The stylish French based home-goods shop, Merci, has a surprising penchant for great field watches. The first to come across our radar was a collaboration with Hodinkee, the LM-H01, a watch in which we found a huge amount of appeal for its simplicity and well considered details. This year, a new batch of LMM-01 watches have been introduced that pick up that theme, and take it to new heights to great effect. The watches now receive a Merci Instruments label, and all three get unique dial designs that recall early 20th century design motifs in beautiful fashion. They?re all powered by mechanical movements and run under $700, making them all the more compelling. 

The Everest takes the minimal approach of the bunch, with a scant chapter ring at the very edge of the dial, and small applied dots marking each hour. A glossy white dial hosts deep blue pencil hands and a stoic 12 and 6 o?clock Arabic numerals done in Zurich Extended bisect the dial perfectly. It?s a straightforward yet striking design that feels almost medical grade in its sterile approach. The name is a reference to each of us finding our own Everest to climb, a more philosophical nod than literal.
Next, the Nationale takes things into slightly more classic territory with a railroad minute track providing a bit more detail and each of the cardinal positions getting their own numerical hour markings. Blue pencil hands are used here as well, providing plenty of legible contrast without overpowering the so...