The ⁠Obscura.⁠ Part 2, A watch that began in 2017 and then constantly adjusted and refined. A project of self-indulgence. It is my best work and finally I can retire, happy. I am not retiring of course and probably never will, the point being the Obscura is unfettered by expense, detail, materials and craftsmanship.

A watch that could only ever be made now, with the experience, team and makers accumulated over the last 15 years.

In summary the Obscura is an artefact. It was designed specifically within all the normal watch constraints, i.e. a round watch that tells the time with central hour and minute hands but manipulated to look less conventional and more like a mysterious timing device. Something (when housed in its canister), that if discovered in the undergrowth should probably be left alone, or handed in.

This is a watch of suspicious origins, perhaps military, perhaps alien. It is obscure, subtly so and definitely more than the sum of its parts, the details of which tell the Obscura’s story.

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

The Obscura – a watch that began in 2017 and then constantly adjusted and refined. A project of self-indulgence. It is my best work and finally I can retire, happy. I am not retiring of course and probably never will, the point being the Obscura is unfettered by expense, detail, materials and craftsmanship.

A watch that could only ever be made now, with the experience, team and makers accumulated over the last 15 years.

In summary the Obscura is an artefact. It was designed specifically within all the normal watch constraints, i.e. a round watch that tells the time with central hour and minute hands but manipulated to look less conventional and more like a mysterious timing device. Something (when housed in its canister), that if discovered in the undergrowth should probably be left alone, or handed in.

This is a watch of suspicious origins, perhaps military, perhaps alien. It is obscure, subtly so and definitely more than the sum of its parts, the details of which tell the Obscura’s story.

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

A short reading of Leo Walmsley's Ports and Harbours. A book written in 1942. As Mr Walmsley says 'We island dwellers are apt to take our ports and harbours for granted,' Very true especially in peace time. I like this for both the way it is written and the enthusiasm the author has for the insane feats of engineering contained within. Feats that he skips over to focus on how they shaped the British Empire. It does make me think of the hard graft and the lives lost for us to drop lines for crabs or slurp on a 99.

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

Here is a version of a lecture I gave to students at University of Sussex, it is an introduction to a module called Design for industry of which I convene. It is not complete because some parts are too irrelevant and uninteresting. I am recording a series of lectures as a resource for the students but also insight for you to see behind the curtain of a design degree course. And a little more info on how I operate. Naturally here it is read in a manner to put you to sleep, but the students received a version that was more upbeat. I needed you to know that.

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

PIPS / WEB / LOG /

Navigating the details on modern black watch materials, coatings and finishes can be a confusing undertaking. Ambiguous science with misleading figures all contribute to the marketing nonsense that spews from our beloved and often hyperbolic industry. This reading of an article written for Substack should clear up some of the technobabble we are too often confronted with. Also, listen to Story No.1 for a playful jab at technobabble specifically!

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

The Light, general purpose field watch (in two colours) by Schofield.

Schofield introduces a new general purpose field watch. And Giles talks you through its design and manufacture process.

After 15 years making watches with the same case shape and dimensions, the Light brings a whole re-design, from the ground up. At 40 mm diameter we now have a wholly new offering with no less complexity and detail as seen in other models. Lighthouses have been Schofield’s inspiration for the last 15 years and these two new watches reflect their austerity, endurance and precision. Built for legibility and reliability - a functional watch with subtle military cues. Powered by an automatic, mechanical Seiko movement with 24hr GMT. The Light comes in two colours, aptly named The Light One and The Dark One. Both limited to 150 pieces. 

https://schofieldwatchcompany.com - For the Light watches

https://sugar-free.uk - For additional straps. Both 22mm and 20mm

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

The Specialist is a true piece of American humour. Written in 1929 by Charles 'Chic' Sale. It is a book that I have had forever thinking it was the only copy in the world. I decided to read it because it is out of Copyright - I hope (I did research it) and because it is an early essay on the depth of thought required to design and build something functional. It is a story about a champion privy builder called Lem Putt who takes great pride in his work. I read it in a special kind of monotone due to me being under the weather and in the middle of a Christmas funk malaise. Anyway, it’s good for 15mins.

Episode 3 (next week) is on the Light (you are not supposed to know what this means). It is explicitly and directly watch related so should balance the books in favour of horology. 

I think that after a gentle re-wording this little book could be written by me as an explanation of Schofield Watch Co. :-)

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /

We begin with the full Turbo Encabulator followed by my own Calibre Encabulator and then even more silly nonsense circa 2013. A whole 15 mins of jargonny-technobabble. Where the Turbo Encabulator uses mostly made up words, the Calibre Encabulator does not. Every word is real, some archaic admittedly, but most are technical and relate to watch movements and the history of time keeping. I wonder if any listeners can untangle it to make sense before I do another story explaining it :-)

Overall it is a little dig at over-zealous PR and those that believe being pretentious has true value, those that believe obscuring the truth with verbiage is clever. I've seen it and I don't like it.

Sometime is bits of books that need more time.

✦ Peace!

⁠PIPS⁠ / ⁠WEB⁠ / ⁠LOG⁠ /