Prometheus Jamanta

If you find yourself on a high street or a shopping center, you will start noticing that some independent stores and restaurants have a small inscription at the bottom of the name that reads, “since ….” I always thought that it would make sense to add this description when your business has been active for more than 10 years. Ten just seemed significant until I started to see things like “Prometheus Watch Company, Since 2008.” Then I thought, “Oh, that was not so long ago,” until the math kicked in, and I realized that 15 years for an independent watch company is a real milestone. Among microbrands, Portuguese independent, Prometheus is one of the oldest. Although The Time Bum has covered them several times (most recently, the Eagle Ray GMT), I didn’t get the chance to review one of their pieces myself until today. The Prometheus Jamanta was worth the wait.

As you might be aware, many great deeds were attributed to the Greek figure Prometheus, from stealing fire from the gods to giving men science and civilization to crafting beautiful artifacts. It was the latter that caught my attention. I wanted to see if the brand did its name justice. I am always skeptical about watches priced under $500, fearing that corners have been cut and, therefore, quality affected. In this case, there is none of that. The Prometheus Jamanta (Juggernaut for the non-Portuguese speaker) displays impressive quality and detail as soon as you take it out of the box.

The details start with the horizontal pattern on the dial. The watch face is dominated by big hands and applied markers topped with a large 12 at the top. They look great, setting the bold tone. A yellow chapter ring breaks the dark color pattern nicely and matches the dial lettering, which reads: ‘’30 ATM’’ and is perfectly balanced.

Moving on to the case, as the name suggests, the Jamanta is a medium-large piece at 42.5 mm wide and 50.4 long. I have a 6.25-inch wrist, and it wears well. Its dimensions are similar to those of my Rolex Explorer 2 216570, so I am used to the size, and it doesn’t overwhelm me. The bezel has engraved squares on each of the internal markers. It’s reminiscent of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and that is not a bad thing.

The lugs wrap the barrel, terminating at 10/2 o’clock and 8/4 o’clock. Crown guards emerge from these wedges on the right side. Oddly, that distinctive shape makes the watch appear more symmetrical, even with the gap between 8 and 10 o’clock on the left. side. The signed crown screws down, of course.

Powering the watch, we have a Miyota 9039 or 9015 automatic (depending on the date option) behind a closed case back. Both movements have 24 jewels, a 28.8k bph beat rate, and a power reserve of over 42 hours. The 9039 in the review watch is a true no-date with no phantom position. It is also slightly thinner than the 9015, although that is not a factor here. My review watch has been accurate, keeping time admirably at 10+ seconds a day.

You can have a great dial and a perfect case, but that isn’t the end of it. To me, one of the hardest jobs of a watch designer is to get the bracelet right. Does it complement the case? Do the links fit and articulate well? Are they all properly finished? The Jamanta doesn’t disappoint. I would say its bracelet is one of its strongest features, with solid end links, screw pins, and a divers extension clasp.

The Prometheus Jamata has all the elements of an everyday watch and is particularly well suited to beach and casual wear. The all-metal look is perhaps the most versatile, but if you want to add a strap, the Jamanta has drilled lugs and 22mm gap, allowing plenty of options. Prometheus offers the watch in black, white, and pastel blue. I think the white and blue its one of the most attractive varieties for the summer, but for an all-rounder, the black and yellow is a fine choice.

When you start reviewing a watch from a brand that you never handled before, there is always an element of surprise that is out of your control but really refreshing. When I started photographing the Jamanta my surprise only grew, as the often unforgiving macro lenses revealed that watch’s high-quality details. The more time I spent with the watch, the more I started to think about those 15 years that Prometheus has been making watches, and that experience shows. They have made a truly fantastic product at the almost unmatchable price of $415 US.

If you are looking for a versatile, steel sports watch under $500 US, I cannot think of many options as good as the Jamanta.

For more information visit https://www.prometheuswatch.com/.

Technical Specifications