Independents

J_Warden
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I am too.

And I agree, Don - it could be so much better.

I have read the reports of the development of this watch with great interest.  When  I heard the MIH team was at it again I was very excited, but I'm afraid this watch is just trying too hard.  I can't help but compare it to the MIH.

The MIH requires no explanations in order to appreciate it's design; it's clear to anyone that it is a good quality minimalist design just by looking at it casually.  If you dig deeper though you find there are interesting mechanical qualities inside the case too, which is a bonus, but certainly not required in order to enjoy the watch.   So it's a great design with immediate appeal, but there is depth to the story too.  Nice.

This watch though is difficult.  The trick movement may be minimalist (and I certainly appreciate that)  but the dial design is anything but, and is quite confusing to read, at least to me. The display of time and date seems unfinished and off balance.  It looks like the punched dial is mis-aligned, but it isn't.

The coarsely machined case is a wonderful idea that I can embrace, but again I'm left puzzled by the execution.  The part of the case that we see most (the body/bezel) does not show much of the interesting machining marks that the makers are so fond of.  Unless I'm missing something it's a simple circle, and that's a shape that doesn't exactly require F1 experience to produce.  I'm sorry but it looks like brushed SS to me.  The intentional machining evidence left on the rear of the watch is working very well I think from an aesthetic standpoint.

The watch is conceptually interesting to me (but only on the inside) and it has cool machining marks (but only on the back side).  Can you appreciate my struggle with this one?  A watch of this sort is purchased based solely on internet pictures (unless you happen to be traveling to Lucerne or St. Moritz where they can be seen in the raw) and the pictures aren't speaking to me one bit.

Contrast this with the introduction of the Settimana Junior, which I like unreservedly.  It's smaller size and extra wide strap are a very cool combination.  The design isn't fussy and it requires no special introduction to understand it -  it's just a very good design that is executed well.  The proportions of the case, dial and numerals are working harmoniously.  The font is just right.   It has the same fancy machining but who cares?   I think it's their best work, and the pictures alone tell the story.  All the text on their web page is unnecessary, because I'm already sold - not for my kids, but for me.



Thanks again for the report Magnus, and I do hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings with my purely subjective opinions.

Jeff