In a horological landscape often dominated by round cases and ubiquitous complications, the Farer London Tonneau Watch emerges as a refreshing statement of considered design and elegant simplicity.
This is a timepiece that deliberately eschews the conventional, embracing a distinctive tonneau-shaped case and a pared-back two-hand configuration to create a watch that is both visually compelling and deeply evocative of a specific era. Inspired by the cushion-cased watches of the 1970s, the London pays homage to a time when watch design was unafraid to explore unique forms and textures, offering a sophisticated alternative for the modern horophile.
Farer, a brand known for its bold use of colour and distinctive design language, here channels a more restrained yet equally impactful aesthetic. The focus of the London is resolutely on geometry and proportion, drawing inspiration from the clean lines and uncluttered dials of mid-seventies two-hand watches.
The white dial serves as a canvas for a captivating pattern of three-dimensional concentric ridges, a subtle yet engaging texture that lends the face both depth and visual interest. These ridges draw the eye inwards, towards the elegant midnight blue baton hands that glide gracefully across the dial, marking the passage of hours and minutes with understated precision.
Adding a touch of unexpected colour and further enhancing the dial’s dimensionality are the stepped red Arabic numerals. These numerals are cleverly inset into the dial pattern, creating a subtle stepped effect that accentuates the depth provided by the concentric ridges.
Their alternating sizes prevent the dial layout from appearing uniform, drawing the eye back from the centre to the periphery and creating a dynamic interplay of shapes and levels. Framing these elements is a crisp blue railroad minute track, punctuated by subtle red minute markers, providing a precise yet unobtrusive reference point.
The emphasis on form extends beyond the dial to the very architecture of the watch itself. The distinctive tonneau-shaped case, measuring a comfortable 35mm by 45mm with a slender profile of 10.6mm, is meticulously crafted from 316L high-grade stainless steel. The case features a brushed finish complemented by polished chamfers, adding a touch of refinement and highlighting the watch’s elegant curves.
The curved sapphire crystal, treated with a multi-layer anti-reflective coating on its underside, follows the contours of the case seamlessly, creating a streamlined silhouette that sits comfortably on the wrist. Flipping the watch over reveals a sapphire exhibition caseback, offering a glimpse into the heart of the timepiece.
Powering the Farer London is a Swiss Made Sellita SW300-1 Special Elaborated Grade movement, a reliable and respected automatic calibre that has been thoughtfully modified by Farer to remove the seconds hand, further emphasizing the watch’s focus on essential timekeeping. The movement is also decorated with a bespoke rotor that is vapour coated to precisely match the dial colour, a subtle yet significant detail that speaks to Farer’s commitment to holistic design.
The movement boasts a power reserve of approximately 56 hours when fully wound and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensuring accurate and reliable timekeeping. The watch is paired with a high-quality St Venere leather strap, secured with a matching 316L stainless steel buckle. With a water resistance of 100 meters, the Farer London Tonneau Watch, priced at £1095, is a compelling offering for those who appreciate a timepiece that blends distinctive design, quality Swiss engineering, and a subtle nod to the elegance of a bygone era.
