Editor’s Note: Watches & Wonders (formerly SIHH) has moved online and Baselworld 2020 is canceled, but that hasn’t stopped watch brands large and small from debuting their new wares. Stay on top of this year’s best new watch releases here.
The best-designed products of 2020 have just been announced, as judged by the Red Dot Design Award competition in Germany. The Red Dot award is one of the most recognized and prestigious achievements in design, which winners can display in marketing material to distinguish their products from the competition. There are many product categories, but among 1,700 products that won the Red Dot Product Design award in 2020 are some interesting watches. Check out a few of them (and a watch winder) below:
Nomos Tangente Sport Neomatik 42 Date
Recognized among watch enthusiasts as a design-forward brand that also offers strong value with in-house movements, German watchmaker Nomos regularly wins Red Dots. The Tangente Sport neomatik 42 Date is even distinguished among 2020 Red Dot winners by its placement in the Best of the Best. According to the Red Dot jury, “it exemplifies a shapely adaptation of the classic Nomos Tangente watch for the sports sector.”
Sinn 936
Sinn consistently proves that pared-back, humble, function-first design is visually appealing and provides a satisfying user experience. The Red Dot Award jury on the Sinn 936 chronograph: “The sporty chronograph stands out due to its robustness, its useful functions and a concise face layout, which showcases an appealing sense of clarity.”
Detomaso Viaggio Automatic
German brand Detomaso flies under-the-radar even amongst watch enthusiasts, but its Viaggio Automatic has a balanced, symmetrical take on the day-date function. The Red Dot Jury says: “The design language of the Viaggio Automatic is emotionally very appealing and implemented using high-quality materials.”
Braun BN0265
Braun clocks and watches designed by Dieter Rams are often held up as star examples of Bauhaus design, and this contemporary chronograph shows that the brand’s still got it. Red Dot Award Jury: “The modern chronograph fascinates with elaborate details. Thanks to the brand’s characteristic design language, it achieves a high recognition value.”
Laco Frankfurt GMT
German watchmaker Laco is known for its pilot watches, and this GMT expands on its historic design language with some pops of color. According to the Red Dot Award Jury: “The Frankfurt GMT merges a striking appearance with sophisticated technical features which professionally meet the requirements of a mobile lifestyle.”
Louis Moinet Memoris Titanium
Swiss independent brand Louis Moinet stands out among many of the Red Dot-winning watches for its technical, avant-garde aesthetic more common among high-end watchmaking. The main show here is the movement itself and colorful backdrop, while the time appears secondary, showing that not all good design need be minimalist. The Jury describes it having a “sculptural appearance” which “captivates with a user-friendly blend of tradition and high-tech.”
MeisterSinger Astroscope
MeisterSinger believes that a single hand to display the hour to the nearest five minutes will change your perception of time. Here, the brand combines this with a day-of-the-week display incorporating astronomical symbols. Red Dot Jury: “The functionally equipped Astroscope surprises with an extraordinary symbolic language, which matches the distinctiveness of a single-hand watch.”
Shenzhen Champs Watch Winder
Designed by a Chinese manufacturer, this watch winder hits the right design notes. According to the Jury: “The watch winder impresses with an elegant appearance, while its smart functions enable convenient management of various watch models.”