Xuanying Jiang - Welly Merck Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Un Blue Watch in Watch Design

The Work

Project

Un Blue Watch

Function

Watch

Category

Watch Design

Discipline

Industrial Design

Industry

Luxury and Fashion

Colors

Dark Slate Gray, Dim Gray, Gray and Dark Gray

Images

5

Client

Welly Merck

The Recognition

Laureate

Xuanying Jiang - Welly Merck

Country

China

Recognition

Silver A' Design Award

Edition

2022 - 2023

Design ID

#142657

Credits

Team

Jiang Xuanying, Shang Jiazhuang, Zheng Junjun, Chen Zilong and Zhu Huang

Image Credits

Creator Chen Zilong

Design Details

Unique Properties

Break the tradition,express the theme of peace with the "stability" of the triangle,and create a triangular case. Environment friendly material selection. In recent years, plastic material is leading the transformation of military equipment and promoting the development of lightweight military applications,which will also produce relatively high quality plastic composite waste at the same time.We plan to recycle it and use it in the production of shockproof bezels, tapes or other parts of watch.

Inspiration

The UN Blue was born of our concern about the world situation.We chose the United Nations peacekeeping force as the theme,extract elements from it, and pay tribute to those "Blue Helmet Warriors" who is far away from their homeland and family and preserve peace in the place ravaged by gunpowder smoke. We also break the traditional watch-case shape and use the "stability" of the triangle to symbolize peace,thus the design of UN-Blue's triangular case is born.

Research

During the design process of this product, we have conducted a long-term study on the users' watch reading behavior, and fully considered to improve the sensory experience when reading the watch. After a long term tracking test, and considering different habits of using the watch, the thickness and radian of the glass, and the refraction of the glass under natural light, the inclination angle of UN Blue’s case is finally designed. In the process of product proofing, we have made an optimal compromise due to certain budget and technical constraints from a market perspective.

Challenge

The production and grinding of the special-shaped "triangular" case, the inclination angle of the case and the technical realization for texture considerations are all challenges we encounter in the process of case production. When calling for the recycling of military plastics and the experimental research and development of alternative silicone strap, we need to continuously improve the performance of new materials on the basis of the realization, and consider the comfort of wearing it. Control costs. Considering the market, we must strictly control the cost during the research and development of UN Blue.

Realization and Technology

The curved sapphire glass watch cover is used to make the dial more transparent. Its material hardness is second only to diamond, which ensures clear reading and provides excellent protection for the dial. The Swiss Super-luminova luminous system can be recycled to ensure reading time at night, and it is water resistant up to 50M, which can meet users’ requirements for daily use. The Velcro leather strap can improve the convenience and portability of wearing it, and the reflective coating is printed on the surface of the leather strap to meet the needs of outdoor warnings at night.The silicone strap uses recycled armament waste.

Operation and Interaction

After a long term tracking test of watch reading habits, we found that the flat case and flat glass are inconvenient to read. The UN Blue optimizes this experience in its design by tilting the angle of the case and the glass by 5.5°, so that the dial is perpendicular to the line of sight, making it easier for users to quickly focus their eyes and read the time quickly. In order to be as convenient as possible for users, UN-Blue adopts a detachable watch strap design. The Velcro leather strap is light and comfortable, easy to take off and put on, showing a more functional style; the rubber strap is designed to be one-piece considering that it can fit the wrist and be comfortable to wear.

Project Duration and Location

The project started its design in China in December 2020. In May 2021, the first draft of the design was completed, and the revision stage started. In September 2021, the design draft was confirmed. Further research and development was carried out and the sample production stage started. In February 2022, the preliminary sample was released, and the design details were further improved according to the sample. The project is still in progress, and the basic version is planned to be launched in December 2022. While still looking for a suitable supplier to further improve the sample. The UN Blue will be sold as a limited edition.

Specifications

SIZE:44.5*45.0mm(W*H), THICKNESS:14.2mm STRAP LENGTH:165-220mm CASE:Stainless steel bezel, case body and crown treated in black metal PVD. vertical brushed side wall. STRAP:22.0*20.0mm

Keywords

Gorp-core, City boy, Military Style, Camouflage Element, Hardcore, Mechanical Looking