Comments:
Removed link to personal site per forum policy.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2008-10-08 12:50:43
My Radical Watch concepts - What do you think?
Hi,
I am a Swiss product design student from Los Angeles, and I recently completed work on a project where I designed and fabricated a set of watches that are radical in function and aesthetics.
I absolutely wanted to stay away from the traditional look, and picked sources of inspiration that are foreign to watch making. What do you think? 
The SRAM Watch, directly inspired by SRAM bicycle components.
Brembo Watch, quite literally inspired by the high-end automotive disc brakes. 
CATERPILLAR Watch, inspired by the tracks of a bulldozer.
For more details about the vision behind the project, please read:
I hope you enjoyed my project. I'd love to hear your opinions.
Thanks.
Nicolas Lehotzky
Edited to show images.
This message has been edited by SJX on 2008-10-08 03:21:35Removed link to personal site per forum policy.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2008-10-08 12:50:43
Interesting, and clearly unusual designs...
Nicolas –
My opinion is that while you have succeeded in breaking out of conventional watch design aesthetics, I question whether there would be much of a market for such designs. I say that for the simple reason that people tend to buy watches either strictly for function, for a combination of function and design, or purely as an accessory. In the first case, consumers seek straightforward, practical design, and there is no need or desire on the part of the consumer to spend (meaningful) extra money for design. In the second and third cases, most consumers are, of course, cognizant of how a watch design reflects on them. Whether the look is sporty, elegant, classical, vintage, etc., most consumers either consciously or subconsciously want their watches to project something. And while your watch designs are certainly a departure from the norm, which would, in and of itself, say something about the wearer, I am a bit skeptical that there would other than a rather small market for them.
I did follow the link, and read your answers to related questions, but remain unconvinced that there might be other than a small, niche market for them. Having said that, I am a collector of vintage watches, and am therefore probably a poor predictor of future watch trends!
In any case, good luck with your efforts, and keep us posted.
Regards,
Tony C.
My opinion is that while you have succeeded in breaking out of conventional watch design aesthetics, I question whether there would be much of a market for such designs. I say that for the simple reason that people tend to buy watches either strictly for function, for a combination of function and design, or purely as an accessory. In the first case, consumers seek straightforward, practical design, and there is no need or desire on the part of the consumer to spend (meaningful) extra money for design. In the second and third cases, most consumers are, of course, cognizant of how a watch design reflects on them. Whether the look is sporty, elegant, classical, vintage, etc., most consumers either consciously or subconsciously want their watches to project something. And while your watch designs are certainly a departure from the norm, which would, in and of itself, say something about the wearer, I am a bit skeptical that there would other than a rather small market for them.
I did follow the link, and read your answers to related questions, but remain unconvinced that there might be other than a small, niche market for them. Having said that, I am a collector of vintage watches, and am therefore probably a poor predictor of future watch trends!
In any case, good luck with your efforts, and keep us posted.
Regards,
Tony C.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your feedback, I value your opinion.
You are right, the concepts that I showed on this page are very radical, perhaps reaching too far on the scale to appeal to more then a niche market. However, these three concepts were made more with the goal of getting attention, which it did, in order to communicate my vision to the audience, more so than to create directly marketable items. Besides marketability, there remain some unsolved technical issues with my three concepts.
I would say that the vision of the 'Radical' watch design can be applied to different products at different degrees. Pure radical watches already exist and sell successfully, as is demonstrated by URWERK watches and a few other newcomers, Tokyoflash being on the low end of the scale. But radical elements are applied to more classic brands as well: Consider the Harry Winston opus series of watches, which incorporates a mechanism developed by URWERK, while closely resembling their traditional siblings.
As you indicated, watch buyers, typically more conservative, are interested in function and the accessory value of their purchase. However, I know few people in the age range of 20-40, at least here in the United States, who wear watches in order to read time, as time is available on the multitude of electronics we carry with us.
Aesthetics, the aspect of the accessory, and the symbol of status thus play an increasingly important role in watch purchases.
What will the wearer of a Tokyoflash watch buy once he reaches a more mature age? What kind of statement is he making with his watch?
He is the customer I am targeting with radical watches.
Best regards,
Nicolas Lehotzky
You are right, the concepts that I showed on this page are very radical, perhaps reaching too far on the scale to appeal to more then a niche market. However, these three concepts were made more with the goal of getting attention, which it did, in order to communicate my vision to the audience, more so than to create directly marketable items. Besides marketability, there remain some unsolved technical issues with my three concepts.
I would say that the vision of the 'Radical' watch design can be applied to different products at different degrees. Pure radical watches already exist and sell successfully, as is demonstrated by URWERK watches and a few other newcomers, Tokyoflash being on the low end of the scale. But radical elements are applied to more classic brands as well: Consider the Harry Winston opus series of watches, which incorporates a mechanism developed by URWERK, while closely resembling their traditional siblings.
As you indicated, watch buyers, typically more conservative, are interested in function and the accessory value of their purchase. However, I know few people in the age range of 20-40, at least here in the United States, who wear watches in order to read time, as time is available on the multitude of electronics we carry with us.
Aesthetics, the aspect of the accessory, and the symbol of status thus play an increasingly important role in watch purchases.
What will the wearer of a Tokyoflash watch buy once he reaches a more mature age? What kind of statement is he making with his watch?
He is the customer I am targeting with radical watches.
Best regards,
Nicolas Lehotzky
Pretty cool
I think if you used different materials (i.e stainless steel or titanium) you would have everyone drooling, or at least giving your designs more consideration. Nice concepts- I don't know how they would sell but I could see them being jumping off points for future directions. Thanks for sharing and keep at it!
Cary
Cary
Wacky and interesting, especially the CAT watch.
Of course, it's totally impractical. But wouldn't it be great if you could actually get it to work?
In reality these designs are no more weird than a watch encased in a sealed chamber which would disintegrate if removed from it. And that one sells for six digits, or so I am told.
Cheers
Tony P
In reality these designs are no more weird than a watch encased in a sealed chamber which would disintegrate if removed from it. And that one sells for six digits, or so I am told.
Cheers
Tony P
good ideas, BUT
i feel your target market would not be the ideal market
instead of targeting groups such as brembo brake/cat/sram owners you could take this idea (looks like revolving watch) into a new market..
a rotating watch cannot be accurate due to friction and stress on the watch, encase this rotating bit inside of another piece.. use precious metals but no stones (gaudy) and then work on a rubber strap that would be classier or develop another strap idea..
this would be your idea, refocused towards the market that would actually pay for the piece... imagine your "rotating disk" idea.. with 2 disks... with the "heart" that is running the piece on either side.. one displays minutes and one displays hours.. such as the quick 5 minute idea i came up with below using your idea of an circle being rotated around by a block to tell time
instead of targeting groups such as brembo brake/cat/sram owners you could take this idea (looks like revolving watch) into a new market..
a rotating watch cannot be accurate due to friction and stress on the watch, encase this rotating bit inside of another piece.. use precious metals but no stones (gaudy) and then work on a rubber strap that would be classier or develop another strap idea..
this would be your idea, refocused towards the market that would actually pay for the piece... imagine your "rotating disk" idea.. with 2 disks... with the "heart" that is running the piece on either side.. one displays minutes and one displays hours.. such as the quick 5 minute idea i came up with below using your idea of an circle being rotated around by a block to tell time