Back in May I wrote and published an article featuring ten extraordinarily talented independent watchmakers. The editorial (entitled Independent Watchmakers) illustrated many unique and exciting new watches available on the market. One of these fantastic and original creations is the superb We1S wristwatch. This amazing timepiece is the brainchild of progressive thinking Luc Pellaton.
Originating from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland Luc Pellaton has successfully followed in his watchmaking grandfathers footsteps. With a fascination for computer engineering and mechanical watches he established WATCHe. This company combines the skillset of both product designers and mechanical engineers. What they have devised is a protective mobile phone case that incorporates a mechanical timepiece. Hopefully this innovation will appeal to a large demographic of watch and technology lovers.
Out of all the products currently available my favourite is definitely the We1S wristwatch. With dimensions of 59 x 55 x 13.5 mm this is an absolutely massive timepiece. Realistically these gigantic proportions and the futuristic design won’t appeal to everyone. I love large watches and so these substantial measurements would never become an issue for me. Considering the size of this piece I can imagine it would feel fairly comfortable to wear. Primarily this is down to the ergonomic design of the case and use of lightweight aluminium in manufacture. Amazingly this watch only weighs a mere 73 grams. In my opinion this stunning timepiece would look really cool with jeans and a polo shirt.
Visually this is a really striking timepiece that is designed to make a bold statement. The skeletonised façade wonderfully showcases the mechanical workings of the watch. I love the black dial, which is subtly punctuated with white geometric lines. Overall the We1S has a superb contemporary appearance similar to watches in much higher price bracket. Another distinctive feature is the open worked hour, minute and second hands with red super-luminova. This sensational timepiece perfectly fuses traditional watchmaking with cutting edge industrial design.
Mechanically the We1S is equipped with a decent enough manual winding Swiss ETA 6497. The caliber comprises 17 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour. Presently WATCHe source all their movements from Swatch. This might change in future due to the company’s policy of only selling to members of the group. Functionally the watch features hours, minutes, seconds and a power reserve of 46-hours.
With only a limited amount of pieces being produced I feel this phenomenal watch will sell out very quickly. The suggested retail is: CHF 3,950 (approximately $4,339)
