So why not discuss what is easily the strangest and most asymmetrical Quantum watch first; the Quantum III family. It is worth noting that the Quantum III watches are also priced at the bottom of the “Quantum scale.” The Quantum III comes in five color versions and is a “two-faced” watch. Not “dual-faced” in the sense you can flip over the case, but that the dial is literally split between two drastically different designs. The case is also very large, being 50mm wide in PVD black steel with aluminum. This is the collection’s most “out there” timepiece with its vividly different style.
The left-side of the Quantum III dial and bezel is in carbon fiber and all black with the letters “Ritmo” serving as hour markers. The right-side of the watch on the other hand looks like a sports chronograph with the particular piece’s accent color. Such accents are available in metallic orange, blue, green, purple, and black with red. The Swiss Ronda quartz chronograph movement is fully operational save for the lack of a minute counter on the left of the dial. But given how weird it is I don’t think people getting this timepieces are going to be much concerned with the utility of their chronograph mechanism. The movement also contains a big date indicator.
Funny enough, if the Quantum III split the two dials into their own individual watches they might be rather nice on their own. As a mix it is a watch that actually does call a lot of social attention, but myself being a function-first tool watch lover I just scratch my head at the piece’s overall theme. I just don’t think I am cool enough for Quantum III. Nevertheless, it does have a highly eye-catching look that will no doubt offer appeal to the right people.
The other asymmetric versions of the Quantum are much more straightforward and easy to live with. These would be the Quantum II, which happen to come in two case sizes. There is the larger 50mm wide version of the Quantum II as well as a smaller 43mm wide version. With a flat case back and thick silicone strap I have say that the Quantum II (and I for that matter) are rather comfortable watches. While the 43mm wide version wears more comfortable, it feels like as a guy you really need to go with the 50mm wide size (unless you have small wrists). Why you ask? Well when it comes down to it this is a timepiece with a larger-than-life design, and wearing it in the same size as most watches casts the wrong light on the watch overall. I think most people are better off with wearing this in a larger-sized “bold statement” style case.
The cases have an aluminum right flank that is either black to match the rest of the steel case or offered in a choice of metallic red, blue, orange, silver or rose gold tone. The latter actually has the tone of a bronzer from a woman’s makeup bag. These cases are rather interesting. My favorite is the chronograph pushers that include the accent color in them, and like I said they are remarkably comfortable. While the cases may be on the more unorthodox side, Ritmo Mundo actually did pay attention to keeping the dials more conservatively styled for the sake of legibility. They have applied polished metal hour markers and an admittedly no-nonsense sport watch design design. A unique case with more classic dial in the Quantum II might just make it the winner of the collection.
At the top of the Ritmo Mundo Quantum line is the Quantum I. It only comes in a 50mm wide case and builds on the Quantum II offering a more intricate and detailed dial design as well as dual colored aluminum flanks on the PVD black steel case making for (finally) a symmetrical design. The movement is the same in the Quantum II, because its a Swiss Ronda quartz chronograph, but the dial has additional layers as well as carbon fiber. For once you can also identify some of the design inspiration for the collection, that seems to have come from the world of motor sports. There is luminant (at least some) on all the Quantum collection watches, but it isn’t the highest-grade lume you’ll find.
Following most traditional design values, the Quantum I is the piece most “watch lovers” will opt for if the collection speaks to them. The combination of higher-end feeling dial and symmetrical design to the case is what will do it. Having said that I like the more simple nature of the dial on the Quantum II with its more distinctive asymmetric case coloring.
Pricing for the Ritmo Mundo Quantum watches falls somewhere between most (not all) entry-level Swiss mechanical watches and most fashion quartz watches. Some may argue that it is ambitious because at a lower price, pieces such as this would be easily more consumed. Having said that, the cases and dials are respectably complicated and unique to merit a higher production cost compared to most other quartz timepieces. Prices begin at $895 for the Quantum II 43mm models as well as the Quantum III watches. The Quantum II 50mm wide watches retail for $995, while the Quantum I retails for $1,195. ritmomundo.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Ritmo Mundo
>Model: Quantum I, II, III
>Price: $895 – $1,195
>Size: 43mm – 50mm wide
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Once in a while
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Youthful and socially active person who lives in a place where the dress code is perpetually casual.
>Best characteristic of watch: Polarizing and creative design that underneath everything does in fact hide conservative timepiece looks. Colorful and bold to wear while still masculine.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Double strap tongues are tricky to use. Not always huge fan of the finish on colored aluminum.