1,500 words
Introduction:
Over the years, I had come to despise the word grail. Every collector from every avenue of enthusiasm would use the term fleetingly in an attempt not to describe something that they had actually set out to attain one day, but rather to signal a virtue about their own character, which they hoped would resonate with a consumer product good.
How unilluminating.
This all changed when, one day, on a small photoshoot for a local collector, I met Bob. Bob was a Minion from the Despicable Me franchise, and on that day, he was on a watch. The watch in question was from the famed Russian high horology watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin and was named The Minion – Wristmon.
Limited to 38 pieces in steel, later available in a limited-run titanium case, and priced at €13,800 at the time, this watch instantly became my second true grail – the first being the MB&F AquaPod. Now the Minion Wristmon is worth anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000 CDN, so it has fully entered the same rarified air occupied by the MB&F of watches, and I’d sooner put those funds towards my community than on a piece of jewelry.
So why was this watch an instant grail timepiece for me? And what in the world of Bikini Bottom does this high horology have to do with a review of a quartz $325 USD watch?
Joy for the sake of joy.
The Experience:
Every once in a while, I either buy or receive a watch for review, and the reactions from others surprise me. My Omega X-33 Solar Impulse edition is one of them. At least twice a month, a passerby compliments me on the watch and says how much they love it. There are three distinct camps of people who stop me to literally say hello to my X-33, as if it were a puppy on its daily walk. First are the watch enthusiasts who regale me with their entire history of watch enthusiasm and how that intersects with their nerdom of anything related to space. Then there are the people who see the Omega logo on the dial and are simply interested in their next piece of jewelry. Finally, there are those who are simply attracted to it for its fun, joyful colour scheme.
For instance, my Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein watch elicits the same reactions, but it was designed from the outset to be fun.
This collaboration between Spinnaker and SpongeBob SquarePants elicited the same level of joy as the watches mentioned above, but from two distinct groups. Those who grew up watching the show attribute it to “the loss of many brain cells” from watching it. The other group were from parents who had fond memories of watching the show with their children and who, to this day, years after their children have moved out, share SpongeBob memes and jokes on a daily basis.
On my 16.80-centimetre wrist, the 43mm case never felt oversized. In fact, for fun, I let a friend wear it whose wrist is barely 14 centimetres in diameter, and it still looked fine, even with the case looking unbalanced as it overhung her arms. This is because the watch is so cartoonish that it looks fine on every wrist I’ve slapped it on, and is the only watch to have accomplished this, and when compared to a particular Swatch in my collection, pictured below, I can confidently say it is due to this watch’s unserious stance and its all-black colour. This limited release of 650 watches was also available in a more normal yellow, but this version is incredibly special, especially at night. Hold on to that thought.
What elevates this watch beyond a fun Swatch is its build quality, fit, and finish. The quality of the coating and materials used throughout the watch is so high that it is apparent to others just by seeing it in person. They do not have to handle it themselves. They just know.
The Design and its Movement:
While writing about watches and the industry for over a decade, none of Spinnaker’s designs ever stood out. At first, it was apparent that they were focusing on dive watches, which remains true today, and then it seemed that they were specializing in exotic dial materials at an accessible cost. My first impression of their brand was that its logo was very similar to that of the automotive brand Spyker. As a writer and collector, the brand never rose to occupy any of my available bandwidth, even after meeting the brand’s initial owners in New York before the pandemic. Spinnaker is now owned by Solar Time Limited, which operates from Hong Kong.
This all changed when they announced the release of this collaboration with SpongeBob SquarePants. The decision to use the “Japanese” mecha-quartz movement, as stated on the brand’s site, for the eyes immediately brought a smile to my face, and that of every person I would show the watch to. There is a possibility that the movement used in this watch is a modified SII VK64. This family of Seiko movements typically has three subdials, as shown below in the Seiko SC039 and Dryden ChronoDiver. At nine o’clock is the minute counter for the chronograph. At three o’clock is the twenty-four-hour indicator for the time. And at six o’clock is the running seconds hand, which ticks every second. The term “mecha” in the movement name refers to the chronograph hand’s movement, which mimics a mechanical watch with more than one step per second, which we primates perceive as a “sweep.” Spinnaker proudly places the term Meca-Quartz Chronograph at the top of this dial, and to be honest, this is the best application of this movement I have seen to date. There are two drawbacks, however. One that is distinctly related to this watch is that there is no running seconds hand. But adding one would ruin the dial’s design, which features SpongeBob’s face. The other is that these movements lack the feature that most quartz chronographs have. This is to reset the chronograph’s seconds hand if it becomes misaligned. To do so with one of these watches, you will need to hand the timepiece over to a watchmaker.
The first generation Dryden ChronoDiver
Other than that, every element of this watch is filled with whimsy and exquisite quality in its fit and finish. The typefaces used on the logo, date wheel, and dive bezel are the same as the show’s memorable “A few moments later” slides, and they suit the watch perfectly. The signed crown and buckle for the tropical strap are of the traditional Spinnaker variety.
When the lights go down, this watch truly becomes a marvel. The bezel and SpongeBob’s face glow with an even and strong application of SuperLuminova. This attention to detail follows on to the stepped dial’s numerous elements. The subdials, which double as eyeballs, are slightly curved, lending the entire watch a quality that would otherwise fall flat. The hands being, well, SpongeBob’s hands, are wonderfully legible, and if there is one thing this Spinnaker has above the Chaykin, it is its legibility.
Operating the chronograph and the dive bezel is both satisfying and offers plenty of security and a tactile feel. This watch leaves its owner with an overwhelming sense of quality and substance, and it raises my overall impression of the brand.
Conclusion:
The SpongeBob SquarePants franchise has generated well over $13,000,000,000.00 since it first aired in 1999. It has spawned so much merchandise that it is very easy for the fan to get lost. However, if you are a fan of the series and love watches, then you missed out on this limited release. Spinnaker is releasing this series again, but with a mechanical movement, later this week on March 27th, 2026. So, if this article has piqued your interest, head on over to Spinnaker’s site now and sign up for a priority spot for when the watch is released.
There is good news if you like the movement but are not too crazy about SpongeBob. The American brand Dryden makes a watch that uses a similar movement, has even greater build quality, and can be had for around the same price. I have owned the Chrono Diver for a couple of years now; it is not only beautiful, but a highly robust timepiece. The second generation of the Chrono Diver has just been released, so if you are interested in the Spinnaker but would like a watch suitable for more formal environments, the Dryden is the way to go.
The second-generation Dryden ChronoDiver – Photograph kindly provided by Dryden
My time with this collaboration with Spinnaker and SpongeBob has been joyous and memorable. Just like Konstantin Chaykin’s The Minion Wristmon, this watch puts forward a character who infuses his surroundings with childlike joy and wonder. Both Bob the Minion and SpongeBob bring smiles to our faces. They spring to mind mischief, adventure, and a complete disregard for all of the responsibilities that we have in our daily lives. If Spinnaker ever collaborates with a brand you adore, buy the watch before it’s too late.
Specifications:
Reference: Spinnaker Fleuss Chronograph – SpongeBob SquarePants EyeDial Limited Edition
Case Width: 43.0 mm
Thickness: 14.0mm
Lug-to-Lug: 51.0 mm
Strap Width: 22 mm
Case and Pin Buckle Material:
Dial: Black
Lume: Super LumiNova
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 100 metres
Weight: 103 grams (typo on their site stating 130 grams)
Movement: “Japanese” Meca Quartz Movement
Price: $325 USD
Time of writing: Monday, March 23rd, 2026