The "ish" Watch For The Perpetually Casual. Clarification On The Designs And Pricing.

You might have seen this watch on various 'creative' sites and blog in the past week. A new watch by HYPHEN, The Indian Stretchable Time' / 'ish' watch, allows for some leeway when it comes to time. In lieu of your typical quarter hour markings, the "ish" watch has 12ish, 3ish, 6ish and 9ish printed askew on the white face.



Despite getting lots of recent press on sites such as Designboom, Comm Arts and other creative design blogs and e-mags, no one seems to have pointed out that the watch details seem to be inconsistent in terms of the hands, the second hand, the bezels and the straps shown in the images that have been posted.







The Actual "Ish" Watches Styles:
So, I wrote to Filter, the company for whom the watch was made, in hopes of getting both clarification on the design and price and I have. The watch is available in the following three designs.

BLACK/RED:

BLACK/WHITE:

BROWN/WHITE:


Note the following, despite the numerous photos in this post:
• All three straps have stitching in either red or white
• All three watches have different bezels.
• The Black/Red version has a red secondhand and red stitching on the band.
• The Black/ White Version has different hands on the face than the other two.
• The hands on the Black/Red and Brown/White version are pointed at the ends (not flat as in several of the photos) and despite the photos they sent me, I am not certain if they are black or chromed.

I do not know a thing about the crystal on the face, nor do I know if the bezels are stainless steel or chromed metal (given the price, I am guessing they are chromed metal). Other than the product shots and price, I received no more detail.

Each "Ish" watch costs $50 USD (excluding shipping charges).

Regardless of the face and bezel details, the beautiful packaging expresses the attitude and philosophy behind the wristwatch in text:





The designer, Prasanna Sankhe, describes the "Ish" watch in the following words:
In India, 'fashionably late' is safely replaced with 'predictably late'. Cow blockades, politician escorts, and cratered roads, compound the problem and offer a valid excuse. So when you reach half-an-hour after the appointed time, you don't explain yourself. You wait for the other person to arrive. We used this life insight, and added some dark humour to it.



We simply added a suffix to time periods. And moved the numerals from their classic perpendicular positions, tilting them to an approximate point on the dial. Hence six was not six. Eight was not eight. It was 'six-ish' and 'eight-ish'. Thus was born the 'ish Watch'.

The audience instantly connected with the watch, as it reminded them of the times they had been either the victim or culprit of tardiness. However, as a 'non-punctual' attitude is almost part of the Indian ethos, they bought into the idea and the watch, without delay.



Available at Filter, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.
Contact them here to purchase the watch

Creative Director: Prasanna Sankhe
Designer: Prasanna Sankhe
Writer: Cyrus Daruwala
Photographer: Ashish Vaidya
Music: Ferzad Variyava
Producer: Fabian Fernandes
Editor: Basu
Fabricator: Suresh
Agency coordinator: Jennifer Fernandes

About HYPHEN:

Started in 2011, by Alok Nanda, founder of Alok Nanda & company, and Prasanna Sankhe, ex National Creative Director of Publicis Ambience India, HYPHEN is the first brand engagement product agency in India.

A Wristwatch Face Made Of Sealing Wax. BOAT Introduces The Custom Sealed Watch.

Hong Kong based boat (Be Optimistic and Thankful) has introduced the unusual and fun 'Sealed Watch.' The modern, simple, colorful unisex wristwatches are made to order based on your own color choices of face, hands, bezel and strap.



High grade sealing wax is heated to the appropriate temperature and then melted onto the dial where it is stamped with a seal in a specific pattern.




After cooling, the dial, hands, strap and movement are then assembled by hand with care and passion.



The watch is then checked for quality and functionality, then packaged and shipped worldwide with a confirmation e-mail and tracking order.





Note: the face of the watch is truly made from wax with a minimum melting point of 140- 158 degrees farenheit (60 -70 degrees celsius), so don't leave it in direct sun or in very hot conditions because it will melt.




Specs:
Case: 316L Stainless Steel Sand Blasting Finish
Case diameter: 39mm
Lens: Hardened Mineral Glass
Dial: Sealing Wax & Brass
Strap: Genuine Calf-Leather
Water Resistant: 3ATM
Movement: Japanese Movement
Battery: Silver oxide SR626SW, ±20 second / month, worn under normal circumstances
Warranty: 12 Months

- Quartz oscillator frequency: 32,768Hz
- Accuracy ( worn under normal circumstances): ±20 second per month
- Driving system: Two-pole stepping motor
- Battery: Silver oxide SR626SW battery with approximately 3 years life

Specifications might be changed without prior notice.

The entire process takes only minutes online and then your personal custom Sealed Watch is yours for only $85.



Order your Sealed Watch here.

Racing-Inspired Watches. Autodromo Motoring Timepieces Are Just Your Speed.

Inspired by automotive instruments such as speedometers and tachometers, Autodromo Motoring Watches are a new collection of Swiss made wristwatches whose faces are minimal in design and reminiscent of vintage Italian racing-inspired style.

Just launched, the collection consists of three models, two available in two different finishes; the Brescia, the Vallelunga, with a white or black dial, and the Veloce in a black or stainless finish.

Brescia:



Vallelunga (white face):



Vallelunga (black face):



Veloce (stainless case):



Veloce (black case):



With quartz movements, sapphire coated crystals and leather straps, the watch cases measure 42mm in diameter and 10 mm in thickness and are designed for both men and women.




And the come beautifully packed in individual cases:


The Autodromo Story (courtesy of Autodromo)

INSTRUMENTS FOR MOTORING

Officine Autodromo was founded to recapture a romantic era of motoring. It was a time of Gran Turismo when driving from city to city wasn't just a matter of hopping onto an expressway. It meant slipping on your driving gloves for a high speed jaunt through the great roads of Europe with a powerful, sweet-sounding engine propelling you into new adventure, and maybe even a little danger. You can’t be out every day, blasting through alpine passes and winding country roads, but with an Autodromo timepiece on your wrist, your mind can be motoring, even when you are in the dullest of Monday meetings.


VINTAGE-INSPIRED MINIMALIST DESIGN

Autodromo watches and accessories draw aesthetic inspiration from the world of mid-century auto racing. Our products have a vintage feel, alloyed with a clean, uncluttered modernist design philosophy. Each new product is conceived as an artifact that might have existed in the past, but is equally at home in the world of today.

SWISS MADE MOVEMENTS – BATCH MADE QUALITY

Only the finest quality materials and the best Swiss Made movements are deemed suitable to go into an Autodromo motoring watch. And because we keep our batches small, we can ensure that each piece that goes out the door meets our exacting standards of excellence. Our goal is to offer beautiful design, attention to detail, and exquisite craftsmanship at prices that represent a smart allocation of resources. With Autodromo, you can live well and drive well.

PROUDLY INDEPENDENT – OBSESSIVELY DRIVEN

Everything we do, from our motoring watches to the custom wrapping paper we ship each purchase in are designed in-house by our small, passionate team. We build products we are passionate about, and approach each and every new project with the goal of crafting a special and memorable experience for the discerning customer. That’s our obsession.- Autodromo

Each stylish watch retails for $425 and can be purchased at their website.

A special shout-out to Brian Jones for bringing these to my attention.