Hirwill wants to spin you around

If you’ve been reading us for even a little while, you know that we’ve become selective about what crowd-funded watches we cover. There have been so many “me too” sorts of watches that have popped up, you can’t even really tell them apart (hint: the only thing really different is the silkscreened logo on the dial). At first, I thought this watch from Hirwill was another one, but a (quick) second look showed me a dial of a different sort.

You see, the Hirwill (which is apparently Swedish for whirlwind) takes inspiration from vintage weather measurement tools. I cannot say as to the utmost accuracy here (disclaimer: not a meteorologist) but I do like what it has imparted to the dial. You get an almost Nautilus shell-like set of curves that breaks things up (literally, as you don’t have full circles), and frankly, just gives a bit more visual interest.

Those lines are on top of a white enamel dial, something that is another nod to the antique inspiration of the watch. The enamel should give things a nice sheen, and provides a good contrast to the black numerals overlaid on top of the enamel. These don’t have quite an art nouveau feel to them, but they are definitely giving a vintage vibe, and I think they look right for the watch.

The one thing I’m less certain about with the Hirwill, if I’m being critical, is the handset. On one hand, they are unique shapes, and they stretch right to the edges of their respective tracks. They are even well proportioned against each other. Somehow, though, they come off as feeling just a touch too narrow. Perhaps this is less of an issue when you actually have the watch in hand (or on wrist), but the photos make it look this way.

Taking things as a whole, though, it’s an interesting look, between all of the dial elements and the interesting case side profile. With early bird pricing starting at just around $136, I would certainly say it’s a small step to take a chance on that handset. I’m sure it would be a capable watch, particularly as it relies on a Miyota quartz movement. The project itself just went live today (September 20th), and will run through October 26th, with delivery anticipated for December 2017. project page

Watch Overview

Brand & Model: Hirwill 01

Price: Earlybird pricing starts at $134 (SEK 1100)
Who we think it might be for: You like a vintage look that feels more retro modern than true vintage
Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? That’s a close one – the enamel dial is intriguing

If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Play around with the hand design some, perhaps something a touch wider
What spoke to me the most about this watch: The dial design, both the enamel finish and the actual layout