Uniform Wares Interview

Every day watches intended for longevity, characterised with meticulous design details and insistent on everyday day performance that lasts.

Alicja McCarthy speaks to Patrick Bek and Oliver Fowles, founders & designers of the London-based studio Uniform Wares, about their time pieces, their influences and what makes them tick (ahem…)

What’s the idea behind the time pieces?

They are conceived by the idea that a watch should be legible and simple but with enough character for the user to connect with. We hope that our watches are able to slot in to very different lifestyles and social situations. They should be easily dressed up or down. At the heart of our timepieces are movements that we consider to be the best for the price point, the design is built around that. So what’s more important to you when considering a design, style or practicality?

I think as long as a watch is legible it is already going some way to being practical. We could design a watch that is the essence of everyday practicality but in doing so it would no doubt end up looking like many rubberised dive watches that the market is already flooded with. We have to balance the needs of everyday use with a product that connects with the user because of the texture / finish or material. This is one reason why we chose Italian Calf Leather for our straps, rubber would be more practical but it is less comfortable, less luxurious, these are things that are important when considering how a product will age with it’s user.

There is a definite sense of quality to the watches, how do you go about sourcing materials?

Each of our watches is around 6 / 7 months in the making. We’re proud that each part of the watch is designed by us, only the movement is sourced elsewhere this means that we have many models of each component piece being made / prototyped so we can find the right fit for the product. A lot of our material research and prototyping takes place here in the UK, once we have found what we need we can instruct the factory on every stage of the finishing process whether this be the PVD coatings of the cases or the vegetable tanning of the straps.

So what’s the best seller?

The black 100 Series is definately our staple model but we’re glad that this model is the backbone of the company and our other models are all informed in some way by the success of that watch.

So what’s ‘good’ design’?

Something that has relevance, whether that be commercial or emotional relevance.

Who, form past & present has influenced you the most?

In terms of watch making, Ludwig Oechslin developed the Automatic MIH Watch that has an annual calendar that is able to show the correct date at the end of each month without having to reset between 30th and 31st, and it’s a beautiful tool watch. In terms of design, Konstantin Grcic is always No1.

Anything else on the cards for Uniform Wares?

We have two new models that will be released later this year, the 150 Series and the 250 Series. They will be an interesting departure from our current collection.

Very interested to see what they produce next, ‘an interesting departure’ from their already (or soon to be) classic watch designs! Keep an eye on these guys, with their meticulous design considerations and lifestyle influences, Uniform Wares will no doubt be one of the lead design studios of this decade.

Website:www.uniformwares.com/