The 1970's Take Design Off The Rails
A couple of days ago @WatchYourIntruder showed his lovely Certina DS2 https://www.watchcrunch.com/WatchYourIntruder/posts/certina-ds2-the-70s-is-here-to-stay-on-my-wrist-7467 . In the comments I mentioned that certain 1970's watches were not so fortunate in their design choices. Behold the Prim ref. 68 276 1 (caliber 68 movement, based on the ETA 1080). This style was only made in 1974.
Horizontal indices, let that sink in. Why, oh why, would a watch ever have horizontal indices? Horizontal indices work against accuracy. Compare it to the Certina. The indices on the Certina are instantly recognizable and readable. Compare it to my WRUW watch from today:
This is a Seiko 2406-3020, also from 1974. It may be my most difficult watch to read. That is a function of my declining short range eyesight, not a problem with the indices. The Seiko originally came on a bracelet that was long gone by the time that I got it.
Now, to be fair to the Prim, because analog dials are so imprinted in our brains, indices are not needed to tell the time. Many minimalist watches have proven this. But, what were they thinking in 1974?
Prim was Czechoslovakia's only watch brand. It was a point of pride because this made Czechoslovakia one of only twelve countries able to produce watches. And unlike East German brands, they were fully jeweled. (Allegedly, the East German brands, alone in the world, did not have access to synthetic jewels.) They were founded after the Second World War and began serious production in the mid-1950's. The original movements were based off of Lip movements like many of their Soviet counterparts. The factory was/is in Nove Mesto nad Metuji in what is now the Czech Republic. In the 1960's the factory was renamed Elton, although the Prim brand remained its principal label. Prim ceased functioning after the Velvet Revolution. Two companies currently lay claim to the Prim legacy. One owns the name, the other owns the factory.
I have wanted a Prim for some time to add to my collection of lumpenproletariat watches. So, I grabbed this odd '74. Prim experimented with dials in the 1970's, much like the Soviets did. Their pre-1968 models are simple and elegant. (They changed the logo in 1968.)
That Certina shows that not all was ugly polyester, bell bottoms, and side burns in the 1970's. The palette of colors, cases, and dials was expanded and are still reflected in what we see today. There is no Brew today without these 1970's watches.
But, horizontal indices? That was a dead end. I am happy to add it to the family.
Restitutor Orbis. Aristocrat of beauty. Autocrat of time. (Trying to perfect trolling over at theescapementroom.com)
Thank you for the kind words.
When you advertised your newcomer I expected the watchcase going bonkers. Cause some did. But your Prim looks great. Horizontal indices make no sense though and don’t flatter the otherwise great looking watch. I have seen many samples of squared indicis that I kind of like. Very approriate for the design language from the 70s. Thank you for background story. Informative and interesting as always. Found this model showing that Prim wasn’t alone
@Aurelian You think that Prim's bad. I have this, but in a green dial. Why even bother with the indices at this point if you're just gonna lay them out in a straight line?
I’m going to leave this here:
This is a terrible watch for many reasons. It was born in the 70s, it should have died in the 70s (literally as well in all fairness).
and I don’t own one of these, but yeah… the 70s watch of the future
Thank you for the kind words.
When you advertised your newcomer I expected the watchcase going bonkers. Cause some did. But your Prim looks great. Horizontal indices make no sense though and don’t flatter the otherwise great looking watch. I have seen many samples of squared indicis that I kind of like. Very approriate for the design language from the 70s. Thank you for background story. Informative and interesting as always. Found this model showing that Prim wasn’t alone
The case is actually fairly sedate behind that bonkers dial.
@Aurelian You think that Prim's bad. I have this, but in a green dial. Why even bother with the indices at this point if you're just gonna lay them out in a straight line?
I have seen some Raketas with this strange affliction. It would be better to have nothing on the dial.
I love all of these! Keep 'em coming.
I have seen some Raketas with this strange affliction. It would be better to have nothing on the dial.
Agreed. Just leave the hands. Period. Better yet, just chunk the whole watch. Clean canvas. Go back and draw something else.
This is about as far I dip my toe into the 70s. Not mine though, but actually not so bad regarding the indicies.
This is about as far I dip my toe into the 70s. Not mine though, but actually not so bad regarding the indicies.
I considered bidding on this watch:
I considered bidding on this watch:
It’s always nice with variations in the collection. Go for it👍
These designers couldn’t choose between horisontal or vertical.
This book has lots of watches with similar "interesting" designs in case anyone may be interested.
Nice
It's weird but pretty wild. I'd rock it In da Club.
Here are some crazy 1970s designs from my collection:
I didn't see it, and unlike the rest of these watches, that one is aesthetically on a different level. It looks like a spider, definitely not an ugly duckling. I would vote for leather. (Full disclosure: I don't have a single watch on a bracelet since one of my old Soviet ones broke last month.)
Here are some crazy 1970s designs from my collection:
That Festina has the horizontal disease.
I didn't see it, and unlike the rest of these watches, that one is aesthetically on a different level. It looks like a spider, definitely not an ugly duckling. I would vote for leather. (Full disclosure: I don't have a single watch on a bracelet since one of my old Soviet ones broke last month.)
My wife and daughter both voted for leather as well. They said it looks more retro on the leather strap than the bracelet. Guess I'll keep it that way for now. I have the bracelet so may give a run to see how it looks.
Here are some crazy 1970s designs from my collection:
That Tressa is too cool.
That Tressa is too cool.
Thanks! That was an eBay NOS find for $200. Probably overpaid for it for what it is, but it just looked so cool.
Thanks! That was an eBay NOS find for $200. Probably overpaid for it for what it is, but it just looked so cool.
One of the coolest watches I've seen in a long time!
Thanks! That was an eBay NOS find for $200. Probably overpaid for it for what it is, but it just looked so cool.
Depends how you look at it. I'm sure on paper the specs aren't great but I can't think of too much else as interesting and appealing anywhere near $200.
Depends how you look at it. I'm sure on paper the specs aren't great but I can't think of too much else as interesting and appealing anywhere near $200.
True - solid A. Schild AS 5206 automatic movement - details http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&AS_5206 - original bracelet, and the crystal is mineral glass which is typical for the period. Case size is again of the period at 36mm (which is a little small for my wrist) and cuff friendly at 12.5mm. Overall really nice.
I kinda like it on the bracelet