Background
I had followed this watch from a distance at first. Early previews of the dials surfaced, conversations began, and I even had the chance to speak with the creator herself. Anticipation quietly built in the background.
But none of that quite prepares you for the moment it finally reaches your wrist.
Then it happened. The Zing1 in Ice Blue, shimmering in the sunlight.
Anyone who knows me knows I have a weakness for dress watches, so impartiality was never really on the table. Even so, I resisted the urge to rush into writing. I wanted to sit with it. To understand it.
What stayed with me most was not a specification or a measurement. It was the feeling. A glance at my wrist would trigger an immediate smile. Then another glance. Sometimes a third. Same reaction, every time.
Case
The case strikes a careful balance between delicacy and presence. It carries all the hallmarks of a true dress watch: slim, refined, and elegantly restrained. On paper, you might question the size. On the wrist, those doubts disappear.
I even tested that theory by seeing it worn on a larger wrist than mine. The result? The same unmistakable charm. The proportions simply work. The watch feels intentional rather than small, composed rather than slight.
Dial
The dial is where things become quietly spectacular.
Three distinct CNC guilloché patterns create depth and motion: écailles de poisson on the outer dial, a flinqué pattern at the centre, and a sunburst motif within the seconds subdial. Each section catches the light differently, creating a surface that feels almost alive.
The Ice Blue tone is confident yet controlled. It stands out without shouting. Compared to its siblings, the Laan4 in purple and the Bik1 in green, it feels slightly more restrained, though no less captivating.
Light plays constantly across the textures, pulling your gaze back again and again. It is not a dial you check once. It invites interaction.
Movement
Inside beats the Sellita SW261-1 M, a manual-winding movement with small seconds positioned at six o’clock. Choosing a hand-wound calibre feels deliberate here. It reinforces the watch’s dress-focused character and adds a layer of ritual to the experience.
There is something deeply satisfying about winding a watch each morning, feeling the resistance through the crown and knowing you are directly powering the mechanism. It creates a more intimate connection between wearer and watch.
The movement performs with steady reliability, allowing the intricate guilloché work above to take centre stage. No unnecessary theatrics, just precise, traditional watchmaking quietly supporting the artistry on display.
Wearing Experience
This is where the watch truly wins you over.
It feels natural, balanced, almost inevitable on the wrist. The weight is carefully judged, enough to remind you it is there but never intrusive. As your wrist moves, the guilloché patterns shift and shimmer, offering new reflections and textures throughout the day.
And then there is that smile. The involuntary one. The kind that makes you glance down again, just to confirm the feeling is still there.
Watches, logically, make little sense in 2026. A phone tells the time more easily than any mechanical device ever could. But let me ask you this: does your phone make you smile every single time you check the time?
This watch does. Without fail.
What Would Make Me Happier
At 36.5mm, the Zing1 sits firmly within classic dress watch territory. On my wrist, it feels elegant and composed, entirely in keeping with its intentions. And yet, I can’t help but wonder how it might feel with the slightest increase in diameter, perhaps edging closer to 38mm.
Not because it needs it, but because the dial has such presence. The layered guilloché and shifting Ice Blue tone could easily carry a touch more real estate without losing refinement. A marginally larger case might broaden its appeal for those accustomed to modern proportions, while preserving the balance that makes it so charming.
Still, this is curiosity rather than correction. At 36.5mm, it remains true to its dress watch roots, and that authenticity is part of its magic.
Price: £1,199
Specifications
- Dial: CNC guilloché patterned dial available in green (Bik1), ice blue (Zing1) or purple (Laan4) with Chinese or Roman numeral markers on a brushed chapter ring
- Case Diameter: 36.5 mm
- Thickness (incl crystal): 9.5 mm
- Lug to Lug: 43.5 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Case Material: 316L stainless steel
- Movement: Sellita SW261-1 M manual winding, small seconds at 6 o’clock, 28,800 vph
- Power Reserve: ~38 hours
- Crystal: Flat sapphire with anti-fingerprint and anti-reflective coating
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM / 50 m
- Bracelet / Strap: 20 mm Epsom leather strap by HasNoBounds with stainless steel buckle
