Latest Review
My love/hate affair with dive watches almost always comes down to sizing: too big, and it feels like a handcuff, requiring tightening the strap or bracelet to an uncomfortable degree. So, when a brand makes a concentrated effort to slim down a dive watch, my ears perk up. While the Clemence Photic MKII is not exactly tiny at 38.5mm in case diameter and 46.5mm lug-to-lug, it touts an impressive 9.9mm case thickness, while still promising 200 meters of water resistance. Top that off with vibrant colorways, a precision bezel, and an automatic movement, and Clemence has a tempting dive option on their hands.
At a glance, the new Photic MKII has a lot in common with its predecessor, which was released in 2021. With case shape and dimensions, the MKII functions more as a continuation than it does total reinvention. In fact, the original Photic colorway—with a blue sunray dial—is still available here, and lifts the dial design from the original, setting it apart from the rest of the MKII lineup. The new colorways shake things up a little more, introducing a second track inside the indices that gives the watch a more segmented and complicated look, without distracting from the chunky numerals and hands. The Nemo model wears a Munro yellow dial and a black bezel, while the Kraken switches the two shades for a more subtle take on the sunny colorway. Similarly, the Shoal edition’s slate gray bezel and light warm gray dial are contrasted by a black bezel, while the Moray keeps things dark across the board, with a black dial and slate gray bezel.
Each Photic MKII model features a 904L precision bezel ring with ball bearings and a domed sapphire insert. The screw-down crown and caseback ensure the promised 200 meters of water resistance, while ten layers of Grade A BGW9 coat the hands and indices for extra visibility in the dark. Finishing touches include an antiglare box sapphire crystal, and an optional bevelled 20mm bracelet with a quick-release clasp and toolless microadjust. Powering it all is a Miyota 9039 automatic movement in a soft-iron housing that provides over 25,000 A/m of anti-magnetic protection, according to Clemence.
While the Photic MKII doesn’t add any features that dive watch enthusiasts will be surprised by, it does introduce splashes of bright color and a very welcome slimmer case thickness that make it stand out amongst new dive releases. Pre-ordering starts on December 11th with initial retail prices of $688 on a leather strap, and $785 on the optional bracelet. Once the pre-order window closes, prices increase to $754 and $852 respectively. Clemence
