Review: SevenFriday M2
SevenFriday proved with the P1 (and P2 and P3) that intriguing watchmaking could be done without costing the Earth. The P1 combined great looks, out-of-the-ordinary functionality and a budget-conscious RRP, and, unsurprisingly, became very popular. Now the benchmark has been set, the people at SevenFriday can show what they’re really capable of. Think of the P1 as the warm-up act: the main event is about to start.
The industrially themed creations take a step into the abstract for the new M1 and M2 (the M1 is in bare stainless steel, the M2 has a PVD coating). SevenFriday quotes jet turbines and vintage dials as the inspiration for the design of the M1 and M2, and the cues are clear: the stacked dial and vent-like slots have a dynamism that engenders speed without the need for actual motion. As with the P1, the dial is the focus of the watch, comprising of six layers made of ten separate parts.
Power comes again from the house of Miyota, although this time from the calibre 8215, a hardy movement with a strong record for reliability. This time, there’s no window into the inner workings of the movement, which is a slight step back from the P1, although the overall concept of the M1 and M2 feels stronger.
With a different dial, movement, case (which is a hair thicker), caseback and strap, there is little here that isn’t new for the M1 and M2. The time display is the biggest change, using three separate disks that rotate around stationary markers to indicate the hours, minutes and seconds from out to in. It sounds confusing, but is actually very easy to read — easier in fact than the P1’s dial. Slots in the turbine-like covering over the disks allow a glimpse through to the rest of the numerals as they lie in wait.
Another new addition for the M1 and M2 is the plaque where the crown used to be. The new design is a left hooker, and the space left behind gets a polished metal plate, which (as rumour has it) can be custom designed if you ask extra nicely. It also serves as an excellent bash guard — that might not be by design, but at worst it’s a happy coincidence. Big watches often get caught on table edges, door frames and the like, always taking the brunt of the force on the right-hand side of the case (for those who wear their watches on the left wrist). This rearrangement protects both the crown and the case, preventing less heart-in-mouth moments when hard surface meets watch.
If you’re already on board with SevenFriday and what they’re doing, then the M1 and M2 will make an ideal next step for your collection. For those discovering the brand for the first time, welcome — you’re in for a treat.
Watch Spec | SevenFriday M2/01
Case: PVD stainless steel Dimensions: 47mm x 47.6mm Crystal: Anti-reflective hardened mineral glass Water Resistance: 30m Movement: Miyota 8215, automatic Frequency: 28,800 vph Power Reserve: 45 hours Strap: Leather Functions: Time | Shop Now
