it’s About Time

photos : Eric Kass

These two Swatch collaborations with luxury, historic watch brands feature moon related inspirations. The Omega Speedmaster celebrating the first watch on the moon in 1969 and Snoopy’s long relationship with NASA. The Blancpain honoring the world’s oldest watch brand founded in 1735, and developer of the first true dive watch in 1953 while highlighting Oceanus Procellarum, the largest “sea” on the moon. Both watches are designed to similar specs as the originals.

Omega X Swatch : MISSION TO THE MOONPHASE — FULL MOON

Created in collaboration with OMEGA, the Bioceramic MoonSwatch is a playful, down-to-earth take on OMEGA’s legendary Speedmaster Moonwatch, the first watch on the moon. Referencing the full moon with its all-white color scheme, this model is the first chronograph in Swatch history to feature a moon phase function, arguably the most poetic of all watch complications. In a playful twist, Snoopy who has been associated with human space missions since the 1960’s, adorns the moon phase subdial set at 2 o’clock.

In fact, the Silver Snoopy Award is the most prestigious honor the United States’ space agency awards to individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety or mission success. This prestigious prize was awarded to OMEGA in 1970 for its role in the history of space exploration, including its essential contribution to bringing the crew of Apollo 13 back home safe and sound. In a playful tribute, the courageous beagle is featured catching some zzz’s on the moon phase disc. Also on the model’s moon phase mask and disc lies a celestial secret: a hidden quote from a Snoopy comic strip nestled amidst crescent moons and stars. When under ultraviolet light, the celestial scene comes to life casting a mesmerizing blue glow. _Swatch


Blancpain X Swatch : SCUBA FIFTY FATHOMS — OCEAN OF STORMS

Created in collaboration with Blancpain, founded in 1735 and known as the world’s oldest watch brand, this watch honors Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms, the first true diver’s watch. Ocean of Storms is dedicated to Oceanus Procellarum, the largest lunar mare or “sea” on the moon, spanning over 2,500 kilometers from north to south. Inspired by the New Moon, also known as the Black Moon, this model showcases the nudibranch Okenia Luna sea creature and the Oceanus Procellarum in a digital print on the movement’s rotor, capturing the mysterious allure of the lunar landscape.

Its black case and crown are made of Bioceramic material. The hour indexes, hour, and minute hands, as well as the scale on the bezel, are enriched with Grade A Super-LumiNova® for outstanding legibility in the dark. The SISTEM51 mechanical movement is visible thanks to a transparent sapphire glass. The NATO strap is made of recycled fishing nets. Five inspirational inscriptions can be found on the back of the watch: Passion For Diving – License To Explore – Ocean Breath – Protect What You Love and Immerse Yourself. _Swatch


2025 ORIENT PEANUTS 75TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION BAMBINO 38

This limited edition model ( reference RA-AC0M17G ), No. 0498 of 3,100 celebrates the 75th anniversary of both Peanuts and the Orient Watch brand. Each individually numbered watch arrives in an exclusive commemorative gift box.

Woodstock replaces the numeral “1” on the date display, adding a cool easter egg to the watch. Orient’s original logo in cursive at 12 o’clock and at 6 o’clock Snoopy is in his classic sleeping position with Woodstock wearing a golden crown evoking Orient’s symbol of two lions facing one another. The Bambino 38 Peanuts edition remains identical to classic versions, with a 38.4mm x 12.5mm x 44mm polished steel case with domed mineral glass, see-through back (with 75th Anniversary decoration), and a 30-metre water-resistance. Inside the case is the in-house calibre F6724, an automatic movement with 40h power reserve beating at 3Hz.

Founded in 1950, Orient has built its credibility as a trusted, accessible watch brand with its in-house manufactured mechanical watches. Another globally loved brand celebrating its 75th year is Peanuts, which also began in 1950 as a comic strip in American newspapers. Created by Charles M. Schulz, the strip’s original run extended from 1950 to 2000, continuing in reruns afterward. It has since become among the most popular and influential comic strips in history, making it “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being,” according to Sarah Boxer in The New York Times. _Monochrome


_ photo : Eric Kass

Seiko PROSPEX SPB183 1970 DIVER LIMITED EDITON. // SOLD //

This modern reinterpretation is number 1830 of a 5,500 limited edition, in a distinctive marine blue, celebrating 55 years of Seiko dive watches. The original design, released in 1970, became famous after being worn by Martin Sheen’s character Captain Willard in 1979’s Apocalypse Now. Fans of the watch have nicknamed it “The Willard”, as well as, the “Turtle” based on its distinctive case shape.

“This updated design, sleeker and slimmer than the original, is crafted of stainless steel with super-hard coating, and includes a curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal, blue one-way rotating elapsed timing bezel and screw-down crown. Following ISO standards for scuba diving to depths of up to 200 meters, this watch can be wound manually or automatically and includes a 24-jewel automatic movement with a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.” _Seiko


_ photos : Eric Kass

TIMEX X WORN & WOUND WW75 V2 LIMITED EDITION 2023 // SOLD //

The Timex x Worn & Wound WW75 V2 Limited Edition No. 237/500 is a handsome mix of old and new. The barrel-shaped 37mm stainless-steel case — originally from the ‘70s — had only been used with a quartz movement, but for this update, we built it with a nostalgic hand-wound movement that invites a tactile connection. The dial is a canvas of colors and textures in a concentric array, with rotating numerals and dimensional indices complemented by colorful hands that provide a playful yet subtle contrast. Other charming details include a retro-style domed acrylic crystal, a customized case back complete with the edition number, and a stainless-steel mesh bracelet with quick-release bars.

* Background : Donald Byrd, Electric Bird album cover 1970 / 2023 : 313 Series Third Man Records / Blue Note


_ photos : Eric Kass

Loving my new Timex collaborations from Hodinkee & Huckberry with their fresh limited edition redesigns of the classic 1970’s Q Timex.

Q Timex HODINKEE Limited Edition // SOLD //

The Q Timex was one of the first affordable mainstream quartz watches upon its release in 1979, designed to combine accuracy and ability in a single functional package. Last year Timex re-issued its iconic quartz watch to immediate success. Hodinkee created their own limited edition version by deleting the calendar complication for a more symmetrical dial layout and stripping the steel bezel bare. The crisp white dial completes the simplified, cool, clean look.

Q Timex Vintage Hodinkee Limited Edition // SOLD //

For the Q Timex Vintage Hodinkee Limited Edition they took the risk and played around with nearly every element of the watch. The result is a watch that brings some of the best pre-quartz elements of dress watches to the already stylish Q Timex. Like the famous pie-pan dials of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the outer edge of the watch steps down from the center, adding both depth and dimensionality – and reimagining the popular dress-watch looks of the time.

Timex x Huckberry Classic Limited Edition

Instead of reissuing a watch from Timex’s archives, Huckberry sat down with them to build their very own classic from the ground up—a tribute to legendary divers and flight watches from the mid 20th century. They drew on styles from the 70s and 80s and went with a military-inspired ‘crosshair’ dial with polished and faceted 6, 9, and 12 markers. Finished with a woven stainless steel bracelet and a functional aluminum timing bezel.

_photos : Eric Kass


_ photos : Eric Kass

HAMILTON Khaki Field Limited Edition For HODINKEE

Fresh interpretation of the classic Hamilton Khaki Field hand-wound watch with this limited editon, number 448 of 1,000, including custom Field Notes set of notebooks.

“The Hamilton Khaki Field Limited Edition for Hodinkee is inspired by the Hamilton 6BB “G.S.” Tropicalized British Military Watch Ref. 75003-3. Designed as a discreet, but tough field watch, the original was produced in the ’60s and ’70s as a General Services watch (hence the G.S) made for non-military members of the British Armed Forces, members of diplomatic services, or as those who used diplomatic services as cover. The casebacks were often engraved with a “TROPICALIZED” denotation, indicating that these particular references had been temperature compensated and made water-resistant in order to stand up to the heat and humidity of equatorial territories. To put it in other words, this very well could be the watch that the real James Bond would have been issued during his service as a 007.” _Hodinkee

_photos : Eric Kass


_ photos : Eric Kass

Seiko 5 Sports KOSUKE KAWAMURA Limited Edition

This is number 410 of a 3,000 limited edition production run.

“The Hiroshima-born creative started off as a graphic designer and began exhibiting his artworks by the early 2000s across Japan and the globe which led to collaborations with the likes of adidas, G- shock, Uniqlo, Gundam, Evangelion, AKIRA and more as his recognizable collage- based style started attracting a larger audience. He first started off with digital collages utilizing Photoshop and Illustrator but moved towards the traditional method of shredding magazines which he would casually find anywhere and specifically avoids the inclusion of famous photos, acclaimed sources or media that provides little to no artistic value.

Collage artist Kosuke Kawamura extracts characteristic designs and elements from Seiko models from the 1960s and 1970s and reconstructed them into this specially designed limited edition model. The dial and hands extract elements and colors from the popular 1970s Seiko “Time Sonar” model, which used translucent plastic material. The bezel display, indexes, scale design, and layout also extract elements from the popular Seiko 5 Sports vintage models. By incorporating various elements into a single watch, a novel and artistic design is achieved.” _Seiko


_ photos : Eric Kass

BULOVA Lunar Pilot

The modern reinterpretation Lunar Pilot watch is based on an unofficial prototype worn by Astronaut David Scott during the Apollo 15 Mission to the moon in 1971.

NASA set up trials with specific requirements for a Moonwatch and selected the Omega Speedmaster over other submissions from Rolex and Bulova in 1969 for Apollo missions. In 1971, Scott wore his Bulova provided prototype on the Moon, which he had stowed in his spacesuit, after the crystal broke on his NASA issued Speedmaster. Apollo 15 was the first use of the Lunar Rover. I found original, canceled USPS stamp envelopes on-line celebrating Apollo 15 milestones, as well as, a recreated mission patch and a NASA style astronaut watchband by Lunar Replicas.

Astronaut Dave Scott’s Bulova that was worn on the Moon sold at auction for $1,300,000 in 2015.

Astronaut Dave Scott on the Moon wearing his Bulova prototype Moonwatch.

Eric Kass

* bespoke branding, identity & package design for select artisanal food & beverage, boutique products & all-types of elevated creative endeavors around the globe //

https://www.funnel.tv
Previous
Previous

Record shops

Next
Next

Bigger Picture Show 2016–26 Art Prints