Hey, watch fans, George from the London Studio here!
Now that the London Store has been up and running for a couple of months, the other watch specialists and I have had a chance to take a deep dive into our collection. These are the pieces that stood out to me
I have noticed that the longer you spend around watches, the more eccentric your taste gets so expect the weird and wonderful as well as some hidden gems that you may not have considered so far.
Dennison Tiger Eye Stone Dial Steel
The Dennison Tiger's Eye is a heavy hitter in the studio. Arriving in the latter part of 2024, the stone dials, in particular, have garnered a loyal fanbase who appreciate the contrasting refined elegance and bold vision. Out of these dials and colour combinations, the Tiger’s Eye in gold is by far the most renowned. It has established itself as the figurehead of the brand to the point where if you close your eyes and picture a Dennison, it is likely the Tiger’s Eye in gold. As much as I love the gold, the Tiger’s Eye never clicked for me until I saw it in steel. I'm not sure if it is my deep-seated contrarian instinct or the acute softness of the design, emphasized by the steel case, but that combination brought the tiger's eye to life. With the stone dials, the stone itself is the star of the show and the steel allows it to shine, emphasizing the dial with its contrast. It feels like the reserved, older sibling of its gold counterpart. The gold tiger's eye is an exciting night out, but the steel feels like a quiet whisky by the fire.
Furlan Marri Mechanical White Sector Ref. 2161-A
Sometimes I wonder what watch I would wear if I hadn't discovered this bizarre hobby. Which single watch would take up all my wrist time in an alternative world where I didn't collect? If I could talk to this other, far better-adjusted, version of George, I'd tell him to buy the Furlan Marri White Sector and call it a day. This watch is the perfect balance of great specs and gorgeous design. Furlan Marri has a lot of respect for watchmaking history and that comes through in the design of the Sector. They have taken inspiration from vintage pieces and crafted an identity with those traditional references in mind. Subtle choices like the cow horn lugs show us how Furlan Marri celebrates vintage designs with their modern, unique interpretation.
Serica 6190 M.S.L. Chronometer Polar White
Serica has one of the most consistent design languages I’ve seen in a watch brand. Within the last six years that they have been around, they have developed an iconic look that offers them the freedom to try out different styles of watch while maintaining that core Serica DNA that makes them unique. The lack of a logo in the traditional position and indices zeroed in, closer to the centre of the dial, give their watches an enigmatic look that manages to stand out without shouting. The 6190 M.S.L in Polar White feels like Serica's essence distilled to its purest form. It is also surprisingly legible for a watch with white indices and a white dial. Legibility is a high priority for a field watch which is why most of them opt for the traditional black-on-white colour scheme. It is very on-brand for Serica to defy convention like that with their colours and somehow still make it work in style.
Fears Brunswick Orchid
The Brunswick silhouette is iconic to Fears, harkening back to the design heritage of cushion cases of watches in the fifties, the Brunswick has built on that shape to develop a personality of its own. But how do you innovate an icon? The dyed pink mother-of-pearl dial is the perfect addition to the Brunswick 38mm case. It emphasises the soft elegance of the watch while injecting it with energy. The moment that the Orchid comes out of the tray and its petrol sheen comes to life, the watch reveals its true character. To understand this watch you need to see it in motion. The colours within the dial flow and interact as the light catches it from different angles. You cannot put this watch on and not smile. It is fun, bold, and elegant. A true representation of Fears at its best.
Nivada Grenchen White Pacman Date Depthmaster
The depth master is a deceptive watch. It has a beautiful, uncompromising style and tangible vintage feel, especially with the dynamic indices it employs across its dial. It is also not particularly big for a diver, coming in at 39mm and wearing even smaller due to its cushion case design. It also comes on a leather strap, not traditionally the choice for dive watches due to saltwater damaging the leather fibres. All of these factors together pigeonhole the watch into the category of an authentic vintage-inspired diver with form taking priority over function. However, the depth master can do both. It has a staggering water resistance rating of 1000m. Yes - three zeroes. Taking a look at other watches in the 1000-meter club, they have a utilitarian heft to them that conveys their diver pedigree. The depth master is the rare exception to the rule that manages to blend the vintage style and modern dive specs into the perfect unassuming package.
