Whenever we think about micro and independent brands, a major concern some have is the longevity of these brands and whether or not “they will still be there next year.” It’s a legitimate concern to have and one which we could (and should) transfer to all things we use on a daily basis. Will BYD be there next year? What about bitcoins and soy milk matcha lattes? We need to be reassured that what we own can be fixed or sold so that we can sleep well at night knowing we made good investments. (Or, at least, that we don’t go bankrupt.) But did people think the same of Rolex or Omega? We will never know but I can tell you that although there are many watch brands coming to life each year, only a few are in a position to celebrate ten years of successful business. 

This brings us to Jack Mason and the Pursuit Pilot. Jack Mason is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2025 and is marking the occasion by re-releasing its debut model. A lot has changed in the past decade in terms of technology and quality of manufacturing, as well as design of course, and more importantly, when it comes to brand recognition. Because it wasn’t until 2022 and the release of the Strat-o-timer that the Lone Star State brand gained global recognition for being the first to put the true GMT Miyota 9075 caliber inside a non-Citizen watch. The Strat-o-timer was also the brand’s most daring release to date but Jack Mason hasn’t stopped since. And with each new release, the brand offers something better and more horologically wholesome. 

Specifications

As it will instantly become clear, the Pursuit Pilot is a GADA (“Go-anywhere-do-anything”) type of watch from a specifications perspective. And as we will soon see, from a design perspective it is an elegant pilot watch that comes with a certain edge over other watches of this genre. In a now Jack Mason fashion, we do find a complete list of specifications—a long one—to ensure reliable performance in all situations you might find yourself in. To begin with, a regulated LaJoux-Perret G101 caliber which beats at 4Hz and comes with a whopping 68 hours of power reserve. That’s a lot of power reserve and more than enough to cross the metaphorical gap of the weekend during which, we watch enthusiasts, allow ourselves to switch to a different watch for more relaxed activities. (Though that is when some of us strap our toughest beaters to get shit down around the house.) 

And if you were into science and engineering and happened to have a covert lab in your garage, you wouldn’t need to worry about the effects of magnetic fields as the movement is protected by a nickel-iron cage. 

Just as we find a good movement inside the Pursuit Pilot, we also find a new generation of SuperLuminova referenced as Grade X2 which glows green when charged. Jack Mason applied Lumecast markers (molded with luminescent compound) in that new material all around the dial to guarantee reliable nighttime legibility and, as an added bonus, to endow the dial with subtle three-dimensionality. To match the great movement and lume, the Pursuit Pilot is equipped with a flat piece of sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown and case-back for 150 meters of water resistance, and a hardness coating raising the stainless steel scratch resistance to 1,200HV on Vicker’s Hardening Scale (which is eight times that of naked steel.) The bracelet has also been well throughout with an on-the-fly micro-adjustment system, screwed links, and quick-release spring-bars. 

Design 

As its name indicates and as you can clearly see on the photos, the Pursuit Pilot is a….pilot watch! As such it comes with a time-only configuration and a legible and symmetrical dial layout, though one which comes with a few tricks up its sleeves. First, we do find lumed and applied elements all around the dial with batons at the 3, 6, and 9, a triangle at the twelve, and small rectangles everywhere else. Matched with intensely lumed broad-sword hour and minute hands, it is easy to tell the time during the day and at night. Daytime legibility is further guaranteed by the addition of black printed Arabic numerals with a glossy finish at the 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11, matching the black surrounds of the hands. All of these elements look great and contrast well with the silver dial. We do find pops of colors in the orange seconds hand and its counter-balance which evokes the colors of the Texas flag. 

Note that the Pursuit Pilot comes in a total of four (4) versions: Frost (the one we’re taking a look at,) Olive, Shadow, and a dedicated 10-year Anniversary Edition with a black dial and aged color accents. Though I see more of a silver dial than a frosty one, but that’s just me. 

If you were to ask me (and I encourage you to do so) how I perceive Jack Mason as a brand, I would tell you this: they are, first and foremost, very good at designing cases. And that is to me a complement as that’s not how we typically see micro and independent brands. And the case of the Pursuit Pilot is indeed nicely designed and proportioned, coming in with a diameter of 39mm, a lug-to-lug of 46mm, a total thickness of 11.8mm, and a lug width of 20mm. More importantly, the case has a mostly straight profile with short lugs which are cut at an angle, and an enjoyable alternation of satin-brushed and mirror-like polished accents. The polishing is actually quite discreet but present where it matters the most: the thin chamfers which run alongside the case and on the lower section of the fixed bezel. Moreover, Jack Mason rounded-off the links of the bracelet and added polished chamfers on all outer links as well as the clasp. 

The Heart of the Matter

At the heart of the matter is the fact that Jack Mason found its own way of celebrating its first decade of being open for business by re-releasing its debut collection. That is something that is cool and novel for a relatively young brand and a testimony to its dedication of honoring its own nascent heritage. Moreover, if you have been a fan of the brand since 2015, then you will be able to appreciate, just like I can, how far the brand has come. As mentioned earlier, it wasn’t until the Strat-o-timer that Jack Mason forged its well-deserved reputation for making visually compelling and solid watches worth the attention of amateur and seasoned collectors alike. And by all means, the brand only seems to be getting started. As it is true with all things in life, the more you put into a product the more it costs, which is why the Pursuit Pilot retails for $1,363.95. 

That might seem like a lot of dough for a pilot watch and I can see why you’re thinking this. With a few exceptions, pilot watches tend to navigate below the $1,000-threshold as they are seemingly simple watches: three hands, a matte dial, and large hour markers. So it makes sense that we can find many pilot watches with this seemingly simple design for less money than the Jack Mason Pursuit Pilot. However we must keep in mind the following: the cost of acquiring the materials and components (especially the caliber and X2 lume,) the cost of manufacturing a good case and finishing it well, and of adding numerous nuggets of horological nerd-dom: the scratch-resistant coating, the 150 meters of water resistance, and the on-the-fly micro-adjustment clasp. All of this adds up and, once again, Jack Mason made a first by being the first micro/independent brand to use Grade X2 SuperLuminova—that is as far as I know. 

Conclusion 

When we look at the origin story of pilot watches we understand that they were built solid and designed with a function-first approach. In a way, that is exactly what the Jack Mason Pursuit Pilot is. And in another way, it is also a watch that comes with advanced tech and an overall good list of specifications so that it can ace any activities you are into. Looking at the independent watch market as a whole, I cannot think of many micro/independent brands of this caliber that offer equally well made pilot watches. So invite you to discover the full line-up of the Pursuit Pilot here and, if you do buy one, know that they will ship as early as February 18, 2025

Thanks for reading.