, but it
is not at all unattractive. In fact, I rather liked the way it works
with the wine color of the dial. Other eye-catching details include an
orange spearhead second hand, a raised rose gold plate for the brand
name, and the way the tachymeter index wraps over the top and sides of
the rehaut. Finally, the dial offers some tasteful brightwork in the
form of polished markers, hands, logo, and frames for the date window
and registers. This dial just sings. There is not a single thing I would
change.
The case is a tall rectangle with
rounded corners measuring 40mm wide, 44mm long, and 13mm thick. You can
generally expect a cushion case to appear to be one size larger than its
width suggests and this is no exception. It wears like a 42mm and this
is not a bad thing as the size is perfectly appropriate for a sports
watch. I had no issues wearing it on my 6.5" wrist. The most notable
aspect to its proportions is its height. A lugless design keeps it
compact, but also accentuates the case thickness. On the other hand, a
polished, stepped bezel, vertically brushed sides, and elongated pushers
break it up, preventing the MK I from looking too heavy or slab-sided.
The large, push-pull crown is signed
and ringed with a bold chevron pattern. Water resistance is 50m, which
should be more than sufficient for daily wear, after all, the MK I is
not a tool watch. I'd classify it as more of a dress/sports model. The
crystal is flat sapphire glass. The Moto Koure crest is stamped on the
case back. It is a simple design that is nicely executed in a
combination of blasted and polished finishes. I found it to be a
pleasant change from the exhibition case backs found on so many micros
showing off relatively prosaic movements.
A racing chronograph needs a racing
strap and the MK I does not disappoint. It comes on drilled burgundy
leather with white stitching. Painted orange sides tie back to the
orange lume. The strap is well made but not padded at all and quite
thin, which makes sense given the somewhat fancy nature of the design.
It tapers from 22mm to 20m and the buckle is signed.
I loved the Moto Koure MK I. It is
distinctive, well executed, and every detail was thought through. It is
one of the few watches I've tested this year that made me say, "Damn,
why didn't I order that one!" In fact, I may just do that. Full price is
$635 AUD and it is selling now for $540 AUD ($398 USD). It is not the
steal the pre-order was, but it is still a mighty tempting proposition.
For more information or to order your own, go to motokoure.com.
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