First Look: Alkin Model Two

Like a lot of watch lovers who came of age in the 80s or 90s, my childhood was filled with things that glow in the dark. This is a phase every kid goes through, right? For a time it felt like every toy in my possession came to life under the cover of blankets or in a darkened room, and if it didn’t emit a vaguely toxic glow, I frankly wasn’t interested. The through-line to watch obsession here is clear: so many of the timepieces we covet have similar properties, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing the dial of whatever sports watch I happen to be wearing glowing like an actual torch upon bringing it indoors after a few hours outside. The Alkin Model Two with a fully lumed dial taps into that childhood fascination in a big way.

Alkin Model Two

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: White
• Dimensions: 41 x 48mm
• Crystal: Sapphire        
• Water Resistance: 300 meters
• Crown: Screw down                        
• Movement: Miyota 9039 
• Strap/bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet 
• Price: ~ $440
• Reference Number: n/a
• Expected Release: Pre-order now open 

The Model Two takes its inspiration from dual crown, “compressor” divers of the past. While the case isn’t constructed in true compressor fashion, the crowns at 2:00 and 4:00 give the Model Two an unmistakable aesthetic link to classic watches with EPSA made cases by Bulova, Hamilton, Enicar, and many others (see our guide to all things Super Compressor right here). The Model Two is 300 meters water resistant, so it can easily handle recreational diving and all manner of water based activities, and it has a well executed brushed finish all over, giving the watch some tool watch credibility. 

The 41mm case has sharply angled and downturned lugs that do their best to hug the wrist and make the wearing experience comfortable. While the watch felt fine on my 7.5 inch wrist, between the dual crowns, beefy case, and sharp lugs, the Model Two is perhaps not the best match for the small wristed among you. Between the high water resistance rating and the multi-level dial, the Model Two has developed a well earned chunkiness. That said, it wears like a modern sports watch, sits flush to the wrist, and everything feels very much in proportion.

Each of the crowns have screw down functionality, which is an important attribute of the Model Two. The 2:00 crown rotates the inner bezel, while the 4:00 crown winds the mainspring and sets the time. With the crown that controls the bezel being the screw down type, it also serves to lock it in place, which is some nice bonus functionality. Initial concerns that I had of this crown throwing off bezel placement upon an attempt to screw it in were misplaced – I found using it to be marked by a precision during operation that I didn’t expect for a watch at this price point.

The draw of this watch, though, is the dial, which has been fully coated with Super-LumiNova, and provides a quite a light show when fully charged. Hour markers have been cut out of the dial, revealing a black base layer, giving the Model Two a sandwich construction that adds considerable depth when paired with the bezel, which appears to float above it all, around the perimeter. Lume has also been added to the bezel numerals which lends coherence to the design and ensures functionality in situations where reading elapsed time in the dark is called for. 

The Model Two is mounted to an Oyster style bracelet with brushed links and a slight taper. It’s comfortable, not showy at all, and is a good match for the tool-ish vibe of the case.

While there’s a novelty aspect to a fully lumed dial (it’s hard to imagine such a watch being a daily wear choice, and it seems equally unlikely that any collector needs more than one such dial in their watch box), it’s also just plain fun, and for the asking price of the Alkin Model Two I think that buying a watch to enjoy exclusively alongside your most powerful UV flashlight is far from the most absurd thing we’ve seen in the watch world when it comes to perceived value. 

The Model Two is currently available for pre-order directly from Alkin at a reduced cost of approximately $440 after currency conversion (regular price will sit at about $540). Black and blue dialed variants (both with sandwich construction, but lacking the lume experience) are also available. Alkin