Nomer
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Chiming in with contrarian view
Ahh...so little time to post and so far behind on interesting threads! Nonetheless:
My simple (boring) answer is that the Milgauss is a wonderful time only watch. But so are the various ranges of Calatravas and the various time only watches shown on this thread.
The more complex answer is that it is difficult to say what is the right design of the time only watch in the particularly excellent framework of Antoine de Saing-Exupery where there is nothing left to take away. In fact there is much that can be taken away or changed from the various time-only watches on display and that is perhaps the issue. I feel like many of the watches we are looking at (in this thread but in the industry as a whole) are variations on a theme by "Walkman" but what we are striving for is "iPod"-like simplicity and I'm not sure the watch industry has achieved this. Or perhaps more accurately, the simple time-only movement is largely unchanged. I don't know what is the answer, but I wish there was a watch out there that made me feel more "iPod" than "simple-Walkman". Alas.
So, as a start I would, in addition to the simple time-only face and dial, seek to achieve a skeleton movement where the bridges were made of a type of material where the bridge itself was except for the jeweled sections extremely thin (and therefore NOT decorated - this is simplicity we are seeking after all). What would remain when gazing through the sapphire case-back would be only the absolute key moving gears and pinions with any extra metal removed. Picture string-thin bridges of sufficiently-hard material.
Regarding the dial - have you ever been in a hotel where the window to the bathroom (say) is clear but if you flick a switch, the window becomes opaque? I believe this is called "Smart Glass". Well my friends, this is how the dial would look - completely transparent front to back but with a simple twist of the crown - poof; an opaque dial with numerals appears.
But is it beautiful? I'm not sure - the closest I've seen to this type of utterly simple watch is the Corum Bridge series (sadly no Smart Glass) which I admit to admiring given its utter simplicity.
Of course, the utterly simple watch would require minimal if any lubrication - the holiest of the holy!
May the simplicity and innovation of the "iPod" eventually reach our watches and their movement; in the meantime- all the best.
The perfect time-only watch
There is a thread currently running on the AHCI Forum on Bernhard Zwinz’s Calibre R with a mock-up of the case and dial that may one day house it. I am interested to know how you would go about designing the ‘perfect’ simple watch. I am reminded again of ...
Here's a start...
If we're talking simple, then why use anything more than one hand? Here's the Breguet 4215 (which was later parlayed into a wristwatch, wasn't it?). Not as simple as it could be, but an elegant start, wouldn't you agree? Cheers, pplater...
A recent example...
Call to Don Corson - do you mind if your photo of this watch gets another airing?? Good shot of a great-looking watch. This is by Don's friend Niklaus Engi: very simple aesthetic, but in a modern context: Cheers, pplater....
A new Geophysic.
A refined dial, a nice case, and a great movement, which could have some modern improvements, but with the same care in the finish and decoration. 38 mm maximum. That would be my perfect time only watch. Best, Nicolas;...
My first vote goes…
As a hardcore JLC fan my first vote goes to Nicolas suggestion! That would be awesome! Best Blomman
You always have my support, my friend!
Especially when you talk about making a new version of a watch I love! Best Blomman
Why not if there is an horological content, and a nice aesthetics, which ...
Would both respect the virtues of the original, but in a modern way? You can always find a Geophysic, but I rarely saw one in good condition. Best, Nicolas.
My suggestion was not an alternative, but a cumulative one. :) [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-02-21 23:08:48
Patek Calatrava is my choice
G Simple elegant Julian Also love the Simplicity but don't own one ;>((...
ditto - it stands the test of time
About 50-60 years of time in this case This message has been edited by cazalea on 2011-02-21 09:24:59...
One of my favourites
Zenith Ultra Thin. It's not really that thin but the thickness is fitting as a dress watch. Like its dial and rose gold combination, clean & elegant look and its very reasonable price point. Not to mention its see through caseback to appreciate the Cal. 6...
VC 1921 comes to my mind
Simplicity, with a twist. Kudos to dufour simplicity and PP calatravas, they are benchmarks for simple elegance in the independent and mass space. They are great watches, but the one that truly touches me are not only simple 2 or 3 hands watches, but thos...
I am with you on this one ...
Of all the simple watches mentioned in this thread, the VC has tremendous presence and design flair. And I like watches with stories too. I haven't had one on my wrist yet, so will refrain from further comment until I can experience the size and proportio...
Richard Lange PLM
My vote goes to this amazing piece. Roman font in perfect proportions. Beautiful 3-part enamel dial. And a technically groundbreaking and aesthetically stunning movement. Can't ask for more in a time-only watch.
Surely a thread like this...
has to include a JLC Master Ultrathin. 34mm, two hands only, on a strap with a pin buckle. Such a beautiful movement. All the essentials, and nothing more. IMHO can't get much more perfect than that for a simple time only watch. grumio
Andrew, to me, there is no perfect watch.
PP Calatrava (with baton hour marker and a sub-second hand at 6) is a near perfect time-only watch. Regards Ling
Senator sixties
I love the sixties in steel with black dial. The next on my buy list ...
My second vote goes…
As a hardcore JLC fan my second vote goes to Stefan’s suggestion! Best Blomman
I nominate the one that started my collection
PP 4860 - Ladies officer case. Ginger This message has been edited by Ginger on 2011-02-21 06:39:46 This message has been edited by Ginger on 2011-02-21 06:49:36...
That's a great place to start a collection ...
... and probably to end one as well. Lovely Patek, Ginger. Andrew
Great photo, Jed!
Love how you caught the light on this one. Did you do much post-processing, or was this photo pretty much straight out of the box? Best, Gary G
Hey, thanks Gary.
I typically use Photoshop Elements on my photos because my lighting setup and lighting skills are sub-optimal. That said, so are my Photoshop skills! I punched up the lighting a little on this one, and I think I intensified the color a bit too. Best, Cali...
In the spirit of the observation watch ...
The Richard Lange sweep second appeals to my eye.
I think the Simplicity is the acme
but for regular consumption, the Richard Lange comes very close. I guess you could take the small numbers at 10,20,30... away too but I find them charming. Best Andreas...
Simplicity at its best IMO
A PAM21 Panerai Radiomir Base (watch at right) for me. Simple, elegant, clean design, and large sized 47mm (for us large sized watch fans). Plus you get a platinum case and Rolex movement too. Only downside is the non-removable lugs which makes strap chan...
nice one. this one remind my fool act not taking it to home. offered when it released.
i need to check one out, thanks....
Strap changing
Love the suggestion of the PAM21. In a thread dominated by smaller watches from 34 to 40mm, this shows how a simple time only watch can take on many forms. I also smiled at the comment on strap changing. Only a Paneristi would be concerned about such a th...
You can't just simply swap out straps once the old one is worn out
You need to find a strapmaker to stitch the strap directly onto the watch since the lugs are soldered on So that's why it's a pain in the butt to get a new strap on this Panerai. You need to find someone who you can trust too. Cheers, Anthony
Does Panerai offer this service?
Can you take it back to the AD and get them to sort out the headache? I see what you mean now, and even more frustrating for Peneristi wanting to change straps as often as they change socks! A
I would assume only the Boutiques would sort this headache out
I wouldn't want to send it to an AD but only directly to Panerai itself. Cheers, Anthony
one of aboens handmade leather...
one of aboens handmade leather NATO's would solve the problem. i've always wondered what a Radiomir would look like on a thick nato. G
I nominate the one that started my collection is my choice
PP 4860 - Ladies officer case. Ginger
I think.......
that the Richard Lange PLM, Simplicity and the Observatoire in that order are the standards in the time only watch department. My current favorite is the only one I have in the collection, a Jaquet Droz grande seconds. Tony...
there are too many to choose from, but from my own modern collection i'd say
that the Omega Railmaster is my perfect time only watch. it looks good on a bracelet, on croc and on a nato. its very easy to read in all lighting conditions. what more can you ask for?? there a vast number of vintage pieces that are possibly even better ...
This?
This... (mine) Or This... (not mine...the wrist is mine, though) If I have these two and two hands AP 5402ST, that would make my simple watches department perfect.... Ken...
Roger Smith series 2 open dial
is in my eyes the ultimate time only watch. wish had one Christian
The time only watch is a very difficult watch to design...
It may be paradoxical but I do believe that the time-only watch is a difficult timepiece to design: it has to be balanced and its simplicity doesn't have to mean "boring". So there is a sort of chemistry to find in order to get it perfect or close to perf...
FX you covered quite a few of ...
my favourites. Thanks! The perfect time only watch is probably the most difficult one to create. One day I will find mine - hopefully Oliver ps: Some have been or are close, but none is THE one - so far ...
This is exactly the point ...
... I wanted to bring out. Thanks FX and Oliver! On the surface you would think that anyone could come up with a simple two- or three-hand dress watch. It seems like it should be the first class in a Design 101 course. But in reality it is very difficult ...
This one works well for me.
With due respect to and admiration of those masters such as Dufour and Voutilainen, I do appreciate the classic simplicity of D.Dornblüth & Sohn:...
I would ask Omega to craft this . . .
. . . in steel. The tourbillon does not add complexity, in my humble opinion. It defines the design, which to my eyes is as universal as they come. Admittedly prejudiced, Art...
No perfect watch for me, but if I had to choose
This one comes pretty close, both in the elegant simplicity of both the dial and the movement. This message has been edited by mrsnak on 2011-02-21 13:54:17...
Well, it should be a chronometer
Beyond that, I can't decide. Depending upon whether one craves minimalism, or readability, or elegance, and perhaps also the relative importance of the movement. my selection:...
Your bases are pretty well covered, Steve. Like this idea a lot. [nt]
No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-02-21 22:51:11
Heck, I'm having trouble deciding if I prefer a time-only to have
1. Hour and Minute hands only. or 2. Centre seconds. or 3. Seconds subdial So choosing a perfect watch is close to impossible for me. Regards, Richard.
several came to mind .....
.. over different periods of my watch buying journey. My contribution to this tread on "Time Only" watch ... maybe with an exception with a little date window in one of them. A Glashutte Original - Meissen Vacheron Constatin - Heure Sautante JLCs and PPs....
Two candidates
I agree with the folks who have nominated the JLC MUT -- it's one of my very favorites, and I love wearing it -- very pure expression of simple and clean design, and tough to pull off a movement that thin! At the end of the day, though, for me it's this o...
Thank you to everyone who has contributed........
There are some superb pieces here. And my favourite would have to be for the Philippe Dufour.
Didn't We Forget About This? Debate Over....
Didn't we forget about this? (photo not mine...I can't possibly afford this piece of absolute perfection....)...
"time-only" ...
is without Tourbillon or something like this, isn´t it? If not, I could imagine a Minute Repeater as well ... My point of view: No additional complications, when "time-only"....
I thought we had to speak about a watch which doesn't exist, yet.
Now, if can can speak about modern or Vintage watches, I'm surprsied nobody mentionned this beauty ... Best, Nicolas....
Chiming in with contrarian view
Ahh...so little time to post and so far behind on interesting threads! Nonetheless: My simple (boring) answer is that the Milgauss is a wonderful time only watch. But so are the various ranges of Calatravas and the various time only watches shown on this ...
Not mine - but I wish it was
Pretty rare I guess and certainly expensive, but for sheer elegance, especially on a strap, I nominate the Urban Jurgensen Reference 5. colinwillsher...
Hey guys....how can you left me out?
Hi guys, There are no other time piece in the market that tell me with a UNIQUE way of its own, Guys,nonetheless , THE URWERK MEXICAN LEG, Would you agree with me?? BHK9...
As a time-only watch lover
Here is my own selection: # 1) Breguet La Tradition, taking its roots in 2 centuries old watchmaking traditions but also very modern in some aspects. Perfect with a suit, great with casual wear, and not so expensive compared to its pair #2) Roger Dubuis M...
Grand Seiko and JLC
Alas no pictures as I'm travelling! Grand Seiko SBGW001 - the dial colour is incredible (very subtle cream) Grand Seiko SBGR037 - the blued hands and embossed dial are beautiful JLC MUT - need I say more?!