Dallas-based Jack Mason has steadily carved out a distinct identity in the crowded landscape of modern watchmaking. Founded in 2015, the brand emerged during a period dominated by minimalist fashion watches, yet its founders, Peter Cho and Craig Carter, envisioned something different. Their goal was to create an authentic, original brand that stood apart from the licensed fashion houses. This journey began on the road, with a 1971 vintage Airstream serving as a mobile showroom, bringing their vision of American-designed watches directly to communities across the country. This grassroots approach established a foundation of authenticity that continues to define the brand’s ethos.
The early years saw Jack Mason achieve widespread recognition, securing a presence in hundreds of department stores nationwide by 2018. While this retail success introduced the brand to a broader audience, it also presented challenges. The founders felt a growing disconnect from their core mission, sensing a loss of control over their brand's narrative amidst the pressures of large-scale retail. This realization prompted a pivotal change in strategy. In 2020, Jack Mason made the bold decision to exit all retail partnerships and consolidate its efforts into a direct-to-consumer model, operating exclusively through its own website. This move was a deliberate effort to reclaim their identity and speak directly to a more discerning customer base.
Courtesy of Jack Mason
This strategic shift allowed the brand to refocus its product development, moving away from the broader market and toward the dedicated watch enthusiast community. The launch of the Strat-o-timer GMT in 2022 marked a significant turning point, signaling a new era for Jack Mason. The model was a resounding success, selling out its pre-order allocation before the watches even shipped, and proved that there was a strong appetite for more complex, purpose-built timepieces from the Texas brand. This success solidified a new path forward, one centered on higher specifications, refined design, and a commitment to processes like American assembly and in-house movement regulation, which are now central to the brand's future.
Building on that momentum, Jack Mason has introduced its most capable and robust timepiece to date: the Pursuit Pro. This watch is the direct result of the brand’s evolution, a tool forged at the intersection of American design sensibilities and Swiss mechanical precision. It was conceived to meet the rigorous field requirements of the brand’s founder and tested against the demanding terrain of the Texas backcountry. The Pursuit Pro isn't merely an accessory; it is a purpose-driven instrument designed for individuals who measure their days by challenges overcome and objectives achieved, embodying the brand's commitment to creating watches with honesty, intent, and purpose.
Available in two distinct variations, the Pursuit Pro collection offers a choice between the "Shadow," with its classic matte black dial and bezel, and the "Hunter," which features a rich matte hunter green dial paired with a black bezel. Both versions present a clear, no-nonsense aesthetic focused on performance. The design language speaks to a calculated purpose, avoiding unnecessary embellishments in favor of functional strength. It’s a watch built for long days that bleed into long nights, where reliability and clarity are paramount. Every component, from the case construction to the dial layout, has been engineered to support adventures that demand more from both the wearer and their equipment.
Courtesy of Jack Mason
The foundation of the Pursuit Pro is its formidable 316L stainless steel case. The dimensions have been carefully considered for a balance of presence and wearability, measuring 40mm in diameter with a 42mm bezel, a manageable lug-to-lug distance of 47mm, and a thickness of 12.5mm. These proportions ensure the watch sits comfortably on a wide range of wrists, remaining unobtrusive during physical activity while maintaining the rugged feel of a proper tool watch. The case is defined by sharp, clean lines and a predominantly brushed finish that minimizes reflections and hides the inevitable scuffs of active use.
Durability is further reinforced by a solid, screw-down caseback and a substantial 7.5mm screw-down crown. These elements work in concert to secure the case against the elements, guaranteeing a water resistance of 200 meters. This level of protection makes the Pursuit Pro suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and other water-based activities short of professional diving. The caseback itself is deeply engraved with the Jack Mason name and the proud declaration, "Designed in Texas," a constant reminder of the watch's American roots and the brand's heritage.
A key functional element of the Pursuit Pro is its 120-click bidirectional countdown bezel. Unlike a traditional dive bezel used to track elapsed time, a countdown bezel allows the user to mark a future event, making it incredibly useful for timing checkpoints or pacing activities. The bezel insert is crafted from scratch-resistant ceramic with a subtle sunburst brushing, a refined touch on an otherwise utilitarian component. A thoughtfully integrated steel guard lip rises just above the insert, providing a crucial layer of protection against direct impacts that could chip or damage the ceramic edge—a small but significant detail for a field watch.
Courtesy of Jack Mason
The dial is a masterclass in legibility, designed for instant readability in any lighting condition. Both the Shadow and Hunter dials feature a matte finish that completely absorbs light, creating a high-contrast background for the hands and markers. The most striking feature is the use of LumiCast® 3D indices. These are not simply painted-on markers; they are solid blocks of X2 Grade luminescent material that are applied to the dial, creating a tangible sense of depth and dimension. The large Arabic numerals and bold, geometric shapes ensure that a quick glance is all that is needed to read the time.
This focus on visibility is carried over to the handset, which is appropriately proportioned and generously filled with the same powerful LumiCast® material. When darkness falls, the Pursuit Pro truly comes alive. The lume glows with an intense and long-lasting brightness, clearly articulating the time with a brilliant display. The hands and the triangular 12 o'clock marker glow a vibrant green, while the other indices emit a cool blue, creating a visually distinct and functional light show that makes nighttime navigation effortless. The orange tip on the seconds hand adds a pop of color and makes it easy to confirm the watch is running.
Protecting the dial is a flat sapphire crystal, a material prized in watchmaking for its exceptional hardness and resistance to scratching. To ensure maximum clarity, the crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating on both its inner and outer surfaces. This dual coating is critical for a field watch, as it dramatically reduces glare and reflections from sunlight and other light sources, making the dial appear almost invisible at certain angles and preserving its legibility when it matters most.
At the heart of the Pursuit Pro beats the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement. The inclusion of this Swiss-made caliber represents a significant step for Jack Mason, placing the watch in a more premium, enthusiast-focused category. La Joux-Perret is a highly respected manufacturer known for producing robust and reliable movements, and the G101 is a modern workhorse. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, which gives the seconds hand a smooth, sweeping motion across the dial.
Courtesy of Jack Mason
Beyond its Swiss pedigree, the movement delivers impressive performance specifications. It boasts a substantial 68-hour power reserve, meaning the watch can be taken off on a Friday and will still be running on Monday morning. This extended autonomy is a practical benefit, offering freedom from the daily winding ritual. Furthermore, Jack Mason regulates each movement in-house to an accuracy of +/- 5 seconds per day, a specification that meets or exceeds the standards for COSC-certified chronometers, ensuring reliable and precise timekeeping.
Another critical technical feature is the watch's anti-magnetic protection. The G101 movement is housed within an iron shield, protecting it from magnetic fields up to 36,000 A/m. In our modern environment, filled with smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices, exposure to magnetic fields is a common cause of watch inaccuracy. This internal shielding safeguards the delicate components of the movement, ensuring its performance remains stable and accurate in virtually any setting.
The Pursuit Pro is paired with a custom nylon hook-and-loop trail strap designed for ultimate comfort and security. This style of strap offers infinite adjustability, allowing the wearer to achieve a perfect fit that can be easily loosened or tightened throughout the day as wrist sizes fluctuate with temperature and activity. The sturdy nylon material is breathable, durable, and quick-drying, making it an ideal choice for outdoor adventures. It's a purely functional choice that prioritizes performance over ornamentation.
The strap is finished with custom Jack Mason steel hardware, including a robust keeper that proudly bears the brand's name. This adds a refined, branded touch to the utilitarian strap system. In a nod to modern convenience, the strap is fitted with quick-release spring bars, which allow for easy, tool-free strap changes. This feature gives owners the flexibility to quickly swap out the strap to suit different occasions or preferences, adding a layer of versatility to the watch.
Courtesy of Jack Mason
The entire package comes together to create a cohesive and highly competent tool watch. It feels solid and purposeful, with every detail contributing to its overall mission of durability and legibility. The combination of a wearable case, a high-contrast dial with exceptional lume, and a powerful, protected Swiss movement makes the Pursuit Pro a truly reliable companion for any pursuit. It reflects a maturation of the Jack Mason brand, demonstrating a deep understanding of what enthusiasts value in a modern field watch.
The Jack Mason Pursuit Pro is offered at a price of $1,399 for both the Shadow and Hunter variants. It comes with a comprehensive five-year warranty, a testament to the brand's confidence in its product. For those seeking a rugged, reliable, and thoughtfully designed field watch with a unique American character, the Pursuit Pro stands as a compelling option, ready for whatever challenges lie ahead on the trail.
Case: 316L stainless steel, 40mm diameter (42mm bezel) x 12.5mm thickness x 47mm lug-to-lug. 20mm lug width. Flat sapphire crystal with AR coating inside & out. 120-click bidirectional ceramic countdown bezel with steel guard lip. 7.5mm screw-down crown and solid caseback provide 200m water resistance.
Movement: La Joux-Perret G101 automatic. 68-hour power reserve, 28,800 VPH frequency. Regulated in-house to +/- 5 seconds per day. Features an iron magnetic shield for resistance up to 36,000 A/m.
Dial: Matte Black (Shadow) or Matte Hunter Green (Hunter). Features X2 Grade LumiCast® 3D indices and hands for high legibility.
Strap: Nylon hook & loop trail strap with custom Jack Mason steel hardware and quick-release pins.
Price: $1,399
Notes: The Pursuit Pro features LumiCast® 3D indices for superior lume and depth. The ceramic bezel includes a raised steel guard for impact protection, and the Swiss movement is regulated in-house to a high standard of accuracy.