
Lately, collaborations are extremely well-liked all through the watch trade, and the idea of a collaboration watch can usually are available in quite a lot of totally different varieties. In lots of situations, the collaboration will merely consist of 1 model placing its personal twist on one other’s current design, though in different instances, two or extra events will work collectively to understand a singular collective imaginative and prescient. That stated, Misfit takes a barely totally different strategy and makes use of its manufacturing capabilities as a model inside the Fossil Group to supply designs made by quite a lot of totally different entities from outdoors the world of watches. The most recent launch from the model is the Misfit x The Struts: The Time Is Now Restricted Version Field Set, which was created in collaboration with The Struts and represents the inventive imaginative and prescient of the British rock band’s colourful frontman, Luke Spiller.
The phrase “polarizing” is commonly used all through the watch trade, though I feel its use is legitimately warranted on this specific occasion. With that in thoughts, I additionally suppose that it’s vital to correctly put this watch into context, as that is hardly a easy and easy wristwatch designed for on a regular basis use and mass-market attraction. Misfit approached The Struts in regards to the partnership and more-or-less began its first venture by asking The Struts’ frontman and lead singer Luke Spiller to design a timepiece that totally embodied his flamboyant and larger-than-life on-stage persona. Moderately than considering of this as only a wristwatch, this restricted version collaboration piece between Misfit and The Struts ought to actually be thought of extra inside the realm of band-themed attire and collectible merchandise. Nonetheless, on condition that the aesthetic is completely designed by Spiller, the watch may also be seen because the inventive expression of a musician working in a very totally different medium with the final word purpose of making a timepiece fairly than a music or album.
The limited-edition field set consists of a stainless-steel pocket watch with an vintage gold end that measures 39mm in diameter by 14.5mm-thick (together with the hinged cowl over its face). Along with being worn as a pocket watch, the timepiece may also be linked to an identical wristwatch mounting attachment that locations the pocket watch crown on the 12 o’clock location and measures 42mm in diameter by roughly 50mm lug-to-lug. A small screw-down knob positioned on the 2 o’clock place on the facet of the wristwatch attachment is used to lock the pocket watch case into place, and fitted to its 20mm lugs is a black leather-based strap with gold completed studs and an identical signed pin buckle. Additionally included with the Misfit x The Struts: The Time Is Now Restricted Version Field Set is a crystal embellished “Daddy Cat” pendant (a reference to Spiller’s on-stage persona), together with a golden chain that can also be adorned with crystals for many who want to put on the piece as both a pocket watch or a necklace.
No specifics are provided in regard to the skeletonized computerized motion that powers the watch, though the same assertion applies to almost the entire varied mechanical calibers which can be utilized by Fossil. Admittedly, working frequencies, jewel counts, and energy reserve durations are hardly the first focal factors of many of the model’s watches, and that assertion actually applies to this specific Misfit collaboration mannequin. As a substitute, this timepiece is all about its idea and design, and the watch options quite a lot of aesthetic components created by Luke Spiller himself. The hinged cowl for the face encompasses a mirrored heart floor framed by a hoop of crystals, whereas the underside of the overlaying additionally encompasses a circle of crystals and is adorned with an engraving in Spiller’s personal handwriting that options his signature and private motto: “The Time Is Now.”
Sitting below a mineral glass crystal, the dial of the Misfit x The Struts: The Time Is Now watch consists of a skeletonized heart part with a big chapter ring that comprises outstanding Roman numeral markers and The Struts’ brand on the 12 o’clock place. Moderately than having regular pointed suggestions, all three of the arms characteristic a seldom-seen model of asymmetrically curved ends that provide a daring aesthetic that matches the remainder of the watch. Moreover adorning the perimeters of each the pocket watch case and its wristwatch housing attachment is a singular uneven sample that was hand drawn by Luke Spiller, with this similar sample additionally showing on the caseback and additional embellished with crystals to match the dial cowl of the watch.
It goes with out saying that that is hardly the look ahead to the one who is simply in search of a easy and understated timepiece that may simply combine into their each day lives; nevertheless, that merely isn’t the meant function of this specific timepiece. Equally, I can consider quite a lot of issues that may enhance this watch from a practical standpoint, however since this mannequin is essentially the anthesis of a no-frills utilitarian design, there is no such thing as a level in discussing the assorted methods to make it extra sturdy or sensible. As a substitute, the collaboration between Misfit and The Struts is meant to be about reworking the inventive visions of its musicians into timepieces that may be loved by their followers, and fairly than simply stamping the band’s brand on a dial and calling it a day, Misfit is definitely creating the watches that the members of The Struts dream up for themselves.
Produced as a restricted version of 400 items, the Misfit x The Struts: The Time Is Now Restricted Version Field Set shall be accompanied by an official retail value of $295 USD, which places it firmly within the reasonably priced territory on the subject of the better pastime of watch accumulating. Though its design could also be extremely divisive and can probably solely resonate with a sure phase of the better inhabitants, it’s additionally vital to think about how this core idea may be tailored to different kinds of collaboration items sooner or later. This isn’t only a thematic dial variation or a particular strap/colorway, however fairly a whole watch completely produced to the specs and artistic imaginative and prescient of the one who designed it. Whereas this specific mannequin is aimed immediately at super-fans of The Struts, I might simply see different Misfit collaboration watches, equivalent to these based mostly on well-liked films or video video games, being extremely well-liked amongst their respective audiences, particularly given their extremely accessible value level. For extra info on the Misfit x The Struts: The Time Is Now Restricted-Version Field Set, please go to the model’s web site.