Some people feel that the definition of “minimalism” is to reduce something to its bare essentials until just utility remains. While removing superfluous and extraneous items is an integral part of minimalism, it is not the only aspect. Doing it well necessitates a high level of artistry as well as a thorough understanding of sound design.
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the field of horology. Watches appear to be a straightforward concept: wearable timepieces. However, they’re pretty intricate, and even the best artisans struggle to create ones that are both aesthetically beautiful and simple.
Furthermore, to be deemed minimalist, a watch does not have to be devoid of additional functions. Our selection of the finest minimalist watches includes timepieces that only tell the time, as well as clocks, moon phase timekeepers, and more.
WATCH TIMEX FAIRFIELD
Timex is about as trustworthy and familiar as a budget-friendly brand gets, but they don’t skimp on style, as evidenced by the Fairfield watch you see here. This watch features a simple face, quartz movement, ceramic case, and a stylish and comfortable leather strap free from practically all distractions while still eye-catching.
Limited Edition 005 by TID Watches
TID’s Limited Edition 005 is an excellent example of Bauhaus sensibilities with such a bit of thriving, and it’s part of their “A moment in time” collaboration with Builders Club, a London-based creative studio founded by Julien Simsäuser and Jonas Hegi.
This lovely watch features a translucent body, a more straightforward display, tri-colored hands, and a silicone band to highlight how expressive a single, focused instant can be. If you want a more minimalist, less vibrant look, there are even more alternatives available.
WATCH MIANSAI M24 II
It’s astonishing when a brand can accomplish so much with so little, like the Miansai M24 II watch you’re looking at can. This watch appears to be very basic at first glance. However, if you peel back the layers, you’ll see mastery at work, from the off-set crown to the pared-down markings that exactly complement the breadth of the hands. It’s simple to take the watch’s minor style hints and design genius for granted, but we suppose that’s half of the goal.
CONTINENTAL WATCH BY ROSSLING & CO.
A watch with even a single sub-dial may appear to be very non-minimalist. However, we’re convinced that Rossling & Co. has disproved that attitude with their gorgeous Continental Watch. This watch, powered by a Swiss movement, is devoid of distracting iconography, instead choosing for simple tick marks on both the direct dial and the smaller seconds dial. This one also has a super-thin case and a tweed strap, which is a first.
WATCH INSTRMNT T-42
One of the challenges of designing a minimalist watch is striking a balance between removing unnecessary elements and keeping the clock readable at a glance. And the Instrmnt T-42 does a fantastic job of doing just that. A vegetable-tanned leather band complements the dark dial, yet the dial markings and Arabic numerals ensure that it is still easy to read. It also has a small date window for extra time-tracking as a plus.
