Buffy Acacia
While I understand and appreciate the historical context of modernism and postmodernism in the art, the rise of stripped design has led to a major misconception. There aren’t always many, and simplicity isn’t necessarily elegant. The so-called “minimalism” is responsible for losing so many characters to design, illuminated by so many white wall fluorescent lights that we can take before we admire decoration, dedication and personality. There are only buildings of companies. But it is not all fate and darkness. There is a way that designs become minimalists without participating in the artistic drought of humanity, and watchmakers are usually the best people to do that.
Some people say that great design requires taking risks, but I disagree. The only prerequisite to avoiding the lazy label is effort, and effort always comes into play in the final product. There are many watch designs I thought I disliked or thought was insane, but I’m always happy that they exist because it shows someone is thinking about it. Being unthinkable is the first stepping stone to lazyness. To illustrate this, you can see Daniel Wellington’s classic…
How can I find lazyness?
Hate Daniel Wellington may be a meme among watch enthusiasts at this point, but there is a solid foundation behind Vitriol. Aside from charging hundreds of dollars for anything that can be on Aliexpress for less than $5, and then putting your own name on the dial (the person who founded DW actually calls you Philip Tithander (although), the claims of minimalism are insulting to designers. When you think about it, what is really “classic” about its design? Baton hour markers, baton minute tracks, baton hand with tip end? It doesn’t look like an old-fashioned pocket watch or antique watch. It also doesn’t look like dress watches from the 50s and 60s that prioritized elegance over utilities. Everything is flat, soulless, charming, and ultimately lazy. It is the bare minimum as a restraint.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at what Orient calls a “classic” wristwatch. Orient Quartz Classic Ref. The UG1R003W quickly catches your eye due to its depth. The dial is very subtly domed, highlighting the space between the dial and the crystal. The applied index is faceted to reflect light at different angles. Day/date complications are not distracting from time, but provide a utility. Finally, the bezel of the clock is diagonally so the clock doesn’t feel like a dinner plate. It’s minimal but thoughtful. There are no specific features that stand out from the balance, but there are still details to be appreciated. It’s less than the price of the Daniel Wellington Classic, so why don’t you rather take the Orient? If you’re not satisfied yet, break down exactly where minimalism and laziness are different.
Depth
Lazy watchmaking forgets that watches exist in three dimensions. If there is less visual complexity, using space as a design element can be much more powerful. However, there are many ways to create depth, but it can be difficult to do it without making the watch thicker than it should be. Dome-shaped dials like Orient are one approach, but they can also be performed through textures. Engraved patterns and shiny surfaces can give a illusion of depth to flat surfaces, as Cartier tanks need to refer to with lacquered dials. You can’t really get a more minimalist than two hands and a black dial with no markings, but its straight black surface plays in the light in a way that draws you in. In itself, the dial needs to say something first.
detail
A good designer can put subliminality into the subliminal by focusing on the execution of certain details rather than completely ignoring them. It could be a small decorative spark here and there, or something so secret that even your eyes wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it. A great example of this can be found in Hermetique in the Baltic Sea. Hermetic in the Baltic Sea has an instantly inclusion of metal rings around the main sectors of the dial. The ring blends in as it reflects everything around it, but also adds dynamics. Other details don’t have to be that smart, but even things like funny sets of hands and time markers with many facets can add intoxicating prosperity to the otherwise minimalist dial Masu. One of the most popular minimalist watches that makes great use of details is a clean and efficient watch dial with a large amount of characters, using long, thin markers and careful petite circles. The Jungan Maxville Handwound is named after the famous Bauhaus designer. Before mentioning the lovely, gentle, well-balanced dial texture.
Finishing
It guides us well to our next point. There’s a reason why high-end watch owners often own loops. Truly exceptional finishes are too expensive for most watch brands, but even affordable manufacturers need to pay attention to their finishing techniques. You wouldn’t think a $100 citizen would polish the back of the hand behind a minute, but it’s only praised by its reflection in the hand of time, but at least the finish of that case is the overall look of the watch. It matches the aesthetic. Purely, there are so many watches with brushes and polished bezels to show off the different processes. However, most minimalist watches look best with a homogenous finish, whether they’re all polished, brushed or sandblasted. You must choose not because it is the default option, but to support the final product.
Plus, there are many ways to approach the same type of finish. For example, you can polish the watch case vertically, horizontally, or to strength, and they all achieve different things. The straight brushing is much more sporty than concentric and full, and it really can throw away the dress watch. It’s rare to see, but moving the center of the sunburst brushing on the dial also has a great effect, like the Chopard LUC model.
Case shape
The busier the artwork, the more important the frame. That doesn’t mean that if the dial is simple, the case needs to be complicated, but your eyes will be drawn on something protruding. The lazy design essentially considers the watch case as a rug-filled pie dish. Usually, a relatively thin watch has a straight side that makes it feel thick and clunky. Smooth lines, soft transitions, and curvatures don’t attract much attention overall, but well-positioned facets can echo established themes on the dial. Back at Junghans Max Bill, the cases and bezels are so thin that you may almost know that they are there. However, small lugs are cut at strict angles that enhance the clinical nature of the dial’s accuracy. It is evidence that simplicity is power, but only when it is thought of.
