A few months ago I attended an opening at Gregory Jewellers in Sydney. The event was held to celebrate Bremont’s arrival in Australia. Whilst I was there I had the great fortune of meeting an aspiring young writer by the name of Siddharth Padmanabhan. On his recommendation I contacted the Melbourne Watch Company to ask if they would ship a watch for review. The owner Sujain Krishnan was very obliging and suggested the Flinders Automatic would be an ideal choice.
In previous articles I have written about numerous watches from many different countries including Switzerland, US, Finland, Ukraine, Morocco and the UK. The Melbourne Watch Company is the first Australian brand I have featured on Total Watch Reviews. During conversations with Sujain Krishnan he explained what stimulated him to leave a well paid IT job and become a watch designer. Fascinatingly it was his brother’s vintage Omega that spurred him to purchase a small collection of mechanical timepieces. Subsequently this hobby organically evolved into customizing watches to a range of different clients. Finally in 2013 Sujain decided to take his passion to the next level by establishing his own business.
The Flinders Automatic is the debut model from the Melbourne Watch Company. My first impression when I received the watch was how delicate it looked compared to other models I have reviewed. With a diameter measuring 40mm the timepiece is fairly small by todays standards. Nevertheless these classical proportions should appeal to a wide variety of buyers including the unisex market. Generally I found the watch felt very comfortable and I didn’t encounter any friction from the lugs. Primarily this is down to the elegant case design and choice of 316L stainless steel in production. Normally I prefer materials like titanium or ceramic but in this instance steel suits the style of watch. Realistically this timepiece could be worn for most occasions both casual and formal.
The design of the Flinders Automatic is inspired by the iconic architecture of the Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. Considering the entry-level price point ($525AUD), I feel it has the same high quality appearance normally found in much more expensive watches. What makes the timepiece so attractive is the sleek guilloche dial, which is available in black or silver. Other successful features include raised indexes, personalized second hand (with the Melbourne Watch Company logo) and the use of flat sapphire crystal instead of mineral glass. Overall the composition is understated and the finishing is of a high standard.
To power the watch Sujain has opted for a high grade Japanese Miyota 9015 Caliber. This self-winding movement comprises 24-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The mechanism is perfectly showcased through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Functionally the Flinders Automatic features hours, minutes, seconds and date facility. The watch also has a power reserve of 42 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
The flinders Automatic has a premium leather strap with matching stainless steel buckle. Priced competitively at: $525AUD (approximately $495US).
For more information visit the company’s website: http://www.melbournewatch.com.au