Synchronizing watches: unusual mechanisms in the interior

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

“Why are your hours running out? - they ask me.

- But the point is not that they spread!

The bottom line is that my watch is accurate."

Salvador Dali

The epigraph perfectly reflects the main topic of today's article. Ever since ticking mechanisms have become an integral part of everyday life, they have been regularly upgraded. Forms, materials, principles of action are changing, and only one thing remains unchanged - they are still counting hours and minutes. Yes, some design developments cause a slight shock and bewilderment: "And where are the arrows?", "Where have the numbers gone?" But soon puzzledness gives way to delight: "Wow, what an idea!" - and another unusual piece of watch finds a place in the house of the new owners. So what are they - interior novelties that delight buyers? Let's get acquainted.

"Literal" clock

Imagine: a wall, a black square and white arrows on it, then another one, and another, and another … so one hundred and fifty times - the infinity of time in the literal sense of the word! However, this is not even the idea: the mechanisms are synchronized so that the numerous arrows in time add up to the words “one”, “two”, “three”, “four”, “five” and further up to twelve. The coordinated work of an incredible number of elements was achieved by Christian Postma, a designer from Stockholm. How? You can't figure it out right away, but this is exactly what everyone is invited to do while observing an unusual clock. And you can take your time - it will take hours to find the solution … the design know-how does not take into account minutes.

Now the clock shows four (four)

And yet it turns

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Where do you think the second hand should be? A minute? It is logical to assume that in the center of the dial, in the same place as the hour. But no! Designers have a special view of patterns: the hour hand is in the center, but the rest … the minute at the end of the hour, the second at the end of the minute. And it all revolves, constantly changing shape. The artistic and constructive idea is functional - the time is shown absolutely precisely. You just need to adjust to quickly identify it. The author of the idea is again a Dutchman. Sander Mulder released the watch in a limited edition due to the high cost of the materials used: some of the parts are plated with fourteen carat gold. We can only hope for inexpensive replicas.

The clock shows 4 hours, 35 minutes, 53 seconds

Philosophy to the masses

High, high in the mountains, where the air is clean, like the breath of a baby, and the rivers are fast and transparent, there lived a young and very proud … Georgian designer. And he thought about the frailty of being and the transience of time. And he realized that it is not time that changes, but things in time. And he created a watch that showed this, using instead of hands … a belt. All jokes, but this philosophical watch really exists: three convex elements (one in the middle, two at the edges), connected by a strap, a classic-shaped dial with two guide grooves along which the “hands” move. It turns out that the shape and position of the belt changes, but time remains unchanged … something like that. However, everyone can see their own meaning in this. Whatever one may say, but the idea is interesting.

Something new every day

Answer the question: "What time is it for you?" Find the right definition, and then you can create your own unique clock.

But what about those who do not tolerate monotony? Sooner or later you get used to any unusual thing, your eyes become blurry. But not when it comes to the watches of the Korean designer Bomi Kim. Answer the question: "What time is it for you?" Find the right definition, and then you can create your own unique clock. The idea is simple, like everything ingenious: there is a clock mechanism, there is a certain base with holes of a certain diameter. Your task is to find something that imitates arrows. It can be tree branches, flowers, pencils, whatever! You are the master of the situation, and only you can decide how to materialize one of the basic concepts of philosophy and physics. The collection is called Meaning of Time, which translates as "The essence of time." So what is it - your time?

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How much, how much?

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Not all designers are engaged in philosophical research, most are guided by practical meaning. Remember how in childhood you were taught to determine the time by a mechanical watch: "The big hand is almost three, the small hand is eight - how much will it be?" We learned something, but the generation of children, accustomed to electronics, falls into a slight stupor, trying to "translate" the numbers on the scoreboard into words. It's easier for them to say, for example, five forty-five than a quarter to six. Apparently, that is why the World Clock should have been born in one way or another. Actually, the idea is not new, the first such specimens were put into production back in 1896. But the novelty from Hans van Dongen is a very worthy continuation of the series. Just three hundred dollars, and on your wall there will be some kind of device with "temporary" phrases that can be read out in response to the question: "What time is it?" Whether it's worth it is up to you.

All of the above is just the tip of the iceberg, every year new and new concepts are presented at design exhibitions. Time is a topic that is always relevant. And let 99 times out of a hundred, when you need to find out the time, you look at your mobile phone or wrist watch. The main thing is that the one time you glance at your home wall clock will be a moment of pure pleasure. Stop, moment, you are wonderful!