Emailed in from a customer..
A friend of mine just gave me one of these watches; I think they're superb.
I hunt, fish, hike and camp. In my experience, five factors define
whether a watch will be useful in the field - accuracy, reliability,
readability, shock resistance and waterproofing. The Momentum Steelix
by St. Moritz delivers all five in an attractive watch at an
unbeatable price.
The Momentum line is designed in Vancouver, where Canada's western
mountains descend into coastal rain forest. The people at St. Moritiz
Watch Corp have earned a global reputation for producing handsome
timepieces that can function in the harshest of outdoor environments
This is as true of the budget Steelix model as it is of the company's
titanium chronographs.
The Steelix is constructed around a Japanese quartz movement that is
reliable to within 20 seconds per month, with an expected battery life
of from three to five years. If you're a frequent flier or world
traveller, this watch also is easy to adjust. A calendar dial tracks
the passing of days during long hikes or extended paddles, while the
Steelix's second hand is meticulously aligned to the watch's 60 minute
indices - a feature that many more expensive outdoor watches do not
have, but which is essential if you are trying to time something or
calculate pulse and respiration rates. To me, this is indicative of
the attention to detail that has made St. Moritz famous.
The readability of the Steelix's charcoal black dial is superb. Large
numbers mark the 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 o'clock positions, alternating
with bright chop marks for odd hours. The hour markings and the hour
and minute hands are generously coated with greenish luminous paint,
making the time obvious at a glance, night or day. The minute indices
are marked in orange, and this scale also includes hour indices for
24-hour military or medical time. The precise registration of these
indices to the watch movement adds to the impression of accuracy.
The watch's dial and movement are protected by a heavy stainless steel
case and hardened, scratch resistant mineral crystal; like all St.
Moritz watches, the Steelix is designed to take a beating and keep
ticking. With its screw-down back and crown, it is functionally
waterproof to 20 atmospheres of pressure - the equivalent of a 200
metre (or 660 foot) dive. Provided the crown is screwed down, you can
wear it in the shower, in a downpour, kayak or duck blind or while
skiing or swimming without fear of flooding the case.
There are additional touches that add to the Steelix's value as a
field watch: its NATO-style strap is better suited to outdoor use than
leather or metal, while the brushed stainless finish of the case and
anti-reflective coating on the crystal help avoid flashing reflections
that can startle wildlife.
The Steelix was recently named one of the top four outdoor watches of
2014 by Outside Magazine; it's easy to see why. Priced at less than
$100, the Steelix delivers everything an outdoorsperson needs in a
sports watch, while looking good enough to be worn at the office as
well.
E.M.