Review of the Komono Winston Quartz Watch
Walter Shillington is an avid collector of mechanical watches. His reviews focus on inexpensive but often intriguing Chinese timepieces.
Komono Winston Quartz Watch
Walter B Shillington
A mechanical watch can usually be found strapped around my wrist. It’s sort of cool to own a timepiece filled with tiny gears, a spring, and a timing wheel, all working together to turn the hands of a watch. This type of timepiece incorporates solid design and finely crafted parts, which, when assembled and correctly adjusted, provide decent accuracy.
I dislike quartz watches. In my opinion, a battery-powered timepiece is more an appliance than a watch and, while they are more precise and may sometimes display flair, these devices lack soul.
My new Komono Winston is an exception to this rule.
Description
The Komono Winston is a lightweight, weighing in at 47 grams (1.67 ounces). It spans 22 millimeters and is 9 millimeters thick.
A case composed of silver-colored brushed metal, a stainless steel caseback, and a mineral glass crystal protects this watch’s Miyota 1L45 quartz movement. The crown protrudes at the four o’clock position.
This watch’s dark blue dial includes minute markings and slim silver studs which denote the hours. Situated at the bottom is a silver-colored subdial.
According to information inscribed onto its caseback, the Winston is water resistant to 3ATM. Also included is the timepiece’s serial number.
The Komono Winston is equipped with a brown leather strap. This band can be quickly and easily removed using two tiny levers.
Specifications
• Brand: Komono
• Model: Winston Subs Blue Cognac
• Condition: New
• Place of Origin: Probably China
• Gender: Male
• Display: Analog
• Movement: Miyota 1L45
• Style: Business/Luxury
• Band material: Leather with brushed silver metal buckle
• Band color: Brown
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• Bandwidth: 20 mm
• Dial color: Blue
• Dial window material: Mineral glass
• Case material: Metal
• Case diameter: 42 millimeters
• Case thickness: 9 millimeters
• Weight: 4 grams (1.67 ounces)
• Water resistance: 3ATM (not suitable for swimming)
The Manufacturer
Komono was founded in Belgium in 2009 by Raf Maes and Anton Janssens. In 2012 Komono Bvba applied for a US trademark. It was registered in 2013. I believe that Komono timepieces are designed in Belgium and manufactured in China.
Visual Appeal
A silver brushed-metal case surrounds a blue dial. Depending on how light reflects against it, this dial’s color lightens or darkens. Sometimes it appears to be black. I quite like this effect.
Rather than utilizing a traditional second hand, Komono has employed a subdial to keep track of passing seconds. Both the subdial and crown are situated slightly clockwise to what is traditionally their normal position.
The slim design and light weight add sophistication and comfort.
I particularly like the brown leather strap, which is equipped with a buckle that matches the timepiece’s case.
This watch reeks of luxury and looks great on my wrist.
Durability
Most watches in this price range are encased within 316L grade stainless steel. The Komono’s case is composed of an alloy, which is probably neither as strong nor as rust-resistant. It is, however, very light.
Hidden inside resides a capable Miyota 1L45 quartz movement. This mechanism should provide excellent service for several years.
A scratch-resistant mineral glass crystal protects this timepiece's dial.
The Komono Winston is equipped with a reasonably thick leather strap, which I expect will provide good service. The band can easily be removed and reattached employing small levers, which are attached to its spring bars. This feature is usually reserved for more expensive timepieces.
Overall Impression
I wear this watch a lot, despite my preference for mechanical timepieces. Its offbeat but business-like styling is remarkably attractive, and the Winston is considerably lighter than the automatics I usually strap around my wrist. If you like the design, the Komono Winston is recommended.
Although much of the Komono’s appeal revolves around design, they also utilized an easy-to-remove strap. In the following survey, I am attempting to determine the level of interest in a band of this type.
© 2019 Walter Shillington
