We’ve always had a soft spot for Brew here at TBWS. Maybe it’s the unapologetically fun colors, or the fact that Jonathan Ferrer seems like one of the few brand founders who still treats watch design like art class instead of a shareholder presentation. He’s also a genuinely fun guy to be around and talk watches with. But with the new Metric Manual Wind, Brew is doing something I honestly didn’t expect: they’re asking to be taken seriously. And even though I was doing that already, I was still surprised by how well-executed this watch looks.
This isn’t just another coffee timer. It’s a Metric, sure. But it’s also thinner, fancier, and powered by something that doesn’t tick on its own unless you tell it to. For the first time in the brand’s ten-year run, Brew has dropped a Swiss mechanical movement into one of their watches. A manual wind Sellita SW210, no less. That means no rotor, no fuss, and—at just 8.5mm thick—a case that wears about as sleek as your favorite Genta-adjacent dress watch. Not bad for a brand that made its name on retro-infused quartz-powered designs. God I still love the Retro Dial Metric with the VK68.
Now, the case dimensions stick to what Brew does best: compact, wrist-friendly, and very Metric at 36mm wide. It comes in two dial options (blue and black) both punctuated by mountain-shaped indices and little hits of color that feel like Ferrer couldn’t help himself (in the best way possible). It’s Brew being Brew. And I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
And while I’ve never knocked them for sticking to Miyota or Seiko movements (those things work, and we all know it), I get why this shift matters. Microbrands catch heat all the time for using “entry-level” calibers, even when the design is doing all the heavy lifting. So this release feels a bit like Brew flexing without ditching the personality that made them worth watching in the first place.
Only 125 pieces are being made, split between the two dial options. The blue’s already history, and the gray isn’t lingering long either. At $875, it’s not exactly pocket change—but you’re getting more than a Swiss badge and a thinner case. You’re buying into what feels like a turning point for Brew. And somehow, even with all the polish, it still holds onto the charm that made the brand fun in the first place.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.