buffy acacia
“The main enemy of creativity is common sense.” – Pablo Picasso
Let me just say, you can get too serious about collecting watches. Too often, collectors get caught up in their own assumptions that only watches that demonstrate maximum taste and restraint are worth collecting. While it’s true that a perfect tank or a Datejust with a pure linen dial is great, sometimes it’s good to relax and live a little. In that spirit, here are five examples of watch brands that know how to cut loose.
Studio Underd0g
British Studio Underd0g has become a darling of the microbrand world ever since it burst onto the scene with its playful and colorful take on mechanical chronographs. The main attraction here is the dial, which takes inspiration from the colors of fruits and vegetables, among other things. The brand shows no signs of slowing down, with strawberry and cream, watermelon, and even pumpkin variations (there are two varieties, one donated to charity) all sold out. There was also a purple and green model with a dial made from actual eggplant skin, as well as our own Time+Tide Hand Delivered “Pizza Watch.” Founder Richard Benn definitely knows how to have fun.
The 01Series watches themselves feature a common architecture with a 38.5 mm stainless steel case, a visible hand-wound Seagull ST-1901 chrono movement (based on the classic Venus 175), and a double-domed sapphire crystal. and all sold at affordable prices. Retail 550. The 02Series revolves around rich tones and playful construction tricks, while bringing out the more sophisticated side of the brand.
mr jones watch
Much like Willy Wonka, Mr. Jones as a brand could best be described as having an eccentric, subversive edge. When you first see that quirky clock, you might think, “Hmm, so what time is it?” And that’s exactly the point. A small, affordable object to display on your wrist. It obviously doesn’t tell the time, but it allows you to take a closer look at the art itself. Yes, reading time is usually a unique and roundabout way, but to enjoy Mr. Jones’ ever-evolving lineup, you have to let go of preconceived notions of what a watch is “supposed to be” and celebrate being a part of the world. There is. for a moment. There’s aesthetic beauty, a little craziness, and even some deep philosophical moments happening on these dials. However, it’s worth perusing this website, as there’s sure to be a style to suit your tastes. The watches themselves come in a variety of sizes and feature mechanical or quartz movements, but the dial is the real star here, often utilizing the movement in unexpected ways.
Konstantin Chaikin
Independent brands are endowed with freedom of experimentation, and Konstantin Chaikin’s creativity extends to both mechanics and decoration. Best known for his Joker watches that spawned his Ristomonds series, this wild-eyed grin guarantees a smile on the dial every time you check the time. The left eye points to the hours, the right eye shows the minutes, and the open mouth uses a moon phase display on the tongue. Now powered by La Joux Perret’s improved base movement, a wide variety of wristmons are available, from real and mythical animals to holiday icons like Santa, the Easter Bunny, and even Minions. It has been. Konstantin Chaykin can’t even keep himself from smiling while trying to break the record for the world’s thinnest watch.
swatch
Swatch may have been born to save the Swiss watch industry from its decade-long quartz crisis, but its fun-loving attitude has done just that. Timeless classics like the see-through Jellyfish (now known as the Cleary Gent) captivated the imaginations of children and adults alike, establishing themselves as examples of wristwatch delight. Plus, there are collaborations with pop culture icons like The Simpsons, so you can have your favorite characters on your wrist whenever you want. There is also a certain legitimacy to the name Swatch, which also helps remove the shadow of shame and embarrassment that sometimes arises when trying to express oneself against the norm. There’s no shortage of designs available, each one catering to someone’s sense of humor or whimsy.
H. Moser & Co.
H. Moser & Co. may be best known for its strong dial finishes, lack of branding, and high-end engineering, but its raunchy sense of humor has made it a staple of watchmaking for the past decade. It has become. Where Moser’s collaboration with Studio Underd0g was simply indulging in some harmless fun, other releases intentionally piss people off. One of the most influential examples is the Swiss Alp Watch, a fully mechanical, traditionally made Apple Watch replica. Aside from the distinctive analog hands and crown, most people would think this is just a regular smartwatch. The loading screen is also recreated with a complication that takes just a few seconds. H. Moser & Co. is also notorious for turning April Fool’s pranks into genuine releases, such as the Arp Watch Infinite Reboot, which didn’t even have hands or a repeater complication. In other words, there was no way for the clock to tell the time. No time at all.
