Introducing the Tutima M2 Chronograph Commando

Tutima has announced the latest entry into the enthusiast favorite M2 collection, the M2 Chronograph Commando. Tutima is a German brand, based in Glashütte, that is something of a favorite among a certain breed of hardcore watch nerd. They certainly fly under the radar – if you run into someone at a watch meetup with a Tutima in their watch roll, you know they’re in deep. Their watches are exceedingly well made and the brand has the kind of links to military use that get enthusiasts excited, and the new M2 plays into that brand heritage while also dipping into the current green dial moment that we find ourselves in. 

Let’s start with what the M2 actually is. At a glance, it’s very obviously a robust, barrel cased chronograph that bears more than a passing resemblance to watches made by Sinn and other brands that play in the dedicated tool watch market. The M2’s story, though, is unique. This distinctive case shape has its origins in 1983, when Tutima won a contract to produce a watch for the German Air Force. In the years that followed, these watches would eventually be provided to NATO pilots, and are frequently referred to as the “Tutima NATO Chronograph.” The M2 is a commercial version of the military issued watch, built to the same specs as the watch used by NATO and German Air Force pilots. This version is differentiated from previous iterations of the M2 by its green dégradé dial, which appears as bright and verdant green at the dial’s center, and becomes darker toward the perimeter. While Tutima certainly isn’t the first brand to capitalize on this trend, their execution has a definite charm, and the green pairs well with red accents (an M2 hallmark).

There are two key M2 features that are worth getting excited about, and they are both centered around the watch’s chronograph complication. First, you’ll have noticed the pushers are not typical of a modern chrono, and are in fact knurled pads that sit flush to the case. This is important, as the titanium case measures 46mm in diameter, so any space that can be saved at the extremities is going to make the M2 feel sleeker. 

Second, the movement itself warrants a mention. The M2 runs on Cal. Tutima 521, which is based on a Valjoux 7750. Unlike almost every other brand that modifies a Valjoux 7750, however, Tutima has dramatically altered the timing scales of the M2 to mimic classic chronographs with central minute counters, like those powered by the Lemania 5100. Chronograph seconds and minutes hands are centrally mounted on the M2, and the lone subdial at 6:00 shows you the total elapsed hours. This has a few benefits. It results in a dial that is far less cluttered when the chronograph is not running, making time telling a snap. And once you get used to it, it’s a far more intuitive way to track elapsed time. If you’ve ever used a chronograph like this for an extended period of time, it’s easy to understand why this format would be preferred for military use – it’s simply easier to read quickly. 

The Tutima M2 Chronograph Commando retails for $4,900 on a Kevlar strap, and $5,300 on a titanium bracelet. Tutima