Brew Retrograph Technicolor Review
“Everything about this watch is fun” was my immediate first impression when I saw the early drawings of the Retrograph Technicolor. But seeing a render of a watch and seeing that watch in person can be very different experiences, and all too often the reality can feel like a bit of a letdown. Wonderfully, that is not the case here.
Brew is owned and operated by designer and fellow RedBar member Jonathan Ferrer. The name and inspiration for the company is an almost philosophical appreciation for the coffee break, which Ferrer describes as an essential ritual in modern life. The coffee break allows, insists even, for us to slow down, reflect, and enjoy a moment apart from the rest of the day. It is with this mentality, focus, and enthusiasm, that Brew watches are created.
As the name suggests, the Retrograph’s case design is reminiscent of the retro TV case designs of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. But that is not where the vintage reference ends. Taking its inspiration from the telephone timer chronographs of the 1930’s, the Retrograph’s outer track is designed to time the 25-35 seconds required for a perfect espresso pull.
The Retrograph is powered by a Seiko mecha-quartz movement, a hybrid where the primary timekeeping is regulated by a quartz crystal and battery with a mechanical chronograph mechanism built on top. The result is a very accurate, affordable movement, with the function and feel of a mechanical chronograph. The actuation of the chronograph is very smooth, soft even, and the reset is crisp and precise.
The dial is an even matte denim blue with recessed silver subdials, and provides a sturdy backdrop for the contrasting bright blue handset and red chronograph and subdial hands. The subdial on the right is a 24 hour counter and the subdial on the left provides the 60 minute counter for the chronograph function. If I have any criticism of the watch at all, it is with this second subdial. If you’re trying to time anything between 60 seconds and 15 minutes, it is virtually impossible to read and keep track of. But then again, the focus of this piece is really within that 35 second mark. It’s hard to blame something that is purpose built for not suiting other purposes.
Along the outer timing track, painted white hash marks and indices are punctuated by red painted plots on the outside and luminous plots on the inside which are not quite blue, not quite teal. The hash marks between 30 and 35 seconds are a dark yellow and provide a visual alert that your espresso should be just about perfect. With 7 different colors (among them 3 slightly different shades of blue) you would think that the Technicolor might be confusing, over the top, or at the very least clash with itself. But that is far from the actual result, which is both bright and somehow soft spoken at the same time. I shudder to think of how many design iterations and color samples Ferrer must have gone through to land on such a perfectly balanced palette.
Whether worn on a soft, dark blue calfskin strap or on the surprisingly hefty steel beads of rice bracelet, the overall presence of the watch is comfortable and fun, even on my 6.5 inch wrist. With its 38mm x 41.5mm rounded rectangular case and summery blue dial, the Technicolor will undoubtedly draw comparison to the Heuer Monaco. While yes, the Retrograph does look a bit like an Apple watch and a vintage Monaco had a cool metropolitan baby, I don’t get the sense that this was the intended result. That is to say, it doesn’t feel as though the end goal was to emulate either of those watches, or indeed any other watch at all. The Retrograph, its previous iterations much more monotone and reserved, wasn’t born with such vibrance; it grew into it. The result is a strong sense of individuality that feels mature yet still playful.
The Retrograph – Technicolor is a delightful, playful watch, but that does not mean that it is a frivolous watch. It is well built, with fine finishing details and high quality components found throughout. The packaging is lively and thoughtful, clear evidence of just how much Ferrer cares about the customer experience. At $350 dollars on a strap or $415 on bracelet, it’s a value proposition that honestly doesn’t even make sense. This watch should be at least twice the price. The design is vibrant yet considerate and shows a level of sophistication and maturity that makes me extremely excited to see what Brew will come up with next.
Written by Troy Barmore
Photography by Jack Koto
