Most wristwatches come in two basic temperaments: the tried and true, hassle-free type; and the too-clever-for-their-own-good troublemakers that are tougher to read than Finnegan’s Wake.
In that sense, Skywatch’s Black & White chronograph has a split personality. The stark black face and white hands of the main dial are the picture of clarity. But not so with the chrono, which causes a lot of squinting.
The designers must have thought it would be cool to trump function and use black paint for the markings on the black inset dials. The result is a black hole of Swiss inscrutability. Even in bright sunlight, the chrono hands are difficult to read against the black dials. Although the photo-luminescent graphics on the hands help in dark settings — as when you’re 100 meters underwater or locked in the trunk of a speeding BMW — only the hands illuminate, not the dial numbers.
At least everything about the Swiss-made watch is outwardly attractive — the simple design, the shiny porcelain unidirectional bezel, the black sailcloth strap with a nubuck leather lining — and the 3-ounce weight is pleasing, especially since the 44-mm-diameter steel watch looks a lot heavier than it actually is.
If you’re a junkie for a superclean design, the Black & White Skywatch provides a good fix, and if you want a watch that displays the time clearly, this model’s primary display certainly provides that. But if you want a crisply marked chronograph, look to other Skywatch models. There are plenty to choose from: Most of them have clearly delineated dials, though a few are even harder to read than this one.
All the other Skywatch models we checked out are handsome and, like ours, feel solid on your wrist. They are also a very good value for battery-powered Swiss timekeepers.
And that’s the truth in black and white.
WIRED Well-contrasted display on a well-constructed Swiss-made watch. Feels sturdy on your wrist. Watch’s 3-ounce weight belies its bulk. Easy to operate.
TIRED Chronograph functions are nearly impossible to read because of black-on-black design. Sailcloth wrist strap fits like a stiff new pair of shoes until you break it in.
