by Ian Skellern
In 2010 I had the pleasure of visiting a Swiss artist, whose talents spread across a broad spectrum of artistic domains, from installation art to film and from performance art to graphic design.
However, this artist would be much better known to anyone reading Quill & Pad as the designer of some of the most revolutionary wristwatches of the last century.
On my visit around his office − which was then, and as far as I know now, basically just desk space sublet at the offices of an architectural firm − I could not help but notice that he frequently reached into his pocket to touch something (I’m long past surprised at an artist acting weird).
I noticed because he was reaching into his left trouser pocket with his left hand, and I was continually distracted by the watch he was wearing on his left wrist, which had not yet been launched. It’s a watch I often still see him wearing today.
What was in his pocket was an even bigger secret than what was on his wrist. He explained that he had designed a new watch, though it wasn’t a wristwatch (but it has since been made into a wristwatch), and he wanted to make sure that the case shape felt nice to hold in the hand, slide easily in and out of pockets, and was comfortable resting in a pocket.
Though it isn’t really a pocket watch, either.
So he had made a wooden block the same shape as his proposed watch (or perhaps instrument?) and over a few weeks he tweaked the shape until it felt just right.
What I would like to know this week is:
- name of the artist
- what watch is on his wrist
- what timepiece is shaped like this block of wood in his hands
Please leave your answers in the comments below.
Congratulations to John G for his get-rich-quick winning suggestion in last week’s caption competition. You can check out that and all of last week’s caption entries at Caption Competition No. 26: Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees, Watches However . . ..
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
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[…] Congratulations to Birch for the first correct answer to last week’s competition featuring Urwerk designer Martin Frei. You can check out that and all of last week’s entries at Riddle Me This: When Is A Watch Not A Watch? Caption Competition #27. […]
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Also published on Medium.
Max busser
Wearing hmx
Urwerk ur-1001
It looks like it could be the new organic iPhone I’ve heard whispers of; apparently Apple has worked out how to grow gadgets.
I agree with watch man Dan that it is
Max Busser
He is wearing the HMX
But I believe the way ch shape in question would end up being the Zr012 collaboration watch with Urwerk
I suspect Martin Frei, wearing the ur110 and with the ur1001 in his pocket?
Martin Frei,
Wearing Urwerk cc1 king cobra, the shape in his hands is a design study for the ur-1001 zeit device