I really should love this watch, but I don't - MKII Watches Fulcrum 39

[thesingularity7]

The military-issue dive watch sub-genre has always fascinated me, and the era of the MilSpec divers, featuring legendary pieces like the Omega Seamaster 300, Rolex MilSub, and CWC Royal Navy 300 stands out as my favorite. Some of my earliest microbrand purchases were watches that emulated the Seamaster 300 aesthetic, and I came across the MKII Project 300 numerous times, but I eventually managed to hunt down and purchase a WatchCo 165.024 Seamaster 300, which remains one of my most cherished pieces. I also picked up a CWC Royal Navy 300, custom-engraved with my Beans & Bezels logo, leaving the Rolex MilSub as the only missing piece in my ideal trio.

Naturally, when MKII relaunched the Fulcrum in a new 39mm size, I was excited to see if it could fill that gap in my collection. While MKII has produced more faithful MilSub homages in the past, such as the LRRP MilSub, the Fulcrum is also a tribute to that genre, albeit with a more modernized design twist. Bill Yao, the man behind MKII and Tornek Rayville, has an excellent eye for detail and has built a brand ethos that truly respects and understands military watch heritage. His Seamaster 300 homage remains one of the best alternatives to an actual vintage Seamaster 300 or a WatchCo build, so my expectations for the Fulcrum 39 were high.

The watch launched at a retail price of $995, and after taxes, I paid just under $1,025 for this no-date dive bezel version. Given Yao’s nearly two decades in the microbrand space and his expertise in military watch design, I had hoped this watch might scratch my Rolex MilSub itch; but after spending time with it, I’m not entirely convinced it does.

[Guppydriver]

With regards to the title of this thread….

Two types of collectors …

Those who have. Those who will.