Manilone G2 Review: Dial, Tourbillon & Bracelet - All for under £1,000?
If you’d told a watch nerd ten years ago that a tourbillon, enamel dial, and integrated bracelet would land in a single package for under a grand, they'd have choked on their espresso and muttered something about "Chinese factories" or "impossible margins." And yet, here we are: the Manilone G2 exists — and it’s turning heads, raising eyebrows, and emptying wallets. But is it a horological bargain or just beautifully packaged hype? Let’s dive in.
Credit - Manilone
Credit - Manilone
1. The Dial — Guilloché Meets Grand‑Feu
Let’s start with the eye candy. The G2’s dial is proper jaw-dropping. It features rich, shimmering colours layered over a guilloché pattern, then finished with translucent Grand‑Feu enamel — a technique usually reserved for the kind of watches that come with velvet gloves and a discreet handshake. The depth and light play here are genuinely mesmerising. If you like your watches to start conversations, this one’s practically shouting across the room.
Credit - Manilone
2. The Movement — A Tourbillon You Can Actually Afford
Tourbillon movements are typically found in the “kidney for sale” price bracket — but the G2 dares to dream. It houses a hand‑assembled, high‑beat tourbillon with a 60-hour power reserve, and it’s visible through a generously open dial. Is it Swiss? No. Is it finished like a piece from a big-name maison?
Also no. But is it hypnotic to watch? Absolutely. For anyone wanting to own a piece of genuine mechanical theatre, this is as close as you’ll get without remortgaging your house.
Credit - Manilone
3. The Bracelet — Integrated and Surprisingly Slick
Integrated bracelets can be tricky territory — too clunky, and you’re in 1970s calculator watch territory. But Manilone’s done a solid job here. The brushed stainless steel tapers nicely, flows into the case with some elegance, and adds real weight (literally — it’s a chunky boy).
At 42.5mm across, it wears bold, but the bracelet helps balance the heft. It won’t be for dainty wrists, but if you like your watches to feel like they’re there, it delivers.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy One?
Here’s the deal. If you're after polish, heritage and after-sales support, this might not be your everyday watch. But if you're a watch lover looking to add a bit of eccentric flair to your collection — and you’ve always fancied owning a tourbillon without selling a vital organ — the G2 makes a surprisingly strong case for itself.
It’s bold, brash, beautiful… and frankly bonkers value. Just the way we like it.
Verdict: Yes — if you’ve got the wrist for it and the appetite for something a bit different.
