Wearing a watch is hardly ever just about having a device on your wrist that tells you what time it is. It’s also a reflection of your personality and style. So, why not take things a step further and lend your watch a personal touch? Customizable timepieces have been in style for the last few years. Whether it’s a different strap, an engraving, or a custom model made to your specifications, there are all kinds of ways to customize a watch to your individual taste.
Old School: Engraving
Ever since the days of the good old pocket watch, engraving has been a favorite way to give a watch that personal touch. It’s still a great (and simple) way to turn your cherished watch into something that’s truly one of a kind. This is why more and more watch manufacturers offer engraving services. For example, German watch manufacturer NOMOS offers free laser engraving with your purchase of a Club watch. It’s the perfect opportunity to express a birthday wish, congratulate someone on passing an important exam, or commemorate the birth of a baby.
Traditional watchmakers like Laco and Stowa take this a step further. They’ll engrave the side of the case, rotor, or even the individual gears. Luxury watch manufacturer A. Lange & Söhne will engrave the balance cock with a set of initials. If you’re purchasing a new watch from them, you can even have a say in the design of this component.
Customizing by Timex, Swatch, and Co.
Some watch manufacturers offer their customers the opportunity to create their dream watch from the ground up. This is typically done using online tools providing a selection of different cases, dials, hands, and other parts that you can mix and match to your heart’s desire.
A good example of this is UNDONE’s online watch builder. First, you select the base model, which takes you to a new screen where you can decide on the design and color of the case, dial, and hands. You can even add a short individual inscription to the dial. The last step is the case back. Choose from stainless steel and sapphire crystal, the latter of which you can print your own picture on.
Swatch, Timex, and Ochs und Junior offer similar customization tools. They vary in how much you can personalize, but all three are a great way to create an individualized timepiece to call your own.
Pimp My Luxury Watch: Bamford, Blaken, and Co.
If you’re bored of the same off-the-rack luxury watches, you’re in good hands with the watch customizers at Blaken or the Bamford Watch Department (BWD). Just like custom shops in the car or motorcycle industry, these companies “pimp” luxury watches.
The German company Blaken, for instance, specializes in vamping up Rolex models. The first thing they do is coat the watch with a layer of hard, scratch-resistant DLC (diamond-like carbon). You can select from a palette of original deep black, matte anthracite, or matte gray. After this, Blaken’s watchmakers refashion the dial, hands, indices, and (if present) the bezel ring and date disc using the color of your liking. There’s also the option to add a personal case back engraving.
London-based Bamford has been offering a very similar service since 2007. Originally concentrated on modifying models from Rolex and Patek Philippe, BWD has since shifted its focus to TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Bvlgari watches. The Bamford edition of the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 even made it into this traditional Swiss company’s official catalog.
There are a couple of things you should keep in mind before undertaking such comprehensive customizations. For starters, this kind of redesign voids the manufacturer’s warranty. Although the companies doing the redesign offer their own warranties, they don’t cover everything the original manufacturers do. Modified watches often also depreciate somewhat in value. All of that is to say that you should carefully consider whether you really want to take this risk with something so important.
Customized the Way You Want It
Building a watch to your exact specifications is a great way to get something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Unique dial designs or ornamentation on the movement and case are no problem at all for small manufacturers like Tourby Watches, Jochen Benzinger, or Nienaber Bünde.
Traditional watch manufacturer Vacheron Constantin has its own workshop for one-off timepieces. For example, this is where the reference 57260 was created at the request of a customer. This watch took Vacheron Constantin’s master watchmakers eight years to produce. It houses 57 complications and is considered the world’s most complicated watch. of course, something this unique and complex doesn’t come cheap. Some estimates put its price at up to $10 million.
Smartwatches
Smartwatches are probably the most customizable watches you’ll find. The apps in these wrist-mounted mini-computers turn them into music players, heart monitors, and maps. They also tell you what time it is – exactly the way you want it displayed. The Apple Watch features hundreds of virtual dial designs you can select based on your mood or the occasion.
TAG Heuer goes one step further with its Connected Modular. As its name suggests, these watches have a modular construction. Select the strap, lugs, and watch module you like best. TAG Heuer offers both smartwatch and mechanical watch modules. The Connected combines the flexibility of a smartwatch with the charm of a mechanical watch. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
In Summary
You don’t always have to settle for an off-the-shelf watch. There are plenty of choices for every taste and budget. So, go out there and create a one-of-a-kind timekeeper to call your own. In the end, the only limit is your own imagination.
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