For the Urwerk and MB&F fans on a budget, the MS1001-Ti does what those brands do best – it challenges the very archetype of a wristwatch on every level… but does so on a $319 price tag.
Take one glance at the MS1001-Ti watch from MECEXP and I guarantee you’ll be compelled to look again and again. The watch’s avant-garde design goes beyond its chiseled shape. Instead of one watch face, it sports two – in the form of linear windows on the left and right, with moving arrows that point at the hours and minutes respectively. The windows are separated by a metal channel that serves as branding, but also provides cover for the watch’s unique backlight, giving the entire timetelling experience a modern facelift. The watch itself boasts a titanium alloy outer casing, complete with sapphire crystals on the front… and on the inside, the entire watch runs on MECEXP’s own self-developed movement, drawing power from a lithium-ion battery that recharges using a contact-point charger like the ones you get with smartwatches. In short, there’s nothing conventional about the MS1001-Ti and that’s precisely what makes it so incredible.
Designer: MECEXP
I know it’s an overused metaphor but the MS1001-Ti does share a lot spiritually with the Cybertruck. It challenges existing norms, comes with a uniquely geometric design and a highly durable construction, and runs on a lithium battery. In short, it’s electric on the inside, and unconventionally edgy on the outside. The watch itself sports a machined titanium-alloy body, known for being both hypoallergenic and hyper-durable. The oddly appealing low-poly design puts the watch in a visual class of its own, while its linear time-telling experience instantly turns it into an iconic wristwatch.
The time-telling UX is a masterclass in its own right. The watch doesn’t come with rotating hands or a digital screen. Instead, it uses a screw-based linear flyback movement and a traveling arrow to help tell the time. This unorthodox experience doesn’t require a learning curve – simply put, the hour is indicated on the left, and the minutes on the right. CNC motors operate the rotating screw, which allows the arrow to travel up and down the hour or minute window. It’s an experience that just as satisfying to watch as it is easy to read. Clear, large, 3D numbers on either side make the time easy to read in broad daylight… and if you want some added flair, pressing the crown on the side triggers the watch’s blue backlight, allowing you to read the time at night too.
A lithium-ion battery powers the entire experience bridging the gap between horology and technology. The MS1001-Ti replaces the conventional spring with CNC motors, which utilize digital programming and digital tracking for time calibration. “The complicated mechanical movement of the watch is achieved through algorithmic programming, perfectly integrating modern intelligence with mechanical timekeeping,” say the folks at MECEXP. In short, this timepiece isn’t for traditionalists or purists.
The MS1001-Ti bases itself on the company’s MS1001 design from not too long ago. The upgraded variant now sports a titanium outer shell, making it more durable but simultaneously lighter than its predecessor, weighing a mere 86 grams or 3 ounces, while also boasting a marginally larger dial and display window. The display window is capped with anti-scratch sapphire crystal which also gives the watch up to 30 meters or 3ATM of water resistance. Meanwhile, fluoro rubber straps offer a classic yet sporty aesthetic with the added benefit of being water/weather resistant. The inner 270mAh battery lasts a respectable 35 days on a full charge, and a contact-based charging cable lets you recharge your watch in a jiffy.
Despite its groundbreakingly different design and movement, the MS1001-Ti starts at an affordable $319, which includes a classy packaging box, a charging cable, 2 years of warranty, and free global shipping.