What We Know
Clemence, the English microbrand, has launched a new limited-edition take on its incredibly good (and deservedly popular) Photic dive watch. The main difference between the new LE and the standard Photic MKII diver (which Jason Heaton spent time with earlier this year) is that it uses a Swiss Soprod M100 movement instead of the Miyota movements Clemence has used previously.
While the new Clemence is largely identical to its non-limited-edition sibling, other changes include a fully luminous bezel with a numbered layout and a new color Clemence calls “Atoll Blue.” Clemence is deservedly known for its excellent use of color, and the addition of a new color to that palette is notable for a brand that has been deliberate in its rollout of new models.
Like the Photic MKII, this new watch measures 38.5mm across (though the overhanging bezel measures closer to 39mm) and is about 46.5mm lug-to-lug. It’s also thin, at just 10.5mm thick (the switch to the Soprod movement hasn’t led to any dimensional changes). The watch comes on a three-link bracelet, features a micro-adjust in the clasp, and the Soprod M100 movement is regulated to tremendous accuracy (+/- 4 seconds a day).
The Photic MKII Swiss Edition is priced at £949—or about $1,275—so it commands a slight premium of £599 (about £350) over the standard Photic. The Photic MKII Swiss Edition is limited to 25 pieces.
What We Think
Do I even have to say it? I absolutely adore this watch. The Clemence Photic MKII was already one of my favorite accessibly priced divers, and this new take might be the best yet. Admittedly, I’m less drawn in by the inclusion of a Swiss movement than others might be (although I certainly don’t mind it, and at under $1,300, I also don’t mind the choice of the Soprod in the slightest), but between the new bezel layout and the new colorway, I’m entirely smitten with this watch.
Blue is a color that, despite its ubiquity, is really hard to get right, and Clemence nailed it. This blue genuinely makes you feel something, and it’s as close to the platonic ideal of a blue dive watch as I’ve seen recently. I hope this watch’s aesthetic success compels Tom and his collaborators at Clemence to bring the color into more of their line, because it works so well.
Given this watch’s limited run and its specific blend of features, I doubt we’ll see a wider release of this exact spec moving forward, but I hope this isn’t the end of the line for this color. At the very least, I hope it will eventually make its way to the Munro, and I’m sure collectors will forgive its inclusion in a future standard line Photic, or some other future Clemence model.
Beyond that, this watch is just plain good. Every detail here has been considered to a level that’s hard to square with its genuinely accessible price, and, at the end of the day, I’m not sure a brand at this price point has any business making a bracelet this great. Other touchpoints—including the crown and bezel—live up to the same standard.
Basically, I can’t recommend this watch highly enough, and if you’re one of the 25 lucky souls who snag one, I’d be incredibly surprised if you ever regret it.
The Basics
Brand: Clemence
Model: Photic MKII Swiss Edition
Diameter: 38.5mm (Bezel measures 39mm)
Thickness: 10.5mm
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Dial Color: Atoll Blue
Indexes: Applied luminous indices with Arabic numerals at ’12’ and ‘6.’
Lume: Yes, on hands, indices, and bezel.
Water Resistance: 200m
Strap/Bracelet: Steel Three-Link Bracelet
The Movement
Caliber: Soprod M100
Functions: Hours, Minutes, and Seconds
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Winding: Automatic
Chronometer Certified: No, but regulated to +/- 4 seconds per day.
Additional Details: Soft-iron movement housing provides anti-magnetic resistance (25,000 A/m).
Pricing & Availability
Price: £950 (~$1,275 at the time of writing)
Availability: From 1 pm Eastern on October 22nd, directly through Clemence Watches.
Limited Edition: Yes, 25 pieces.
For more, click here.
