Militado ML23 Review – Retro Racing Chronograph With Sapphire

The Militado ML23 is a different kind of release for a brand I usually associate with military-style field watches and compact tool pieces. Here, Militado moves into retro racing chronograph territory with a stainless steel case, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, Miyota 6S21 quartz chronograph movement, and a perforated brown strap.

The design leans heavily into vintage motorsport cues, with a deep blue dial, white tachymeter ring, white sub-dials, and a bright orange chronograph seconds hand. At around $110 to $120 before tax, it has a strong visual identity, but it also has to justify itself in a competitive quartz chronograph space. This watch forms part of a broader catalogue from Militado, several of which we’ve already covered.

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Design & Case

The ML23 measures 40mm across, 12.66mm thick, and 47mm lug-to-lug, with a 20mm lug width. Proportionally, it feels well judged for a racing chronograph, with enough wrist presence to carry the dial layout without becoming oversized.

The case is fully polished from the top down, which gives the watch a dressier edge despite the motorsport styling. From the side, the profile is layered and sculpted, with a polished midcase arch running from lug to lug.

The drilled lug holes are a useful touch, especially on a watch that suits strap changes. Above the flank sits a rounded polished fixed bezel supporting the domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.

The dome flows naturally out of the bezel rather than sitting abruptly above it. The lugs drop away sharply, helping the watch contour the wrist, while the softened bevel transitions remain smooth to the touch and visually crisp. The case architecture and dial treatment place this within a recognizable family of chronograph designs.

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Movement & Crown

Inside the ML23 is the Miyota 6S21 chronograph movement. This is a quartz chronograph caliber with a sweeping chronograph seconds hand, giving the central orange chronograph hand a smoother motion than a basic ticking quartz seconds display.

The 6S21 behaves differently from the VK series. Instead of snapping back instantly to 12, the chronograph seconds hand pushes forward to return to 12. It is a small operational distinction, but it changes the feel of the chronograph reset.

Accuracy is typically within plus or minus 20 seconds per month, which is standard for a quality quartz movement. The choice of quartz also keeps the watch practical and easy to live with.

The crown is unsigned, push-pull, and measures 6.8mm in diameter. It is flanked by two polished chronograph pushers, and the overall control layout feels balanced on the right side of the polished case. For readers considering a versatile chronograph watch, our Comparison Tool offers a simple way to compare models side by side across dimensions, movements, materials, and pricing.

Bezel

The ML23 uses a rounded polished fixed bezel that supports the domed sapphire crystal. It is not a large or aggressive case element, but it plays an important role in shaping the watch’s side profile.

Because the bezel is polished, it blends naturally with the fully polished case and helps the crystal feel integrated into the top of the watch. The dome does not look like a separate slab placed on top; it flows out of the bezel with a softer, more vintage feel.

That works well for the racing chronograph identity. The watch has plenty happening on the dial, so the exterior framing stays clean and polished rather than overly complicated.

The sapphire crystal brings the more practical side of the package. It has anti-reflective coating, and the domed form adds to the retro character while keeping the dial presentation more dimensional from different angles.

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Strap

The ML23 comes on a brown perforated strap that suits the racing chronograph character well. The outer layer has a leather feel, and the fully perforated design gives it the right period-correct motorsport look.

It uses a single-piece thickness with ivory white stitching around the periphery. Two floating keepers manage the excess length, and the strap also uses quick-release spring bars, so changing it out is very easy.

I do have one reservation: the underside is not stamped genuine leather. In the hand, it feels like leather, but the marking is not there. With the fully perforated design, there also is not much uninterrupted underside surface available for stamping.

At the buckle end, the watch uses a milled and polished stainless steel buckle. The polished finish works with the polished case, but the hardware is unsigned. Flip the watch over and the screw-down caseback has the Militado brand name engraved in the center.

Militado claims 100 meters of water resistance, but with a push-pull crown, I would treat this more as splashproof than dive ready.

Crystal & Dial

The dial is where the ML23 fully leans into its vintage racing chronograph personality. Under the domed sapphire crystal, the eye is first guided by an inward-sloping brushed stainless steel rehaut, then lands on the white tachymeter ring around the dial.

The tachymeter scale is printed in black, with an orange accent at 3 o’clock that ties directly into the long bright orange chronograph seconds hand. That color link helps the whole layout feel cohesive.

The main dial is matte blue, creating strong contrast against the white outer tachymeter ring and the two white sub-dials. At 3 o’clock, there is the running seconds sub-dial, while 9 o’clock holds the 60-minute counter. Both are square-ish with rounded corners, finished in sunburst white, and appear slightly raised above the main dial.

The hour markers are applied chrome batons with luminous pips at their ends. The baton-style hour and minute hands both carry lume through the center, while the orange lightning-style chronograph seconds hand is not lumed.

Dial text is minimal, with Militado in cursive below 12 and “Chronograph” above 6. In darkness, the small pips and hand centers glow bright blue. The lume charges quickly and lasts well.

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Summary

The Militado ML23 is a good-looking retro racing chronograph with a strong dial layout and a well-judged 40mm case. The blue dial, white tachymeter ring, white sub-dials, orange chronograph seconds hand, polished case, and perforated brown strap all work together convincingly.

The specification is solid in several places. You get a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, stainless steel case, Miyota 6S21 quartz chronograph movement, screw-down caseback, quick-release strap, and bright blue lume.

There are also some reservations. The crown is unsigned, the buckle is unsigned, the strap is not marked genuine leather, and the push-pull crown makes me treat the claimed 100 meters of water resistance conservatively.

At around $110 to $120 before tax, the ML23 is slightly on the expensive side for a quartz chronograph. I like the design, but the value case depends on how strongly the vintage racing look speaks to you. At this level of the market, sub $200, buyers have no shortage of alternatives competing for attention.

Militado ML23 Specifications

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