Today, I’m reviewing the latest watch from Dufrane, The Mabry, a field watch that delivers a textured California dial, tight proportions, and a titanium case. It sounds simple enough, but as we get into the details, you will see they really did their homework. The Mabry is not what I would consider a “retro” piece, and yet it masterfully combines vintage details into a thoroughly modern whole.
One of the things I love about Dufrane is their willingness to employ design cues that I haven’t seen on any other watches. On the Mabry, those elements serve a purpose beyond mere flair, which makes sense as this is a military watch at heart, named after Camp Mabry, one of the oldest bases in Texas.
With a 39mm diameter and a 47mm lug-to-lug length, the Mabry is right-sized for a broad range of wrists. There is nothing detracting you from reading the hour at a glance. Five layers of anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal provide an uninterrupted view, even with the sun directly on the dial. In true field watch fashion, its textured dial has a center 24-hour track with larger 12-hour markers, but with the added twist of a vintage diver’s California layout, an attractive and appropriate military configuration that is unexpected in this context.
At night, blocks of Super-LumiNova BGW9 shine bright and blue. The other dial colours use C3. I usually prefer no-date watches, but I do appreciate the symmetry of the 6 o’clock window. I’ll note that the white date on this prototype will be colour-matched on the final production version.
White cathedral hands harken back to a time when lume had to be applied in separate sections in order to stay in place. Their length is excellent, and I like the high contrast of the orange second hand tip against the Moss Green dial. It is also available in Field White and Shadow Black, and while they are both appealing, the green is the winner for me.
Field watches are built to be used and abused; the Dufrane is no different. Its case is grade 2 titanium, sealed for 100m water resistance, and protected by a DLC coating for 800HV of hardness to fend off the scuffs and scratches that can sometimes plague a satin finish. That titanium case is tough, but also the watch very light — just 48 grams. This is a remarkable achievement especially for the price.
Inside, we find a Swiss Sellita SW200-1, a premium choice for a watch like this. It keeps the Mabry to a slim 10.7mm, which aids with the wearability.
Dufrane equips the Mabry with both a leather strap and the outstanding fabric strap shown here. With its hook-and-loop closure, it can be sized to almost any measurement.
I’ve spent around two weeks wearing this charming field watch and does not disappoint. It’s sensible dimensions and light weight make it easy to wear, even on my 6.25 inch wrist. I like that its bold layout and modern colour are grounded in with traditional military roots. It is neither too eccentric nor too sedate. Rather, it strikes a comfortable balance that is perfect for daily wear.
The Dufrane Mabry has a price tag of $599 US. This is highly competitive, especially considering the titanium case, DLC coating treatment, and top-grade automatic Swiss movement. For more information or to order yours, visit dufranewatches.com.
Technical Specification
800 Vickers, DLC coated for scratch resistance
39mm width
47mm lug to lug
10.7mm thick
20mm lug size
Titanium 2 case, bezel and crown
1.7oz (48g) with fabric strap
6.5mm crown
Sapphire crystal 5x anti-reflective coating
BGW9 and C3 Swiss lume
Swiss Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré Grade movement
Includes infinitely adjustable fabric with micro hook closure and a leather strap
100m water resistance
Regulated to +/-8 secs per day
