Furlan Marri has made a habit of punching above its weight and the new Mechaquartz Meteorite is a great example of it. Meteorite dials are not new, but they are normally the star of the show; here, the cosmic material is just half the story. The compact, vintage-style chronograph that adorns is an exemplary lesson in horological method.
The foundation is Furlan Marri’s Mechaquartz line, itself inspired by François Borgel, one of the great names in case making. Borgel’s screw-back constructions helped define early waterproof watchmaking and became important to some of the best vintage chronographs and waterproof dress watches of the 20th century, including pieces now prized by collectors for their supplier-made case architecture. That legacy gives the Meteorite a stronger backbone than many novelty-led releases in this space.
Then there is the dial itself, cut from Muonionalusta, an iron meteorite associated with the core of an early differentiated asteroid. Iron meteorites are understood to come from the metallic cores of bodies that melted early in the solar system’s history, which helps explain why Muonionalusta carries such fascination beyond the usual “piece of space on the wrist” line. Its Widmanstätten pattern, revealed when cut and treated, is the result of extraordinarily slow cooling and cannot be replicated naturally on Earth. In other words, the texture is not decoration. It is structure.
The 38mm steel case, sandwich dial, applied Roman numerals, domed outer ring and curved hands keep the watch firmly within the realm of elegance, while the engraved Tasti Tondi-style pushers and decagonal caseback bring the sort of tactile detail that has become the brand’s signature. The Seiko VK64 mechaquartz movement will still divide purists, but here it makes sense: it keeps the proportions tidy and the price at a very affordable CHF720. Furlan Marri has, after all, built its name on thoughtful value, a formula recognised early on when it won the 2021 Horological Revelation Prize at the GPHG.
Available by pre-order only from 10 to 20 April, and not due to be reproduced, the Mechaquartz Meteorite is a brilliant timepiece that will receive a nod of approval by any sensible connoisseur.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Other affordable luxury watches recently reviewed by I-M Inquisitive Minds include the Tissot Visodate 2026, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart and the Micromilspec Milgraph T5.
Show Comments +