It’s the brand that started the oversized watch trend.
Big in attitude and character, TW Steel’s TW1 debuted in Baselworld 2005 and shook the industry convention with its now iconic 45-mm cream dial, brown leather strap with steel clasp, and a crown cap attached to the case with a hook.
The mother of all TW Steel watches was an instant hit among men—and women, surprisingly, who promptly made it fashionable to wear the oversized timepiece. The unprecedented success, copied by brands, led reviewers to quickly dismiss oversized watches as a passing trend.
Thirteen years later, the TW1 remains its global bestseller, said Auke Possel, TW Steel senior marketing manager, and the brand continues to produce bolder and bigger wristwatches.
“It’s the strength of the company that we can appeal to a lot of people. We have multisports, stylish, smart casual, dressier watches. We cater to a lot of people, but we always do it with a lot of character and attitude,” Possel told Inquirer Lifestyle.
Many of its timepieces, he said, are versatile, transitioning from powerful to raw to even feminine, depending on one’s mood. “And that’s what we like. If it feels good to wear, then we’re gonna make it,” he said.
There may be thousands of watch brands, but not enough brands that really stand out, he said. TW Steel is affordable luxury, and has earned a loyal following of watch collectors, some owning as many as 16 timepieces.
With its rugged good looks and bold, peerless style, the brand appropriately held its first ever out-of-town trip to Corregidor Island, the World War II fortress, where media joined the kayak and bamboo bike races and ran in a dark, 40-m long tunnel with a healthy gecko population, armed with nothing but flashlights.
Fitting kick-off
It was a fitting kick-off for the Son of Time and Sophisticated Maverick, the latest additions to the TW Steel watch family.
Created with renowned custom bike builders, the Son of Time Special Edition combines the world of motorcycles and horology, with unique design aesthetics. The MST3 Son of Time Chronos Joyride Special Edition sports a 45-mm steel case with black Italian leather strap, black stitching and sunray gray dial.
“Anything that has to do with fashion and craftsmanship, we can work with it, as long as it’s not standard,” Possel said.
The MST13 mode has a 45-mm steel case with black PVD coating, black leather strap with deep red stitching, and a sunray black dial with red index.
“A watch needs to have an attitude. It needs to speak to me. People are very intrigued by watches that are a bit different without being too shocking or anything crazy,” Possel said. “It must have an interesting dial, and come with a real story.”
In this case, its a story about the marriage of big bikes and the fine art of watchmaking.
The Maverick collection, introduced in 2016, has rolled out seven new timepieces. Inspired by the Son of Time masterpiece, the Maverick collection has vintage styling coupled with TW Steel’s signature bold attitude.
Available in 45 mm and 48 mm, all models are powered by chronograph movements with executions sporting sapphire-coated crystals. The elegant MS84 model with a shiny, 48 mm PVD rose-gold plated case, dark brown leather strap with white stitching, and sunray dark blue dial with rose gold indexes come with chrono movement from Miyota.
“Right now there is a trend of very minimalistic small watches, but we don’t mind because not everybody will go for small watches,” he said. “We are very comfortable where we are. We know who we are. We know what we’re good at. And we’re not afraid to remain the same.”