As Nomos Glashütte constantly fetches awards for its austere timepieces, there is clearly more to minimalism than meets the eye.
Tina Bunyaprasit and Werner Aisslinger, co-designers of Autobahn.
Nomos Autobahn Neomatik 41 Date was the latest winner at the “Red Dot Design Award 2018”, following last year’s success of the Metro Neomatik Nachtblau with a simple dark blue dial.
A collaboration with Studio Hannes Wettstein, the ultra-thin 35.5 mm Minimatik with delicate dots and perlage on the dial received the highest distinction Red Dot: Best Of The Best in the watch category in 2016.
Eight other models by the German brand had previously been honoured at the design competition,
which recognises products with outstanding form, function, aesthetics and quality.
Renowned designers, Werner Aisslinger and half Thai-half German Tina Bunyaprasit, teamed up with
the Nomos design department in creating and refining the Autobahn, which took over four years.
Aisslinger’s designs are on display, for instance, at the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA),
the Fonds national d’art contemporain in Paris, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
The German designer, whose studios are located in Berlin and Singapore, is also known for his work
for Vitra, futuristic hotels, the Loftcube living space, greenhouse installations and renewable chairs.
However, designing a small object that sits on the wrist is new for him. On the design of the award-winning Autobahn model, he said: “It’s dashing, sporty, a powerful machine — without being brash or loud.
This watch reminds me of a vintage sports car. There are definitely more contemporary modes of transport, but old automobiles, their form and finishing, fascinate me.
And I love speed!” Striking aspects include the depth of the dial, elongated date window displaying three days at once (yesterday, today and tomorrow) and a luminous ring of superluminova-coated bars.
“The edge of the dial is curved, like the outside lane of a racetrack or the fender of a vintage race car. With a gentle swing, it flattens out into the watch face. And the sub-seconds dial repeats these curves,”
Aisslinger explained. “Of course, the typography, the luminous ring, and the elongated date window also
play an important role. The last element is reminiscent of an odometer. But perhaps the most important
characteristic is its outstanding production.”
While designed in Berlin, the stainless steel Autobahn Neomatik 41 Date is made in Germany’s watchmaking cradle, Glashütte, and equipped with Nomos neomatik calibre with a self-winding mechanism and a date function.
Offering water resistance to 100m, the watch comes in three variations, with the white silver-plated dial lending a classic look and midnight blue or grey dials for a sporty look.
Nomos Glashütte watches are available at its counters in Paragon and Central Chidlom department stores.
Tag Connected scoops Red Dot award
Connected Modular 41 with a traditional look.
Since 2015, Tag Heuer has been upscaling smartwatches whereas other prestigious watch brands may be reluctant about rolling out wearable technology.
The effort has paid off with its Connected Modular 45 Luxury Kit winning the 2018 “Red Dot: Best Of The Best” product design award.
The jury was impressed by interchangeable parts, such as case, lugs,strap and clasp, not to mention how the connected watch can be replaced with an automatic mechanical chronograph.
As the 45mm model may be too large for small or Asian wrists, Tag Heuer has expanded the range with Connected Modular 41 featuring upgraded technology from Silicon Valley.
The new model further demonstrates Tag Heuer’s ardour in being a leader in the luxury connected watch segment.
The Swiss brand dates back to 1860, when Edouard Heuer opened a workshop in St-Imier, in the Swiss Jura region.
Moving with the times and embracing today’s changing technology, Tag Heuer introduced its first connected watch, six months after the Apple Watch in 2015.
Developed in collaboration with Google and Intel, the oversized Android Wear model measured 46mm while looking like a classic timepiece in a titanium case.
The ongoing collaboration resulted in the award-winning Connected Modular 45 introduced in March last year, and the new Connected Modular 41 offering the functionality of its bigger 45mm brother.
Features include GPS, an NFC sensor enabling contactless payment via Android Pay and customisable dials. Moreover, the ingenious modular concept allows swopping to a Calibre 5 three-hand mechanical
module.
Improvements include the AMOLED 390x390 screen offering 326ppi resolution and improved brightness to 350 nits and increased storage capacity to 8GB and RAM memory to 1GB.
Running Android Wear operating system, the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 and 41 are compatible with AndroidTM 4.4 phones and iOS 9 or later versions.
The smaller size of the Connected Modular 41 and new strap colours in pink, blue and white leather may also appeal to female clients, in expanding the target group for sumptuous connected watches.
Tissot releases a racy collection
The northeastern province of Buri Ram will host the first MotoGP in Thailand, namely the PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2018, which will be held on Oct 5-7 at Chang International Circuit.
Official timekeeper Tissot has geared up to the premier racing championship by introducing bold limited editions presented in helmet-shaped boxes.
Housed in a stainless steel case with black and rose-gold PVD coating, Tissot T-Race MotoGP 2018 models are inspired by the tough structure and different parts of fast bikes.
On the automatic chronograph model, the brake-disc is portrayed on the bezel and on the oscillating mass of its movement, seen through the transparent case back resembling the shape of a motorcycle wheel.
Additionally, dashboard, footrests, tyre and rear suspension rods are referenced on the dial, pushers, strap and its attachment to the case.
The 45mm limited-edition is available in 3,333 pieces whereas the 43mm quartz version in 8,888 pieces.
The design of the latter differs in the layout of the counters and touches of red on the dial with a tyre motif, the MotoGP’s logo silk-printed on the case back, and rubber strap illustrating perforated leather of racers’ suits.
The Swiss brand collaborated with Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez for two other quartz limited editions, in steel with dark-grey and black pvd coating that punches up a sporty look.
The colour scheme relates to each champion racer, whose logo appears on the silk-printed case back.
