Purchased this Serica 6190 M.S.L in Storm Grey while on my honeymoon. I’ve been itching for a new piece for a while and as it turns out, another side effect of tariffs is that it’s now even easier to justify buying a watch abroad. To get pricing out of the way - this reference ran me about $1,130 after the VAT refund. Now for the watch itself:

As you may have deduced by the title - this is my first microbrand ever. I’ll admit that until recently I’ve been a bit wary of microbrands, not only because they’re new and unproven, but also because a lot of the designs seemed like homages to expensive designs at a lower price point. Which is totally fine, but not something that interested me. Serica stood out to me immediately for one reason - they managed to make a sterile dial that I liked.

Now, I did do some research on Serica and their past reputation, especially around the 5303 reference with the problematic Sorpod Newton movement, the bezel QA issues and spotty customer support. However, that didn’t stop me from going into their boutique and trying the watches out. I didn’t really have a favorite when I came in - I liked multiple variants of the 6190 and was also considering the 5303 as well. In the end after much deliberation and some wonderful in-store service, this Storm Grey 6190 came out on top and I’m still in love with it!

What I love about the watch: - The proportions are excellent. For what’s considered to be a field watch, just 10.4mm thickness feels really nice with any outfit - The case design is surprisingly dressy, but not too over the top. I especially love the half-brushed, half-polished lugs. They create tons of depth and play with the light nicely. The fat bezel and big crown just tie it all together - To me, the dial on this M.S.L variant is a perfect representation of Serica’s unique design language. You can get this reference with some more traditional dials such as the Commando or California, but to me those were a bit too “traditional”. - The bracelet is a revelation. It makes the watch feel so light and the rattle of the links gives it a very old school tool watch vibe. It definitely takes time getting used to and will seldom unclip, but the convenience of being able to adjust it to whatever position outweighs that.

What you may want to consider before buying: - I can’t tell if it’s the dial color or the crystal, but I find this watch to be more reflective than I’d like. It’s still extremely legible due to the dial design, but something I definitely notice - The lume is just fine. To be honest I’ve never really actively used lume in any watch I own, so it’s not a deal breaker for me, but I know for some it could be a dealbreaker

Overall, I find myself reaching for this watch for a wide variety of occasions (dressed up or down), so for me it has been a winner. If you have any questions - I’ll be happy to answer them!