Independents

Bernard Cheong’s post about the Devon Tread 1 certainly struck a chord in this community, evoking passionate responses both in support and in opposition. I had the opportunity to handle a prototype of the Devon Tread 1 recently and wanted to add to the discussion of this larger than life timepiece.


“Wow!” was my initial reaction to the watch when I first clapped my eyes on it, similar to how I felt when I’ve come across other hyper-sized watches with distinctive styling, such as the Maitres du Temps Chapter One:


and the Christophe Claret Dual Tow:


among the many others (Urwek and MB&F) that are making adventurously designed watches today.

One lesson I’m learning from experience is that the sheer volume of a watch definitely evokes a visceral response in me, and my first impressions are usually positive. A second impression comes when I try the watch on:



And when I strapped on the Devon Tread 1 I found it to be wearable. There is no mistaking the fact that it is huge and that I would have to adapt my attire for the days I wanted to wear it, but then, I have found that I do/have done that with other watches in my collection. This would be a watch for the weekend for me, a very pleasant partner for my denim days.


This watch is 53 mm from side to side and 47 mm from lug to lug. It is 17 mm high, meaning it won’t fit under any sleeve that I own. When it comes to the wearability of such a large watch, the design of the lugs is paramount, and the downward angle of the lugs of the Devon Tread 1 was carefully thought out.


Reading the time is intuitive, and I was amused by the two-second intervals between movements on the seconds tread, rather than by the usual and expected one-second ticks on a standard quartz watch. I did not try any operations with the crown, so I am unable to comment on user-friendliness.

The Devon Tread 1 is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer cell, which operates four independent electrical motors, one for each rubber tread, which in turn are controlled by an onboard microprocessor. The Tread 1 is recharged wirelessly by placing it inside a box, which must be plugged in. The watch is expected to work reliably for two weeks after recharging.

It is this fundamental nature of the Devon Tread 1 that I, and I’m sure many here within the PuristS community might have difficulty getting our heads around with our focus on traditional mechanical watchmaking. Anyone considering this watch will have to answer a slew of questions: How do I feel about battery-powered movements? Do I care if the watch is not beautiful (very different than being interesting, a quality which the Devon Tread 1 has in spades)? What can I compare it to? Does it represent a good value (Retail value is $15,000)?


I have little doubt that the Devon Tread 1 will find an audience and be successful. I just don’t know if that audience will be from within this community. This is a story I definitely am interested in following.

Bill

This is definitely a unique watch with an "out of the box" mentality.

Although I agree, that it is probably a bit too radical and too electronic for the tastes here on PuristSPro, I agree it will have its own following.

Out of all of these "belt-driven" watches, I think I am personally still most fond of the Harry Winston Opus 9 timepiece in terms of aesthetic design. But, I am still most keen about having the A. Lange & Soehne Zeitwerke on my wrist.

Thank you for the nice macro photographs on this watch, it does help me understand more about how this watch works!

I think it is a cool-looking piece for sure, and I'm glad to see some American ingenuity behind it, but the watch is too large for daily wear IMO and at the end of the day I think this type of tread display is a bit too avant garde for my personal taste.  I have no doubt that many will buy and enjoy the watch, however.

Thanks for your initial impressions, Bill!

Cheers,
Daos

 

 i like the watch  i like the idea of it , do i see my self owning one?! well who knows, however IF i am to do so then that would be after two conditions are met, first after collecting my long list of watches, second will be the tread 2  " the one without a seconds belt" .

 i don't want to sound too judgmental but with such quality of printing wearing off the belts they should be concerned somehow " i know its a prototype but..."

 its not the non pure mechanical movement that pushes me away its the gigantic size of it , i would bare a 55mm vintage stowa for the sake of heritage or any other brand for the sake of mechanical  complication but this one is not falling in any of the previous categories don't get me wrong im not asking for the brand to be one of the two but more compact  size would be an  additional accomplishment  added to the plusses  of this radical comer.

 ONLY time will tell .

  by the way BILL what is size of your wrist?!

 Thanks for your post .

 Faisal

 

 

for those who might be able to imagine the watch on their wrists.

Bill

 

 i have the same wrist size as well .

 

 Faisal

NT

while he was on the road meeting with potential retail partners. He gave me permission to photograph the prototype that was on his wrist. There may well be changes to the final production version from what is photographed above.

Bill

Hi,

First, thank you for undertaking this overview of the piece. The original post by Bernard was provocative and compelling, but this one added a better sense of the watch's wrist presence and functional character. Much appreciated, and well-done.

My concern about this piece centers around one question: is this a craft watch or a personal electronic device? If the latter, then comparable products are not UN Macho 950's or JLC Reverso Squadras but ipods, Blackberries, and PSPs.

The functions of a mechanical watch are beguiling and impressive because they take the constraints of traditional mechanisms like springs, gears, and levers to levels ingenuity that astound. A minute repeater made by hand and powered by springs is a work of art and a breathtaking accomplishment, but only on its own terms.

Electronic devices, on the other hand, can produce the same effect as the minute repeater with a few dollars worth of micro circuits and batteries. If the Devon had realized its time display concept through traditional clockwork, it would be an achievement on par with the best from MB&F, Vianney Halter, and other innovative independents. As it is, it seems like an interesting design effort but not a $15,000 luxury watch.

Basically, trying to emulate the function of a complicated mechanical watch using electronics is punching below the weight of the underlying technology. This is a very expensive fashion watch unless there is some kind of inherent craft in it that would make it exceptionally difficult for other to replicate using the same electronic components. You can reconfigure time display arrangements and style all day long when the regulating mechanisms, power source, and drivetrains are more afterthoughts than dominant design factors.

I do like that the watch is U.S. made, as the USA would do well to re-establish a domestic watch manufacturing base. Also, it's an original display concept, which is good from a style perspective, but there are plenty of fashion watches and electronic gizmos that compete on that front.

I don't think I can state what Tim_M has done so eloquently above. 

The non-mechanical nature of the piece just doesn't do it for me.  Its a very neat design and formfactor and I think its a great price point for a awesome fashion piece.   A very high priced piece of electroic gadget. 

Thank you for the great macros and overview. 

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... either my feelings about the watch, or the watch itself. But your essay is very helpful, Tim, and provides a construct to think about the issues.

If the Devon Tread was an assortment of electronic circuits and wires like a digital watch I could easily dismiss it. But the motors and pulleys and treads impart a certain life to the watch which is something I appreciate in the more traditional mechanical timepieces we discuss ad nauseum on PuristS. If the teeth on the cogs were hand cut, or the housing of the motors finished with perlage, would I be more partial to the finished product? Probably not, but it's great to have watches like the Devon Tread to stir up how we think about horology. It's not traditional, but it sure is compelling.

Really appreciated your contribution. Thanks!

Andrew

Thanks to all for the kind words and for reading my thoughts above. The feedback elicited by this watch has been striking.

It seems like most here harbor a similar sense that the Devon is "interesting" but ultimately not sufficiently fulfilling from an artistic or technical standpoint. I feel that a timepiece must appeal to one of these sensibilities in order to have lasting connoisseur appeal.

I certainly don't intend to posit that an electronic component automatically renders a watch soulless or relegates it to emotional irrelevance. Some hybrid electro-mechanical systems have proved to be enduring and endearing to this community; the Seiko Spring Drive and original Bulova Accutron movement come to mind.

However, while those systems glorified the movement as such and were marketed on the basis of true mechanical innovation, the Devon seems to be entirely given to style. The outlandish size combined with the unconventional time display betray the watch's total focus on visual impact by means of novelty. This is quite a different visual impact than the kind that draws a viewer to look ever deeper; I can't imagine an aficionado pouring over the Devon for any significant time with a loupe or viewer. The level of finish and relatively mundane spec of the electronic components don't invite or reward closer examination.

That's my position, but....

...I certainly don't intend to silence or belittle any opinions to the contrary. Indeed, Bernard offered a vigorous and cogent defense of the Devon in his initial overview, and I'm sure that he and others of the same mind are ready to press the pro-Devon case with gusto and eloquence to match anything I can muster. Tastes are highly individual, and definitive verdicts often are anything but. Perhaps, if this Devon has served to inspire such controversy thus far, there may be more to it than we grasped? It strikes us, moves us, and seems to elicit true love/hate reactions. But we can't articulate *precisely* why.

Is this the "Catcher in the Rye" of haute horology?

for your very thoughtful words on the Devon Tread 1. They are helpful to helping me to clarify my thoughts about the watch.

This watch exists outside of my horological comfort zone. There are things I like about it, as well as things that I am ambivalent about.

I'm hoping that Bernard gives us a detailed owner's review complete with photographs once he takes possession of the watch. I'm already looking forward to hearing more of his thoughts about this watch.

Bill

this watch should be a 'toy' to sit on a counter and take down to enjoy its novelty once in a while... but as a watch... one has to strain for politeness on one's opinion...

"Basically, trying to emulate the function of a complicated mechanical watch using electronics is punching below the weight of the underlying technology"

Gets it in one.

Good post.