349SPORT Unique Piece World Premiere

Pureswissmade349 unveils the '349SPORT,' a unique timepiece born from a collaborative dream between a passionate watch lover and a master watchmaker. This exclusive world premiere on PuristSPro highlights the dedication and friendship behind creating a truly bespoke horological piece, emphasizing its unique design and the journey of its creation.

This is a story about dreams, passion and friendship.

The watch of my dreams is now a reality thanks to the great master and great friend that made it possible. He, and his lovely wife, will be the only that will understand the above picture ;-)

So, here we have: a unique piece designed by a watch lover in partnership with the unique wizard that generously faced all of the problems connected to an all-new project like this. A huge THANK YOU goes to you: my heart is full of gratitude, the intense happiness coming from the 349SPORT is the best way I may thank you, as it will last forever. And another big thank you goes to all of the other friends involved in this crazy project.

I'd like to dedicate the Expo 2015 Milano's "Tree of Life" picture to all of You.

The reason why this story is posted exclusively on PuristSPro is simple: I’m a fellow Purist and it’s here, spending time on this wonderful community, that my own taste has grown up and I've put the final touch to my passion and knowledge for watches.

I'm sorry I'm keeping my anonymity and the one of my technical partners. From now on, I will use the name "pureswissmade349" exclusively to talk about the 349SPORT. Maybe, some of you will recognize me and I thank you in advance if you will help me safeguarding our will.

The watch I'm talking about is not on sale, so this post is only intended to share the pure pleasure of having created it and to wear it. In my mind, “349” should be an entire family of watches, but I have some doubts I’ll ever complete the full range... I intentionally didn't used the term "collection" because I'm not a watch collector, but I must confess I have a wish list, just like every watch lover.

You all know that hunting the desired piece(s) could turn into a nightmare, right? Now, let's try to imagine how powerful and completely monopolizing could be the idea of a totally new watch designed by you (except the movement). Better: not a mere collage of what you like from the current or classic production, but a 100% original design. Well, I can assure it was a very risky move. And yet, all of this insane dream started with two modest sketches thrown on the first pieces of paper I had on hand...

Now, after more than four years from the above sketches, I can proudly enjoy the 349SPORT on my wrist, and I have to recognize how much fortunate I am. I'm sorry to bother you, but one more time I need to express my gratitude to the man - now a friend  - who made my dream come true, producing this unique piece. At the end of this long-lasting adventure, when the oeuvre d'art revealed itself for the first time, in the night between the 28th and the 29th December 2014, I've learned that we don't have to adore objects, even if they represent sooo much for us, since the important things in Life are human relations. Thank you for this lesson! That unforgettable delivery was an unexpected surprise and I hadn't my reflex with me, sorry for the bad picture.

The 349SPORT isn’t a mechanical marvel, it hasn’t gorgeous finishing, nor unusual functions, nor eccentric and transgressive solutions. This watch comes with an eye to pragmatism and another one to creativity. It emerges from an inquiring (and sometimes a bit dreamer) instinct which has always admired with devotion those who managed to invent something, in every field. The way the 349SPORT speaks isn’t with its specifications sheet, but with its design. And its design speaks for myself. Even if my education and my business are very far from design and arts in general, I’ve always had a passion for everything connected to design and I'm convinced it is a contemporary form of Art and Poetry and a true form of communication.

Here, I'd like to share a picture of the Japan Pavilion at the Expo 2015 Milano. It's not for a comparison, of course, since my watch is a only a very modest accomplishment. It's just an homage.

There was a time when a single man was eager to complete an entire watch or clock. Centuries of evolution totally transformed the business. Yes, there still are some venerable masters capable of an entire in-house craft of watchmaking - and one of them is our much esteemed moderator Donald W. Corson - but the major brands are now big industries, so they put even hundreds of people on a single project and sometimes they also call for the help of external studies. Not to mention the authentic novelty: the huge, extensive and pervasive use of the marketing lever.

349SPORT is the result of a different recipe, unique in some ways. The leading role is still traditionally played by the "client" and the "master": the first asks for a new watch, fixing his own requirements, the latter is entrusted of the majority of the making. The unusual part of the recipe is that the "client" actively takes part in the project, even working on technical design and the "master" also uses industrial-made parts (above all the movement, as well as the screws) and asks other highly skilled and specialized partners for exclusive services (the dial maker, the strap maker, the watchmaker). Moreover, a plastic prototype has been ordered, to clarify our ideas, since experience says everything must be tried and tried in real life, otherwise you may regret your choices.

It was a titanic work for both, the designer and the producer. The firsts I've made aware of my project thought about me as a day-dreamer. Skepticism was the prevailing sentiment. That's why – please forgive me if I'm a bit self-regarding - sometimes I felt like a pioneer, walking through an unexplored path. But if you want to find your own path in life, you must be ready to risk.

From the beginning, I’ve decided it was essential to design the whole watch and not only its exterior appearance. This meant, in a nutshell, the following steps. First of all, I had to study how a watch is made in every single detail. Then, I had to study how a 3D modeling software works and how I could translate my design ideas in a working watch. Finally, I had to convert these 3D designs in technical drawings that have been used as a basis for the definitive drawings suitable for the machines programmers. I’ve done these works during my spare time and as an absolute self-educated.

By the other side too, there were a lot of challenges, since just all of my requests were out of "normal". In every phase of the project my brilliant, bold, expert and enthusiastically tireless master was far more than a mere "producer": he worked on this project as a brother, like the 349SPORT was also his own dream-watch. After having guided me during the design phase, supervising and supporting the various choices, he had to invent the practical solution for every machining step, he actually made almost all of the pieces with his own exceptionally skilled and careful hands and he had to keep in touch with the involved suppliers and artisans. Attempt after attempt, and so on until all of my visions turned into reality.

How perfect was this interaction? Well, sharing and discussing wishes and choices was pleasant and efficient! For this reason I've learnt to say - in swiss german - "Das klappt ja wie am Schnüerli!" Once again, the sense of the following picture will be understandable only to the 349SPORT's producer and his wife ;-)

I think we should acknowledge that a useful object as the wristwatch very soon moved away from its original functional meaning, acquiring different ones. A lot of these newly acquired meanings have to do with the sphere of the imaginary. That's why I'll be happy to introduce you to the ideas underlying the 349SPORT's design.

The design has been developed under four main ideas.

The first target was to suggest an idea of movement. The 349SPORT makes me think of an athlete pumping his muscles and deeply breathing during the maximum physical effort of a very fast running and can also reminds a Formula 1 or a MotoGP aggressively tackling a curve. The idea of movement comes both from the human body and the motorsport world, except the buckle design, exclusively inspired to the latter. You’re still not convinced? Ok, let’s imagine the case of your watch taking a run-up, ready to launch itself outside the wrist: the 349SPORT case is designed representing this imaginary deformation “breathing”, in a subtle way of course.

The second idea was to remind that, if beauty is commonly associated to symmetry, truth resides in asymmetry.

The third idea was to have on the wrist a representation of contrasting - but harmonious - style codes.

The idea of movement could be connected to the childish side.

The mix of sharp edges, industrial finishing, high-tech materials and minimalism: to the paternal side.

The silky curves, the pleasant smoothness and the comforting time display by means of hands: to the maternal side.

The design of the sexy hands, that started it all and now dominates the watch face: to the erotic side.

Moreover, this fullness of contrasting codes and specifically the contrast between the so many voluptuous curves and sharp angles are a perfect representation of my own home country: a land of strong contrasts, generously embellished by the Creator but heavily humiliated by men.

The fourth idea was to have a “sport-chic” watch, suitable for daily wear, so I've summed up the results of my very humble and selfish research about comfort. I designed the 349SPORT observing how a watch sits on my own left wrist, looking how it comes up the back of my hand, since I use to wear it a bit loose, how size, weight and back shape affect wearability, which compromise is the best between aesthetic and legibility and which is my preferred kind of strap fitting.

I’ve tried to express and to blend everyone of the above concepts in a subtle and "puristic" way. I think the result is a fluid, not-shouted, timeless design. Besides the very strong emotional connection with this timepiece, I obviously hope the love for its design will be long-lasting. While the years will fly away, I hope the 349SPORT won't become obsolete: if so, maybe it's because its rocky, sporty concept is forward-looking rather than being nostalgically rétro.

Well, are you tired for having read such an elaborate article? I think so, I'm sorry! Would you like to see the 349SPORT in its entirety? If so, you just simply have to jump to the next installment...

Thank you!