As we have mentioned before (and will no doubt harp on again and again), watches on the crowd-funding platforms really need to differentiate themselves. In other words, yeah, we get it it that you like your slimline, minimal two- (or three-) hander, but there are a gazillion of them, with some different ink printed on the dial. So, we have set out before to identify what we ask ourselves, and what you should ask (do you feel lucky, punk?) Fortunately, with this project, I really didn’t have those questions on my mind, because the quirky look of the Finn Watches – the Causeway and Fingal’s Cave – really caught my eye.
As you can see, the Finn Watches are all about hexagons. Sure, we’ve seen that shape before, and it’s a natural fit, given hex-head fasteners. Here, on these watches, it takes a much more rounded-off shape, almost like a pebble that’s been tumbling around in the ocean a bit. Which is fitting, given the design inspiration is called out as the Giant’s Causeway, which has plenty of waves-rounded shapes going on on its shores. Fittingly, those hexagons also show up embossed into the dial, albeit in a more traditional honeycomb (read: hard-cornered) set of hexes. I like this simply due to the dimensionality it gives to the otherwise simple dial.
The rest of the dial of the Finn Watches is simple – printed numerals at the compass points (in a rather slick, Celtic font), a logo below twelve, and then a simple three-hand setup spinning away over the dial. This is the one stumbling point for me – the hour hand just feels painfully short. And, as long as we’re changing the handset around a bit, I would not mind seeing the rounded edges of the case show up on the tips of the hands as well – perhaps for a future version.
The hands on the Finn Watches are powered by the Ronda 713 quartz movement, so reliability and accuracy should not be a concern here. When it comes to picking out your own Finn Watch, well, you’ve got options. Early bird pricing starts at $132, and at that price point, you get your choice of dial color (black or white), case finish (stainless steel or black ion plated), and strap color (black, tan, or brown). The strap also carries another nod to the Irish heritage of the watch, with a bit of green contrast stitching showing up.
At the end of the day, another affordable quartz three-hander on Kickstarter really does not get the juices flowing. With the Finn Watches, though, I think they have something a bit more unique to grab the attention. Sure, hexagons are not for everyone, but it is a clever hook, especially if you are familiar with the hexagonal columns of the Giant’s Causeway. I’m not the only one who thinks that either – the project is currently 60% funded, with the project closing on July 15. As always, let us know in the comments what you think about this particular watch. finnwatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Finn Watches Causeway and Fingal’s Cave
- Price: Earlyybird pricing starts at $132
- Who we think it might be for: You want a simpler three-hander but still crave a unique look
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Likely not – just not in my wheelhouse
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Figuring out some applied (and lumed) indices would be a nice add
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The rounded hexes
