If less is more than TID watches has the most. Where some brands take minimalism to mean that Scandinavian love of simple, clean lines, TID has gone about as far as it’s possible to go in that direction, distilling their watches to their bare essentials.
Just take a look at their first timepiece, the No.1. Yes, their naming process is pretty minimal too. The entire case is milled from solid steel, unalleviated and plain. It’s an industrial style that lends itself to the shape, just a plain circle with lugs unashamedly unintegrated.
But that’s not all. The dial too is milled from plain steel, with the indexes engraved directly into it along with a brushed finish in the centre to differentiate the different parts. That’s all there is to it; even the hands are plain bars of metal. Despite being steel-on-steel, the dial remains readable thanks to the depth of the engraving and simplicity of the numerals.
The Miyota quartz movement is perfectly fine. It’s not haute horology, but then neither is it trying to be. TID aren’t a watchmaker; they’re a designer, and if there’s one thing they know its design.
Available in two sizes and a number of different straps, the No. 1 more than shows off TID’s design chops. If you’re after the ornate, the intricate or the superfluous, you’re in the wrong place. Less is indeed more and the No. 1, by stripping away everything but the essentials, is the most.
Price: £195; www.tidwatches.com
