The motto ‘Less is more’ has been a guiding principle in the world of design and architecture since the late 1940s. And in recent years we have also seen a return to sober and clear design in the design of watches, with brands such as Cluse and Skagen that are immensely popular.
‘Clean face watches’
Where a few years ago the trend was to make watches as big and striking as possible, today we see a return to simplicity and modesty. No striking glittering stones, colors or large numbers, but instead a smaller size, calm dial and the entire watch in one color. Something trend watchers refer to as ‘Clean face watches’.
Selling very well for a few years now and an excellent example of a clean face watch is the Dutch (!) brand Cluse. A simply designed watch that gets its own style thanks to the colorful straps. Due to the neutral design, these watches fit every (clothing) style. Trendy brands such as MVMT and Bering also have a very minimalistic design.
The watch trend of today
You can see that the trend of minimalist watches has really continued in the collections of all trendy watch brands. More clean face watches are also included in their collections. Often watches with strap and watch case have the same color, thus further enhancing the calm effect. For example, the Runway Slim watches from Michael Kors. The latest watches are also often very thin and lightweight, which further enhances their modest character.
Classic ‘Less is more’
The saying ‘Less is more’ dates back to 1947 and is from Bauhaus Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and has remained a guiding principle for many (industrial) designers ever since. This is of course reflected in modern editions of classic design watches such as the railway watches by Mondaine, but also by other classic designers such as Jacob Jensen. Real design enthusiasts have been finding their way to these watches for years.
But the masters of minimalist design are of course the Scandinavians! From Skagen to Danish Design. It’s like the closer you get to the Arctic Circle, the more minimalistic the design becomes…
Whichever brand of minimalist watch you choose. You can use it for years to come and you are completely on trend!