Makina’s new Cassiel II is an industrial, muscular chronograph with a difference

Tom Austin

As we career through 2026 at a rapid pace, the microbrand scene shows no signs of slowing down. While to most of us it may feel like time is passing faster than ever, it means that, surprisingly, we’ve been talking about some of these standout brands for quite some time now. Makina is a brand that has featured on the pages of Time+Tide since 2021, and each time, the brand from the Philippines appears to go from strength to strength, applying its unique approach of taking traditional design concepts and combining them with modern, industrial details. It also has a habit of creating sequels that overshadow the original, and its latest release, the Cassiel II, attempts to do the same.

It also has a habit of creating sequels that overshadow the original, and its latest release, the Cassiel II, attempts to do the same. The difference between the Cassiel II and the original Cassiel is quite striking; in fact, the only element it shares is the name. The previous model had clear classical inspirations, whereas this new version takes on much more of Makina’s recent design language; futuristic, angular, and unique in its own right.

The Cassiel II is positioned as the brand’s flagship model, and while it’s also Makina’s first automatic chronograph, they’ve steered well away from the typical trap of creating a nostalgic motorsports watch. It represents another industrial design experiment for Makina, with details likely to trickle down into the rest of the brand’s lineup going forward.

The case

Makina refers to the Casseil II’s 316L stainless steel case as its “chassis”, which, in some ways, feels a little more appropriate given its proportions. At 42mm wide and 15mm thick, including the flat, bevelled sapphire crystal, the Casseil II is not a small watch by any means, but its dimensions suit its character. It’s a dramatic-looking piece, so it makes sense for it to have some presence on the wrist, and with a 48mm lug-to-lug measurement, it has plenty. The steel surfaces have received a relatively unusual combination of heavy sand-blasting across the upper portions, met with sculpted, highly polished haunches that protrude from four corners of the case, creating a dynamic, almost brutalist-looking aesthetic.

The faceted, angular design is interrupted by a thin, bevelled circular bezel, which, thanks to its polishing, prevents the watch from straying too far into heavy-tool territory. Instead, it offers a touch of luxuriousness, especially where the bezel meets the heavily bevelled crystal. It feels as if Makina had opted for a standard flat crystal, this wouldn’t have had the same effect, and thankfully, that bevel means the watch doesn’t seem overly thick despite the numbers. Thanks to a screw-down crown and caseback, the Cassiel II offers an acceptable 100-metre water resistance, making it a sports-style chronograph that performs in most normal environments, even with the flat, wide chronograph pushers.

The dial

The most unusual aspect of Makina’s new model is quite easily the dial, for several reasons. First, there’s the hexagonal minute track, which cleverly breaks the outside of the dial into 10-minute sectors but is also refracted through the large bevel on the crystal, framing the dial with an abstract appearance, a theme that continues towards the dial’s centre. At first, you might question if it’s a chronograph dial at all, because the tri-compax configuration almost disappears into the grey channels cut into the matte graphite grey surface, but look a little closer, and its functionality comes into view.

In place of typical sub-dials with hands, the Cassiel II uses a layered dial with cutouts to display the chronograph functions, with fully luminescent rotating discs beneath it, so unlike most chronographs, it can still be easily read in the dark. This extends to the unusual, fork-like split hands, while the day and date displays are left un-lumed, keeping the look quite minimalist when the lights go out.

The movement

The back of the watch features a very deliberate-looking screw-down circular caseback, secured with four screws, which frames a sapphire exhibition window displaying the Valjoux/ETA 7750 automatic chronograph movement. Its functions are more traditional than the rest of the watch suggests, including running seconds, chronograph minutes and hours, and a central chronograph hand. The 7750 has a proven track record and is one of the most widely used and recognisable automatic chronograph calibres, delivering a 44-48-hour power reserve while beating at 28,800 Vph. Interestingly, originally developed in the 1970s, it was one of the first watch movements to be partially designed on a computer, a first for the watch industry at the time.

The strap

Often, watch straps are an afterthought in watch design. It’s a necessary part of the watch which frequently gets overlooked, while so much attention tends to go into the overall character and theme of the watch from the perspective of the dial and the case; the strap is often treated as either a disposable extra, or just an extension of the case. The Cassiel II is, at its heart, an integrated-strap watch, with the black rubber strap tapering down from the sides of the case, but rather than opting for an off-the-shelf solution, Makina has chosen a more unconventional route. Secured with a sandblasted steel buckle that matches the case, the two straps on either end of the case are deeply moulded with contrasting patterns, deliberately breaking the symmetrical appearance, and pairing well with the dial and its combination of straight lines and curves. It’s a cleverly considered detail which adds some dimensionality to the overall design.

The verdict

The Makina Cassiel II is a visually striking chronograph which seems to deliver more and more details the deeper you look. It has a strong sense of identity within the brand, while remaining unique, standing out from most other chronographs in its category. The very essence of the microbrand industry is the freedom to experiment with your designs, and Makina has leaned into this well, making the brave move to shift away from Cassiel’s original design. It’s a risky, unusual-looking watch, and one that I understand won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it nevertheless has an unapologetic boldness that should be applauded.

Makina Cassiel II pricing and availability

The Makina Cassiel II is now available to order directly from Makina during its presale window, which closes on July 20th, with deliveries expected to begin on August 10th. Price: US$1,850 (US$2,100 post-presale price)

Brand	Makina
Model	Cassiel II
Case Dimensions	42mm (D) x 15mm (T) x 48mm (LTL)
Case Material	316L stainless steel
Water Resistance	100 metres
Crystal(s)	Sapphire front and back
Dial	Textured black, layered structure
Strap	Asymmetric black rubber strap, sandblasted steel buckle
Movement	Valjoux/ETA 7750, automatic
Power Reserve	44-48 hours
Functions	Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, chronograph
Availability	Available now
Price	US$1,850 (US$2,100 post-presale price)

Made in partnership with Makina. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.