I’m always happy to see a new microbrand watch, and doubly so when that brand emerges from my corner of the world. Today’s subject, The Don, comes from Mater Made of Richmond, Virginia. I gave it a try and found it to be a strong debut model that offers great value for the money.
The Don is an aggressively styled 200m diver, powered by a smooth (28.8k bph) and reliable Miyota 9015 automatic movement regulated to +/-5 seconds per day. You can peek at it through the display caseback. There isn’t much decoration, but it doesn’t hurt to watch the rotor spin. Like most credible dive watches, it features an AR-coated sapphire crystal, bright lume, a 120-click bezel, and a large screw-down crown.
Measuring 42mm wide and 12mm thick, The Don leans to the large side, an impression heightened by the sharp angles, flat sides, and pronounced edges of its roughly hexagonal case. Short, steep lugs keep the overall length to just a whisper under 47mm, ensuring wearability for those of us who are slight of wrist.
The stainless steel case is predominantly brushed, with polished bevels along the upper edge and on both sides of the crown guards. Alternating finishes continue on the bezel and the knurled crown to great effect. I particularly like the way the thin sliver of brushed steel on the top surface of the crown guards stands out from the reflective surfaces that sandwich it.
Finish quality is excellent, displaying clean edges and crisp transitions. The brushed bezel insert does its part by blending with the case and drawing your attention to the dial, visually shrinking the watch. Its thin, engraved makers don’t offer the sort of low-light, at-a-glance readability that a white-on-black color scheme might, but on this watch, I think it was the right aesthetic choice.
Bezel action is quite firm. You will need a good grip on that toothy edge to set it in motion, and once set, you won’t worry about slippage.
A steep, 60-increment chapter index leads you down to a horizontally grooved dial that brings to mind a boat deck’s planks. Polished and applied wedge markers hold a generous supply of Grade-A BGW9 Super-LumiNova, and each is capped with a glossy black pip. The hands are similarly finished, and even the brand name and logo offer a touch of sparkle. I realize that sounds like a lot of brightwork, yet the overall effect is more lively than fancy. An orange second hand presents a pleasant pop of color that ties into the bezel triangle. It looks quite nice on this Classic White sample, but even better on the Ultramarine Blue. Asphalt Black will satisfy traditionalists.
The nighttime glow is excellent. You just can’t beat big blocks of SuperLumiNova. Even the second hand gets in on the action.
Mater Made supplies The Don with a 20mm, chiseled-link bracelet. It has solid, fitted end links and a low-profile butterfly deployant clasp. Each link is individually hinged, providing excellent articulation and comfort. I know that hardcore divers will bemoan the absence of a flip-lock or ratcheting clasp, and a butterfly can’t offer on-the-fly adjustability to clear a wetsuit. Still, I much prefer its sleek appearance to that of its bulkier alternatives.
Of course, if the clasp gets in the way of your scuba plans, you easily swap the bracelet for one of their quick-release FKM straps ($50). As you can tell, I was partial to the orange. The 20mm strap is comfortable, well-made, and ready to tackle whatever wetness you care to immerse it in. The quick-release pins and signed buckle finish it off nicely.
The Don sells for $625, and I think that price is right in line with its specs and quality. The fact that Mater Made is a Virginia company that conducts its quality control right here in the U.S. is a bonus.
For more info, or to order one yourself, see matermade.com
