The Magrette saga continues with two new watches. These new pieces serve a very specific purpose. They offer the beauty of Magrette’s hand-done Maori style engraving, but in a more subtle manner. Allowing most of the visible PVD black case to be masculine and strong in appearance. Each comes in a limited edition set of just 25 pieces. There is just one master engraver responsible for each piece.

The Kaitiaka and Kai Kaha watches are very similar, each even being the same price. The difference is the caseback style and design. The Magrette Kia Kaha (meaning “be strong”) has a solid steel caseback with a beautiful engraving on its polished surface. The design is masculine, with a strong looking figurine worthy of the title of the piece. Each caseback of course is hand-engraved. Here, the engraving is known only to the wearer. Not only can they appreciate it each time they put on and remove the watch, but they can impress fans of the watch, when they take it off and hand it to them for inspection. I promise you that most people who see the art on the back of a watch like this are generally wowed by it. There is also a hand engraved indication of the number of the watch in its limited edition.

While the Kia Kaha has a solid caseback, the Magrette Kaitiaki (meaning “guardian or protector”) has a exhibition caseback with a sapphire crystal window. Here, you can see the Swiss ETA 2824 automatic movement, with a Magrette style engraved rotor. Back when I learned about New Zealand based Magrette I urged them to offer watches with rotors hand-engraved using the wonderful Maori style. Now you can see how lovely the result is after they decided it was a good idea. The Kaitiaki has another special feature. Buyers will get their names engraved on the back of the watch.

Aside from the caseback of the watch, the two pieces are the same. Set in a 44m wide PVD black steel case, they are story and stern, compared to their more decorate rears. Each is water resistant to 50 meters and has a sapphire crystal. Magrette now uses LUM-TEC as their dial maker and luminant supplier. The laser-cut dials are great looking with LUM-TEC MDV GX luminant. There is also an embossed black on black face image on the dial just above 6 o’clock. The watches come with 24mm leather straps. You’ll also love getting your Magrette watch in the mail if ever buy one – as many of them (including these) arrive in beautiful hand-made wooden boxes that smell like a fine furniture store.

Price for a Magrette Kaitiaki or Kai Kaha watch is $1,550, with each being limited to just 25 pieces each.