As a seasoned horophile who has witnessed the evolution of the watch industry, I must confess that Papar Watch Co.’s Anillo GMT has caught my attention like no other. Having lived in Mexico and been inspired by its brutalist architecture, Josh Blank has managed to infuse his personal experiences into this masterpiece. The unique sector dial with a patent-pending GMT display is not just a technical marvel but also an emotional homage to loved ones across different time zones.
This year, timepieces inspired by Brutalist architecture, such as the Audemars Piguet [RE]Master02 and Toledano & Chan’s debut watch, are gaining popularity among both prestigious and independent watchmakers. Among this crowd, Papar Watch Co., a new micro-brand that embraces raw and modern design concepts, has appeared on the scene with affordable pricing options.
The Anillo GMT model marks the debut of Papar Watch Co., reflecting the vision of its founder, Josh Blank: “I aim to produce something contemporary in design yet reminiscent of vintage pieces in size and neutral for all genders. It should convey a sense of refined horology, yet remain affordable, waterproof, and suitable for everyday wear.
In a 36mm case diameter, the Anillo GMT has a slimmer profile compared to many others, but its striking design gives it a bold appearance with a near-flat impact. Made from stainless steel, this watch showcases an angular and faceted design that is further accentuated by a sector dial. This dial features laser cutouts revealing a second timezone, which rotates thanks to a GMT disc hidden beneath.
In the creation of the Anillo, my initial emphasis was on crafting an exceptional Global Time Display. After some initial missteps, such as a GMT with just 12-hour indices, I came to appreciate that the timeless sector dial design had been largely untapped for its potential! – Josh Blank (paraphrased)
Initially, Blank focused on creating a distinctive Global Time display (GMT), which resulted in several prototypes that showed only the 12-hour time. Although this could have made for an amusingly quirky selling point, Blank decided to change his strategy. Now, his design, currently pending patent approval, incorporates a GMT function seamlessly into the dial itself.
Furthermore, this watch not only shows two time zones but also has a logo that adjusts its color according to the day, offering a visual representation of the second time zone. This unique feature was sparked by Blank’s longing to foster an emotional bond with his loved ones in a different time zone, an idea born from personal experience. As he resided in Mexico at the time, he found inspiration in the country’s brutalist architecture. However, it wasn’t until he witnessed his wife creating paper airplanes with their daughters that the design concept for the watch case with its brutalist lines and the folded-paper look of the Anillo’s patent-pending bezel (characterized by overlapping and peaked folds) became clear to him.
As a connoisseur of horology, Blank has a keen eye for other Brutalist-inspired timepieces available. Despite his high regard for Toledano & Chan and AP designs, he considers his own creation as possessing an equal level of originality and excitement within the watch industry. Notably, it is priced affordably at $750 USD. The Anillo GMT is driven by a Miyota 9075 movement and comes in both steel and rose-gold PVD finishes, both of which can be ordered directly from Papar Watch Co.’s official website now.
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2024-09-13 10:26