Mystery Fiction

A few years ago I came across the Fugue Fiction One watch. Fugue was a French start up brand looking for crowd founding, who had initially prototyped a couple of models that looked rather good. And being prototypes, the prices quoted were VERY low indeed, especially considering the high quality of the models being projected.

To remain afloat, this start up got involved in crowd funding, which in my view always seems a dodgy concept. If no-one’s interested, then investors can be few and far between. And if that is the case you tend to sink, not float. And so it was – even after 2 crowd funding attempts they were unable to meet the finance they looked for.

And now one of the quite rare prototypes is now on my wrist – and I am very pleased about that.

This was their second model – a great watch and for all sorts of reasons. I mean, basically, what’s not to like? Especially now that it is one of a very few around. They made two different coloured dials – this is the lighter less contrasting one.

To start with it’s a Mystery dial watch (tricky to do well, I may add), then there’s a good automatic movement. It’s also very well made and a nice sensible size with excellent quality materials used throughout – plus a very decent flexible black calf leather strap – and very comfortable to wear.

The thing about “mystery dials” is the fact that they make you wonder how the hands are connected. Vintage watches from various makers sometimes used this feature. The most obvious were the models that showed the minute hand attached to the central spindle, with the “mystery” hour hand in the background painted or applied to a disc, so giving the illusion of not being connected to anything. Some were overly elaborate, using discs for both hour and minute hands but often difficult to read.

The Fiction One however is both simple and clever and beautifully designed. It also uses discs, but one is fully transparent and really does give the illusion that both minute and hour hands are “floating”.
It is VERY easy to read. The transparent disc, which has the minute hand inscribed, plus a third clear thicker disk allows a subtle depth separation between the hour hand on it’s opaque disc – thus giving it that “mystery” floating effect.

The images taken today show how clear this watch is to read the time.

Note the omission of any seconds hand, which makes it slightly tricky to set the time exactly – (basically use another watch/internet or iPad/iPhone whatever and push in the crown on the hour is easiest) in fact you have to look at it carefully to see if it’s actually working. Mind you it’s odds on it will be, as the movement is the Sellita SW200-1 elabore, a model I have on some other watches and it is a VERY reliable automatic, being based on the ETA2824-2 (minus the date configuration). It beats at 28,000 beats per hour and has a reserve of around 38hrs.

The dial has a real quality finish to it, from the luminous applied markers to the perfectly integrated transparent discs. Complimented by the wonderfully sculpted hands with Super-luminova – it’s a quality watch.

The case is stainless steel, lightly brushed on the top surfaces and highly polished on the sides. It is also obvious that the case has been hand finished and it has a flow to it, from case body to lugs, which is a homage, if you will, to their first watch model – the Chronostase, which featured a modular case with a removable inner case (on ball bearings), which I don’t have, but would not be averse to having, if one came up for sale.

The fugue Fiction 1 Water Resistance (tested) is 5ATM, but the crown is not a screw down variety.
The clear crystal is Sapphire, as is the clear back window, which shows the movement in more detail. The watch dimensions are 38mm diameter x 46mm lug to lug and just 11.1mm thickness according to my micrometre, with the strap measuring 18mm width.

So, all in all, this is a really great watch so wear.
It has an amazingly comfortable strap, which seems “run in”, as they say and is both flexible and soft on the wrist. It is a model that is the perfect size, it’s unobtrusive, yet with the cleverly designed take on the “Mystery dial” being done so well, it’s just about as perfect an example of the concept you could get.

Alas, it seems that the Fugue Fiction 1 is now a rarity and no longer, which is a mystery (the Agatha Christie inspiration for the watch) – as it really is a classic in it’s own right – and I’m so glad to be the proud owner of one.

And yet again – Swatch

Forgot to Post this one the other day – purely as I like the look of it. Very modern, colourful and OK for size.

This is the Rouge and Noir (red and black) Bio-ceramic Quartz model SO32B401-STD. Black case with a Matte red strap, loop and buckle in ceramic bio etc, so nice and light.
It has a vibrant dial/face in white with black print and rather sudden multi-coloured hands. I like the overhang style of the bright yellow centre seconds , short enough not to confuse when reading the time, but very noticeable as a mobile seconds reference.

You certainly know the watch is working!

Swatch Rouge and Noir quartz on the wrist

The Water resistance is as usual fairly minimal standard at 3Bar, so splashes are OK, but don’t jump in the shower with it and the dimensions are perfect for most folks at 41mm, 9.85 depth and lug/lug at 47mm. You don’t need extra size to see this watch!

I really like the overall look of this model – the colours work great – no neon though (they have these too) which I personally find overpowering, but great to look at on the wrist.

The strap fitting is the Swatch format, so not that easy to change unless you go to Swatch for a replacement. However, it can be done with a simple silicon strap IF you’re prepared to fiddle and cut an bit – I’ve done it in the past (I have a Post on it somewhere) and I was very successful with my efforts.

Anyway, I digress – this model very OK priced at £82.00 – and includes free postage (UK) and I have to say I’m rather tempted.
I find it a bit surreal that this model is part of what they call the 1984 reloaded collection – so even though Swatch started in 1983 or whenever, this is a retro model! Maybe I’m just getting old! 😉

Update – Here are some images of the actual watch, taken today 18th –

Note the back of the watch and the proprietary Swatch battery hatch and the text quoting the battery type, which is always useful, so you can order one before taking the old one out, which is sensible. However, a silicon strap for me, might have been preferable to the bio stuff, which feels a bit plasticky, though it is flexible.

All in all, though – a nice little colourful watch though I’d caution that care has to to taken with bio material – feel is important and tricky to get right.

Swatch again

Every so often, maybe every year or so, I tend to look at what Swatch have in store. They are, after all a unique brand of timepiece that on many levels just works.
So much so that I have a few myself, even though I would at one time balked at the idea of plastic cases and straps, some transparent too and with a pretty decent quartz movement plus an easy fit/replace battery. Now the plastics are being replaced with bio-sourced materials and many are so light weight it’s easy to forget you have one on your wrist.

A couple I noted this time are a little bit different.

First is the SO34G700, a green cased one from what’s called the “What if “ from the bio-ceramic range. And this one breaks tradition a bit as it’s square.

It’s quartz and it comes in a very green formed case – bio-ceramic of course, as is the glass and strap, though not the buckle. Officially the bulk of this model is both ceramic and bio-sourced and all a bit beyond me, but I quite like it. The Water Resistance if perhaps a bit minimal at 2Bar, but par for the course with these.

A big plus for this model though is the face or dial. It’s big and it’s clear, so no specs needed AND it shows the Day and the Date @3 and has what is termed “glow” hands, so presumably you should see the time in the dark. It also has a sweep seconds hand, which is always useful.

The watch size is 41.80mm and 10.50mm depth and as I say – it is Square. The glass is also square and with enough bulk to almost read the indices from the side.
Note on the back (not shown here) is an image of a round faced dial on the battery cover. Not sure why.
Whilst I don’t have many square watches in my collection, this one is different and modern enough to warrant my attention. So, I could be tempted, maybe.

However, at £91.00 it’s perhaps not the cheapest, but that said, not the dearest either, so the choice is yours.

The second model I’ve spotted is quite different – this is the “Blue Away” SO28K700-S14, from the Swatch Essentials category, which is again all bio, though the case this time is transparent, with a contrasting blue silicon strap, with plastic buckle. The dial is also blue with contrasting coloured hour, minute and sweep seconds hands.

It also features a Day and Date window@3 and this time marginally more Water resistant at 3Bar and the watch size is considerably

smaller than the first watch featured here. Just 34mm, 8.75mm depth and 39.20 lug to lug, with the almost traditional Swatch 3 pronged strap fitting.
The dial features a nice colour combination, which again is very easy to read.

This model comes in at a very respectable £64.00 and wears as a very neat and compact watch on the wrist.

I rather like it.

So another look at what personally takes my interest in the Swatch world. Probably not to other’s taste, who knows. But once again Swatch comes up with new ideas, in what are very affordable, Swiss made quartz accuracy – their philosophy seems to work as they’re still around.

Till next time . . . . . .