Today, McDowell Time opened pre-orders for the Rockville, a mid-sized, 300m diver with the new and exciting MWW 7081 automatic movement inside. Brand founder Bill McDowell let me play with this black dial model for my review. As longtime readers already know, Bill is a buddy of mine and my partner in the annual District Time DC watch show. That said, I’ll always let him – and you – know if there is something I don’t like about his watches. Disclosure over. On to the review.
If the Rockville may seem a bit familiar to McDowell Time fans and that’s because it shares much with the Wanderer Limited Edition collaboration he did with Rockville rock band, O.A.R. last year. This is a good thing because the Wanderer is excellent. Both watches share the same 40mm wide, 46.5mm long Sub-style case. These tidy dimensions are good for all but the thickest wrists and particularly nice for folks like me who are only about 6.75″ around the wristbone.
It is 13mm thick, which is hardly fat and in fact, allows the Rockville to slide easily under a buttoned shirt cuff. You would think those sheer sides would make it show every millimeter, but it actually seems much thinner because the mirror polish draws your attention to the 5.5mm midcase and blurs your sense of scale.
Speaking of scale, McDowell did it right when he designed the signed, screw-down crown. It is big enough to meet the “operate with gloves” test necessary for a proper drive watch, but not so large that it needs its own zip code. The crown guards are similarly restrained. They stick out just enough to do their job without calling any undue attention to themselves.
The upper surface of the Rockville is brushed, which makes the polished bezel and its glossy ceramic insert pop all the more. I love glossy ceramic, but true bezel nirvana arrives when the insert is engraved and lumed. This one checks all the boxes. The coin edge is easy to grip and the bezel moves easily through its 120 clicks, albeit with a bit more backplay than I would like.
On the back, you will get to see that 7081. This is a brand new unit based on ETA 2824 architecture that is assembled, regulated, and tested right here in the USA – Hagerstown, Maryland to be precise. This is a pretty big deal. There aren’t many American-assembled mechanical movements and to my knowledge, this is the only one available for volume production. Buyers can take comfort in the fact that it is a tried-and-true design. Maryland Watch Works is also responsible for putting together the rest of the Rockville and for conducting final quality control.
Under the AR-coated sapphire crystal is McDowell Time’s first sandwich dial. I sampled the matte black, but he also offers blue and sunray blue or dark gray. It’s a fairly conventional dots-and-bars layout with a white-on-black chapter index. I love the white frames around the mellow beige C3 SuperLuminova. Polished sword hands also get a dose of the lume. The glow is strong and long, green on the vintage-color dials and hands, and blue on the bezel.
Finally, a splash of blood-red for the logo, second hand, and “Automatic” text offers an immensely satisfying contrast. The one element that might be controversial is the choice of typeface for the white “Rockville.” It’s got a heavier stroke and is a bit casual. I think it’s appropriate for a sports watch, but I suspect some will bristle at its inclusion on a piece that could so easily be worn in a business setting.
The Rockville comes equipped with a brushed, three-link style (three segments in a single link) 20mm bracelet that tapers to 18mm at the signed, ratcheting clasp. I’ve railed against rachets in the past. I usually hate their big boxes and often unduly sharp corners, but this one suffers from neither of those failings. all edges are properly finished and it is just over 8mm thick at the mid-point. As such, it is no bigger than the 18mm flip-lock clasp I have on another watch right here on my desk. It has three micro adjustments and siz extension positions that glide smoothly into place. I was all set to get mad at the ratchet, but I can’t. It is a quality clasp that fits the proportions of the watch and the first ratchet I’ve actually enjoyed. Well done.
Pre-order pricing is $599 and lasts through July 31, after which the price increases to $699. Note that this is not a crowdfunding exercise and there are no goals to meet. You buy a watch, you get a watch – and quickly. Bill expects the pre-sale watches to be built and shipped by August 1.
I think McDowell Time has another winner on his hands. The Rockville is a solid piece that is more than tough enough to take whatever your weekend will throw at it and sophisticated enough to wear with a suit. Moreover, American assembly and the MWW 7081 movement tie it to its homegrown roots in a way that precious few USA-based watch brands can claim. In fact, if you want to see the watch, see exactly where it is built, and meet the folks who make it happen, then you should attend Watches, Whiskey and Wine on July 24-25, 2021. I’ll be there too!
For more information or to order a Rockville now, head over to McDowellTime.com.
