While most people are probably dependent on their smartphones and other digital devices to tell time, there are still those who would much rather tell time the old school way: through an actual watch. Those who drive a vehicle and want to know the time through their wristwatch sometimes have a bit of an uncomfortable situation as they need to twist their arm when their hands are on the steering wheel. Award-winning architect Eduardo Souto de Moura has a unique design solution to that problem which he created for Lebond.
The Lebond Souto Moura watch adjusted to the line of vision of a driver when his hands are on the steering wheel. The watchface was rotated 30 degrees “for optimal visibility on the wrist”. There are no numbers except for the 2 in the middle with a long straight line beside it which serves as the number 1. The other hours are represented by short and slightly longer lines (the latter for 9, 3, and 6) while the minutes are small dots. And if you’re not used anymore to telling time in the analog manner (as kids these days are), it can be a slight challenge.
There’s also a date function located beside the 3 o’clock position but it just shows the number date (hopefully you know what month it is already). In terms of the materials and specs of the watch, it uses grade 5 titanium with a 38.5mm large case with a 7.6mm thickness when the strap is attached. It weighs only 46 grams as they are also aiming for a lightweight device. The case has a micro-sandblasted finish while the caseback has a sapphire insert. It has a power reserve of up to 50 hours and runs at 28,800 VpH/4Hz.
There are two versions of the Lebond Souto Moura watch. The Original Edition has a navy blue Top Nappa leather strap and a matte beige dial. Meanwhile, the Dark Edition has a black strap with a matte gray dial. While it’s designed as a “driving watch”, even if you don’t actually drive but just don’t want to constantly twist your arm when you want to tell time, then this would be a nice one to have if you have around $3,000 to spend on an analog watch.
The BTF Nixie Watch is a remarkable combination of history and modernity, blending the nostalgic glow of Soviet-era Nixie tubes with contemporary design and technology. More than a mere timepiece, it’s a statement of style and innovation, offering a unique blend of retro charm and modern functionality. In this exploration, we uncover the features that set the BTF Nixie Watch apart, from its distinctive aesthetic to its user-centric features, making it a standout accessory for those who value both form and function.
The design of this watch prominently features the iconic glow of the Nixie tube, recognized for its warm orange light that adds a retro yet futuristic charm. This aesthetic is a purposeful homage to an era when technology was valued for its form and function, starkly contrasting the often impersonal feel of contemporary digital devices. The use of genuine Soviet-era IN16 Nixie tubes not only lends authenticity to the watch but also makes it a unique collector’s item due to the rarity of these components, which were phased out for more efficient display technologies.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it incorporates advanced features like gesture-based activation, which lights up the Nixie display with a simple wrist lift, eliminating the need for manual operation and enhancing the user experience. This feature adds a layer of convenience and contributes to the watch’s energy efficiency by ensuring that the display is only activated when needed.
Lift the wrist to wake the watch
The charging experience marries convenience with aesthetic harmony, featuring a bespoke wireless charger designed to mirror the watch’s unique look while delivering efficient power. This tailored solution underscores the watch’s seamless blend of form and function. Further enhancing its user-friendly appeal, the watch is fully compatible with all Qi-standard wireless chargers, ensuring you can keep your timepiece powered using any Qi-certified charging pad. Whether at home, in the office, or on the move, this universal compatibility ensures that your BTF Nixie Watch remains charged and ready, embodying the perfect fusion of retro design and modern convenience.
Easily recharge using any Qi-compatible wireless charging pad
Another cool feature is the timer, which combines the nostalgic charm of Nixie tubes with the practicality of modern technology. Initiating the timer is effortlessly intuitive; a quick double-tap on the watch’s lower button engages the timer mode, priming it for use with just a simple gesture. To start the timer, a single tap suffices, setting it in motion from zero and allowing for precise tracking up to 99 seconds. This feature proves invaluable for a myriad of everyday tasks and moments where precision is crucial, such as timing exercises during a workout or monitoring short intervals while cooking, showcasing the watch’s blend of vintage charm and modern utility.
Double-tap tap lower button to activate the timer feature
The BTF Nixie Watch offers flexibility in time display, allowing users to easily switch between 12-hour and 24-hour formats to suit personal preferences or cultural norms. This feature enhances the watch’s versatility, catering to a global audience and diverse user needs.
The designer combines ergonomic design with an intuitive user interface, ensuring comfortable wear and ease of use. Its thoughtful layout elements cater to user comfort, while the seamless interaction between its vintage and modern components provides a straightforward, enjoyable experience. This approach underscores the watch’s commitment to making advanced technology accessible and delightful to use.
The sapphire glass on the watch’s face ensures durability and clarity
Worn on the wrist, the watch transforms the concept of timekeeping into an art form, blending technological innovation with unparalleled craftsmanship. Including a sapphire surface on the watch’s face is an aesthetic enhancement that ensures durability and clarity. Known for its scratch resistance and hardness, sapphire glass protects the watch while offering a crystal-clear view of the Nixie tubes’ captivating glow, ensuring the time is always visible in its full, luminous splendor.
The sapphire glass is durable and scratch-resistance
The watch comes with two unique case options to cater to different tastes and needs. The 7-series aluminum variant, commonly used in aerospace and military applications, provides an excellent balance of durability and lightness. As a result, the watch can withstand daily wear and tear while remaining comfortable and unnoticeable on the wrist.
For those seeking an extra touch of elegance and resilience, the titanium frame is an ideal choice, offering high strength and corrosion resistance, which keeps the watch looking sleek and new over time, regardless of the environment. These carefully selected materials and customization options reflect the watch’s blend of luxury, functionality, and personal expression, making it a versatile accessory for any occasion.
Besides its technical specifications and customization options, the BTF Nixie Watch provides a distinct identity. Unlike a traditional watch, this timepiece stands out and speaks volumes of individuality, offering wearers the chance to express themselves through a piece that is as rare as it is handsome.
The BTF Nixie Watch combines style, engineering, and history that goes beyond telling time. It invites wearers to appreciate the precision and functionality of a high-quality timepiece and connect with the aesthetic and emotional resonance of a bygone era while enjoying the comforts and conveniences of contemporary technology.
Smartphones are quite expensive these days, especially the fully-featured, high-end premium models, but that might still be enough for a few “well-funded” people. Limited Editions are not uncommon in this industry, but nothing says “limited edition” more than an extremely limited number of devices being made with extremely extravagant materials and designs. Luxury brand Caviar has for years been making these kinds of exquisite variations of already pricey smartphones, and Samsung’s latest flagship is unsurprisingly getting the same treatment. With the launch of the Galaxy S24 series so close to the Chinese New Year, the marque took the opportunity to welcome the Year of the Dragon with a special edition that’s laden not just with gold and jewels but with references to the union of East and West that Samsung’s smartphones embody.
Just one look at this Caviar interpretation of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and you can already tell it’s far from being ordinary. That golden Korean dragon is no mere painting or sticker but is a highly-detailed bas-relief covered with 24-karat gold. That dragon is seen descending from the top of the phone, in other words, the heavens, and wraps around the analog watch that is at the center of this design.
Yes, there is an honest-to-goodness mechanical watch on this phone’s back, one that boasts a CVR ELT3350A Tourbillon with a manual winding mechanism and 19 stones. This element does add quite a bit of thickness to the phone’s otherwise slim profile, but its novelty and beauty could very well be worth that price. Curiously, the watch is encircled by the 12 signs of the “Western” Zodiac, not the Chinese roster you would expect from a phone that commemorates the Chinese New Year. These symbols, made of enamel on PVD-coated titanium, represent that mix of European and Eastern culture that is representative of Samsung’s own business.
Every inch of this rather elaborate design was made with meticulous attention to detail and symbolism. The three diamonds in the corner not only mimic a constellation but is actually a homage to Samsung’s original logo, the “three stars” from which the company takes its name. The green color of the watch dial might seem like an odd mix to the prevalent gold and black motif, but it symbolizes rebirth and prosperity, which also happens to be the color and theme of the Year of the Wood Dragon.
If the $15,070 price tag isn’t enough to mark this design as something only the elite can afford, the fact that there will only be 24 such devices made will definitely cement that image. The chances of meeting another VIP holding the same phone would be as low as meeting a mythical Korean dragon, but the prestige of owning a rare and enchanting piece of craftsmanship is all that matters to those who will be scrambling to fall in that very short queue.
When looking at my wrist to check the time, I’m used to the digital interface of my smartwatch. I just see numbers (unless I’m using an analog display) so there’s no need for a split second delay in my head as I try to figure out the time. But there are certain watch designs that may be a bit more complicated but have such a well designed interface that you will forgive your brain for taking a longer time to figure out how it works.
Designer: Ressence
The Type 1° Round Multicolor is a minimalist watch with “bespoke complications” that is pretty attractive to analog device collectors. It’s actually an updated and more colored version of the Type 1 ZZ that they launched back in 2019. Its case is Grade 5 Titanium with a double-domed sapphire crystal top and an anti-reflective coating inside. It uses a patented Ressence Orbital Convex System module and has 40 jewels and 27 gears with a self-winding mechanism.
What makes it stand out though is how it tells you the hours, minutes, seconds and even day of the week. The main dial points to the minutes while the yellow satellite tells you the seconds. The green section tells you the hour while the pointer within the red section indicates the day of the week. You get the 3 biaxial satellites inclined at 3° for the hours and 4.75° for the seconds and days of the week. It’s pretty cool how everything works together although it might take you some time how to figure things out but once you get the hang of it, your watch will become a conversation piece as well.
In terms of colorways, it seems to have just a white one since the satellites are already colorful enough. You get an ardillon buckle and a 20mm rubber strap to put them on your wrist and it is 42.7 mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness. It has a 36 hours power reserve and you get 28,800 vibrations per hour. It’s a pretty nifty watch to have, that is if you have around $19,000.
There are a lot of smartwatch options available in the market already but there are still who prefer their watches to just tell time. Some prefer these analog timepieces as they are more well designed and beautifully crafted than the smart versions. Hublot is still one of the top brands out there when it comes to watches and their latest one is a collaboration with iconic Japanese designer Takashi Murakami. Even for the most casual watch lovers, this seems to be something to aim for although it is a very limited edition.
Designer: Takashi Murakami for Hublot
There are only 50 MP-15 Takashi Murakami watches available and for a serious watch collector who likes pretty things, this is a must-have. Not only does it have the iconic motif from the Japanese designer of a sapphire flower, but it is also the first watch that Hublot produced for an exclusive release that has a central flying tourbillon and it also does not have a traditional dial. Instead, you get a complication in the center and the hands are moved to the edge instead of the center, running under the tourbillon.
The aforementioned tourbillon is in the middle and surrounded by the sapphire flower with 12 petals. The entire design is luminous and so you get to experience the play of light when it is reflected on the translucent flange and bracelet as well as the sapphire case, caseback, and crown. The flying centre tourbillon has a power reserve of 150 hours and a special pin to wind it up that can be charged through a USB port. All of the components for the watch are skeletonized, giving off a mixture of transparency and delicacy.
The overall effect of all these different elements make it look like it is floating in space. Since there are only 50 pieces of the MP-15 Takashi Murakami, you can expect that it is not cheap. But for those who collect rarities like this, the chance to own an intricate timepiece like this will probably be too good to pass up.
As with a lot of things today, everything old is new again. That doesn’t mean that we just copy what has already been done. A lot of creative designers have managed to incorporate elements and principles from past movements into a more modern style. If you’re a fan of the 80s Italian art and architecture movement called Memphis Design and unique watch designs. then this new collection from Richard Mille is something to pay attention to.
Designer: Richard Mille
The RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics collection is made up of 3 variations using summer colors: bluish pink, lavender, and powder blue ceramics. The designs use contrasting hues, shapes, and materials so you get a fun-looking watch but with the brand’s standard “trademarks of performance and innovation”. The hours, minutes, and adjustable rotor geometry use skeletonised automatic movements in its 45.66 x 31..40 x 11.85 mm body. It uses microblasted grade 5 titanium with electroplasma treatment in bot its surface and bridges. The skeletonised baseplate and bridges give optimal strength to the watch.
One other unique feature of the RM 07-01 watches is that it rewinds the mainspring depending on the activity level of the user through its variable-geometry rotor. You can adjust two weights and fix them in place through the spline screws. When the two weights are close to each other, the barrel rewinds quickly while the inertia is decreased when they are on the extreme sides of the rotor and the barrel will wind more slowly.
The RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramic models also use the decorative craft of guillochage and applies it to the watch’s design but with a more modern energy. It also has shock protection and the design of the surface protects it from unnecessary scratches and damage. The three-part case has a water resistance of up to 50 meters and is assembled with 12 grade 5 titanium screws and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.
Smartwatch is a phenomenon that has overpowered traditional watch aesthetics. Hybrid watches present an option that lives in the grays of both worlds, but somewhere these timepieces haven’t clicked with enthusiasts. Offering a watch with little compromises for the collectors and outdoorsy, Garmin has launched an undeniable amalgamation of an analog watch with smartwatch features.
The watch, blurring the lines between traditional and modern, is called the Instinct Crossover. Garmin’s new Instinct is created for individuals with a bent for retro with smartwatch functionality, to keep them at the top of the game. Robust enough to be worn for outdoor adventures, the watch has a case, dial, and battery life to put it above the competition.
The Garmin Instinct Crossover features a long-lasting fiber-reinforced nylon case which ensures the watch matches military standards in durability. It also features temperature, dust, and shock resistance and touts 100 meters of water-resistant rating. But that’s not even the best part yet! Available in four different colors, the Crossover imbibes Garmin pedigree: It is presented with Garmin’s health and wellness features which include sleep and heart rate tracking, along with other fitness matrices like VO2 max, pulse oximetry, and recovery times to name a few.
As with other Instinct and Vivomove’s from Garmin, the Crossover also gets multisport GPS, GPS tracking, and TracBack routing options for rural and urban adventures. When you are in the great outdoors, the battery life of your smartwatch can be a worrying factor; Garmin Instinct Crossover jumps over the hindrance with an impactful solar charging option. Given the good light condition, this feature scales up the watch’s battery life to 70 days while using all the smartwatch features i.e. Put it on battery saver and you can give the Crossover an almost infinite life as an old school watch to tell time, display date, and function as a stopwatch.
You also have an option of going for the base version – a non-solar watch – which according to Garmin gives you nearly 30-day battery life in smartwatch mode, and over 110 hours with GPS functionality. The watch hands on the analog dial illuminate to read time at night, while the high-resolution digital display clearly exhibits information with hands drawing to the 9:15 position to ensure visibility. Garmin is already selling the Instinct Crossover starting at $500; if you want a tactile watch with retro modern aesthetics, you should go for it right away.
Thanks to a certain video game and its recent animated Netflix tie-in, the cyberpunk style has become trendy again. Industrial designs mixed with glowing neon colors portray a vision of the future that is a little too bleak for comfort but almost realistic in its probability. As a genre, cyberpunk is set in a dystopian future where technology has advanced significantly but has left human morality and evolution behind in its dust. Many product designs and concepts today that tap into that style try to convey the spirit of this age through various gimmicks, many of them as advanced as the technologies they try to represent. This watch, inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 game, however, bucks the trend and embraces one of the oldest yet most sophisticated ways to tell the time.
If you were to design a cyberpunk-themed watch, you would most likely try to implement it through digital and electronic components, perhaps even as a smartwatch. After all, it’s so much easier to style screens, implement advanced features, and even emit sounds using modern components. In stark contrast, this Cyberpunk 2077 watch concept doesn’t have anything digital, an ironic idea yet almost perfectly fitting considering the confusing mix of old and new that cyberpunk is famous for.
Instead of an LCD display, the watch works pretty much like an analog watch, except it trades typical hands for rotating discs that have marks for seconds, minutes, and hours. Its beating heart is a real-world 9015 Miyota automatic caliber, whose ruby movement is used to represent the cybernetic eye of an emblem on its back. The watch wraps around your wrists using silicone straps that, while mundane, are more faithful to the fictional world of Cyberpunk 2077 than more “advanced” materials.
Since the watch is pretty much a mechanical one dressed up in a cyberpunk style, its personalization options are limited. Instead of changing watch faces as you would on a smartwatch, you can only swap out interchangeable fronts and backs to match different characters from the fictional franchise. That still leaves the door open for plenty of customization, especially when you consider these parts can be 3D printed easily.
Unfortunately for Cyberpunk 2077 fans, this watch remains a concept, even if it was designed with the game’s creators’ input. It’s definitely an attractive and unique twist to the typical cyberpunk-themed timepiece, one that could potentially satisfy even lovers of mechanical watches. It does show that just because it looks cyberpunk doesn’t mean it has to be complicated, though the beautiful simplicity of this watch’s design is itself almost contradictory to the usual mess of the genre.
Ever since I started using a smartwatch, actual watches and sometimes even bracelets aren’t such a priority for me anymore. But every once in a while, I do like taking this gadget off and wear more decorative stuff. I like accessories that are pretty unique or conversation starters so I like looking for indie designers that have these kinds of creations. I’m not much of a watch connoisseur so I also just go for cheap ones that have a unique design as well.
Designer: Roman Nurbaev
This design for a bracelet and watch in one seems right up my alley, in terms of what I’m looking for both. In fact, you can even choose to wear it as just a bracelet if you don’t need something to tell you time (since your phone is there already if you need time). The “strap” are two gold (or gold-colored) rings that aren’t perfectly circular. They have a slight dip or curve so they’re actually pretty interesting if you just use them on their own. Well, that’s if you like minimalist accessories of course.
But if you want to use it as a watch, the bracelets serve as the straps and the circular part is obviously, the watch. The hours are show on the biggest surface while the minutes are in the innermost dial and the seconds are in the outermost. I’m not exactly sure how it will work as the product renders don’t really show the mechanics of it all. As someone who prefers my watch to show just the digital time instead of the analog, I’m not such a fan of that.
But design-wise, it’s really pretty and dainty so if you’re into minimalist design, this might appeal to you. I’ve gotten used to my clunky smartwatch so having something so pretty on my wrist will be pretty different but if someone gives me this watch bracelet, I wouldn’t mind wearing it every once in a while. Now the time-telling part that will be a challenge though.
The meaning of two-faced is the kind of friend you don’t want to have. The double-dealing and devious definition of the word is something you don’t ever want to meet or be close to in your lifetime. But the word gets another meaning with this Two Face Smartwatch. You guess it right: the watch has two faces.
Oh no, you won’t really see two faces or dials at once. This watch keeps the analog function and also offers smartwatch features. Whether analog or digital or a smartwatch, each type offers different advantages. Many people still prefer analog watches because they want to keep traditions. Such watches can also have higher values, but smartwatches can offer more functionalities.
Designers: Junguk Shin, Euikyun Koh, and Dawn BYSJ
The Two Face is an analog and smartwatch in one. It looks like an analog watch but comes with a number of smartwatch features. Inspired by the idea of flipping a coin, you can switch the face if you want to use either the analog or the smartwatch side. The watch features a strap that connects the body. The watch face acts as a hinge that switches the analog and smartwatch. You can flip to whatever side depending on your need at the moment.
Like a classic analog watch, the Two Face boasts a smooth round dial. The other side offers the same smooth touchscreen experience most smartwatches offer. The concept design was from several years ago but it remains a timeless project that may be considered for production. It may probably not sell as much as more modern smartwatches but the one-of-a-kind timepiece can be sought after by modern watch collectors.
Two Face is designed by South Korean designers Junguk Shin, Euikyun Koh, and Dawn BYSJ. It is designed to work with a wireless charger. You simply remove the watch from the strap and attach it to a wireless charger. Once attached to the charger, it looks like a pocket watch from decades ago but with a more modern and seamless look and feel.
The Two Face watch literally has two faces and each side shows the watch type. We’re just interested in its real thickness. It appears thin as per the rendered images but since there are two watch mechanisms, it should be thicker.
The designers presented the analog dial in different colors. It’s not impossible to have several color options. What techie lovers will look at are the specs and features of the smartwatch. We’re assuming it can run most wearable OS available and have the basic smartwatch functionalities.
