After three years of steady refinement, Jack Mason has finally unleashed what many collectors have been waiting for – a black and red “Coke” colorway for their flagship Strat-o-timer GMT.
The new Black Widow edition represents more than just another color variant; it’s the culmination of deliberate evolution that showcases how independent brands can perfect their formulas through patience and continuous improvement.
Texas Flagship Innovation
Since debuting in 2022 as one of the first watches powered by the Miyota 9075 movement, the Strat-o-timer GMT has become Jack Mason’s signature timepiece. The Texas-based brand has methodically expanded the collection with colorways like “Americana” (red and blue), “Espresso” (brown and black), “Dark Night” (blue and black), and “Magnolia” (green), while also establishing an annual Dr Pepper collaboration that plays into GMT culture’s famous soda-themed nicknames.
The Black Widow’s arrival feels inevitable yet calculated. As CEO and Designer Peter Cho explained, “We knew early on that the Coke bezel was one that we wanted to launch without much room for improvement. We waited patiently as the Strat-o-timer platform matured and had gone through several generations before thinking about launching this bezel.” This restraint demonstrates remarkable discipline in an industry where brands often rush to capitalize on popular trends.
The delay has paid dividends. The Black Widow benefits from all the incremental improvements Jack Mason has implemented over multiple generations, including surface coatings that increase component hardness up to 1,200 Vickers and an integrated clasp extension system with nine positions of tool-free adjustment. These refinements transform what could have been a simple color change into a genuinely upgraded timepiece.
Iconic Aesthetics
The Black Widow maintains the proven 40mm x 13mm stainless steel case with 47mm lug-to-lug measurement and 20mm lugs that has made the Strat-o-timer GMT so wearable. The screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, domed sapphire crystal, and display caseback remain unchanged, along with the robust 200-meter water resistance that makes this a serious tool watch rather than just a travel timepiece.
The star attraction is the 48-click bidirectional bezel fitted with a split-color ceramic insert formed by two separate pieces – black and red sections that create the iconic “Coke” GMT aesthetic. This two-piece construction represents more complex manufacturing than single-piece inserts, justifying the $1,149 price point that sits slightly above other Strat-o-timer variants.
The gloss black dial maintains the current-generation layout with large applied hour markers and a date window repositioned from 3 o’clock to 6 o’clock. Red accents on the 24-hour hand tip and seconds hand counterweight create visual harmony with the bezel’s red section, while Swiss Super-LumiNova on all hands, markers, and bezel scale provides blue-glowing legibility in darkness.
At the heart sits the Miyota 9075 automatic movement that made the original Strat-o-timer GMT noteworthy. This caliber offers true “flyer-style” GMT functionality with an independently adjustable local hour hand that jumps in one-hour increments – perfect for frequent travelers. Operating at 28,800vph with 42-hour power reserve, Jack Mason further regulates each movement to achieve +/-5 seconds daily accuracy.
The seven-link bracelet tapers from 20mm to 16mm with integrated quick-release springbars and the latest folding clasp design. While offering no surprises for existing Strat-o-timer owners, this consistency should be viewed positively – the formula was already successful.
The Black Widow’s significance extends beyond Jack Mason’s catalog. It represents how independent brands can compete with established manufacturers through patient refinement rather than revolutionary innovation. By waiting until their platform matured, Jack Mason has delivered a “Coke” GMT that feels complete rather than rushed, proving that sometimes the best strategy is knowing when not to launch.
