The MTM Special Ops Silver Falcon is a watch that I was very excited to review. I generally prefer a more simplistic watch and stay away from ones with extra bells and whistles, but the Falcon manages to offer the extras while maintaining a very classy profile. The primary benefit I see in this watch is with the LED torch and strobe lights. For every day carry situations, having those features on your wrist is pretty cool.
Powered by a 10-year rated rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the watch utilizes an included electromagnetic induction charger. The average charge lasts for about one month and features overcharge protection as well as a low battery alert, although the instructions state that the battery will remain charged for up to 6-months if the LEDs are not used.
The MTM Falcon watch offers 5 different light mode sequences:
- Level 1 – Internal Mode: Blue LED lights will light up the dial for 5 seconds
- Level 2 – External Mode: 3 white bright LED torch lights used as a flashlight that will last for 20 seconds.
- Level 3 – Emergency Mode: Flashing white LED torch strobe lights, will last as long as battery life.
- Level 4 – Diving or Extreme Conditions Mode: 5 Blue LED lights to light up the dial for as long as battery life.
- Level 5 – External Mode: 3 white LED torch lights as a flashlight that will stay on as long as battery life.
The case is available in either 316L stainless steel or titanium, and measures 44mm (excluding crowns) and 14mm thickness. The stainless option weighs 9.4 oz. while the titanium weighs 5.8 oz. The option I reviewed was stainless steel. It houses MTM’s proprietary Quartz movement. I like the size of it, and it is very well-machined. The unidirectional ratcheting bezel looks good and has a nice grip to it, but there is something about the action that I’m not a fan of. I’m not sure about the actual construction of the bezel components, but the feel of each click reminds me of a plastic Wheel of Fortune type of action. It doesn’t feel like it will break, it just feels strange to me.
The watch face is covered by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and features a NASA type carbon fiber dial. The hour, minute, and second hands have really nice lume. The orange second hand really helps it to stand out in a good way, making it easier to pick up. Still, I have to admit I was disappointed by the lume contrast for the hands and the number markers. The numbers are noticeably dim compared to the hands. They are still visible and the LEDs will help if needed, but it is just an observation I had to make. MTM did do a really nice job of blending the 3 white LED torch strobe lights in the watch face at the 12, 4, and 8 o’clock markers.
Water resistance is rated up to 100 meters (330 feet), and the watch comes with a 3-year warranty should any issues occur. The watch ships in a really nice watertight storage case. Although the storage case is actually quite huge for a watch, the extra space is required for the charger and the AC adapter, so it makes sense. The strap on my watch is their brown leather, and is of very high quality. I’m generally partial to a 22mm strap, but this 24mm strap goes well with this watch. It is very comfortable and looks great next to the stainless steel case.
Overall, I think the MTM Falcon is a great buy for the $595-$1070 price range depending on the type of materials you choose for the case and band. For a Quartz movement, the price makes sense when combining the quality, durability, and additional features. As you can see below, MTM put the Falcon through rigorous testing and it passed with flying colors, so I’m confident this watch will hold up to any environment I find myself in.
Originally published on SOFREP and written byÂ
