‘If you can’t find what you’re looking for, build it yourself’ is a mentality that will get you far in life. Or perhaps more accurately, it’s a mentality that will make you start your own microbrand so that you can create the watch you want to wear. That’s why German microbrand Ten Eleven Nine was created in 2019 by Leif Henrik Osthoff. He sought to create watches that combine the minimalist style of a dress watch with the durability of a dive watch to create the ultimate versatile tool watch in the form of the Minimal, Researcher and Weltweit.
At their core, the Minimal, Researcher and Weltweit are the same watch with slight differences that give them unique personalities. Specifically, Minimal has a pared back design that makes it the most dress watch centric of the three whereas Weltweit is at the other end of the spectrum as the sportiest. The Researcher sits in the middle as a nice contrast between the two.
In terms of their construction, all three have 38mm cases that were designed by Leif himself, who is a professional photographer and has an eye for architecture and design. The 38mm diameter is a reference to the vintage sizes of the 50s-80s and stylistically they’re influenced by the same period. Smooth, elegant lines sweeping towards the lugs and round bezel. They have solid casebacks, screw down crowns and water resistance to 200m. As with the majority of microbrands production was outsourced, in this case to Sächsische Uhrentechnologie GmbH Glashütte (SUG).
Then comes the dials. Again, vintage inspiration is the name of the game with a particular focus on minimalism and legibility. A matt dark grey base provides a backdrop for white lume coated indexes and white painted dauphine hands that feature on each of the Minimal, Researcher and Weltweit. It’s a very classic look that German watchmakers like Ten Eleven Nine and Nomos Glashütte have perfected. In fact, the name Ten Eleven Nine is a tribute to Germany as it’s the zip code for the brand’s headquarters in Berlin.
It’s also the dials that differentiate the three models. Minimal only features baton hour markers with a double index at 12, really pushing the minimalist aesthetic. Then, Researcher adds Arabic numerals to the mix at 12 and 6 providing a hint of graphic style flair. Finally, Weltweit swaps all the hour markers for circles and oblong shapes for superior legibility under water. Each of the variants was designed by Leif and executed by Schätzle & Cie and La Pratique.
Hidden beneath the solid caseback, which can bear an optional engraving, is the Swiss Sellita Calibre SW200-1 Premium (TOP Grade). It’s an automatic movement which is widely available and easy to repair, making it ideal for providing a long lifespan to Ten Eleven Nine’s watches. All of which makes up for its slightly underwhelming 38-hour power reserve.
The best quality of the Minimal, Researcher and Weltweit is their sheer versatility. They are restrained enough for occasions that call on smart dress but also robust enough for adventures. And at €2,380 (approx. £1,987) it’s not outside of reason to use them as intended, unlike the many luxury tool watches that are better kept in a display case.
Price & Specs:
Model: Ten Eleven Nine Minimal, Researcher and Weltweit
Reference: 10119.01 (Minimal), 10119.02 (Researcher), 10119.03 (Weltweit)
Case/Dial: 38mm diameter x 11mm height, stainless steel case, semi-matt, dark blue grey dial
Water resistance: 200m (20 bar)
Movement: Swiss Sellita Calibre SW200-1 Premium (TOP Grade), automatic, COSC-certified chronometer
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 38h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
Price/availability: €2,380 (approx. £1,987)
More details at Ten Eleven Nine.
