NOBODY CAN DENY that the original purpose of watches has become obsolete. Less than a generation ago they were generally considered to be a necessity; but now that grandparents and grandchildren alike carry mobiles, who needs a watch to tell the time?
So it's no surprise that watchmakers are scrambling for ways to keep timepieces relevant, whether it's by focusing on conceptual design elements, or resorting to surprising multiple functions.
For example, some watches now aim to double-up as spiritual guides. Swiss watchmaker Borgeaud has teamed up with Indian fortune-tellers to create a watch that apparently tells the future. On the watch face, a spoon-shaped feature turns brown when 'dark astral forces' are eminent, or as the makers themselves put it, when 'the s*** is about to hit the fan'. They assure us that this limited edition watch is going to be a hit among celebrities and politicians.
Fung shui followers will love Shanghai Tang's Fung Shui Master watch featuring a hidden fung shui compass, to detect areas with positive 'qi'. 'Featuring the five fundamental elements [fire, earth, metal, water and wood], the Shanghai Tang watch has a compass in it, and it is unique in that it points south,' said Shanghai Tang executive chairman Raphael le Masne de Chermont. 'The literal translation of compass in China is 'showing south'. That is because China's great explorers were always exploring towards the sea, and in China that is to the south.'
Philip Stein makes 'natural frequency technology' watches that, according to the manufacturers, are proven to offer stress relief, better sleep, and improved concentration. Beneficial frequencies are delivered through a metal disk inside the watch, allowing the wearer to be 'more in harmony with natural earth, centred and grounded'.
If you have trouble getting your morning wardrobe right, try the Woodstation timepiece; a curiously plain block of wood that not only tells the time, but also predicts the weather. A fake-wood laminate hides an LED alarm clock, calendar and weather forecasting unit. With a mere wave of your hand, a movement sensor inside is activated and large glowing icons magically appear on the surface.
And if that doesn't get you out of the house on time, opt for the On-Time Clock, designed by Tak Cheung (Fabrica) and produced by Diamantini & Domeniconi. A simple crooked hand design fast forwards the time by three minutes.
