You need to be an actual Meistersinger devotee to grasp how the Meistersinger Salthora Meta X suits into the model’s bigger timepiece assortment. At its coronary heart, the Salthora Meta X is attempting to be a sportier model of the usual Meistersinger timepiece fare — whereas, on the similar time, taking part in with an unusual timepiece dial complication.
There’s a lot to love in regards to the Salthora Meta X watch though it’s a quirky product with quite a few design refinements that, if utilized, may make for a very fashionable luxurious product for extra mainstream enchantment. At present, the Salthora Meta X continues to be a niche-appeal product from a niche-appeal mechanical watch model. I name that “unique,” and there’s a particular place in my coronary heart for unique watches, even when I do know that, with extra time and funding, Meistersinger may rework the Salthora Meta X right into a extra extensively appreciated product.
Should you recall, Meistersinger is the German watchmaker that makes a speciality of single-hand watch dials. Most of its watches use a single hand to point the hours and minutes. On most watches, a single hand makes a single rotation across the dial each 12 hours. Whereas the Salthora Meta X does, certainly, have one hand, it doesn’t point out the time like different Meistersinger watches. The bigger central hand on the Salthora Meta X is used to point simply the minutes, and the hours are displayed “digitally” on a transferring disc by way of a window situated on the 12 o’clock place on the dial.
The hour disc jumps to the following full hour on the high of the hour, which makes this watch a “leaping hour” watch, versus the disc not leaping to express positions and slightly “wandering” between the hours (not almost as elegant as leaping ones) within the hour window. The leaping hour complication is completed by a particular module that’s fitted over the Swiss Made ETA 2824-2 (or Sellita SW200) computerized mechanical motion that sits contained in the Salthora Meta X case. The motion operates at 4Hz and has a barely lowered energy reserve of 38 hours, more than likely on account of the ability necessities on the leaping hour module.
One explicit model of the Salthora Meta X (which stays my favourite) is the Meistersinger Salthora Meta X Clear (aBlogtoWatch hands-on right here). That reference SAMX902TR watch has the identical case and motion as this reference SAMX908, however a dial that attractively reveals the leaping hour mechanism (albeit with a barely smaller hour disc), which is on the coronary heart of what makes this watch noteworthy.
The Salthora Meta assortment is Meistersinger’s extra basic (dressier) watch line with this leaping hour complication motion, and the Salthora Meta X is the sports activities watch model. The properly completed metal case is on the bigger facet at 43mm-wide and 14.2mm-thick. The lengthy, extremely curved lugs truly make the watch really feel bigger, however the distinction sharpening on the case between mirror-polished and brushed surfaces helps the chunky case look its greatest.
As a dive-style watch, the Salthora Meta X is waterproof to 200 meters and the dial is topped with a domed, AR-coated sapphire crystal. Dial legibility is fairly good, and the case feels sturdy sufficient, however Meistersinger struggles a bit to essentially put greater than a practical dive watch character into the gathering. Sure, the Salthora Meta X has a uni-directional rotating bezel, a waterproof case, and a little bit of luminant on the dial (it may use extra luminant, now that I point out it), the Salthora Meta X nonetheless feels prefer it wants a extra appropriately designed dial if it needs to be a severe sports activities watch. Proper now the product straddles the road between sports activities watch and classic instrument (within the dial design). I really feel just like the dial wants a bit extra boldness and oomph.
One legibility problem on the dial is the readability of the hour within the leaping hour window. Meistersinger makes use of the identical font color and style because the minute markers. Why the hour numerals are usually not visually distinguished not less than by shade looks as if an odd omission. The dial choices themselves are chromatically interesting, and this pale darkish blue is straightforward on the eyes. That stated, I’ve to the dial wants a bit extra consistency or concord with the fonts. The Meistersinger brand, hour/minute numerals, and dial textual content are all totally different fonts. That’s not less than one too many fonts. The dial in any other case is proportionally good and logical, nevertheless it lacks a design edge, which I believe needs to be a part of the worth proposition at this worth level.
The dial and bezel luminant are extensively utilized however a bit skinny in its software. When the lume is charged, it appears nice however because the bezel shines extra brightly than the dial, I believe Meistersinger may have discovered methods to beef up the Tremendous-LumiNova a bit. Wanting on the dial, total, my suggestion on the way to greatest refine it’s to start with the hour window and assist it and the hour numeral inside stand out a bit extra on the dial. Second, I’d boost the one hand on the dial. If Meistersinger needs to maintain its core needle-hand look, that’s fantastic, however this must be a wider needle and possibly wants a pleasant texture or one thing to make it really feel a bit extra attention-grabbing since it’s an integral a part of the dial composition. Third, I might refine the dial textual content and fonts to ensure they’re as elegant as doable — a cool mechanical leaping hour watch similar to this deserves it, for positive.
Across the dial, the rotating bezel has a blue ceramic insert. Different variations of the Salthora Meta X have a darkish grey ceramic insert. Meistersinger additionally performs with colours and, in a single occasion (the reference SAMX902) has a special shade for the leaping hour disc in order that studying the time is simpler. Blue, nonetheless, would be the trendiest of dial colours for the Meistersinger Salthora Meta X assortment, which is why I’m pushing the thought of refinements.
For small wrists like mine, the large lugs are a bit overpowering, however not a deal-killer. Meistersinger gives the watch on each this mesh steel bracelet and a collection of strap choices. The steel bracelet is the cool-guy possibility, nevertheless it does have some sensible drawbacks, probably the most notable of which is the visible hole between the case and the bracelet (I just like the built-in look extra), and the truth that this fashion of bracelet could be painful relying on the quantity and type of your arm hair.
Leaping hour watches are cool, and the minimalist fashion that Meistersinger has developed for itself is an efficient place for the complication. Add within the fashionable fashionability of a diver-style watch and you’ve got a method for achievement, proper? The Salthora Meta X is the results of that method. It pulls off the idea, however for the reason that idea is so attention-grabbing, I really feel like I wish to see Meistersinger take it additional. The Salthora Meta X Clear was an important instance of that and proof that Meistersinger itself is aware of the Salthora Meta X assortment as an entire may use some adjusting. The model is shut, and with its explicit checklist of attributes, the model’s group can do it. For now, the Salthora Meta X stays undeniably attention-grabbing, albeit a distinct segment product for watch lovers who totally respect that it does, certainly, supply one thing totally different. Value for the Meistersinger Salthora Meta X reference SAMX908 on a strap is $three,495 USD and on the bracelet it’s $three,850 USD. Be taught extra on the Meistersinger web site right here.
Obligatory Information:
>Model: Meistersinger
>Mannequin: Salthora Meta X (reference SAMX908 as examined)
>Value: $three,495 – $three,850 USD
>Measurement: 43mm extensive, 14.2mm-thick, ~51mm lug-to-lug distance
>When reviewer would personally put on it: When wanting to point out off which you can put on a completely unconventional software watch, simply because.
>Pal we’d advocate it to first: Single-hand watch lover who however needs extra precision in studying the time, and sports activities watch lover.
>Finest attribute of watch: Leaping hour dive watches are a compelling watch product, total. Case is well-made and solid-feeling. Motion module and total operation easy and hassle-free.
>Worst attribute of watch: Blue dial model has readability points, as hour window blends in a bit with minute markers. Dial lacks a little bit of refined designer character. Strap a probably higher possibility for these with arm hair liable to pinching and pulling. Can come throughout as a bit bit costly in comparison with among the competitors.
