I know we keep saying that we are going to limit our coverage of minimalist quartz watches, but it seems that the limit on what can be done with this simple formula has not yet be met. Take the Santis and Berg Vertice, a two hander that uses Eastern Arabic numerals for the chapter ring. Here is a watch design that truly is hard to find on the market, at least outside of the Middle East, and something that should appeal to quite a number of people.
The specs on the 40mm stainless steel watch are respectable, with a sapphire crystal and a Miyota quartz movement on a leather strap with a deployment clasp. The dial material is ceramic, an interesting choice I don’t see much of. There are four color options, a polished stainless case with either a black or blue dial, or a rose gold plated case with a blue or white dial. The rose gold/black version has rose gold hands, while the rose gold/white version has blued hands. The Eastern Arabic numerals look to be applied and are color matched to the case. I am sure that one can find a number of watches that use these markings if you are in the Middle East, but my search for watches easily available state-side came up empty. If you speak or read Arabic, or have a heritage from this area, this might be a nice option for you.
As I usually do, I will mention that this is a crowd funded project. You are not making a retail transaction, you are backing the development of a project, and it is possible the project may change between prototype and production, and you credit card does not offer the same protections as they do on a retail transaction. That said, the watch is available for $189 CAD (approx $144USD), which is reasonable for what is being offered. The backers are looking to raise $10,000 CAD, and they are close to their goal. santisandberg.com
Watch Overview:
- Brand & Model: Santis and Berg Vertice
- Price: $189 CAD (~$144 USD)
- Who we think it might be for: You are a Arabic speaker or of Middle Eastern heritage and want a watch that reflects this.
- Would I wear one myself based on what I’ve seen?: I am not the market audience, but it is attractive.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Do the white version in a non rose gold version.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: It is fairly unique.
Tech Specs from Santis and Berg:
- Movement: Miyota quartz
- Functions: Two hander
- Case: Stainless steel with option rose gold plating
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Water resistance: Not specified
- Lug width: Not specified
- Straps: Leather with a deployment clasp
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Thickness: Not specified (but it looks pretty thin)
