By our guest contributor | July 2026

There is a peculiar tension in the air when you strap on a chronograph that measures exactly 40mm across. Not too bold, not too shy—yet this particular piece, cloaked in an "Enjoy Life" ethos, refuses to fade into the background. I spent a week with this limited-edition release, and while the dial whispers vintage cues, the wrist presence screams something far more contemporary. Let's cut through the marketing haze and talk about what this watch actually does—and what it leaves us guessing.

First Impressions: The Case That Plays Tricks on the Eye

Out of the box, the brushed steel case catches light like a well-worn leather jacket—familiar, yet carrying distinct scars of intention. The 40mm diameter sits in that Goldilocks zone for modern collectors, but the real story is the bezel. A bi-directional friction-fit ring with a matte ceramic insert, it rotates with a tactile resistance that feels deliberate, not stiff. The pump-style pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock are a throwback to 1960s racing chronographs, but their action is crisp, with a short throw that registers each start-stop-reset with a satisfying click.

What surprised me most was the thickness. At just under 14mm, it wears thinner than the spec sheet suggests—a trick of caseback curvature and a domed sapphire crystal that distorts the dial edges just enough to slim the visual profile. The screw-down crown operates smoothly, and the 100m water resistance is more than adequate for any "enjoy life" scenario short of saturation diving. But let's be honest: this is a watch for terra firma, for beachside bars and city rooftops, not for the abyss.

Dial Details: Where Nostalgia Meets a Modern Palette

The dial is where this edition earns its special status. A sunburst grey-blue base shifts from steel to slate under different lighting, while two contrasting sub-dials—a 30-minute counter at 3 and a small seconds at 9—are rendered in a warm champagne tone. The date window at 4:30 is discreet, almost apologetic, which I appreciate. The applied hour markers are polished to a mirror finish, and the syringe-style hands are filled with Super-LumiNova that glows green for hours after a brief charge.

But here's the rub: the "Enjoy Life" engraving on the caseback feels like a motto borrowed from a lifestyle brand, not a watchmaker. It's cheesy, yes, but also endearing if you let your guard down. The real conversation starter, however, is the tachymeter scale printed on the rehaut—not the bezel. This unusual placement forces you to read it through the crystal, which adds a layer of depth but also reduces legibility in bright sunlight. A design flourish or a functional flaw? I'll leave that for you to decide.

Movement Under the Hood: Workhorse or Showpiece?

Flip the watch over, and the exhibition caseback reveals a self-winding caliber with a 60-hour power reserve. It's a modified Valjoux 7750 architecture, but the rotor has been skeletonized and decorated with Geneva stripes and perlage. The column-wheel mechanism is visible through the sapphire, and its actuation is smooth—no stutter, no lag. Timing over a week, it gained an average of +4 seconds per day, which is within COSC territory, though it's not certified.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room. This movement is reliable, serviceable, and proven. But in an era where in-house calibers are the golden ticket, does a refined workhorse still deserve a spot in a limited edition? Some purists argue that a special watch deserves a special engine, while others counter that reliability trumps novelty. I lean toward the latter—this movement will outlast many boutique calibers, and parts are widely available. That's a practical virtue that too many collectors overlook.

Wearing Experience: Strap, Weight, and Daily Charisma

The watch comes on a tapered stainless steel bracelet with a double-folding clasp and micro-adjustment. The links are solid, the edges are chamfered, and the overall comfort is excellent for a 40mm chrono. I wore it to work meetings, weekend hikes, and even a casual dinner, and it never felt out of place. The weight—around 150 grams—is substantial enough to remind you it's there, but not heavy enough to fatigue the wrist.

Swapping to a leather strap (quick-release spring bars make it a breeze) transforms the watch entirely. On brown leather, it becomes a dressy companion; on a NATO, it turns into a toolish weekend warrior. This versatility is, in my view, the true "Enjoy Life" feature—not a slogan, but a tangible adaptability.

Two Opposing Views: The Collector's Dilemma

Here is where I want to plant a seed of tension. After a week of wear, I've encountered two sharply different reactions from fellow enthusiasts:

Viewpoint A (The Traditionalist): "This is a pastiche of vintage designs without a coherent identity. The 40mm case is safe, the movement is borrowed, and the 'special edition' tag is a marketing gimmick to justify a premium price. For the same money, you could buy a pre-owned chronograph from one of the Largest Watch Manufacturers with a true heritage pedigree."

Viewpoint B (The Modernist): "Exactly. That's the point. It doesn't try to be a vintage reissue or a futuristic hypercar. It's a confident, wearable chronograph that prioritizes daily enjoyment over museum legacy. The finishing is excellent, the proportions are spot-on, and the limited nature (only 300 pieces) gives it a collectible edge without the absurd hype. It's a watch for people who actually wear their watches."

Which camp is right? I'll confess: I started in Camp A, but by day five, I found myself checking the time more often than necessary—not because I needed to, but because I enjoyed the visual interplay of light on the dial. That, I think, is the quiet victory of this piece.

The Unanswered Question: Who Actually Made This?

Now, we arrive at the most intriguing subplot. The brand positions itself as an independent Swiss manufacture, but a closer look at the supply chain reveals components—cases, crystals, even certain bracelet parts—that bear striking resemblance to catalog offerings from a well-known Watch Manufacturer In China. This is not an accusation; it's an observation. Many Swiss brands use Asian-sourced raw parts and perform final assembly and finishing in Switzerland to qualify for the "Swiss Made" label. The question is: does that diminish the romance?

Proponents argue that globalization is the new reality, and that quality control—not geography—determines excellence. Critics counter that the "Swiss Made" premium is eroded when the bones of the watch are produced elsewhere. I spent an hour with a loupe examining the case finishing, and I can tell you: the polishing, brushing, and edge beveling are immaculate. Whether that work was done in the Jura mountains or in Guangdong province is almost irrelevant to the naked eye. But to the purist's heart, it matters immensely.

This brings me to a broader trend: the rise of Custom Carbon Fiber Watches in the high-end segment, where material innovation often overshadows provenance. This chronograph uses traditional steel, but its limited-edition status and mixed-supply DNA place it in a similar gray area—neither fully artisan nor fully industrial. And perhaps that gray area is exactly where modern watchmaking lives.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This Watch?

After 168 hours on the wrist, I can say this: the 40mm chronograph with the "Enjoy Life" motto is not a watch that shouts. It doesn't have a hyper-complicated movement, a celebrity endorsement, or a disruptive material. What it has is a cohesive design, a comfortable fit, and a personality that grows on you quietly—like a good friend who doesn't need to impress.

Is it worth the retail price? That depends on your priorities. If you value in-house movements and brand heritage above all else, you'll find better options from the established giants. But if you appreciate a well-executed, versatile chronograph that feels personal and unpretentious, this piece deserves a serious look.

The lingering mystery—where the components truly originate—will likely remain unsolved, and perhaps that's intentional. In an age of transparency, a little ambiguity can be refreshing. Or frustrating. You decide.

One final thought: the "Enjoy Life" mantra on the caseback is easy to mock, but after a week of wearing it, I caught myself smiling every time I checked the time. Maybe that's the whole point. Maybe that's the only spec that matters.

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Featured image: The 40mm chronograph in natural daylight, showing the sunburst dial and ceramic bezel.