It’s always refreshing to see something different, something where outside of the box thinking is apparent in the design aesthetics. Of course it is always a gamble to steer away from the easy route. SYE has definitely went the unique route with their Mot1on automatic 24 release. SYE merges two worlds together with their watches through their unique “sports tailoring” bringing together elements of horological world with elements of the automobive world. SYE has blended together these two worlds with surprising fluidity without coming across as gimmicky or over the top. Let’s explore this charming watch together and see what it’s all about.
The watch is lightweight, weighing in at just 100g. It measures in at 40.5mm excluding the crown and is just 13.4mm thick. All of this translates into a very comfortable wearing experience for the Mot1on A24 watch. I like the shape and design of this 5 part stainless steel case. The fixed bezel has a polished finish that is consistent with the finish on the signed crown. The crown is a push/pull style which functions smoothly whether you are winding or setting the time or date. As for crown protection, the small crown guards are there for that job. Tucked away inside this case is the home of the Miyota 8217 automatic movement. This little horological engine runs at 21,600 beats and has roughly a 42 hour power reserve.
The dial on the Mot1on A24 definitely has simplistic charm. Thanks to the scratch-resistant & AR coated sapphire crystal, the dial is easily viewed glare free. I like how the blue accents add the perfect amount of color to the brushed silver dial. SYE kept the dial simple on the A24 which in my opinion is a good thing. The simplistic layout could have been carried a bit further with eliminating the date window located at the 3H position. I think date windows throw off the flow of a dial and I never refer to my watch for the date. As with any purchase, it comes down to personal preferences. The date window is not a dealbreaker by any means. There are so many more details to appreciate on this dial. My favorite detail on the dial is the 24hr day/night sub-dial at the 9H position. The sub-dial is small enough as to not overtake the A24 dial, yet it is large enough to read. A perfect balance. There are no legibility issues whatsoever on this dial. It’s balanced, clean and extremely legible which is what the ideal dial should be.
The rectangular applied indices that are used to mark off the hours are extremely easy to see thanks to their design. The angular cut design on the indices assist well in the overall legibility. The polished finish also assists with that as well because how well they play with most lighting situations. That same finish is also found on the hour and minute hands. The proportions of the hands to the dial itself work extremely well together. The minute hand extends out to the fixed inner chapter ring and the hour hand reaches the edges of the applied indices. That is the ideal length that I prefer on most watches because it allows for more precise timing and for overall legibility. As I mentioned before the blue accents of the sub-dial hand, second hand, printed model name and the 60 on the chapter ring add the right amount of color to the A-24 dial.
That blue that is found on the dial is also carried over to the strap which adds an additional layer of design consistency. The full grain Italian leather strap is extremely well made which is obviously an important detail. The quality is even more important on this watch because there won’t be any changing the strap out for a custom strap. Now this might be an Achilles heel for those who love to change out their straps but this is also the charm of the A-24 because of the unique way that the strap is attached to the case. At first I didn’t like this feature because I saw it as a limitation but as I spent more time with this watch I came to truly appreciate the uniqueness of the Fastback™ strap system.
To change the strap you use the included tool to remove the screw in the center of the caseback. Once the screw is removed, you can remove the outer plate of the caseback and this is what locks the strap into place. On the end of the straps, where you would traditionally find the spring bar/screw bar, but on the Fastback™ there is a metal clip. The clip slides into a notch on the case and then the removable caseback plate secures it into place. Unique and quite cool in my opinion. Is it so cool that it makes up for the limited strap choice!?? In my opinion yes. Why?!? Because it’s something different, unique and imaginative that actually works in a charming way. Honestly these days, the industry as a whole is boring by playing it safe and is full of rehashed ideas. I applaud SYE for going to the design board and using creative imagination as a guide for the A24.
The A24 is a “breath of fresh air” with a well designed combination of two worlds merged together. The merging of the automotive theme into the horological components come together into this well designed watch. Rest assured that the A24 is executed without the overbearing shadow of gimmick that some automotive/racing themed watches have. The A24 retains a tasteful, classy design that easily transitions between all individualized style choices. Whether it’s on the wrist going to office or it’s teamed with your favorite t-shirt and jeans for weekend “play”. I like that the A24 is a combination of both dressy and rugged. The dial gives the A24 a dressy appearance and the brushed stainless case gives it that ruggedness. It’s not all about appearance here either. The case is tough and well constructed. Everything on the A24 functions as you would want and expect. There are no compromises here that you would have to “settle with” to truly appreciate this watch. An obvious important detail is crown function and the A24 crown function is smooth and flawless when winding and setting the time. What I think is the most important function on this piece is the strap integration because it’s what the watch’s “claim to fame” is. It takes something old and infused new life into it with a unique and unconventional approach. The included tool is well designed and executed which allows ease of use when removing/tightening the central screw when changing the strap. According to Sye they will have a plethora of strap options available for those who are strap junkies. I hope that they will have a canvas option available soon. Minor tweaks would make the A24 even more enjoyable and more functional. I would add lume to the hour indices and to the 24hr sub-dial thus increasing the legibility. A greedy indulgence for me personally would be adding an oversized crown for my fidgeting fingers pleasure.
SPECIFICATIONS:
CASE
Material: stainless steel 316L
Construction: 5-part case construction
Crystal: scratch-resistant & AR coated sapphire
Caseback: Fastback™ system
Water resistance: 50 meters (5 ATM)
DIMENSIONS
Diameter: 40,5mm
Width (incl crown): 43,5mm
Thickness : 13,4mm
Weight: 100g (3,53 oz) approx.
DIAL
Colors: Silver or Smoky grey brushed steel dial
Functions: hour, minute, second, date, 24h sub-dial
Hands: diamond shape with Superluminova™ coating
STRAP
Fastback™ Premium strap among 10 variations
Lining: full grain Italian calf in SYE blue
Stitches: constrasting stitches
Buckle: brushed stainless steel deployment buckle
Length: 120/80mm (long/short strap)
MOVEMENT
Type: automatic mechanical movement
Caliber: Miyota 8217
Jewels: 21 jewels
Frequency: 21 600 alternances / hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 42 hours
EXTRAS
Content of the box: SYE MOT1ON Automatic 24 watch + Premium Fastback™ strap + deployement buckle + Fastback™ tool
Warranty: 2 years
Special: exclusive launch edition numbered and limited to 500 pieces.
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