Datomaster Black, a 36 mm meca-quartz chronograph limited to 100 pieces
The Datomaster Black is a 36 mm chronograph with a black case, a white dial with black sub-dials and orange accents, a date at 6 o’clock and a TMI VK64 meca-quartz movement. Inspired by the 1960s Datomaster, it was made as a limited edition of 100 pieces, and it now has its place in the Retrospective of our limited editions.
At 36 mm across and only 12 mm thick, the Datomaster Black keeps the proportions of mid-century chronographs. It slips under a cuff as easily as it pairs with a weekend outfit.
The Datomaster name goes back to the 1960s. Discover the current models in our Datomaster collection.
Black sub-dials contrast with the white dial, a panda layout that reads at a glance. The central chronograph seconds hand and the sub-dial at 3 o’clock are picked out in orange, a nod to the playful design cues of the 1960s, and a date window sits neatly at 6 o’clock.
Want to know more about this layout? Read our guide to panda and reverse panda chronographs.
Case
36 mm, stainless steel, black, polished and brushed, 12 mm thick, 20 mm lugs
Glass
K1 mineral crystal
Dial
White dial, black sub-dials, orange accents, date at 6 o’clock
Movement
TMI VK64 meca-quartz chronograph
Water resistance
100 m / 10 ATM
Strap
Black rubber strap, black racing strap or black Tropic rubber strap
Inside is the TMI VK64 meca-quartz movement: a quartz module keeps the time, while a mechanical module drives the chronograph with a smooth sweep. Find out more in What is a meca-quartz chronograph? and our guide to the VK63, VK64 and VK67 calibres.
The stainless steel case is polished and brushed, with 20 mm lugs, and the watch is water resistant to 10 ATM, or 100 m, for everyday wear.
FAQs
A chronograph is a watch with a built-in stopwatch: pushers start, stop and reset a timing hand, while the main hands keep showing the time.
A meca-quartz movement combines a quartz module, which keeps the time with quartz precision, and a mechanical module, which drives the chronograph. The chronograph hand sweeps smoothly, like on a mechanical chronograph, which is why it is often called a hybrid.
A panda dial is a chronograph dial with a light main dial and dark sub-dials, which recall the markings of a panda. The Datomaster Black has a white dial with black sub-dials and orange accents.
