In the world of watches there are so many different manufacturers and brands. From the larger manufacturers that most people know to smaller micro / indie brands that create just a handful of watches per year. Within that space, there are countless models that are made whose purpose ultimately is to try and stand out amongst the crowd. Most of us can probably list at least 10 watches off the top of our heads that are considered icons in their own class. Many brands in the industry see these same icons and follow in those other brands’ footsteps. Take for example the number of dive watches which tend to look like derivatives of a Rolex Submariner. But then there are other watch manufacturers that create something which aims to take the same concept and make it their own by doing something that hasn't or rarely been done before. (note the MB&F HM7 Aquapod) But the odd balls don’t get the same attention when compared to the more conventional designs. I think that is a bit unfair and I am squarely in the camp of ‘weird watches are more fun’, and here are my reasonings why.
Works Of Art
One aspect that makes watches with weird designs more fun is that the watch can come directly from the mind of an individual or small team. Many watches today feel as though they are born from a committee, with very familiar and safe designs. But then you have designers who want to create something new and have an influence in the world of watches. Take for example Formex and shoutout to their newer release with the Aria. Their watches are very rugged in design and the Aria falls into the very popular category of an integrated bracelet watch, but they do something very different and thus stand out from the crowd especially with that concave dial. Another example would be a designer of the 1970s, Andrew Grima, and his own creations alongside the works he did with Omega. Wherein he created some incredibly interesting designs which even by today’s standards would be seen as weird. By having a weird watch from a designer or small team, it allows you to own something directly from the mind of an artist and get a physical representation of it. Another example can be the works of seconde/seconde with any of his designs, all of which are extremely whimsical with many of them being very punny.
Deep Rabbit Holes
We watch collectors tend to like the hunt and feeling of discovery when stumbling upon something new. This seems to be very true when looking out for the weird stuff, oftentimes you have to do a bit of digging in order to find them. Sure, there are entire brands that only create odd designs but many of the larger manufactures have back catalogs of weird creations too. It makes sense why larger companies have odd models for sale, many of these brands will have more conservative designs to appeal to more buyers but sometimes they will feel a need to go out on a limb and try something new. So, oftentimes, in trying to find the weird stuff you'll have to go through many similarly designed watches to eventually get to the weird and quirky. Plus, in looking for these kinds of watches you tend to stumble into largely forgotten areas where information is not as readily available. This can be both exciting and intimidating as it becomes difficult to verify if a watch you are looking at is legit or was even something made by the brand. I know I have come across quite a few vintage Seikos where I cannot find much or any info on it and leave wondering if it was something really rare or a franken-watch in its truest sense. But those things make looking out for weird watches fun, there’s a sense of exploration and a thrill of finding something that others largely have forgotten about.
Case Geometry
Another aspect which makes quirky watches more fun is all the various case shapes you can come across. There are some serious weirdos out there and the different case shapes lead to unique wearing experiences for each of them. Some will wear heavy on your wrist as they might be larger shapes such as rectangles or squares and can feel like a big departure from wearing a more traditional circular case shape. I mean just look at pretty much anything coming out from Rado during the 1970s or 1980s and you'll see exactly what I mean. But even with circular designs you can still find interesting case details such as from the Beaubleu La Pièce and its stepped case. Design elements in the case can be geometrically interesting where every time you look at the watch you’ll notice a different angle of its finishing or different angle of its construction that might play with the light in a really interesting fashion. These smaller details are oftentimes never even present on a more traditionally styled watch. Now this is not to say that more traditional cases which look very similar to watches made from the 1950s aren't intriguing or don't have their place in your watch box. But it is to highlight that the weird watches tend to stick out more often than the traditional watch. And that the quirky watch, because of its design personality, is often more fun to look at and examine than a non-quirky one. Plus one can easily make an entire collection solely based around watches with obscure case sizes, shapes, and asymmetry which can span decades or manufactures.
Notice the case mirroring the almost stacking-like design of the hands and inner dial
Sorry, They’re Just More Interesting
So far you may be seeing a continuing underlying point in this write-up which is that the quirky stuff tends to draw more intrigue. I have personally seen a number of times at watch events where someone brings a weird watch which garners a different, often more ecstatic, level of intrigue than some of the other more traditional watches there. I understand that it all comes down to personal taste and someone who picks up an odd watch isn’t immediately thinking “wow, I want to add this to my collection now”, but the interest to pick up the watch and examine it is very notable. Even if the person picking up the watch is trying it on for the sole purpose of it's got a weird case shape or it looks funny on the wrist. Though in my experiences, there's a sense of genuine intrigue or satisfaction one gets in seeing something they may have never seen before or coming across something that they know is fairly obscure. Take for example the Tudor P01, it never sold well and to this day no one really wants one but it's definitely a standout model in Tudor’s modern lineup. Even if you hate on the watch, you do have to admit it is pretty quirky and if you saw one in person I’d bet you're going to pick it up and try it on even if it’s for just a second. I’m not entirely sure as to why the weird stuff piques our interest, perhaps it has something to do with a curiosity for the unordinary or thinking a particular watch might be rare. Whatever the reason, the weird stuff is just more interesting.
A Return To The Weird
A current real world example I can point to is the more recent rise in popularity of watches from the '70s and art deco designs. Which are quickly making a comeback and coming back into fashion. There are a multitude of brands that are also going back through their archives and looking for watches that were created from these eras. This habit of looking back is obviously not new in the industry but it is notable that brands are transitioning into recreating models from the ‘funky’ era of watchmaking. We are also seeing the renaissance and intrigue into Cartier. I mean just look at the recent figures of what a Cartier Crash goes for, now I understand that specific model does have a long-standing history of being a sought after watch but it is definitely a notable standout. Another brand creating unique art deco designs is Echo/Neutra and their Rivanera line. Ultimately there seems to be a real world growing appetite for watches that are just a little bit more quirky and have a little bit more individual personality to them
An example of art deco making a comeback
Wrap-Up To My Rambelings
In conclusion, quirky watches are a very fun way to explore what's out there in the watch world, allowing you as the collector to expand your horizons and dive pretty deep into various rabbit holes. Now granted, not every single quirky design is going to grab your interest or make you want to throw down your hard-earned money and that is more than okay. I am a massive proponent for others to buy what they like but I also encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and try something that piques their interest. Even if that interest is piqued for just a moment, try to hold onto that and see where it leads to. You may wind up falling for something that’s really obscure and I think that’s wonderful. So with that all that said, go out and look for the quirkier watches, they tend to be more fun.