MeisterSinger Metris collection – Young, Fresh and Affordable

Meistersinger, the brand that offers (mostly) single-handed watches and that we’ve come to love, is stepping up its game. New movements, new complications, new concepts to display time with as few hands as possible without straying from the ‘less is more’ approach to timekeeping that characterises its collections. Last year saw the introduction of the unusual but cool Meistersinger Salthora Meta X dive watch, and this year Meistersinger introduces a new kid on the block; the young, fresh and accessible Metris.

The deconstructed concept of displaying time that has earned Meistersinger its fame is quite unique and original. Yes, there are other brands that offer single-handed watches, but few do it as consistently and as well as this German brand. Time and time again it succeeds in offering interesting concepts and complications that are true to the original idea. Yes, it offers watches with more than one hand, and yes, there have been watches with more central mounted hands in the past, but the style that separates Meistersinger from others is always present. And, as it might be important to you, the current line-up features the trademark needle-point, single central hour hand.

Over the past few years, the brand has been offering more and more complicated pieces, and that has left the bottom-end of the range a bit… left behind if you will. And to be honest, up until the Meistersinger Salthora Meta X, its primary focus has been on classically styled watches. The Circularis, the Phanero, the Adhaesio or the Perigraph, for instance, all come in traditional round cases with classical touches. Last year’s Baselworld introduction changed that significantly and so does this new Metris collection. And yes, it is a powerful package!

The vintage look and feel of the new Metris, combined with the contemporary style Meistersinger is known for, makes for an impressive new addition to the range. The vintage-looking case measures 38mm wide but it wears a little larger due to the elongated case with integrated lugs, reminiscent of those cool sports watches from the 1970s. The steel case has a curved central case band with a brushed finish and a subtle polished angle between side and front. The crown-guards protruding from the case to protect the crown are a nice touch. For heightened legibility, the date aperture at 6 o’clock is covered by a domed sapphire crystal with a cyclops lens. Now a cyclops might not be to everyone’s liking, but it just works with this watch and ties in the modern dial with the vintage-style case. Also important to note is that the Metris is 200m water-resistant, meaning that it can be used during weekends and vacations.

The dial of the Meistersinger Metris collection comes in four variations, but all of them feature a white date wheel. You can choose from an opaline silver, ivory, black or dark blue dial, and all the models come with a beautifully crafted textile NATO-style strap. Each dial comes with a contrasting set of hands and markers. The black dial Metris for instance, has a black central hand, white markers and text, and a red-on-white date wheel. Double-digit hour markers and the central needle-point hour hand are typical Meistersinger themes, which are present in the new line-up too.

Meistersinger chose to put the reliable, automatic ETA 2824-2 inside the Metris, which runs for 38 hours straight when fully wound. The new Meistersinger Metris collection will be on sale from April 2018, and it is a package to seriously consider. It is a young and fresh addition to the collection decked out with hallmark Meistersinger details, but with enough personality to stand out enough from the crowd. The price for the Meistersinger Metris collection is EUR 1,490. More information on Meistersinger.com.