Tool watches defining feature is that they are purpose-built. After all, the entire reason the genre exists is to help the wearer accomplish a specific task. That’s why we have tool watches created for divers, drivers, pilots, etc.
But what if a tool watch were so hyper-specific in its mission that it was created not for a singular occupation or activity but for one single person?
That’s what Seiko has dreamed up as part of its second-ever “Incredibly Specialized Watch Exhibition.” The event sees Seiko designers using their unrestrained imaginations to create the most radical designs they can come up with, unencumbered by practicality or manufacturing realities.
One of the most intriguing concepts to emerge from this year’s event was a tool watch designed for one specific person: Santa Claus.
To All a Good Night
The Santa watch has several features that are optimized for one high-speed, high-stress, globe-trotting night of work for a jolly old elf.
Let’s take a look at the dial first, as it’s quite unusual. The timing scale effectively begins at the 7 o’clock index, marked “19” to denote 7 pm in a 24-hour format. Working our way around the dial, you’ll notice the military-time scale continues up to 6 am, which occupies the 6 o’clock index. Effectively, this means the watch only keeps time during the evening, nighttime and early morning hours — the exact window when Santa is plying his trade on December 24.