Brutalism/Bauhaus is back?

[INC]

I have just found this article:

https://deployant.com/gphg-2024-comm...f-the-winners/

and I find this very interesting.

At first, I wrote more as a joke that the Cubitus could be a typical cubist work of art, but now that I think about it more, after looking at the IWC and the Kollokium a feeling arose in me: is it possible that this means that the trend will change soon?

For me, based on this article, it seems that the trendy design will go backwards from the "retro" 60s-70s to the 20s-30s Bauhaus/Brutalist/Cubist era. And if so, then Cubitus may not be a mistake, but a design "ahead of its time".

What do you think about it?

[Maleg]

Cubitus is still a mistake. It's a lazy man's play on a Genta design. I don't read anything more into it than PP trying to double up on their sports watch profits with a design that's "the same, but different".

[ts3]

In my mind Brutalism has nothing to with Bauhaus. The Cubitus strikes me as brutalist but I don't see it in the tradition of the Bauhaus whatsoever. I also find it funny when people refer to the Lange 1 as a Bauhaus design which I don't think it is at all. I'd look at Nomos or Junghans if I was looking for a Bauhaus style watch.

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by ts3

In my mind Brutalism has nothing to with Bauhaus. The Cubitus strikes me as brutalist but I don't see it in the tradition of the Bauhaus whatsoever. I also find it funny when people refer to the Lange 1 as a Bauhaus design which I don't think it is at all. I'd look at Nomos or Junghans if I was looking for a Bauhaus style watch.

The definition of Bauhaus is: Bauhaus design is a style that emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and a lack of ornamentation.

Which I feel Lange falls under. The biggest complaint about Lange is there "Hockey Puck" cases. Which is a style that emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and a lack of ornamentation. They do not use the Bauhaus font like Nomos does however.
As opposed to Patek cases, that can get a little frilly.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by ts3

In my mind Brutalism has nothing to with Bauhaus.

Yeah, Bauhaus is completely different than Brutalist architecture. Both are modern, but both are two completely different styles altogether.

Bauhaus is more along the lines of less is more. It lacks ornamentation and is similar to the North American Arts and Crafts style (i.e., Frank Loyd Wright). Nomos is a great example of Bauhaus when it comes to watches.

Brutalist Architecture is just that. It’s brutal. Huge concrete structures, sometimes with exaggerated geometric shapes. Not aesthetically appealing in any way, but it was highly popular in Europe and North America post WWII.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by INC

What do you think about it?

It really may boil down to the fashionistas and paid influencers given it is 2024. Fashion MUST change to keep selling new stuff. It is 2024, Spandex or Parachute pants anyone? Are 1980's neon colors, or Miami Vice pastels, coming back in Q2 2025?

Frankly, IMHO various watch collections I see on discussion boards do need more non-round timepieces.

Sure, pushing a new style can be done. Art Deco and Cubes are a style, but they are nothing new. And yes, a brief hip/cool/phat/gnarley/outta sight/fire style can be swayed.

True brilliance would be in creating something new, which becomes a classic.


jmho

Can we bring back Art Deco first before Cubism? We need more Art Deco mechanical desk clocks :)

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

It really may boil down to the fashionistas and paid influencers given it is 2024. Fashion MUST change to keep selling new stuff. It is 2024, Spandex or Parachute pants anyone? Are 1980's neon colors, or Miami Vice pastels, coming back in Q2 2025?

Frankly, IMHO various watch collections I see on discussion boards do need more non-round timepieces.

Sure, pushing a new style can be done. Art Deco and Cubes are a style, but they are nothing new. And yes, a brief hip/cool/phat/gnarley/outta sight/fire style can be swayed.

True brilliance would be in creating something new, which becomes a classic.


jmho

Can we bring back Art Deco first before Cubism? We need more Art Deco mechanical desk clocks :)

Bring back the King Midas!

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Maleg

Bring back the King Midas!

Everything you touch turns to gold.

How about cylindrical timepieces? Don't see many of those, let's start a new 'movement' for cylindrical timepieces

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by INC

I have just found this article:

For me, based on this article, it seems that the trendy design will go backwards from the "retro" 60s-70s to the 20s-30s Bauhaus/Brutalist/Cubist era. And if so, then Cubitus may not be a mistake, but a design "ahead of its time".

What do you think about it?

Starting backwards, there is no watch I would consider Cubist.
There are form watches, basically anything accept round.

Brutalist, extremely rare. The only one that I can think of that might fit that category is Czech Watchmaker Ondřej Berkus.
I think what you are calling brutalist is more of a modern Steampunk movement. Basically showing more of the mechanics.

Bauhaus, yes. But they have been using it for a few decades. There are several watch brands that follow the Bauhaus ethos. Especially in German watch brands. Most German brands have a function over form mentality. Nomos even uses the Bauhaus fonts.

[Blansky]

For some reason most people don't really like rectangular watches anyways. And square is even more of an outlier.

Sure there is the Cartier Tank and the Reverse that have hung around despite the trends but most people just prefer round.

Whenever someone comes out with rectangular like the Franck Muller era and now the Richard Mille, they stick around for a few years but people seem to move on.

The Gentas like Nautilus and have had a pretty good run but probably because if you were a Patek fan, it was one of their few sporty models so that may have had a lot to do with the popularity.

Now the cube has headed into Squares-ville which as I said people seem to like the least of any shape so it may be a tough sell. Maybe it's the shape or maybe because it seems derivative.

Personally I'm a big fan of rectangular watches and still have 3-4 of them but if I was only buying one watch, it probably would be round.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Personally I'm a big fan of rectangular watches and still have 3-4 of them but if I was only buying one watch, it probably would be round.

There is one square timepiece to 'Rule Them All'