The Fortis B42 Marinemaster range of diving tools has recently been expanded with a Yellow Collection. Comprising an ETA Valjoux 7750-powered automatic chronograph and a more traditional-looking Fortis B-42 Marinemaster Yellow Day/Date three-hander, the collection differs from the rest of the Marinemaster family only with its more jovial (and also more legible) color scheme that adds acid-bright lime accents to the bezels and dials.
The color accents are inspired by those on a much more expensive IWC diver (or, to be more exact, the gorgeous Aquatimer Split Minute Chronograph in Titanium (ref. IW090629)) that, too, featured black for its dial and main color of the bezel, lime yellow for diving scale and minute hand, as well as bright white for the hour, small seconds and chronograph hands.
Given how good the combination actually looked on the timepieces made by IWC, I can’t blame the smaller Swiss-based watchmaker for choosing them as a sort of inspiration: after all, even the greatest geniuses of all times were never shy to draw some inspiration from their fellow artists.
Color-scheme-wise, this particular Fortis B42 Marinemaster Yellow Day/Date (Ref. 670.24.14) goes in basically the same direction, but, to my great delight, uses the combination of colors in a smarter (although not as flashy) way with Arabic numerals on the fluted unidirectional rotating bezel and the dial itself painted yellow, and the hour hands and hour markers painted white.
The combination not only makes the watch look brighter but also significantly increases its legibility. At least, it reads a lot easier than a version in black and white or, God forbid, in black-on-black.
Nighttime legibility, by the way, still looks great with only the main elements (namely, the Arabic numerals on the dial, the hour markers, and all three hands) featuring the same bluish Superluminova compound. Only the single dot on the rotating bezel is bright green, but that, too, increases legibility although, for aesthetic reasons, I would probably prefer it to be yellow to better match the overall theme.
I would prefer if the numerals on the dial were a tad smaller, but that’s a personal preference.
I like the bezel that was recently upgraded in favor of a more massive job with prominent fluting that allows for easier handling even while wearing thick rubber gloves. Visually, the bezel also better matches the massive body, as well as the long setting crown, which is, too, easy to manipulate even if you don’t happen to be a famous violinist.
Like the rest of the family, the watch is powered by the well-known ETA 2836-2 automatic caliber that Fortis uses for ages, as do such brands as Oris, Ball, Hamilton and a great number of other Swiss watchmakers.
See also: Fortis Spacematic 2012 Limited Edition
Photos: Fortis
WWR verdict
Originality 3/5
Build quality: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
Fortis B42 Marinemaster Yellow Day/Date (Ref. 670.24.14) specification
Price: $2050 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, caliber ETA 2836-2, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day of week
Case: Stainless steel, brushed
Shape: Round
Size: 42.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous, yellow
Hour markers: White, luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 200 meters
Strap: Black rubber band with folding clasp / Black leather strap with steel buckle / Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
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