TGIF: What to do about minimalism in watches!

When it comes to watches, minimalism is an interesting topic. There are a couple of different ways that it can go. You can have minimalist watches that eliminate unnecessary design elements and reduce a watch to the bare essentials. Alternatively, you can have a personal minimalist philosophy that reduces the number of watches you have to one or two watches that work very well for you.

Bulova Quartz Classic

For a truly minimalist watch, you could have a watch that has minimal hands and minimal markers like my Orient Bambino (below). It's influenced by that German Bauhaus design philosophy that your father might scoff at. It simplifies the watch. You can read my complete review of the Orient Bambino, Second Generation, Version 3, here on this blog. It's a high quality mechanical watch with no design excess.

Orient Bambino

But, the versatile watch route is also very workable.  In that case, you get a watch that is appropriate in many situations and wear it often.  For example, a watch like the Timex Easy Reader or a very practical automatic like this Seiko 5 might be an appropriate choice. 

Seiko 5 Automatic Day-Date Watch

Personally, I find it hard to narrow down my minimalist watch choices. There are many to choose from.  My recommendation:  use my Amazon affiliate link and get another watch case. 

Watch Deal Alert: Timex Men's Easy Reader

While we've been posting about minimalist watches this week, we should mention the minimalist masterpiece that has been going strong for years. It's the Timex Easy Reader. Your dad and grandfather have been minimalists for years. They haven't had to know anything about the Bauhaus design movement, the Scandinavian design ethos, Swiss railroads, or artists in Denmark. They just wanted a no-nonsense watch that works. And, just when you think you are cooler, it's on trend with a slightly smaller 38mm case diameter that's growing in popularity.  

Timex Easy Reader--Brown Strap, Silver-tone case, deep blue dial (Amazon.com)

Well, my watch has lume!

Timex has Indiglo backlighting. 

I can shower with my watch!

What is wrong with you?

 I paid $13,000 for my watch!

What is wrong with you? 

-- and -- 

What time is it on your $13,000 watch? 

10:10 p.m.

Same as the time on this here $45 Timex watch.

You can't win. Don't even try. Just know that this Timex Easy Reader is on sale for 30% off and costs even less than $35. You can get it right here via my affiliate link!

Ten Dollar Tuesday: Agen Kgen Ultra Thin Minimalist Watch

You don't have to pay a maximum price for a minimal watch. There are plenty of low price offerings in the watch market place. A good example would be this $10 watch from Agen Kgen. This watch has a simple, readable, dial in a 41mm diameter case that is just 8mm thick. It's secured to the wrist by a 20mm wide leather strap. It's powered by a Japanese quartz movement.

The brand copy says they draw inspiration from Swedish design. However, the watch is made in Asia and there's no known presence in any specific country for this e-commerce brand. On Amazon, it gets an average of 4.2 out of 397 ratings. Some reviewers mention a fragile glass crystal and rather short strap as drawbacks. It looks like it is pretty easy to swap out the watch strap. For $10, it might be worth rolling the dice and taking your chances. If you'd like to check it out and potentially buy it, use my affiliate link here!

Watch Spotlight: The Mondaine Essence 41mm Watch

A Minimalist Watch from Mondaine

With minimalism being a recurring theme in the watch world, this might be a good time to spotlight an attainable minimalist watch from Switzerland. It's the Mondaine Essence--a 41mm, quartz watch that makes extensive use of eco-friendly materials. The case is made from a castor oil compound and the strap is a combination of ricinous oil and recycled textiles. It has a Swiss quartz Ronda 513 RL movement.

Mondaine Essence 41mm Watch (Amazon Photo)

I've covered Mondaine in this watches A to Z post. Inspired by Switzerland's railroad station clocks, Mondaine is a real deal Swiss watchmaker. They are also a pioneer in environmentally responsible watchmaking. Amazingly, you can get this watch for less than $300 via my Amazon affiliate link here.