Holy crap, what is this thing? I realize this is one of Fortis‘ edgy “Art Edition” watches, but wow. This is unexpected for even the art version of the serious tool watch brand’s products. Limited to just 100 pieces and in a 42mm wide titanium case, this watch isn’t just an (questionably bastardized) artist’s rendering of a Fortis chronograph watch, but also tries to tell you how to enjoy and spend your time. How does it do that? Will look at the “suggestions” (in German) on the bezel. Set into four quadrants, with three words in each, you should have a new task each time you look at the time. Though you might disagree with the Andora watch’s suggestions, and probably rightly so.

The dial of the watch is where things get the most strange. Andora’s drawings make up the chronograph subdials and the sub seconds dial as well. Who or what these little freaky characters are is beyond my understanding. There is more German in light text revolving the dial (see the translation of it in the tech specs below), and a globe drawing as the sub seconds dial (with a little happy face in the ocean). Happy waters off the east coast of Africa? I am sorry Andora, these are some unhappy pirate infested waters.

When you get to the bracelet things get weird again. More Andora art, but here lightly engraved into Fortis’ titanium bracelet. Likely filled in with some black material to stand out. More smiley faces… inside of what looks like henna art decorated hands. Oh, and a few random sea stars with large unnatural eyeballs in the center. Sea stars have five eyes I believe, not just one!

Whether on not you like the watch is a matter of taste. It is hard not to like the base timepiece that is a 42mm wide Fortis chronograph with rotating bezel in titanium. Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 movement, and the watch is water resistant to 200 meters. Just more of what Fortis fans know is good with the brand. I do like the black crown and pushers. And who is Andora? Well to be honest I am not sure. Google doesn’t know much about him – they seem to prefer the place Andorra, not the man Andora. Fortis themselves admits he is not that well known, but is admired as part of a small group of pop artists. You can see an image of him here. By the way, those things hanging at the sides of his face… those are glasses that connect in the middle and can be “opened up.” These are popular amongst some European “creative types” that I have run into.

Tech specs from Fortis:

Reference 659.27.92 M Limited Edition

Case No. 659.27.141

Movement:

Automatic Swiss Movement 7750, 13 ¼ ”’, 25 jewels

28,800 semi-vibrations per hour, fine timing device and

Incabloc shock absorber

Function:

Chronograph, hour, minute, permanent small second

Centre-stop-second, 30-minute counter at pos. 12 h

12-hour counter at pos. 6 h, Day / Date indication

Case:

Titanium, 3-parts, 42 mm case diameter

Unidirectional turning bezel in red, green, blue and yellow with different human expressions (120 divisions)

Sapphire crystal anti-reflective on both sides

Pusher protection, crown and pushers with caoutchouc cover

Screw-down Titanium case back with special art engraving

Limitation number engraved on the side of the case (at 9 h)

Water-resistant:

200 m / 20 bar

Dial/Hands:

Dial with text: “Tradition does not mean preserving the ashes but pass on the fire” in a circle, flange with 60 minute scale, 30-minute counter at pos. 12 and 12-h counter at pos. 6 h with special art design, permanent small second at pos. 9 h as a rotating disc/earth, day / date indication at pos. 3 h

Attachment:

Titanium bracelet with laser engraving and folding clasp

Packaging:

Special designed red leather box, pouch with FORTIS logo

Instruction manual with certificate of limitation

International warranty card

Special Features:

Limited Art Edition 100 pieces in English

Special customized watch by the artist Andora

A talking piece for editorial coverage and a unique timepiece with high collectors value

A watch, beyond aesthetics which is not just a functional instrument to show the time. With a strong appeal, this timepiece suggests creative ways to spend the most precious resource in life, your limited time…”cause all beauty must die”

See Fortis watches on eBay here.

See Fortis watches on Amazon here. [phpbay]fortis, num, “14324”, “”[/phpbay]