Review of Braun x Paul Smith Watch

November 29, 2023

German product design powerhouse Braun and British fashion house Paul Smith are back with another collaboration C this time featuring Swiss ETA movements. Watch number one (BN0279SLPS) is a 40mm matte silver stainless steel two-hander with small seconds and date, powered by an ETA 2895-2 movement. Watch number two (BN0279GNPS) is also 40mm, but comes in a matte gunmetal stainless-steel case with a rainbow sweeping seconds hand and date at three o'clock. It's powered by an ??ETA 2892A2 movement. Both watches have open casebacks exposing the movements. There are just 100 of each reference being produced. And they will set you back $950. Now if we look back at the first analog watch Braun made in 1989, it was, you guessed it, a lot smaller. The AW10 was a simple three-hander measuring 33m. It was actually created to reflect Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams vision of functionality and legibility. Perhaps this points to the fact that in 2023 we just need bigger font sizes? ?Our eyes are getting weaker? Screen fatigue? I'm not sure. You can buy a modern version of the AW10 for $300 here. The reissue of the Braun AW 10 watch. Photo: courtesy Braun P&G I prefer the Braun AW20. Tony Traina once argued that it bore the best date window of all time? Big if true.? Back to these new 40mm automatic references that have Paul Smith stamped on the dial at six o'clock. The look is clean and minimal as it should be. These designs never stray too far from the original product. What We Think Braun is actually a low-key collab king. Having partnered with Off-White and Highnosbiety, it is no stranger to the power of hype. But working alongside Paul Smith is certainly a way to catch a slightly different demo C?a little more grown up, a little more polished, a little more, "I put my shirts away as soon as I get them back from the dry cleaners and hang them by color and occasion." The Braun collaborations never deviate too much from the core design tenets of Dieter Rams. Theyre cool and clean and minimal. It might be a little tricky to convince anybody to spend $950 on a Braun watch, but hey these are limited editions and come with automatic movements and a #menswear seal of approval by the creator of #menswear himself: Paul Smith! The Basics Brand: Braun Model: Paul Smith + Braun BN0279 Reference Number: BN0279SLPS; BN0279GNPSDiameter: 40mm Case Material: Stainless Steel Dial Color: Grey Indexes: Applied Lume: Yes Water Resistance: 5ATMStrap/Bracelet: 22mm black PU strap The Movement Caliber: ETA caliber 2895-2; ETA 2892A2Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds; hours, minutes, sweeping seconds; date Diameter: 25.6; 25.6mmPower Reserve: 47 hours; 42 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz); 28,800 vph (4Hz)Jewels: 27; 21 Pricing & Availability Price: $950Availability: 28th November Limited Edition: 100 of each?For more, click here.