Interview:Â in this exclusive interview designer Tom Dixon tells us why he decided to design his first watch - and how he wanted to make it easy to read the time (+ movie).
"We've spent a lot of time doing lighting over the last ten years, and also more recently furniture, and now we've decided it's time to also do accessories," says Dixon, speaking in the Tom Dixon showroom at The Dock in north-west London.
"I'm trying to produce something with an expressive neutrality," he says. "I tend to try and work out what I can strip out without losing character."
The result is Block Watch, which features a square case stamped out of stainless steel or brass. The watch face is circular, with etched numerals and markers. The watch's hour, minute and second hands are powered by a high-quality Swiss movement.
"I tend to try and work out what I can strip out without losing character," says Dixon, explaining his design philosophy. "A watch has really got to be round if it's analogue, because the hands sweep round. I wanted to make sure you could tell the time - because with all too many contemporary watches you can't tell what time it is. And I wanted to set it in a square because the strap has to go to a square anyway."
The watch is available in either stainless steel or rose gold (plated) with matching mesh straps, or in brass with a chunky brown leather strap.
The mesh strap is inspired by vintage TV detective Kojak, Dixon says. "It's got this chain link bracelet, which I guess is a reference to when I was growing up - Kojak, maybe."
He adds: "It's just the minimal elements you need to make a watch all reduced to their bare essentials and, I hope, still expressive enough to be something you want to buy."
www.dezeenwatchstore.com