Mandetbrote Secret Orbital II: Time Reimagined

Most watches tell time with hands that travel in a perfect circle. It’s a design so universal we barely think about it. But the team at Mandetbrote looked at that convention and asked a simple question: why?

Their answer is the new Secret Orbital II, a mechanical watch that reimagines the path of time itself. Instead of a circle, the hour indicator travels along a carefully engineered rounded quadrilateral track. It’s a kinetic performance on the wrist, and it’s live on Kickstarter right now.

Mandetbrote isn’t entirely new to the scene. Their previous Kickstarter, "Secret Time," was a success supported by 1,319 backers. Furthermore, they've had their designs recognized by the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) for two consecutive years—the Secret Orbital in 2025 and the Secret Orbital II in 2026. This isn’t just another microbrand project; there’s some real horological ambition here.

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The Heart of the Matter: A New Orbit for Time

Let's get straight to it. The entire point of the Secret Orbital II is its unique time display. The brand calls it a "rounded quadrilateral orbit," a distinctive shape that combines the structure of straight lines with the elegance of flowing curves.

The hour indicator glides through gentle arcs and softened corners, creating a constantly evolving mechanical display. As it moves, the relationship between the indicator, the track, and the minute scale constantly changes. It’s a departure from the familiar, turning a simple time check into a moment of mechanical theater.

This isn't a wandering hour in the classic Audemars Piguet Starwheel sense, but it captures a similar spirit. It forces you to reconsider how time can be visualized, all while remaining surprisingly intuitive to read.

Under the Hood: A Modified Miyota Engine

Powering this unusual display is a proprietary caliber built upon the trusted Miyota 9015. This is a smart move. The 9015 is a premium Japanese automatic movement, known for being reliable, incredibly slim, and accurate.

Featuring 24 jewels and running at a modern 28,800 BPH, it provides a smooth sweep, a 42-hour power reserve, and a stated accuracy of -10/+30 seconds per day. By using this trusted base, Mandetbrote can focus its resources on engineering the unique time-telling module without compromising on the core reliability of the watch.

Materials and Finishing

The dial itself is crafted from genuine aventurine glass. This material is filled with tiny mineral inclusions that sparkle, giving the dial exceptional depth and brilliance. It’s a finish that adds a sense of occasion, especially on the blue and black dial versions.

Protecting that dial is a double-domed sapphire crystal with multiple layers of anti-reflective coating. Domed sapphire is a premium touch that usually costs more to produce, resisting chemicals and scratches while providing a clear view of the dial from multiple angles.

For low-light visibility, the watch uses Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9. This provides outstanding legibility, emitting a bright blue glow that naturally fades over time. It's a practical choice that shows an understanding of what enthusiasts expect.

Case, Dimensions, and Wearability

The Secret Orbital II comes in a 316L stainless steel case measuring a highly versatile 40.0mm in diameter. Thanks to the Miyota base, the thickness is kept to a remarkably slim 8.5mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is a very wearable 45.5mm.

Based on the numbers, it should have a fantastic, low-profile presence on the wrist. The 45.5mm lug-to-lug is the key metric here; it ensures the watch will fit beautifully on a wide variety of wrist sizes without overhanging.

The watch is rated for 50 meters of water resistance (5 ATM). This is perfectly adequate for daily wear—it’ll handle rain and hand washing without any issues.

The Kickstarter Model: Trust and Delivery

Crowdfunding a watch can feel like a gamble, but Mandetbrote has worked to build trust. Their previous campaign saw 1,319 backers, and the brand reports that they successfully delivered almost all watches with minimal delays.

They’re also being transparent with the timeline for the Secret Orbital II. Production officially kicked off in June 2026. While the official FAQ slates the first batches of the blue and black editions to ship in September 2026 (with the rest in October), recent production updates suggest shipping could begin as early as August.

As a bonus for backers, every watch comes with a complimentary extra strap. It’s a small gesture, but a welcome one that shows appreciation for the community funding the project.

The Mandetbrote Secret Orbital II on Kickstarter

The central piece of this launch represents the brand's core philosophy of creating innovative time-telling displays at an accessible price. The Kickstarter campaign offers a direct way to support this vision.

By backing the project, collectors are not just pre-ordering a watch; they are funding the production of a genuinely unconventional design backed by a 2-year international warranty.

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The Secret Orbital II in Classic Black

The Black Edition of the Secret Orbital II offers a different personality. With its black aventurine dial, the starry effect becomes more pronounced, creating a backdrop that feels like a night sky for the orbiting hour indicator.

This variant pairs the kinetic complication with a more subdued and classic color scheme. It's a great choice for someone who wants the mechanical novelty but in a package that can fly a bit more under the radar.

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The Wider Mandetbrote Collection

Beyond the Secret Orbital II, Mandetbrote has established a collection that shares a common design language. Their "Wandering Hour" models, inspired by a 17th-century complication, use a more traditional arc-based minute track but maintain the brand's focus on dynamic time displays.

These earlier models are priced accessibly and use the reliable Miyota 8215 movement. They show the brand's journey and commitment to exploring different forms of "wandering" time indications across multiple price points.

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The Orange Crush Variant

The Orange Crush colorway shows the playful side of the Secret Orbital II design. The bright, high-contrast orange of the hour indicator and minute track pops against the dark dial, giving the watch a sporty and modern feel.

This is the version for someone who isn't afraid of a little color. It highlights the unique geometry of the display and makes the kinetic motion even more eye-catching.

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The Blue Kiss Colorway

The Blue Kiss variant offers a vibrant, almost electric blue dial. This color brings out the metallic sparkle of the aventurine glass, creating a sense of energy and movement even when the indicator is still.

It's a bold and contemporary take on the design. The combination of the unconventional display and the striking color makes this one of the standout models in the collection.

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The Gold-Smile Edition

The Gold-Smile edition introduces a touch of warmth and contrast. Gold-colored accents on the time-telling mechanism and track stand out against the deep blue or black aventurine dial, giving the watch a more luxurious feel.

This two-tone aesthetic bridges the gap between avant-garde design and traditional watchmaking cues. It’s a sophisticated option that dresses up the otherwise futuristic look of the Secret Orbital II.

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Case	40.0mm × 8.5mm, 316L stainless steel
Lug-to-Lug	45.5mm
Movement	Proprietary Caliber (Miyota 9015 base), automatic, 24 Jewels
Power Reserve	42 hours
Frequency	28,800 BPH
Accuracy	-10/+30 Sec per Day
Crystal	Double-domed sapphire with AR coating
Dial	Genuine Aventurine Glass
Lume	Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9
Water Resistance	50m / 5 ATM
Strap	20-18mm premium leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp
Price	~$399 USD (Super Early Bird Pledge)

Final Thoughts

Mandetbrote is swinging for the fences with the Secret Orbital II. It's a design that commits to an idea and executes it with quality materials and a reliable movement. It’s not just another dive watch or field watch clone.

This is a watch for the enthusiast who appreciates mechanical creativity. By blending unique horological concepts with modern design and an accessible Kickstarter model, Mandetbrote has carved out a fascinating niche. It proves that time doesn't always have to move in a perfect circle to be beautiful.