By Chris Melchior.
First take a look at some UnconstrainedTime watches:
As you can see for yourself, UnconstrainedTime watches (above) look very different from most watches. In my opinion (as founder of UnconstrainedTime) they can be defined as having a different basis for their creation (see below), which is the underlying reason for their unusual appearance.
This article compares UnconstrainedTime watches with other watches, summarising the main similarities and differences and the reasons for them, and linking to more detailed discussions of each point in my other articles on this website.
Similarities between UnconstrainedTime and other wristwatches
Almost all wristwatches track and display the time. The time is displayed in two main ways:
- 12-point time-ring concept (usually pointed to on a dial by hands)
- numerals (either electronic or mechanical)
There are a few other methods of displaying the time including Mr Jones Sun and Moon (below), Devon Works time-belts (below), and some unusual digital time-displays.
UnconstrainedTime watches use the 12-point time-ring concept (from the ancient Near East), although we use it in a uniquely simple way in our innovative time-display.
UnconstrainedTime uses the common wristwatch layout of wrist-worn time-pieces, designed to be worn on the left wrist with a button at the 3 o’clock position, based on watches including the Cartier Santos.
Differences between UnconstrainedTime and other watches
| UnconstrainedTime watches: | Most other watches: |
| 1) starting from freely chosen aesthetics | based on using or extending conventional watchmaking |
| 2) freely chosen aesthetics are the majority of the visible surface | functionality related to tracking and/or displaying the time extends across most of the visible surface |
| 3) align with the generally accepted definitions of art | don’t align with the generally accepted definitions of art |
| 4) based on conceptual art jewellery and fine art | based on engineering and fine jewellery |
| 5) open to creativity from anyone | designed in-house |
| 6) open, free time-display license | patented features |
Notes.
1) The creation of each UnconstrainedTime watch starts from freely chosen aesthetics applied as a unified concept to the majority of the visible area of the watch, working with our unique time-display as an intrinsic element of the overall creation. By “freely chosen” I mean not necessarily having any aesthetic influences from the engineering or fine jewellery basis of most other watches.
Almost all other watches have their overall aesthetics based on using or extending conventional watchmaking (and its influences from engineering and fine jewellery). This also applies to most unusual watches, where the designers explain on their websites how and why they are starting from the watchmaking tradition and developing and extending from there.
2) With UnconstrainedTime watches freely chosen aesthetics are the majority of the visible surface of the watch, with our unique small-footprint time-display typically being less than 2% of the visible surface and fully unified with the concept of the creative aesthetics of each individual watch.
With most other watches the time-display functionality (such as dial and hands, or numerals, both of which are very powerful archetypes), or time-tracking functionality as in skeletonized watches or other visible elements of the movement, extends across most of the visible surface. Exceptions, where the time display or tracking mechanisms are visible over a smaller amount of the surface of the watch include some unusual watches such as Urwerk and MB&F as well as the Mr Jones Sun and Moon watch shown above.
3) UnconstrainedTime watches align well with the cluster of generally accepted (although somewhat controversial and to some degree subjective) defining factors of art, all of which must be present for an object to be art:
- art is enjoyed for its own sake, not for its practical usefulness
- art is focused more on aesthetics than on functionality.
- art has special focus
- art is personal
- art is unique
- art is creativity relating to conceptual ideas used as a means to communicate, evoke emotions and present challenging perspectives and concepts.
Few other watches seem to me to have much alignment with these defining factors, although there are exceptions where watches align with one or more of the factors in the definition of art such as some MB&F watches being based on the childhood fascinations of the founder, making their design somewhat personal.
4) UnconstrainedTime watches are based on conceptual art jewellery and fine art. Art jewellery accepts a much wider range of materials, forms and textures than fine jewellery (which mostly uses simple symbolic forms and highly polished surfaces).
Most other watches seem to me to be firmly based on engineering and/or fine jewellery. However, there are some watches with what can be seen as an art jewellery influence, such as the rusted metal shown on Romain Jerome Titanic-DNA watches, and the deliberately unpolished surfaces on some visible parts of watches such as timepieces by Ochs und Junior and Holthinrichs.
5) UnconstrainedTime watches welcome creativity from anyone, with our open art competition and collaborations with established creators. We are, primarily, a fine art project.
Most other watches are designed in-house, although there are a relatively small number of collaborations with artists, designers, or other companies, and some microbrands are significantly influenced by input from their fans (as we will be).
6) UnconstrainedTime licenses our unique time-display in a way that welcomes others using it in their own projects, for free. This fits the philosophy of us being primarily a fine-art project, since one of the functions of art is to inspire others.
Most other watches patent their innovative features, limiting their use by others.
Reasons for these differences compared to other watches
My background is fine art and cutting-edge contemporary music composition. I had no experience as a watchmaker when I started the UnconstrainedTime project and most other watches were not interesting to my aesthetic tastes (although I do love a few watches, especially some of the more unusual ones).
Read more about the story of how UnconstrainedTime came into existence from these points of origin.
It seems to me that the evolution of watch aesthetics to art jewellery based watches was inevitable. As with many evolutions, the new concept was initially added as a relatively minor influence, then at some point the leap was taken to be fully based on the new concept, as, in my opinion, UnconstrainedTime has made that leap by being arguably the first conceptual art jewellery based watch brand.
Summary of the UnconstrainedTime project
In my opinion UnconstrainedTime watches are more unusual and unique than most watches, for the reasons given above. UnconstrainedTime is creating a new category in luxury watches by approaching timepieces as fine art and conceptual art jewellery rather than being based on conventional watchmaking.
UnconstrainedTime creates small, numbered releases of wearable sculptures that unite fine art with horology. Each piece not only represents artistic vision but becomes uniquely yours through personalised selection of material(s). Your choice of metals transforms these small numbered releases of wrist-worn sculptures into individually produced expressions that reflect both the creator’s artistry and your personal aesthetic.
We’d be interested to know your thoughts on how UnconstrainedTime watches compare to other watches . . . comment below or on our social media. Your input is a significant factor in the ongoing evolution of the UnconstrainedTime project.
If you’re interested in our current watches, or what we might create as our project evolves, subscribe to our Priority List for notifications.
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