Manchester Watch Works is back! That’s right. After a couple of years in the woods, the brand has returned with the Tatoskok 3, an all-new, titanium dive watch.
For those who don’t understand my excitement, Manchester Watch Works (MWW) was one of the OG microbrands cutting its teeth on Kickstarter back in 2014 when The Time Bum was still a fledgling blog. I happily reviewed the brand’s initial prototype and just about every subsequent release. Among other MWWs in my collection is my Tatoskok Automatic, a regular in my rotation that, against all my strap-swapping instincts, is still wearing its stock nylon NATO. It was a fine run of watches, but the founder had other pursuits and decided to phase out of the watch business. By 2019, when the last MWW was safely out of warranty, the brand shut its doors.
Today, they reopened them with the Tatoskok 3 launch on Kickstarter, and microbrand fans welcomed them back by funding the new model before I could sit down to write this. Not too shabby.
In keeping with current trends, the new model is considerably smaller than the original, measuring a tidy 39mm wide, 47mm long, and 13.5mm thick to the top of the double-domed sapphire crystal. Gone is the hockey puck shape of old Tatoskoks. This case is more conventional, with wider lugs that flow more naturally from the barrel.
I hate to admit it, but it fits my 6.75″ wrist a bit better than its 43mm predecessor and its stout proportions leave no doubt that you are wearing a proper tool watch.
Flat sides, crown guards, and a matte finish give the watch a businesslike appearance befitting a 200m diver. As much as I love the appearance and utility of titanium, I know that it is inherently softer than stainless steel, so I appreciate that MWW gave it a 1200Hv hardening treatment.
The sloped and coin-edged titanium bezel feels firm through its 120-click rotation, although this prototype did exhibit a touch of play. Its markers are engraved and painted save for the lume pip in the top position.
MWW went for a traditional dive watch layout on this dial with printed white markers and white fence post hands on a matte black surface. You can opt for a big 3/6/9 as well. Still, it is not without its details. The optional 4:30 date wheel is color-matched, the paddle-tipped second hand presents a pop of yellow, and the split “diver down” 12 o’clock marker makes its return. Of course, the BGW9 Super-LumiNova glows long and bright. Note that the hour hand is slightly slimmer than the minute hand on this sample. It will be the same size in production.
Absent from the dial, is the MWW mountain logo. You will find that on the crown instead. While not overly large in the realm of dive watches, it’s big in comparison to the case, a fact amplified by those pinched guards. It pops out quite far when unscrewed, making it extremely easy to grip and operate.
On the stainless steel case back is a detailed image of the Tatoskok itself, a mythical beast that haunts the depths of Lake Champlain. In this guise, he and his Viton gasket guard a stalwart Seiko NH35 automatic, one of my favorite movement choices for a tool watch because of its reliability and shock resistance, assisted in this case by a Delrin movement holder.
MWW always had good taste in straps and the Tatoskok 3 continues that tradition with a smooth, seatbelt nylon two-piece and signed hardware that matches the finish of the case. I understand the final version will have one more hole for the very small-of-wrist.
Kickstarter rewards for the Tatoskok 3 start at just $299, which is half the retail price and a good indication that the brand has not lost its dedication to value. Only 300 will be made. I should note that the only place to get one right now is the Kickstarter page. It seems someone bought the manchesterwatchworks URL and has linked it to his own website. It is not affiliated with the actual Manchester Watch Works in any way, shape, or form.
I’d suggest you head over to the Manchester Watch Work Kickstarter page and have a look. The Manchester Watch Works Tatoskok 3 is a fine way to start the new chapter of a beloved brand.
Welcome back, old friend.
