Getting to know the Second Hour Mandala Mk3

We’ve already seen from previous releases how Second Hour is a watch company that likes to do things somewhat differently. And that philosophy begins with where the timepieces are born; not many watch brands come from Australia, yet it’s a heritage that Second Hour likes to lean into on a regular basis.

Having said that, the name of the Mandala actually comes from ancient Sanskrit, describing a geometric circular form that is often a feature of Buddhism and Hinduism. It represents wholeness, unity, connection, and harmony. The mandala shape has lived on throughout the centuries, and this lineage is reflected in the watch named after it; now coming out in its third iteration.

The Second Hour Mandala was first seen in 2021 and then refreshed in 2023, before appearing in its latest guise this year. Seven dial colours now available for the Mandala Mk3, and as you would probably expect, this is the best version yet.

The stand-out feature is a stunning guilloché sunburst dial, which perfectly complements the wide range of eye-catching colours, such as Silver Blue (not to be confused with Bulls Eye Blue), Salmon, and Bumblebee.

A lot of attention to detail has gone into the end result, with the guilloché deeply etched rather than printed, adding the sort of depth and texture that’s normally only found in much more expensive pieces. The same goes for the diamond-cut hour and minute hands, as well as the reinforced steel case (complete with a proper screw-down crown).

Those hands and indices are liberally applied with SuperLuminova BGW9 lume, delivering a crisp, blue-white glow in low-light conditions. Unlike some lume applications at this price point, which can fade quite quickly, the BGW9 used in this watch is both long-lasting and evenly applied.

Even the date wheel is colour-matched to each dial, which helps to ensure the coherence of the overall design. And although there is a lot of homogeneity across the dial, the watch is still extremely easy to read, also thanks to the contrasting sloped chapter ring, with the immediate visual appeal of the whole package enhanced by those vibrant colours.

My personal favourite is the mint green, which exudes the sort of zingy freshness that wouldn’t look out of place studded with chocolate chips in an ice cream store.

This Mk3 is sure to be a big hit for summer, but the Mandala – especially in its elegant silver blue declination – would actually feel just at home in any number of year-round settings. This is a great everyday watch or even only watch – which is exactly what its creators intended.

At 40mm, it’s also the perfect multi-purpose size, carried over from the previous version.

This versatility is helped by its 100-metre water resistance, putting it firmly into the ultra-competitive sports watch sector. However, thanks to a relatively slim 10.5mm profile, it wouldn’t look out of place as a dress watch either, with Second Hour putting the emphasis on “wearable luxury”. 

Australians are generally renowned for their lack of pretension and what Second Hour is trying to achieve here is an amalgam of many different genres – principally the sports and the dress watch – into one comprehensive package. I reckon they’ve succeeded.

Just like the military-inspired Sattelberg, the case is made out of 316L stainless steel with a scratch resistant coating (rated to 1200 Vickers of hardness) to ensure durability, even if the watch is worn mercilessly every day. By way of comparison, even Rolex’s 904L steel is only rated at around 250 Vickers. The Mandala’s elegantly flat crystal is also scratch resistant with six layers of anti-reflective coating.

With dependability at the heart of the design brief, it’s no surprise that the tried and trusted Miyota 9015 automatic movement was selected as the Mandala’s beating heart - and it’s certainly a vigorous beat at 28,800 beats per hour, with the high frequency adding to the refinement of the whole experience. You can see the Japanese movement at work through the display caseback, which highlights a custom-decorated rotor: another quality touch with a distinctive Second Hour signature.

The Mandala Mk3 comes on a custom seven-link stainless steel bracelet (as also seen on the Sattelberg) but I could see this watch adapting well to a matching-coloured rubber strap too.

The gently tapered bracelet has been designed to wrap around the wrist comfortably while ensuring a secure yet flexible fit, thanks to push-button micro-adjustments on the buckle. These are easy to use and add to the overall impression of quality. Second Hour’s confidence in their craftsmanship is backed up by a two-year guarantee on every watch.

And here’s the main point. This watch offers incredible value, which is the case with everything that Second Hour sells. You sometimes wonder just how they can afford it, especially as this is still a very small company. You get an awful lot for the modest £450 or so that you pay: including a premium travel case.

As such, Second Hour is beginning to carve out a special niche for itself, following the trajectory of companies such as Christopher Ward in offering access to watchmaking techniques that normally belong to the price category above.

By doing this so effectively, these brands are gradually challenging peoples’ perceptions about their purchasing decisions. How much does a recognized brand name mean, and how do you perceive value for money? There’s not necessarily a right answer to this, but it’s always good when a brand makes you ask the question. 

The Mandala still won’t be for everyone, as any complexity of design also delivers more opportunities to clash with peoples’ personal tastes, and I absolutely get that. But given the lengthy evolutionary process and intricate work that has gone into today’s finished product, the Mandala Mk3 has to be an intriguing proposition – as several delighted customer reviews have already shown.

Anyone wanting versatile quality that showcases advanced watchmaking techniques at an affordable price should give Second Hour some serious consideration. I know I will – just for that green dial alone.

• Full 316L Stainless Steel Construction | 1200 Vickers Surface Hardening.
• Japanese made Miyota 9015, 24 jewel movement.
• 40mm diameter 47 mm lug to lug distance.
• 10.5mm thickness including sapphire crystal.
• 20mm lug opening.
• 7-link bracelet 20mm tapering to 18mm.
• Push button micro-adjustment clasp.
• Swiss SuperLuminova BGW9.
• Flat sapphire crystal with bevelled edge cut.
• 6 layers of internal anti reflective coating on front crystal.
• Sapphire crystal exhibition case back.
• 100 metres water resistance.
• Screw down, signed crown.
• Custom made decorated movement rotor.
• Custom made diamond cut hands.
• Two year international warranty