Connecticut’s Collinsville Watch Company recently let me borrow one of their Chronographs. They are traditionally styled, neatly executed, and attractively priced quartz watches available in several variations, including the red bezel Sebastian Thuriere Limited Edition, and the lurid Toxic Green lume model. The review sample was a more conservative white-on-black, simply named the Black Chronograph. It features a 42mm stainless steel case, mineral crystal, and 100m water resistance. It is treated with a glossy black PVD coating, as is the bezel.
On the case back, you will find an image of the old Collins Company factory, a local landmark and now a museum. While I like the link to Collinsville’s small-town roots, the image appears to be from a photograph and not a drawing intended for a small format etching. As a result, it is somewhat muddied and lacking in definition. The crown has two gear toothed rings that offer ample grip, but it is otherwise undecorated.
The Chronograph presents a handsome, understated face. The tachymeter bezel, chapter index, and polished and applied dart markers maintain a proper balance against the recessed, textured subdials, which are finely delineated and easy to read. The logo and a 4:30 date window completes the space without cluttering it. My only gripe is the hands. They are black with white Lumibright, but because the black is nearly invisible against the dial, all you see is the lume, which makes them appear much shorter, particularly the hour hand.
Measuring 49mm long, and 12mm thick, the Chronograph was a good fit on my 6.5” wrist, appearing slightly smaller than I had expected. Its staid layout, glossy finish, and old-fashioned script logo made it a natural pairing with a suit and tie.
Inside is a Miyota OS20 quartz with small seconds, 60-minute, and 24-hour registers. The central second hand runs with the chronograph in one-second jumps. Typical of quartz, the upper engagement button is a tad squishy, but the lower reset button has a satisfying click. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the OS20, I must confess that I have been spoiled by the 1/5th-second sweep of the IsaSwiss, Seiko MechaQuartz, and even the Miyota 6s21. Compared to them, the OS20’s jerky travel is a bit of a letdown.
I sampled two 20mm straps on the Chronograph, both with quick release pins that eliminate the need for a spring bar tool. The first was a carbon fiber pattern with a leather backing. The second was seatbelt weave nylon with NATO style hardware and a signed buckle. While I liked the modern, sporty look of the carbon fiber, the smooth and vanishingly thin seatbelt strap was my clear favorite.
The Collinsville Chronograph is a pleasant piece and its $224 sale price is certainly appealing, but it falls short when compared to rivals such as the Vratislavia Heritage Chrono, which offers a sunray dial, AR-coated sapphire glass, superior case back art, and the smoother 6s21 movement for just $210 shipped. That said, Collinsville is currently running a sale, offering the Toxic Green on a Carbon Fiber strap for just $149, and that is far more tempting.
For for more information or to place an order, visit collinsvillewatch.com. ⬩
