The Rise and Rise of Unusually Shaped Watches

Inspired by the refreshingly whimsical looks of modern and retro, watch brands are seduced by new and avant-garde watch shapes. From Fata Morgana-esque references to 1950s disco, here are the new dial silhouettes to look out for.

Berneron Mirage

(Image credit: Courtesy of the brand)

It can be unsettling to look at images of Berneron’s floating world. As if inspired by Dalí, young watchmaker Sylvain Berneron’s debut watch is an enigmatic creation that offers more than meets the eye. The dial is permeated by a mirage, hence the name of the model. Despite first impressions, the design is based on the strange but optimized shape of a thin 2.3mm in-house movement, designed on a solid gold baseplate by Berneron and housed in an elegant white gold case.

Berneron

Furlan Marri Disco

Clocks

(Image credit: Courtesy of the brand)

With a dial that exudes the complex charm of the late 1940s but with a cheeky touch of lume, Furlan Marri hits the spot with their interpretation of the 1950s watch shape known as the Disco Volante. Offering a new take on the dress watch pizza, it hides small lugs from view, hidden in an organic, round case. When offered with a Milanese mesh strap, it has a large presence that is surprising for a small 38mm case.

Furlan Marri

Toledano & Chan B/1 TimeForArt

Clocks

(Image credit: Courtesy of the brand)

In this one-of-a-kind piece for December’s TimeForArt auction in New York, the B/1’s brutalist charm is translated into a massive meteorite as old as the Earth itself, giving it the appearance of an ancient artifact belonging to an alien civilization left on our planet. The meteorite dial’s criss-cross stripe patterns match the case for dramatic textural beauty, attached to a tonal ostrichbone bracelet.

Toledano & Chan

Anomaly A1

Clocks

(Image credit: Courtesy of the brand)

London-based brand Matteo Violet-Vianello takes inspiration from the soft shapes of the 1950s and is going viral this year with the A1. regard. That a triangular watch feels natural on the wrist says a lot about Violet-Vianello’s design expertise, and the vibrant two-tone dial makes the A1 a standout piece. It is a triangular and colorful symbol of today’s emerging love for unusually shaped beauty.

Anoma watches

Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse

gold watch

(Image credit: Courtesy of the brand)

The original and best, the Golden Ellipse, is the result of 15 years of development. Consisting of over 300 links and 363 parts, the 18k rose gold bracelet surpasses anything on the market for elegant comfort and contrasts exquisitely with an ebony black dial.

Patek Philippe

Berneron Mirage

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