A simple watch is comparatively tougher to love simply because there’s nothing much you can love about it. Today’s tech-savvy generation finds complicated watches more fun; still, simplicity stays a trend in certain markets and the smartwatch boom isn’t strong enough to root it out. Call it creativity within restricted boundaries – this whole simple watch designing game is – and that kind of simplifies things further.
IMHO, a simple watch is not just about its looks but also about its movement; unless it’s a back to basics (for both quartz and mechanical), it’s not a simple watch per se. But then again, the kind of complex decision-making and engineering that goes into a simple, attractive watch is a complex navigational route found after too many trials and errors.
Simplicity shows the purity of a line and the max to be gained within a restrained boundary, including the choice of materials. It turns out to be a blessing in disguise; since there are not too many varieties (of brands and designs) to choose from within the simplicity bracket, it’s tough to lose your way.
The good news is: After years of hibernation, simplicity is defying the boundaries of the specific markets; seems people are getting tired of excesses. This return to lesser complexity – both technically and aesthetically – prompted certain watch builders to act accordingly and suddenly, those exaggerated dimensions and piled-upon complications got abated to a great deal. Kind of an objective reality turning into more of a subjective impression. But, to clear things up in your mind and to help you gain a better grip on the phenomenon – if you are calling this return a phenomenon – I’d like to talk about the Tissot Heritage Visodate Milanais. It makes a fine example of what simplicity can be, if you don’t want to spend a ton.
The Tissot HV was the brand’s offer on its Centenary (1953) and back then, integrating the date function was counted as one of the big innovations. The re-incarnation (now with a day function) brings a lot better quality and a lot more nostalgia and Tissot’s dedication to details is what the watch hovers around. The clear visibility (through the gently curved domed sapphire glass) of the dial earned it the name and Tissot seems to have bettered it allover.
The best part about the Viso– is to wear it you don’t need a sea of tailored suits to go with; even wearing it for the nth time with a single, good one shall embody a certain, uncontriving, easy-coolness. The Visodate Milanais got an unexpected, retro-look (the faceted hour indexes and the deep black dial are big causes) yet a profile slim enough (9mm) to slide under the cuff, the 40mm case ensuring to adorn a large range of wrist sizes.
Now we come to the self-winding ETA 2836-2 movement. It’s basically the ETA standard 2824 with an additional day-date function and a simply decorated rotor (Tissot logo) which you can see through the sapphire-crystal case back.
The polished, stainless-steel Milanais mesh-bracelet is a highlight of this Visodate. It’s polished all over, sturdy and lends the watch its great, vintage look but at the same time, it also imparts an overall airiness for the halcyon days of summer.
