Time Piece

The Helvetica Watch.

I know a lot of designers that hate Helvetica. I also know a lot of designers that love Helvetica, and respect it’s timeless qualities. I fall into the latter group. Watch maker Mondaine has introduced a new watch that champions the font, the designer. The video was produced by Frame Eleven and depicts the story how the world famous typography made its way to the wrist. This is a really nice blend of live footage, 2D and 3 D animation.

Oh and if anyone is interested, you can get me this watch for Christmas.

Creative Director: Marc Haas
Director / Art Director: Oliver Aemisegger
DOP: Silvio Gerber
Inhouse Producer: Livia Hächler
3D animation: Fabio Quaggiotto
Motion graphics / 2D animation: Oliver Aemisegger
Edit: Cyril Käppeli
Sounddesign: Cyril Käppeli

Watch Making. “The manufactory” from Peter Wollring.

Having returned from my snow walk I thought I would thaw out while perusing some fine video work on Vimeo. While trolling through the people I follow I came across this fairly new upload from Peter Wollring. It showcases the manufacture of NOMOS watches in Glashütte, Germany with some great camera work, solid editing, and tight features on what makes NOMOS watches stand out.

True Industrial Design in Watchmaking. A.Manzoni & Fils.

“Design is like a bridge between a company and a consumer which can build a trustworthy and reliable friendship.” that statement marks the thinking behind the relaunch of the Swiss watch brand A. Manzoni and Fills. A kickstarter project being spearheaded by Oliver Ike, and Ikka Suppanen is bringing together the best of Swiss watch making with modern industrial design aesthetics. The result–fantastic looking watches, great packaging, and brand identity. From the photos posted on the Kickstarter page, it looks like Ike and Suppanen are bringing it.

“The lack of true industrial design in watchmaking gives a new player a brilliant opportunity to fill a market niche.”

The two chose to resurect the A. Manzoni and Fills brand because of the storied history of the firm that was originally launched in 1888 in Arogno. A.Manzoni & Fils produced watch movements until closing 1978. Ike has worked with Suppanen for 3 years to develop this series of timepieces. The product is filled with cultural referencing in detail, sensual shape and interesting mechanical functions. Through this they have recreated the original Swiss craftsmanship that A. Manzoni & Fils became famous for.

For more information and photos click the links above.

Autodromo Monoposto.

I’m a watch guy. I like well designed, beautiful, analog watches. I don’t buy a traditional time piece for superior accuracy. I know that a digital watch or my phone is a more accurate reference for keeping time. I like an old school watch because of the way it looks, the fact that it keeps pretty accurate time, and that in many cases represents good design, or makes an artistic statement.

Most of the watches I own, are fairly subtle. Clean lines, nothing over the top. The chronographs maybe have a couple of extra dials, one has a somewhat garish racing stripe. The biggest display of their mechanical nature is actually hidden on the back in a presentation case. I like that. It’s a detail I know about, but isn’t on display saying “look at me”, showing off.

Yesterday when I was reading an article on Petrolicious, I saw an ad for Autodromo watches, and was attracted by the clean and easy to read dial. I clicked through and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Especially with the Monoposto. Their first mechanical watch with a presentation case limited to 500 units being made.

These watches look really nice, they have great attention to detail, and the price point won’t break the bank. They are the creative vision of founder Bradley Price, an industrial designer who set design and produce unique products that express the spirit of motoring. The design philosophy is a blend of contemporary, and minimalist sensibilities with mid-century vintage character steeped in automotive enthusiasm. Because of this, Autodromo products are equally at home in past and present. The watches are designed in-house by a small team with the goal of creating special, memorable experience for the discerning individual.