Disclaimer: this video/review was not sponsored by Zavod or any other entity.
Video
Review
Recently, I made an impulsive purchase that was spurred by too many idle hours on Instagram, where I stumbled upon a watch that captured my attention with its vintage jump hour style of design. This watch isn’t a jump hour, but has a direct read display with minutes and hours. This intriguing piece was designed by Aleksej Iskos, a Ukrainian-born Danish designer, and is available through the retail store Zavod. The watch was released as a Kickstarter project launched in 2023, and was successfully funded by nearly 400 backers, raising close to $75,000.
What sets this watch apart, aside from its design, is the unique homage it pays to Dark Sky Preserves around the globe. On the back, each watch features the names and coordinates of these reserves, along with a star chart and details of the annual meteor shower specific to that location. This edition, the Warrambungle, showcases a design inspired by the view from the Australian dark sky reserve at Warrumbungle National Park. Priced at $210, this watch offers a very unusual method of time display in a neatly designed and well built package.
This watch is encased in stainless steel, measuring 40mm in diameter and slightly over 9mm in thickness, with a 20mm lug width. Its design features recessed lugs, resulting in a lug-to-lug width that is notably less than the diameter of the case, enhancing its compact appearance. The crown is signed and knurled, and is easy to grip and operation. For the minute and hour apertures, mineral glass is used. Additionally, two circular notches are strategically placed above each aperture, serving as reference points to facilitate time reading. Overall, the build quality and finishing of the watch are quite good.
This watch sports a distinctive dial design that incorporates white dial elements with black printed text for a stark, easily legible contrast. At the center of the dial is a circular aperture showcasing a rotating minute wheel, while the lower arc aperture displays the hour track. Both the minute and hour wheels move in a clockwise direction. However, the minute is read at the top of its track and the hour at the bottom, which can be initially perplexing. This setup is further complicated by the visibility of the entire minute disk contrasted with only a segment of the hour disk, adding a unique twist to reading the time.
The printing quality across the dial is commendable, ensuring that all elements remain clear and readable despite the unconventional layout. Initially, you might find yourself performing some mental gymnastics as you acclimate to the unconventional method of time-telling presented by this design. Yet, once accustomed, the innovative arrangement contributes to the watch’s unique charm and character.
The watch, with its 40mm diameter and 9mm thickness, sits comfortably on the wrist, enhancing its wearability. Thanks to its recessed lugs, the lug-to-lug width is unexpectedly smaller than the case diameter, lending it a wrist presence akin to a much smaller watch. In fact, it wears more like a traditional 37mm watch, making it surprisingly compact and easy to manage for various wrist sizes.
Adapting to reading the time on this watch can initially be a challenge, as its unique time display diverges from conventional layouts. Although it is likely that this watch serves as much as a statement piece or a form of wrist art as it does a practical timepiece. This attribute might appeal especially to those who value watches not only for their functionality but also for their aesthetic appeal and the conversations they might inspire.
Overall, my feelings about this watch are mixed. As a regular visitor to this site, you’ll know I have a penchant for the weird and wonderful in watch design. However, I find myself somewhat ambivalent about this particular model. It was the result of an impulse buy during a late-night browsing session, drawn in by its distinctive jump hour style and unusual design. Priced at $210, it’s not the most regrettable impulse purchase one could make in the watch collecting world.
Despite my reservations, it’s undeniable that the watch is well-constructed and visually appealing. The strap quality is satisfactory, and it features a Miyota 2036 Quartz movement, which is in line with the type of movements you can expect for this price range. If you’re drawn to its quirky aesthetic and don’t mind the mental gymnastics involved in reading the time, or if you view it primarily as a fashion statement, this watch might just be a delightful addition to your collection. For those who appreciate its unique charm and are looking for something that stands out, it could indeed prove to be a worthwhile acquisition.
