Mint Evolutive Defender. Redefining Watch Making?

Mint was born out of a passion for vintage watches, and a desire to make watchmaking available to anyone. Mint produces three watchmaking kits, Intelligencer, Divemaster and Defender. The kits are available with different strap and bezel options, a premium option or you can pick up the watch alone. Does Mint Evolutive actually redefine watchmaking or simply repackage a modding kit? Let's find out.

The Defender is Mint’s ode to vintage military watches, features 200m of water resistance, 316L stainless steel construction and the ubiquitous Seiko NH35A movement. 

The Defender’s case has classic dimensions, 40mm diameter, 49mm lug to lug, 20mm lug width and 12mm thick. The finishing is top notch, featuring polished sides, brushed tops and beveled transitions. An oversized, unguarded crown is engraved with the Mint logo and extremely “grippy”. The drilled lugs are a great addition to the style and fit perfectly on a watch designed for modding. The exhibition case back is a nice touch, featuring the slogan “This watch has been designed to be modified”. Beneath the exhibition case back is the workhorse NH35A movement, although it won't be winning any beauty contests the engraved rotor is an improvement. The finishing on the Defender is in stark contradiction to its budget price, looking like a watch worth several times more.

To say the dial is eye catching would be an understatement. It is a clean and uncluttered Cali style dial, with a textured honeycomb center, raised indices/numbers, the Mint logo below the 12 o’clock and Defender above the 6 o’clock. Surrounding the dial is a minute track and a brushed steel chapter ring. The flat polished Mercedes hands are well suited to the dial and further elevate the classic looks of the Defender. The dial is topped by an AR coated, flat sapphire crystal.

While the Defender is a fine timepiece on its own, what truly sets it apart is the available modding kits. Each of the kits come complete with a colour matched, sailcloth strap and aluminum bezel as well as the supplied bracelet. The bracelet shares the same high quality finishing as the case, with solid links, solid end links, screw links and a milled, engraved clasp. The sailcloth straps are supplied with quick release spring bars, and available in onyx (black), night sky (blue) and maroon, adding to the custom nature of the kit are the ½ links used to tighten up the gap when switching over to the sailcloth straps. The colour matching, 120 click, unidirectional aluminum bezels have a satisfying click and very little back play. 

Supplied with each kit are all the tools required to mod the bezel and straps, the polymer bezel removal tool makes quick work of the mod. Although the kits contain everything required, Mint Evolutive has a wide variety of additional modding parts available. The ceramic bezel is a high quality addition and the smooth bezel can quickly, and easily provide a change up to your looks.

While the premium kit supplies 12 configurations, the bezels and straps are basically different colour variations of the same products. The ability to open up your choices, by selecting straps and bezels from across the Mint Evolutive catalogue would greatly enhance your ability to built a variety of custom modified watches. Although the lume is identified as Japan lume, the exact type isn’t identified, it is useable, although there is plenty of room for improvement.

The Mint Evolutive Defender is an eye catching timepiece, but what sets it apart from its competition is the ease of modding. A bezel and strap change can be done quicker than an outfit change, while building your own custom, military styled watch. The Defender is much more than just a bunch of mod parts stuffed into a box. The thoughtful part selection and the ease of modification truly put the art of watchmaking into the hands of everyone. It is a budget powerhouse, with quality finishing and styling to match but be warned, watch modding is addictive and the Mint Evolutive Defender is a gateway drug.

Onyx Bezel and Strap

Case finishing and bracelet fit are impeccable.

Mint Defender Premium Kit features colour matching Onyx, Night Sky and Maroon straps and bezels