Brew Watches Metric Automatic Introduces Mechanical Movement to Retro Collection

There are a lot of niche watch brands out there who have built their business around very specific concepts, which while cool can be creatively limiting. It’s a sign of Brew Watches success that they’ve managed to take their foundation in coffee themed watches and transition into a brand that is known for simply creating interesting, retro timepieces. Perhaps the best example of this is the new Metric Automatic, the brand’s first automatic watch and one that is confident enough to rely on its strong styling to be popular rather than any fun gimmicks.

Structurally, the Brew Metric Automatic and its predecessors (like the Brew Metric Retro Dial featured here) are very similar. It has a 36mm diameter case made from stainless steel with 50m water resistance and a sapphire crystal. The body of the case is tonneau leading into a quasi-integrated bracelet with quick release although when it comes to shape the rounded square bezel makes more of an impact visually. Overall, the piece has a strong 70s vibe with its industrial chic qualities and vintage proportions.

What makes the new watch different to the previous editions is that it’s a time-only model instead of a chronograph. That means there are no pushers flanking the crown, no subdials on the display and none of the markings related to coffee brewing. What we have is a sleek black dial with oversize rectangular hour markers (completed by strips of red on the outside of the dial and lume in the middle) and Arabic numerals for the minutes. The central hands have also been updated since this is the first model to feature a central seconds hand, for which Brew has used a lollipop style in bright red.

It manages to retain the core style of the Metric while reimagining it as a three-hand model. Of course, the other big change for the Metric Automatic is the fact that it houses a fully mechanical, automatic movement. Specifically, it houses the Seiko NH35A with 41-hour power reserve. There’s also a small exhibition window in the steel caseback allowing you to view the balance wheel.

Ultimately, the Metric Automatic is a really cool retro timepiece that shows Brew Watches’ brand and design growth. At just £454.33 it’s still very accessible despite the upgraded movement. However, limited to just 500 pieces, you’ll likely have to pick one up quickly if you don’t want to miss out.