Review: The Memphis Beat by Walker & Crown – The 80’s called; is it a future classic or a one-hit wonder?
Note: Walker and Crown were kind enough to loan me this watch for review. This does not influence my opinion of the watch, and the review will be fair and honest.
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Out of 5)
It’s a brave decision to start your own watch brand, an even braver decision for your first watches to break from the norm, and braver still to define your niche and not only stay true to it, but weave it into not just one watch, but four. These are the decisions Jonny and Colette Walker made when launching Walker & Crown—bold, brave decisions powered by the belief that they can create something fun, compact, slim, and spec-heavy, all while staying true to their ethos of producing watches that are different. Watches that stand out, watches that have clear ’80s-inspired vibes, but also look good, wear well, and make a statement.
Enter the Revival Series… and I think they have nailed it.
The series consists of four watches. Two of them—the Clerk and Laser Drift—will be available to purchase soon. Once those are sold, the Memphis Beat and Electric Lagoon will then be made available.
The one that stood out to me the most was the Memphis Beat, which is the focus of today’s review.
Right out of the box, it is clear this watch and brand have a strong identity, which is only enhanced by the unboxing. This doesn’t just come in your run-of-the-mill black watch rolls or boxes; it’s colourful and playful. Every detail has been thought through, from the additional leather strap to the NFC-enabled cassette that connects to an ’80s-inspired playlist.
It’s different, and personally, I feel like it adds to the whole unboxing experience. It shows thought has gone into every detail (even the packaging foam used to send this to me was cleverly colour-coordinated!).
It’s clear from the start that this is a brand that cares, but also firmly backs the theme of their watch and its bold nod to the ’80s. It’s not hidden away in small, subtle details—it’s right up front, visible from the start. Yet, it’s not so over the top that it takes away from the quality of the watch; instead, it compliments a well-built timepiece.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Standout Retro Aesthetic & Execution: Bold ’80s pop-culture design and clever dial framing that delivers huge personality without feeling cheap or like a tacky novelty.
- Thoughtful Unboxing & Brand Detail: Delivers a memorable, playful unboxing experience—complete with an NFC-enabled cassette linking to an ’80s playlist and colour-coordinated packaging foam.
- Exceptional On-Wrist Comfort: Superb lugless case fit paired with a lightweight, ultra-easy-to-adjust retro steel bracelet.
Cons
- Caseback Design Choice: The tempered glass graphic is a fun thematic touch, even if a few watch enthusiasts might prefer a traditional steel caseback.
- Leather Strap Break-In Period: The included Serafino leather strap feels a bit stiff right out of the box and needs a day or two of wear to fully conform to the wrist.
Specifications
| Movement | Miyota 9039 Automatic Movement |
| Case Diameter | 37mm x 37mm |
| Case Thickness | 10mm |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Case Material | 316L Stainless Steel |
| Crystal | Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Bracelet | 316L Steel Micro-adjustable bracelet with quick release – Additional colour matches Serafino Leather Strap. |
| Lume | BGW9 Super-Luminova on hands and indices. |
| Complications | None |
Design
This watch is designed to stand out. Its ’80s-infused style is clear to see; it’s not trying to be subtle about it—it wants you to know it, in all its colourful glory. From its bold square case design, which clearly pays tribute to ’80s-style TV case watches and retro Casios, to its vibrant accents—despite these obvious retro nods, it doesn’t feel dated. It still looks and feels fresh and modern.
The case finishing is some of the best I have seen on a watch in this price range. The combination of brushed and polished surfaces brings the case to life, making it look great under different lighting conditions. It’s refined and makes the watch look premium.
Then there’s the dial: a wonderful combination of a solid white backdrop and colourful design elements that bring out this watch’s true character. It’s playful and fun, but it’s also perfectly executed, avoiding making the watch look tacky or like a novelty.
When I first saw pictures of this watch, I wondered why Walker & Crown had chosen to enclose the pattern in a circular section at the centre rather than applying it across the whole dial. However, after seeing it up close, it’s a great decision. If the pattern went all the way to the edges, it would run the risk of being too much, too busy, and too cluttered. By enclosing it in the centre, it’s like framing a picture—it draws the eye, focusing all the attention on the pattern.
The applied indices and hands also sit within this circular design, featuring larger markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9. It creates almost an optical illusion, making the dial feel larger while the clean white space outside still feels full and seamlessly helps blend the whole dial together. It’s another example of a brave design choice, but it’s impressive and works so well.
Walker & Crown have also advised that the water resistance text on the dial will move to the caseback for the production models, which I think is a sensible choice and further confirms their commitment to producing a well-designed watch.
Speaking of the caseback, it is again designed with the watch’s overall style in mind: a bold white printed design with the Walker & Crown logo, “Revival Series”, and “Memphis Beat” emblazoned on it. The edition numbering is also going to be relocated and engraved on the edge of the caseback, alongside the water resistance.
The caseback is probably my only minor (and it’s extremely minor!) niggle so far. It’s a laser-printed graphic on tempered glass. It works well with the overall design of the watch, but I wonder if a fully engraved or standard steel caseback would have been better. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate it and it’s certainly not a dealbreaker—the overall design and look of the watch are just too good, and who really spends time looking at casebacks anyway?
Moving on from the dial, the Memphis Beat is completed with a stainless steel bracelet. Out of the box, it felt heavy, and I’ve never been a big fan of hook-and-clip style clasps (I’ve been known to not operate them correctly, leading to watches falling off, or catching them while working, etc.). But after wearing this for a few hours, I have to admit it is brilliant. It isn’t heavy on the wrist, and I grew to love the clasp. It’s also so easy to adjust to find the perfect fit—no removing links, just pop it open, slide it into position, snap it shut, and job done.
I also have to commend the addition of quick-release spring bars, which work exceptionally well thanks to the watch’s lugless design. I often find that when removing bracelets with fitted end links, they can be difficult to refit, but not this one. It is as simple as changing any leather or rubber quick-release strap—no fiddly double-ended pins to push and line up.
The bracelet itself is a tribute to the elastic stretch steel bands of the ’80s, but again, it feels well-made and well-thought-out. The brushing is excellent, and the watch sits nicely on it. Thanks to the lugless design, the transition between the case and bracelet flows seamlessly. The watch does come with an additional leather strap, but for me, it belongs on this bracelet—it’s the perfect combination to truly bring out the colourful, pop-culture style of the watch.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Memphis Beat leaves zero room for qualms. Walker & Crown made a calculated and welcome choice by equipping this piece with the Miyota 9039 movement. As a dedicated no-date calibre, it eliminates the dreaded ‘phantom crown position’—when you pull the crown out to set the time, it instantly engages without an empty date-setting click in between.
Choosing a premium 9000-series movement over standard entry-level alternatives (like a Seiko NH35 or Miyota 8000-series) is a huge win for enthusiasts. Beyond the true no-date setup, its slim dimensions allow the watch to maintain an exceptionally lean 10mm case profile. Running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), the high-beat mechanism gives the central seconds hand a lovely, fluid sweep across the colourful ’80s-inspired dial. Over a week of real-world wear—split between desk duty and weekend outings—the movement kept remarkably consistent time, gaining only a few seconds a day.
The crown action itself is surprisingly tactile for a watch of this profile. The knurling offers plenty of grip, making manual winding crisp and satisfying. Engagement into the setting position is positive and reassuring—there’s no slop or vagueness when setting the time, and pushing it back home feels secure, which gives real confidence in its 100-metre water resistance rating.
Finally, daily legibility is another area where performance shines. The flat sapphire crystal handles reflections effortlessly, letting the crisp contrast between the solid white dial and the vibrant indices pop even in bright, direct sunlight. When transitioning into lower light, the applied indices and hands carry enough lume to ensure reading the time remains effortless. Combined with its 100m water resistance and slim 10mm profile, the overall package delivers reliable, everyday grab-and-go performance wrapped in a genuinely fun aesthetic.
On The Wrist
I’ll start by saying that on the bracelet, this watch is one of the most comfortable I have ever worn.
My fears that it might feel heavy were quickly dismissed as soon as I took it out of the box and put it on my wrist. The square case sits beautifully—it feels light and is exceptionally easy to wear. During my time with it, I wore it over the weekend with family as well as during the week in the office, and not once did I have to adjust the watch or shift it around. It didn’t catch on shirt sleeves or jackets; it’s just so comfortable and great to wear.
The lugless design means the square case sits perfectly flat on the wrist—no gaps, no lift. I cannot fault it at all. Again, it’s further confirmation that Walker & Crown have meticulously thought about every aspect of this watch.
The watch also comes with a colour-matched Serafino leather strap. From a look and feel perspective, the strap is great quality and the watch looks good on it. However, the strap does start out a little hard and rigid on first wear, meaning there was a noticeable gap on the wrist. Now, I will caveat that I only put it on the strap for a day, and by the end of it, the leather had relaxed a lot—so I am sure with more wear, the strap will break in and that gap will disappear.
But personally? It’s all about that bracelet. That’s what this watch was made for, and that is what it belongs on.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely enjoyed this watch. It was comfortable to wear, and its design is fun and eye-catching without being overbearing. It’s an absolute conversation starter—during my time with it, I received so many questions and compliments. Perhaps the best reaction came from my three-year-old daughter, who dubbed it “the colourful watch,” claimed it as her absolute favourite, and announced she’d be wearing it when she gets bigger!
Make no mistake, though—this is anything but a kid’s watch. The specs, finishing, and build quality prove that this is a thoughtfully executed timepiece. Every detail feels deliberate, creating a watch with genuine personality that stands out from the sea of homage designs. Walker & Crown made plenty of brave decisions with the Revival Series, but in my book, every single one paid off. They deserve serious credit for their commitment to delivering exceptional quality and value.
Fully committing to the nostalgia of the ’80s was a bold move, but Walker & Crown didn’t just stay in their lane—they turned on the neon, grabbed the boombox, cranked the Memphis Beat up to eleven, and proved that retro style and modern high-quality watchmaking can make the perfect mixtape.
Want to see more of the Memphis Beat? or find out about the other three watches in the Revival Series Check out these great reviews form Robbie and Watches and Watchdad
