Upon hearing the name Makina, you might not immediately think of watches, but this young brand is diligently working to carve out its niche in the industry. Makina, which translates to "Machine", surprisingly hails from Manila in the Philippines. A few years ago, we introduced the Uriel models, now in their third iteration, and the Mephisto. Now we will review perhaps the boldest of them all - the Makina Raum I.
The design of the Makina Raum I watch is quite unconventional. It all starts with the shape of the case and continues on the dial. The 42mm wide stainless steel case has an octagonal shape. The round central part of the case, which houses the dial and movement, is complemented by unusually shaped side elements. The unusual placement of the crown, located between the lugs at the "6 o'clock" position, adds boldness to the piece, while the polished bezel and domed sapphire crystal complete the case.
The surfaces of the case alternate between matte and polished finishes. On the side of the case is the brand name inscription. In creating the dial, Makina drew inspiration from the shape of a revolver cylinder. It features a deeply recessed sector-style design with metallic Arabic numerals for each odd hour. The recessed concave forms indicate the even hours. Looking at the dial from top to bottom evokes a sense of a revolver. The hands are gold-plated, creating a strong contrast.
The Makina Raum I is equipped with the Sellita SW200-1 movement, whereas previous collections were equipped with Miyota movements. The SW200-1 movement has proven to be reliable, operating at a frequency of 28,800 per hour and providing a 38-hour power reserve. It can be viewed through the case back, which forms a single entity with the sides of the case. The sapphire crystal is adorned with a stylized print of the dial contour and the Makina logo.
Interestingly, the price for the Raum I is very reasonable, especially during the pre-order campaign, and is set at 599 USD. It is the same price as in other collections, but you get a Swiss Made movement. However, the retail price will increase by at least 100 USD, so it remains to be seen how significant the shift will be. Nevertheless, at this level of watchmaking, you get a timepiece with interesting technical specifications and a rather unique design.
More detailed information on the website MakinaWatches.com
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – MAKINA RAUM I
Case: 42mm diameter x 13.4mm height – stainless steel case – polished and matte finish – crown located at "6 o'clock" – sapphire crystal on both sides – water resistance 50m
Dial: black dial with recessed sector pattern – metallic Arabic hour markers for odd numbers – recessed concave forms for even hour markers – gold-plated hour, minute, and second hands
Movement: automatic SW200-1 movement – 26 jewels – 28,800 per hour (4Hz frequency) – 38-hour power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds (no date)
Strap: brown crocodile leather strap – folding clasp – additional black silicone strap
Availability: available for pre-order now
Price: 599 USD at pre-order stage (retail price expected to be at least 100 USD higher)