Uniform Wares at Oki-Ni

Horology is probably one of the best words in the English language.  And no, it has nothing to do with Amsterdam. Unfortunately we can’t all ponce around like the white rabbit at Johnny Depp’s tea-table with our very own pocket watch. Unless you’ve wound up on a mad one at a flat party in Salford after an overzealous night at Sankeys that is. Deriving their name from the probably quite familiar stance that we all have to have our own every day uniform, Uniform Wares thankfully solve this problem for us. These are some of the most cracking watches that I’ve come across in a long time.

Coming from a furniture product design background, Oliver Fowles and Patrick Bek founded Uniform Wares in 2009. With the intention to set out and design a utilitarian tool that didn’t exist at this particular price range, they have worked to the tune of ‘simplicity, texture and elegance’ –and picked up a cult following in the process. Attention to detail for Fowles and Bek is paramount. Using a combination of Swiss and Japanese watch making techniques, the London-based company design and develop all of their watches from the hands, to the crown to the straps and packaging, in-house. This goes to the extent that even the font on the back of the packaging is drawn by hand. Shove that in your top-hat Jack Sparrow.

However, it isn’t just the accurate design that makes these watches stand out from the crowd, even with the utter simplicity of their style. For instance, the leather for the straps of the luxury 300 series is sourced from specific British and Italian tanneries and the 302/RG-01 has a brushed rose gold case. Although if the top end of the price range isn’t for you, then the 100 range could be. Using a process called Physical Vapour Deposition the case is coated by accelerating metal ions inside a vacuum, creating a non-corrosive and lasting surface. Beam me right up, Scotty lad.

Each release is limited making these watches both desirable and collectable. If Einstein were still about, he’d absolutely have one. Oki-Ni currently stock the latest releases from the 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 series’.

http://www.oki-ni.com/brands/uniform-wares/