Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review TACS’ new AM watch.
Based in Hong Kong, I’ve previously reviewed several TACS watches, including the Automatic Vintage Lens II, the ATL, the Mask Player, the Architecture, the Automatic Cassette, and most recently, the ATL Lite. All the watches share the same design ethos – they are inspired by analogue equipment.
The watch microbrand recently released a slew of new designs, and sent over three for me to review. In this article, I’ll take a look at the AM (short for Automatic Motorscooter), designed specifically for motorbike fans. Let’s see if it’s any good.
TACS AM – Build Quality
Unlike the ATL Lite, the AM comes with sapphire crystal.
Firstly, the AM uses a domed sapphire crystal, unlike the K1 glass used in most TACS offerings, such as the previously reviewed ATL Lite. As mentioned numerous times in my previous reviews, I’m a huge advocate of sapphire crystal for its inherent scratch-resistant properties, and I always look for it in my modern watches, as it greatly enhances a watch’s durability. In addition, the AM has a water-resistance rating of 100M, making it suitable for most everyday activities that don’t involve prolonged submersion.
The TACS AM is powered by the Seiko NH70A movement, which is essentially a skeletonised variant of the workhorse Seiko NH35A movement. Some quick specifications: the movement beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour, has a 42-hour power reserve, contains 24 jewels, and is hacking. I’m a fan of the Seiko NH70A movement and greatly prefer it to the Miyota 82S0 movement of the Architecture. However, I do feel that for the price, there should be a Swiss movement (you can easily find an ETA/Sellita/LJP movement at the price point) or at least a Miyota 9000 series movement inside. Furthermore, the movement is undecorated despite the exhibition caseback, which is a big missed opportunity.
The AM also comes on a Hirsch FKM strap, which is billed as a “high-grade rubber strap” that feels premium on the wrist. A quick look at Hirsch’s website shows they are selling rubber straps for around S$100, so they’re definitely more premium than your usual AliExpress FKM straps. However, I’ll be honest and say that it didn’t blow my socks off – the strap felt around the same quality as my S$40 FKM rubber straps from LuffWatchStraps.
The AM uses Nemoto lume, which shines brightly in the dark almost instantaneously. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Nemoto supplies Lumibrite to Seiko, and is thus responsible for arguably some of the best lume in the market. However, I would personally have preferred a fully lumed minute-track – I find the lack of lume between the 50-minute and 10-minute markers to be an odd exclusion.
TACS AM – Design
TACS describes the AM as a watch that “revs up your wrist with a unique engine-inspired design”.
To that end, TACS claims the dial is inspired by a Vespa’s dashboard. While I don’t own a Vespa myself, a quick look at reference photos online didn’t make the resemblance immediately apparent to me. Instead, the most convincing motorcycling cues seem to be the open-heart display at 9 o’clock — where the oscillating balance wheel evokes the spinning wheel of a motorcycle — and the screwed-on “lever” between 3 and 4 o’clock, which calls to mind a motorcycle’s starter pedal or foot shifter.
TACS also claims that the AM’s curved lugs are meant to evoke the flowing bodywork of classic scooters, though I’d argue that connection feels a little tenuous as well. The AM is available in both Teal and Red colourways — while the red variant arguably leans more heavily into the automotive aesthetic, I find the teal version both more distinctive and, fittingly, more evocative of a classic Vespa. Rounding things off is the domed sapphire crystal, which further accentuates the watch’s vintage-inspired character — arguably the very cornerstone of TACS’ design philosophy.
The automotive inspiration extends beyond the dial and into the case design itself. Most notably, the watch features a generously sized gear-shaped crown, which makes the manual winding experience particularly satisfying. In a rather tongue-in-cheek touch, TACS has even engraved the words “fuel tank” above the crown. Adjacent to it sits a screwed-on attachment intended to mimic a motorcycle’s foot pedal or shifter, further reinforcing the AM’s two-wheeled design language.
The rest of the case is highly polished, which contrasts nicely with the brushed front of the lugs.
On the wrist, the 44mm TACS AM wears noticeably large on my 7-inch wrist, though not to an unmanageable degree. That said, this is far from a slim or understated timepiece — the AM measures a substantial 15.4mm thick and tips the scales at 128g. It’s clearly designed for enthusiasts who gravitate towards bolder, more substantial watches (think Panerai aficionados), which likely overlaps heavily with the tastes of the motorcycling crowd as well.
Conclusion – so the TACS AM “shiok” or not?
Overall, the TACS AM does feature a more premium specification sheet than its more affordable stablemates, such as the ATL Lite, with upgrades including a double-domed sapphire crystal, stronger lume, and a higher-quality strap. That said, the absence of a Swiss high-beat calibre — or even a Miyota 9000-series movement — feels like a notable omission at this price point. Still, the AM undeniably incorporates a number of automotive-inspired design cues that should resonate with motorcycling enthusiasts, even if its thematic inspiration doesn’t come through quite as cohesively as some of TACS’ other models, such as the ATL Lite.
Those interested in purchasing the TACS AM can use the promo code “WAHSOSHIOK” upon checkout to enjoy 15% off all TACS watches store-wide. After the discount, the AM can be purchased for US$663, or ~S$850. That’s twice the price of the previously reviewed ATL Lite, but if you’re an ardent fan of motorcycles, there aren’t many alternatives around the same price point.
View the AM here.
View the rest of TACS’ watches here.
Specifications:
Case Size: 444mm
Case Thickness: 15.4mm
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Movement: Seiko NH70
Luminous: Nemoto Luminous
Strap Material: HIRSCH FKM Rubber Strap
Strap Width: 20mm
Weight: 128g
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Warranty: 24 Months
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
