Can a 150-yr-outdated camera organization make a good watch? It turns out the remedy is certainly, and the new L1 and L2 watches from renowned German digital camera manufacturer Leica are proof. The Leica L1 and L2, with their understated styling and typically black coloration plan, definitely glimpse comparable to Leica’s sleek cameras, but it’s what is on the inside of that really makes them stand out. Both equally watches are run by a new, German-made mechanical movement—a testomony to Leica’s prolonged historical past of precision engineering.
Aesthetically, the Leica L1 and L2 watches benefit from layout hallmarks observed throughout Leica’s lineup of cameras. That’s no shock contemplating designer Achim Heine, who’s labored with Leica on its products and solutions and branding, conceptualized the exterior search of equally timepieces.
Each element 41mm stainless metal conditions and matte black dials created of aluminum. The understated black look recollects the minimalist exteriors of Leica cameras, when particulars like the delicately pointed palms, rhodium- and diamond-plated indices, and unique knurling on the crown evoke precision and high quality craftsmanship. Even the domed sapphire crystal more than the dial is a nod to Leica’s cameras it was chosen as a reference to the curved glass of a digicam lens.
Equally spectacular is how Leica managed to fit in a great deal of performance on a extremely uncluttered dial. Each watches aspect a seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, a date window at 3 o’clock, and a power reserve indicator amongst 8 and 9 o’clock. The L2 gets even extra: It arrives with a 12-hour scale set all over the bezel (for monitoring a next time zone), and a day-night time indicator. But even with all that data displayed, the dials appears to be like pared-down and unfussy, and they’re extremely quick to browse.
Still even with people extraordinary aesthetics, the serious emphasize is what’s inside of these watches: an entirely new mechanical motion. To create it, Leica partnered with yet another German enterprise it’s labored with in the past: Lehmann Präzision. That collaboration resulted in not just a new movement, but a patented new design for a thrust crown.
By pushing the crown in on the L1 or L2, you can end the seconds sub-dial and reset it to zero and by pushing it once again, you can set the check out ticking at the time a lot more (an indicator on the dial displays regardless of whether the crown is pushed in or out). It’s an progressive bit of engineering, and a further nod to Leica’s existing merchandise line.
“We wished the crown to be pressed down like the launch button of a digicam,” Heine stated in a press launch. “This is an unconventional detail that completely suits in with Leica.”
A whole lot of perform went into building this produced-in-Germany movement, so Leica built certain you can get a superior seem at it. Each watches characteristic open scenario backs, with the watch’s inner equipment proudly on display screen. It’s protected by flat sapphire crystal.
The movement is manually wound and presents a 60-hour energy reserve. Each watches are drinking water resistant to 50 meters, so they are safe from splashes and rain. The L1 and L2 have a person other factor in prevalent with Leica’s cameras—they’re expensive.
But for die-really hard photographers or any individual who appreciates some intelligent engineering, these new timepieces make a powerful featuring.
Equally the L1 and L2 are now out there for sale at the Leica retailer in Los Angeles and other Leica merchants about the world.
[Leica L1, $10,000; Leica L2, $14,000; leica-camera.com]
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