Latest Review
Nearly a year ago we told you about a new watch brand about to launch via crowdsourcing (something we are doing a lot these days) called Suri, and their first watch the Mito. Founded by Rahul Suri, @dapperscientist on instagram, the watch and brand were put on hold for a bit, missing their initial launch window, but are back now and ready to go. In fact, the project is live today over on Indiegogo.
Following our intro article, Mr. Suri sent us a watch to try out for a bit. We were waiting their official launch to share our findings and photos, and that day has come. The Mito by Suri is a very appealing watch, with a markedly clean design. Inspired by vintage watches, but not a retro piece, it has a stylish day-to-day design, with a touch of sport and a touch of dress. The 40mm case starts things off strong, with an elegant bowl shape and nice finishing. The lugs are high up on the case, coming out just below the bezel. They appear to be their own component, and are finished with coarse brushing, creating a really nice play of textures against the predominantly polished surface. The case is capped with a domed sapphire crystal, giving the whole thing a very smooth feel.
The dial takes a minimal approach and mixes it with a nice use of texture. It features two distinct layers creating a sort-of stepped dial, as well as a sandwiched index. There is a chapter ring as well, with Mito’s playful, albeit very odd, DNA coding. The sample had a beautiful, brushed slate gray dial. The smokey color was extremely appealing, and since it was brushed, it had a materiality to it that dials often lack. This gave the whole watch a higher sense of quality.
The primary index consists of punched through rectangles for the hours and small lines for the individual minutes. No numerals, nothing fussy. There is something inherently bold and sporty about the shapes, pulling the watch away from feeling like a dress piece. The chapter ring is definitely odd, but despite being abstract and non-functional is innocuous. It’s just like a cryptic code that might pertain to time, but doesn’t. I could see it turning people off to the watch conceptually, but aesthetically speaking it’s fine. A tachy wouldn’t have made sense, and a minute/second index would have added too much text.
For hands, Suri went with a modified Dauphine style. They are thin and sharp, for a slightly more aggressive look overall. My favorite element is the angled back. Rather than coming to a point, they cut across creating an asymmetrical finish. It’s a small touch that adds personality. The second hand is then a thin stick, which will sweep nice and smoothly thanks to the Miyota 9015 inside.
On the wrist, the watch is very comfortable. At 40 x 47 x 11mm, it’s neither too big or too small. In fact, I think 40 is a very good casual size and this is indeed a casual day-to-day watch. It has a certain sportiness, but is also reserved enough for the office or more formal setting. With the 150m WR, it’s also literally good for a dunk, upping the versatility. Aesthetically, it will go with just about everything. The three colorways, gray, black and white are all very clean and neutral. The black and white models actually appear to have applied markers and contrasting chapter rings, giving them an almost vintage Carrera (sans-chrono) look, and a bit more dressiness.
The Mito by Suri Watches isn’t trying too hard to be anything but a nice watch, and that I can really appreciate. It’s not pulling on trends too much, it’s not another DW clone… it doesn’t feel like something one would get sick of in 6 months to a year. It’s just a well designed, simple and clean watch with some nice details and good materials. Through Indiegogo you will get a price break on the Mito, which will start at $400, but the retail is planned to be around $475, which is genuinely a great value.
