Clemence Photic MKII Elevates the Modern Microbrand Diver

In the sunlit layers of the sea—the photic zone—life thrives, colors pop, and divers spend most of their time. It is fitting, then, that a watch named after this shallow band of ocean light leans into everyday wearability rather than abyssal bragging rights. The Clemence Photic MKII, the second generation of the young British brand’s debut model, doubles down on refinement and usability with meaningful upgrades in materials, durability, and comfort.

At 200 meters of water resistance, the Photic MKII is built for real-world diving, snorkeling, and weekend adventures without the bulk that often comes with deep-rated tool watches. The result is a diver that feels agile on the wrist yet engineered with the seriousness enthusiasts expect.

Much of the upgrade story is in the details. The 39mm case is milled from 316L stainless steel and then hardened to a Vickers rating of 1,000, improving scratch resistance while preserving the watch’s sleek lines. Thickness is where things get impressive: measured at the top of the domed sapphire crystal, the watch is 10.5mm; measure to the top of the bezel, and it slips just under 10mm. That makes it slimmer than many well-known divers, a feat you notice instantly when it slides neatly under a cuff.

The finishing underscores the watch’s refined intent. A subtle polished bevel along the lower case flanks and chamfered lugs catch the light without shouting. Paired with a classic three-link bracelet that tapers from 20mm at the lugs to 16mm at the clasp, the watch walks the line between sports utility and quiet elegance. The bracelet itself is a highlight: fully articulated links, single-sided screws for easy sizing, and a two-button clasp with an on-the-fly micro-adjust for quick, tool-free fine-tuning throughout the day. There is no full dive extension, but a rubber strap option—and easy strap changes—cover more technical or layered-wear scenarios.

For many dive-watch fans, a great bezel can make or break the experience, and the Photic MKII gets it right. The 120-click unidirectional bezel runs on a ball-bearing mechanism, delivering a satisfyingly precise, smooth action with confident tension. The timing ring is sapphire, offered in multiple colors, with clean dots and hashes at five-minute intervals and a triangle at zero. The bezel itself steps up to 904L stainless steel, a harder, more corrosion-resistant alloy that should hold crisp edges and resist wear over the long haul.

Clemence also addresses a handful of long-standing microbrand pain points. Early independent divers often telegraphed their origins with loose bezels, gritty crown threads, or inconsistent lume. The Photic MKII reads like a checklist of solved problems: a slightly domed dial with applied, polished markers; crisp assembly; a shock absorber for the movement; and an anti-magnetic shield that raises resistance to 25,000 A/m—all without bloating the case. The dial stays balanced and uncluttered, with the clean legibility you want underwater and the restraint that looks right topside.

Inside beats the dependable Miyota 9039 automatic, a no-date caliber with 42 hours of power reserve. Clemence regulates it in three positions to an advertised accuracy of +/- 12 seconds per day. It is a known movement favored across thoughtful microbrand builds, here further protected by that soft-iron shield to keep modern magnetism at bay.

The Photic MKII’s appeal extends to how it wears as much as what it promises on paper. On the bracelet, it has a dress-diver elegance; on a NATO, it leans utilitarian and low-key, aided by the ghosted timing rings on certain versions. It is the kind of watch that slips easily into daily rotation and feels at home on a reef, in a boardroom, or on a long weekend.

Clemence adds an environmental angle: the watch is assembled in the United Kingdom, and the company says it offsets twice the estimated lifetime carbon footprint of each piece while planting a native tree in Scotland for every watch sold. It is a small gesture, but one increasingly appreciated by buyers who care about the bigger picture.

Colorways are well-judged and fresh without straying into costume territory. The “Shoal” pairs a light grey dial with a ghost bezel for understated cool. The “Kraken” brings a pale orange-yellow bezel to a grey dial, an eye-catching nod to vintage rescue hues. “Moray” goes classic black-on-black, “Nemo” offers a striking orange dial, and the base “Photic” arrives in blue—a natural fit for the theme.