With so many startup watch brands coming up in recent times, a watch brand would have to do something out of the box to stand out from the others. Also, these are the days people are looking beyond the accuracy of timepieces but also the sense of style it conveys.
Watch designers Thomas Heer, and Hanna Sterchi founded MQT Horlogère Suisse about two years ago situated in the very center of the watchmaking industry, Switzerland. The name MQT originated from two things, the French word “Mousquetaires,” musketeer in English, and also from the phrase ‘mastering quality timepieces.
According to the founders, their focus is aimed at creating high-quality watches using the best materials and at affordable prices. The Marble II Gent watch is a good illustration of MQT’s approach to their watchmaking goals.
ETA E64.101 Caliber
The MQT Marble II Gent runs on the ETA E64.101 Caliber. Although it’s an uncommon ETA movement, there is an acceptable level of Precision, reliability, and performance since ETA is known to have been manufacturing watch calibers for over two centuries now.
The ETA caliber E64.101 is a quartz movement with 8 jewels and an accuracy of about +-10s/Year. This accuracy is achieved through the Precidrive technology which means it can pass the COSC chronometer certification, provided the watch is not exposed to impacts and kept at a temperature between 20°c and 30°c.
Dial and Legibility
Moving on to the dial, the main feature that characterizes this timepiece. The Marble II Gent features a Real Black Marble; this means no two Marble II Gent watches can look the same. That luxurious look and feel provided by marble, has made marble a near impossible choice at this price point.
The MQT MARBLE II GENT offers a strong, legible dial that gives the watch a more masculine presence as the name suggests. The overall dial design is clever, featuring a fully black and white color scheme. On the dial are applied hour markers complemented by appropriate looking hands. Given the color scheme and adequate proportions of the dial components, legibility seems to be great. At the 12 o’clock position is the embossed MQT Horlogère Suisse inscription balanced by the MQT logo at the 6 o’clock position.
The polished hour and minute hands are done in a sword style which matches nicely with the hour markers. The hour markers have a similar finishing to the hands, bestowing the dial a striking three-dimensional look that offers legibility.
MQT tries to set itself apart from the rest of the pack by infusing quality into this watch through many different angles. Elements like a slightly domed and nicely AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial confers a status of luxury on this watch.
MQT Marble II Case & Wearability
The watch wears boldly on the wrist with its contrasting polished and excellently brushed stainless steel 316L case. The back of the watch case features an engraved three musketeers’ symbol which happens to be MQT’s logo. Other features of the watch such as the materials used and the “Swiss made” inscription are also engraved on the back. Another interesting detail is the ‘MQT’ engraved into the fluted screw-down crown.
The case is 43mm wide, 10mm thick, and is water resistant up to 5ATM. These numbers indicate an appropriately sized watch (not too big or small, but slim) making it sit comfortably on the wrist.
The MQT Marble II Gent comes with a Black Mesh strap which cannot be interchanged in this model unlike some of their other watches. The black mesh strap generates a form of visual interest and adds to the overall character of the watch. It also secures firmly to the wrist, and it’s easy to put on and take off.
Final Thoughts
The MQT Marble II Gent is sturdily made using high-quality components and materials; It is no doubt a fine timepiece for men looking for quartz in this price range. Its features a design that clearly understands that people wear watches for more than the purpose of reading time but also as an extension of one’s personality and to communicate a sense of style in a normal lifestyle/casual setting, which in this case, the style might be simplicity, boldness, and legibility.
Although the watch might not carry expensive status symbols, it still offers a solid value proposition associated with quartz Swiss watches. MQT offers excellent customer relation services with free worldwide shipping to all customers around the globe and allows returns of a brand new product within 10 days of delivery.
Overall, the MQT Marble II Gent is a very versatile watch that can fare well in multiple environments not to mention the luxury feel it offers to its wearer on a budget.
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