obaku_2009-2010_catalogue

d a ni s h d e s i gn - ze n p hil o s o p h y watches catalogue

FORGET ABOUT TIME - LET THE MOMENT RULE

obaku harmony

Merging two things in an artful way means getting

rid of everything not really needed. Paring something

right down to the bare essentials of simplicity and

then giving it life, shape and texture.

Obaku Harmony is an exclusive collection of watches

with a focus on simple, serene design. This collection

is backed by a philosophy of blending the two differ-

ent traditions of simplicity found in the European and

Asian cultures.

simplicity is a lifestyle

An oasis of calm, balance and harmony in the midst

of a world in constant movement. Regardless of where

on the planet we may be we all need our own personal

paradise where we find pleasure in the small details.

A soft curve, the spray from a wave or the sound of

rustling leaves.

the philosophy of obaku harmony

The idea that there should be a sense of calm and bal-

ance in the items we use to adorn ourselves is what

gave birth to the Obaku Harmony collection.

In Asia, Zen philosophies have given rise to a natural

simplicity – in both thought and act. Obaku Harmony

takes its name from a branch of Zen philosophy and

has created a universe characterised by a sense of

calm – free from all superfluous details.

The Northern European countries have a long design

tradition featuring functionality and simplicity of

composition.

Obaku Harmony has inherited the best from both

these cultures, and has blended the simplicity found

in both.

4 I 5 o b a k u h a r m o n y

the unit yof simplicit y


obakuemotions

infinity

Obaku Harmony watches feature a design that is both classic and timeless. Infinity watches reflect a relaxed, unpretentious style via simple – yet confident – details. These are watches for people who recognise the im-portance of time, and who want classic watches with a new twist.

blossom

Obaku Harmony design pays tribute to the delicate bal-ance between untamed nature and man-made perfec-tion. Blossom blends both of these, with a bold choice of colour and only partially tamed ruggedness. Togeth-er, these represent trendsetting design that exudes con-fidence. Blossom combines imagination, creativity and elegance in one simple design.

purity

Purity and simplicity are the core of Obaku Harmony design. Purity is the light, white part of the collection, and reflects discretion in the delicate femininity of its details, with their origin in nature. Experience a flower discreetly patterned in the leather strap, the reflection of mother-of-pearl in the watch face or the sparkle of the crystal.

night

Carefully considered design is one of the distinguish-ing features of Obaku Harmony. The design idiom in Night – from the dark part of the collection – radiates both simplicity and the mystique that only the night can bring. Night is for those who appreciate discretion, and who don’t need to demonstrate that time reflects power – it is a luxury we all deserve.

confidence

The best way to achieve results is via determination and effort. Obaku Harmony creates Confidence with a dynamic yet simple design to signal the idea of activ-ity via performance. These watches are for the active person who wants to show an assured, physical style.

v124 GCIMC

“Using a classic case and pairing it with modern-istic details and material, this watch has a youthful and fresh appeal. With its heavy mesh band and the asymmetrical place of the sub-dial, which indicates the date, this watch stands out as fashionable and un-conventional in its design. The result of the multilev-eled main dial, sub-dial and index markers creates an impression of depth and dynamism as well as it

improves legibility”

d a n i s h d e s i g n b y C h r i s t i a n M i k k e l s e n


V124 Gentssize: Ø 41,5 mm

titan glass. ecological movement

v124 GBBMBv124 GCBMC

“With a round case sitting on top of a rectangular stainless steel base, this watch artistically blends two contrasting geometrical forms in manner that gives it a masculine, fresh and robust appearance. Adding to this appearance is the chronographical features and the broad leather strap which is integrated into the case. Even though the case sits on a base, this watch is still relative thin and light, which both ensures that it keeps it elegancy and is comfortable to wear”

D a n i s h d e s i g n b y C h r i s t i a n M i k k e l s e n


V125 Gentssize: 35 mm

v125 GBBRBv125 GBIRBv125 GCIRB

v125 GCIRN

V126 GBIRB

“A chronograph watch with three sub-dials and a date indicator set into the main dial. The many details on the dial, and the technical features, give this watch a masculine expression. However, it is still kept in an elegant and stylish design, as evident from the thin contour lines on the dial, its architectural character, and its contrasting black and white colours. Match-ing the design of the case, the push-buttons, at 2 and

4 o’clock, make it easy to operate the chronograph”

D a n i s h d e s i g n b y L a u L i e n g å r d R u g e


v126 Gentssize: w 37 x 43,5 mm

titan glass

V126 GBBRB V126 GCIMC V126 GBBMB

V126 GCIRN V126 GCIRB

v129 LNIMN

“Paring all superfluous details and focusing on the beauty of simplicity and purity, the design of this watch is a manifestation of the philosophy that lies behind the design-traditions at Obaku Harmony. With its little round case, its two legs that merge with the slender strap, in addition to its simple and pure design, this watch unmistakably appears as a feminine watch”

d a n i s h d e s i g n b y L a u L i e n g å r d R u g e


V129 Ladiessize: Ø 26 mm

titan glass

v129 LGGMGv129 LGGRB v129 LGIRW

v129 LCIRB v129 LCIMC v129 LGGRR

V130 LGIRW

“With the long wing-formed legs emanating from its round case structure, this watch appears as a real item of jewellery. The elegant and feminine face of the watch is not only beautiful to the eye, but in fact also functional. The combination of the three-dimensional effects and the grooved index markers on the dial both gives this watch an exciting appearance as well as it

makes it easy to read the time.

D a n i s h d e s i g n b y L a u L i e n g å r d R u g e


V130 LGGRR V130 LGIRB V130 LCIRB V130 LBIRW

v130 Ladiessize: Ø 24 mm

titan glass

We wanted to merge the design idioms from two dif-

ferent cultures. To create a collection of beautiful, ex-

clusive watches based on the idea of simplicity, with

features from both the Asian and the Nordic design

traditions.

It might seem impossible to blend traditions that origi-

nate thousands of kilometres apart.

Geographical distance means less and less due to glo-

balisation. We now live in a world where similarities

and a sense of community continually occur between

people spread far and wide.

With this as our starting point, Obaku Harmony went

on working towards making our dream come true.

Our quest for a point where the Nordic and Asian

design idioms finally meet led us to a concept that

seemed to crop up over and over again. Simplicity.

For although these two traditions have been very dif-

ferent throughout history, simplicity is a fundamental

element in both of them.

In Asia, different life philosophies – such as Zen phi-

losophy – have moulded a set of basic values that pay

tribute to simplicity and the search for the essence in

life, and of truth and calm. A path of seeking inward for

something with deeper meaning.

Simplicity is also a feature of the Nordic tradition.

By contrast, this stems from practical necessity, not

a spiritual philosophy. The focus is on functionality

rather than shape, in order to get the most out of the

materials used.

This is how Obaku Harmony uncovered a set of basic

values and a path that blends both traditions.

Because merging two things in an artful way means

getting rid of everything not really needed.

Paring something right down to the bare essentials of

simplicity, and then giving it life, shape and texture.

Obaku is the name of a branch of Zen philosophy –

begun in China with numerous subsequent adherents

in Japan.

The basic belief in Obaku is the search for truth and

deeper meaning by delving into the human mind.

However, this blending of influences from both Asia

and the Nordic countries also reflects the Western in-

terest in the search for meaning in a hectic world, via

the ancient philosophies of Asia.

We live in an era in which the pace of life is intense,

and we are always expected to do our best. Time works

both for us and against us.

Once in a while, however, we need to seek repose

somewhere tranquil – where our senses are free of the

constant bombardment of information and impres-

sions.

Using both a unique design and a keen sense of detail,

Obaku Harmony reflects the aim of finding peace in a

straightforward artistic idiom that in no way intrudes,

carefully avoiding superfluous decoration and sensory

impressions that distract our attention from what is

really important.

Instead, we find pleasure in an attractive curve, a soli-

tary stone or in the sheer beauty of the material.

Obaku Harmony has inherited the best from two cul-

tures.

the origin


of simplicity

V131 GBISB

“A simple design; yet with many sophisticated details. Amongst other things, there are no legs on the case, as on traditional watches, which gives an impression of harmony in the design. The three-dimensional dial has clean, detailed graphics and the shape of the hands is well balanced with the rest of the design. The combi-nation of the significant but toned down dial and the hard and precise meeting between the bowl-shaped watch-case and the hard-edged strap is what makes

this watch stand out.”



v131 Gentssize: Ø 41 mm

titan glass

V131 GBBSB V131 GCBSC V131 GCISC

v121 Gentssize: Ø 41 mmtitan glass

“This watch is created with a simple clean design, yet it has many sophisticated details. There are no legs on the case as on traditional watches and this adds to the sense of complete harmony in the design. The three dimensional dial has clean, detailed graphics and the shape of the hands is well balanced with the rest of the design. Functional and user friendly design.”



v121 gbivbv121 gcivbv121 gcbvb

v121gbbvb

v120lcire


v120 Ladiessize: w 20.1 - h 29.1

titan glass

“This watch has a feminine expression. Its case which curves in a rectangular shape, the beautifully curved legs of the case, its softly rounded crown and slim strap all add to the elegant, clean look. The three di-mensional dial creates an image of depth and com-

pletes this perfect piece of jewellery.“


v120 lgirwv120 lgirb

v120 lcirbv120 lcirw

v120 lggrr

v120 lcirp

Lau Liengård Ruge (1976) Christian Mikkelsen (1960)

the obaku designers

good design is worth keeping

Lau Liengård Ruge is well versed in the art of immersing

himself in the design process, in considering an idea for

a long time, being willing to think on a grand scale and

focusing on finally achieving the perfect result. Working

with Christian Mikkelsen, Lau Ruge has now created the

Obaku Harmony collection of watches, motivated by

the desire to combine form and function in a sublime

design idiom.

”For me, the important thing is to produce a design that

stands the test of time. I’m no fan of quick-fire, flavour-

of-the month solutions. I want to really get to grips with

a design, and focus my energy on bringing it to frui-

tion,” he says, at the same time admitting that he is an

incorrigible perfectionist.

Lau Liengård Ruge trained as an industrial designer at

the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, and has

been interested in the creative aspects of life ever since

childhood.

He has played music for many years, and has always

been engaged with designing and drawing. ”Both my

parents are creative people, and it’s only natural that

their interests in music and art rubbed off on me,” he

explains.

Lau Liengård Ruge is full of praise for the classic Dan-

ish designers, who are renowned for the simplicity

and functionality of their work. Nevertheless, he also

fully appreciates the fantastic inspiration to be found in

high-tech contemporary design idioms.

”Basically, it’s also a question of maintaining a sense

of pride in what I do, and remembering what the

product will ultimately be used for,” he points out.

”Being involved in creating the Obaku Harmony range

has been a process that’s been both exciting and inter-

esting. As a designer, I was given free rein to put my

personal fingerprint on the different types of watches

in this collection. I have been very aware of work-

ing with the effects created by the different materials,

according to the kind of treatment they are given or the

way they are juxtaposed,” he says.

“The objective with my designs is to create products

that people consider worth keeping.”

a watch tells a story

One of the driving forces behind the Obaku Harmony

collection of watches is Christian Mikkelsen. Known

as one of the best in this business, he trained as an

industrial designer and has subsequently worked with

designing watches for a wide range of different manu-

facturers. He currently lives in Hong Kong, where he

enjoys the full range of contrasts, the sense of dyna-

mism and the boundless energy that the metropolis

provides.

”Form and function both have a colossal influence

on the final result, and it’s impossible to separate the

two,” he says, adding ”watches are now one of the

products that is generally accepted as having consid-

erable value as a signal to the surrounding world. In

fact, designing a watch verges on creating a personal

machine for the user.”

Christian Mikkelsen’s work builds on inspiration from a

wide selection of different sources. He gets ideas from

observing the delicate details found in good craftsman-

ship as well as the broad swathes to be found in classic

designs. His extensive experience means that he’s in a

position to have faith in his own ideas.

”I really trust my own intuition about a product, and al-

ways keep the person for whom the watch is designed

in mind,” he says.

Christian Mikkelsen grew up in a small, historic town

in Denmark – a town in which craftsmanship was a way

of life for many of the inhabitants. His family tree fea-

tures many craftsmen, and in his younger days he was

familiar with boat builders, joiners and others who had

a tradition of taking pride in their work. This was where

he learned the basic tenets of true craftsmanship, and

he has always been fascinated by detail and a keen ad-

mirer of true quality.

And a watch also tells a story – ”Your watch says some-

thing about who you are as a person. It also depicts the

passing of time, and announces that you are engaged

in the process of living your life.”



“This watch is sporty and practical, yet sophisticated and dressy. The watch is made using the most durable materials. The strap is made of Kevlar, which is 5 times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. The glass is super crash resistant titan glass. Furthermore, the movement is environmentally friendly using mercury/lead free battery.”


V118 Gents/Ladiessize: Ø 30/40 mmtitan glass / Ecological movement

v118gcbxbv118gbbxb

v118lbbxb v118lcbxb v118lccxb

v118gccxb

v117 gcbsc

V117 Gents/Ladiessize: Ø 40 mm

titan glass

“This watch is made for endurance. With its stainless steel case and band you can rely on this watch to last. The overall design is clean with an easy to read dial. The slim case and the sturdy stainless steel band are merged together beautifully to create a harmonious look. It is made for people who value good design and

believe in stability and durability.”


v117 gbbsbv117 ggisgv117 ggisc

v117 lcisc v117 lgisg v117 lbwsb



V115 Gentssize: Ø 42 mmtitan glass / Ecological movement

“With its solid stainless steel case and band, this de-sign radiates reliability, endurance and strength. The band is fully integrated into the case and contrib-utes to the clean, minimalist appearance of the watch. The three dimensional dial is rich in details and has a high degree of functionality.”


v115 ggbsgv115 gcwscv115 gbwsbv115 gbbsb

v115 gcbsc

v115 lgwsg



titan glass / Ecological movement

“With its solid stainless steel case and band, this de-sign radiates reliability, endurance and strength. The band is fully integrated into the case and contrib-utes to the clean, minimalist appearance of the watch. The three dimensional dial is rich in details and has a high degree of functionality.”


v115 lcwsc v115 lbbsbv115 lbwsb

v116 ucirn


V116 Unisexsize: w 40 mm - h 40 mm

titan glass

“The large size of the case is made to seem delicate with its slim and slightly curved appearance. The round dial opening in the square design gives the watch an artistic expression. Details such as the graphics on the dial, the slim designer crown and the legs of the case

add to the overall harmonic feel of the design.”


v116 ubbrbv116 ucirbv116 ugirw

v112 gcirn


V112 Gentssize: Ø 40 mm

titan glass

“This is a very simple yet sophisticated design.

The slim lines defining the body of the watch are

complemented in the dial by the slim and pointy

hands and hour markings. A newborn evergreen.”


v112 gbbrbv112 gcirb


V112 Ladiessize: Ø 33 mmtitan glass

“This is a very simple yet sophisticated design.

The slim lines defining the body of the watch are

complemented in the dial by the slim and pointy

hands and hour markings. A newborn evergreen.”


v112 lcirbv112 lcirw v112 lbbrbv112 lgirw

v112 lcirr

v111 lcwrw



“This watch has a broad appeal. The stringent design combined with exceptional attention to details, such as the hours marked by 12 small dots on the bezel, gives this watch a very sporty

appearance.”


v111 lcbrbv111 lbbrbv111 lgbrbv111 lgwrw




appearance.”


v111lggsgv111lgbsg

v111lbbsbv111lcbscv111lcwsc

v111lgwsg

v111gccsc



appearance.”



titan glass

v111gbbsbv111gbwsbv111gcbscv111ggcsg

v111gccrbv111gbwrb v111gcbrbv111gbbrb


V110 Ladiessize: Ø 24,5 mm

”This watch is quite simply ultra-feminine – an item of jewellery with a focus on long, delicate lines. The hours are marked discreetly, and the details on the crown highlight the sense of femininity and sophistication.”


v110 lcirb v110 lgirb v110 lgirw v110 lcirw

v110 lcirp v110 lcire v110 lcirl

v110 lggrr


V109 Ladiessize: Ø 39 mmtitan glass

”The aim here was to dispense with as much of the case as at all possible, and to focus on the strap in-stead. As a result, the strap is the most notable feature of this watch, helping communicate an awareness of the urban lifestyle for the modern woman.”


v109 lbbrbv109 lcarnv109 lcarb v109 lvwrw

v109 lvwrb

v108 gbbrb


V108 Gentssize: w 37 mm - h 30 mm

”This watch almost makes you feel like you are on a trip into the future. The design radiates a sense of youth and courage, emphasised by the strin-gent use of lines and right angles. The shaping of the case, combined with the three-dimensional appearance of the face, make this watch an

exceptional experience.”


v108 gcbrbv108 gcirn v108 gcwrb v108 gbbrb1



“The simple, rounded shape of this watch, combined with the two ”light legs”, seem almost to make it levi-tate. The many different colour combinations in the straps match the delicate stones on the face to provide this design with an elegant, feminine touch.”


v106 lgwrw v106 lcwrw v106 lccrw v106 lcwrb

v106 lccre v106 lccrp

v106 lccrq

v101 gccsc



titan glass

”The design of this watch makes it timeless – a brace-let watch communicates strength and solidity. There is also an emphasis on a light, harmonious and elegant appearance. The double layers of the watch face pro-

vide a visually exciting extra feature in the design.”


v101 gbbsb v101 gbwsb v101 gcascv101 ggcsg



”The design of this watch makes it timeless – a brace-let watch communicates strength and solidity. There is also an emphasis on a light, harmonious and elegant appearance. The double layers of the watch face pro-

vide a visually exciting extra feature in the design.”


v101 lcpsc v101 lgisgv101 lcwsc

v101 lgbsg


specificationshand polished stainless steel cases, buckles and bands

All cases, buckles and bands are made in the best solid

stainless steel material for watch manufacturing. The

fine 316L steel is made in Japan – and all cases are

finally, carefully hand polished by the best craftsmanship

standards.

titan glass

Selected models of the Obaku Harmony watch collection

are assembled with the newest invention in glass tech-

nology - Titan Glass. Probably the strongest glass ever

used for watches. Titan Glass is at least 10 times more

crack resistant than any other typical watch glass such as

mineral glass and sapphire crystal glass.

Titan Glass is registered and used exclusively in Obaku

Harmony watches.

mineral glass

Watches which are not marked with Titan Glass are as-

sembled with the highest quality of mineral glass with a

high degree of scratch resistance.

coatings

All watches in gold or black are coated with a titanium

coating which is the newest and most advanced tech-

nique for long lasting coatings. The gold coating is a

mixture of titanium and gold which are merged with

the stainless steel base material in a fusion process in a

vacuum chamber.

straps

All straps are made in genuine leather – and several

versions are assembled in multiple layers which are

giving the straps a rich structure and identity.

kevlar straps

Selected models are using the most durable materials

including Kevlar, which is a light fibre generally said to

be 5 times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis.

movements

All watches are assembled with original high quality

movements made in Japan with the highest precision.

ecological movements

Selected models are equipped with special environmental

friendly movements, which are using the new SPRON

Battery a new mercury/lead-free silver Oxide Battery. By

applying a high precision anode, using a surface process

technology and new material for the cathode, silver and

lead be removed totally from the battery. (The movement

can also use ordinary batteries as well).

water resistance

All watches are at least 3ATM water resistant.

Each watch is vacuum tested up to 3 ATM pressure. The

watches are not suitable for diving or swimming.

gift boxes

The gift box for the Obaku Harmony watches is a small

sculpture in itself. It supports the entire concept of the

Obaku philosophy of harmony and minimalistic design.

The box is designed by Lau Liengård Ruge.

the “photos” are not photos

The “photos” of all the watches in this catalogue were

made long before the actual watches were produced.

The “photos” are actually not photos, but computerized

visualizations which are the original drawings made

by the designers Lau Liengård Ruge and Christian

Mikkelsen. There might be small variations between the

computerized drawings and the actual watches.

www.obaku.com

obaku_2009-2010_catalogue

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