Like military chic, or just fond of khaki? Have a look at a camo watch (if you can see them)
WATCHES
Serious-minded people like to think they know how the world works. Logic is the key to understanding, as some philosopher probably once said. But the world is not a logical place. These camouflage watches illustrate the point. Watches themselves defy logic. On the face of it they are about telling time, but if you’re late, a wristwatch is never to blame. In a similar way, cars defy logic too. A car provides a useful function, sure, but is that why you are reading this magazine? You could probably get by with Uber and a bus pass, but instead you want metallic paint, alloy wheels and a GT sport pack. For most people, a car is not a logical purchase, it’s emotional – you want a car that makes you do Al Pacino’s hoo-ha noise.
Even more difficult to explain logically is war. Humankind says it doesn’t like fighting, yet it can’t stop doing it – conflict is prevalent in our world. And yet instead of shunning the symbols and visual references of war, we do love a little bit of military chic – especially in peacetime. In recent years in the UK, soldier style and camo print clothes have gone from army surplus to high fashion favourite. Unsurprisingly the watch world has also recognised and followed the trend for military influences.
Camouflage – a product of war, which we universally agree is bad – is simply the latest in a long line of inspirations for the watch industry. Wristwatches came into their own in the warfaring, mountaineering, noisy motor racing days of the 20th century, and those times will always be a source of inspiration for watchmakers, from racing chronographs to explorers’ watches and field watches.
The particular irony with camouflage watches is that the purpose of a camo design is to conceal, but watchmakers are now using it to make a watch stand out – rendering its primary function completely obsolete. If you can square away the contradictions and a camo watch is on your wishlist, there’s something for all budgets opposite, from entry level right up into the land of ‘if you need to ask, it’s too expensive’ (see Ulysse Nardin). Richard Holt
ULYSSE NARDIN FREAK ONE OPS
Ulysse Nardin was founded in the 19th century and initially known for marine chronometers – ships’ clocks that were vital for navigation too
