My Vote For The 5 Ugliest Watches Ever (Archive)
by John Keil
As the saying goes, “There’s an ass for every seat.”
While this is very true, I still find it so hard to believe that some watch designs are ever even considered, much less actually produced and ultimately purchased. In fairness, the following list may not actually contain the five ugliest watches ever, but they sure aren’t easy on the eyes.
While I might not win any fans from the brands whose watches I’ve nominated for this list, or those who’ve designed or purchased one of these works of horror-logical creativity, I would still like to have some fun at their expense.
#5 Krieger Skeleton Skeleton
The Krieger Skeleton Skeleton is ugly inside and out.
There’s a complete lack of fine finishing on the limited amount of plates and bridges, while a mangled skull hovers over the barrel with two rubies for eyes.
Krieger Skeleton Skeleton
I’m not going to say what the crown looks like to me – and I’m sure you can figure it out – but it isn’t as pretty as what comes to mind.
To add insult to injury, Krieger not only produced and tried to sell this watch, but continued to forge ahead by creating an incredibly creepy advertisement for it. Seriously: guyliner?
I imagine this dude listening to Goth music and doing some heavy drugs while watching a Saw marathon.
#4 Azimuth Roulette
Charlie: Hi, I’m Charlie and I have a gambling problem.
Azimuth: Hi, Charlie, we’re the Azimuth Watch Company and, boy, do we have the watch for you!
Azimuth Roulette
We took a big block of metal and put a really small roulette table on it that actually works. You activate the ball using the oversized dice cube that doubles as a crown.
By buying this watch, you and your buddies can lose money to each other all day long.
#3 Corum Rolls-Royce
If you lived in the 1970s, what would you have gotten for the cheeseball rich guy in your life with a fragile ego? A Corum Rolls-Royce watch, of course!
Corum Rolls-Royce
If this watch doesn’t scream, “I have a lot of money to waste and need to be noticed,” then no watch does! Its gaudiness can only be assimilated by the likes of a guy like this.
#2 Jacob & Co. Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette
I have to give credit where credit is due: the the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette is one serious piece of horological mastery.
It is also fugly.
Jacob & Co. Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette
If the diamonds were removed and its size were scaled up 12:1 and then someone put it on a four-legged pedestal as the centerpiece for a museum, then by all means, it would count as a work of art.
But to see this monstrosity on an average wrist is simply absurd. It measures 50 mm in diameter and 25 mm in height!
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that it costs north of $1 million!
For more on this watch, please see Jacob & Co Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette: A Universe On The Wrist.
#1 Tiret Kanye West
Talk about ego.
First off I’d like to apologize in advance to anyone who likes this guy, but I’m going to say it anyway: Kanye West has to be the most egotistical, self-indulgent ass on the planet.
Tiret Kanye West
Now, I’ve never heard one of his songs so he may be a great entertainer, but I’ll continue to go the rest of my life not having heard one on principle.
West had this gold-and-diamond-encrusted piece of self-absorbed garbage commissioned from Tiret for $180,000 (see A Victory in Vanity: Kanye Spends $180,000 on a Watch with His Face).
In this watch blogger’s humble opinion, it is easily the ugliest watch that I have personally ever seen.
All opinions are my own.
* This article was first publish on August 18, 2016 at My Vote For The 5 Ugliest Watches Ever. You may find some of the comments there interesting.
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All the watches are terrible and as you say the KW is the worst of the bunch!!
Fun article. I would also add the Rolex yacht master 40 with multi colored gemstone bezel. Lost a lot of respect for them for that one. Another dreadful model is the diesel mr. Daddy 2.0. Has the case size of 57mm!
I agree with you on the Rolex, even though I consider it kind of fun. However, I think that if we talk about ugly Rolex watches, you should, at the very least, list the Yachtmaster II in screaming yellow gold with a blinding blue bezel and crazy dial. I like the ones in steel and white gold but the yellow is just too much.
You must be the worst and ugliest jurnalist to pick the jacob & co. In this list
I must admit that I am a bit seduced by the Jacob and Co and would love to see it in the metal/sapphire/diamond! However, it would, I suspect, look fairly shocking if worn on one’s wrist – something which, even so, I would be prepared to try if Jacob & Co ever feel the need for some on-wrist photos [no fee needed, but I may keep the watch!].
p.s. In a spirit of total disclosure, I should add that I am probably the worst and ugliest commenter!
Ha! Well I might be the worst and ugliest “jurnalist’ if I were indeed one.
I think the J&Co is an amazing piece of horological machinery, but at 50mm x 25mm, it’s like wearing a can of tuna on the wrist. Not to mention to make it that gaudy with all of those diamonds?
I seriously think they should remove all of the bling, make that thing into a coffee table and call it horological art. Then it wouldn’t even be close to being on this list. In fact, I would love it!
Of all time? That’s a lot of ugly to choose from. I would say you may have nailed number one, and almost anything from Jacob & Co. is like shooting fish in a barrel. I would like to add that a list without any of the numerous Vianney Halter choices or the Movado Design by Max Bill is just not complete. Important to note: unlike Vianney, Max has some great watch designs.
Uh oh, now you’ve touched a nerve! Vianney is a team favorite around here…. 🙂
Yes indeed. VH’s aesthetics may be esoteric (personally I love, and would love to own, virtually all of his watches!), but, wow, has he been innovative, imaginative and influential! Still, many different horses can fit in a broad church!
There are so many more expensive horror pieces out there. Make more of these articles please!