Alain Silberstein Cyclope, c. 1993

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

In the late 1980s, the renaissance of mechanical watchmaking was already underway — but it was a very traditional renaissance, generally speaking. Brands such as Blancpain, Breguet, and Vacheron Constantin were playing it safe by revamping classic designs — think smaller case sizes, coin-edge bezels, Breguet hands and indices, etc. But one Frenchman - ex-interior designer Alain Silberstein - was thinking very, very differently about things... Silberstein melded his love of the Bauhaus, the Memphis design movement, and artists such as Picasso, Kandiksy, and Miro in a colorful fresh take on mechanical watchmaking. His idiosyncratic and highly original designs stood out — way out — in a sea of same-same, traditional-looking wares. It could be said he was very much ahead of the times - as his signature style is just beginning to get wide-spread attention from collectors today, 30 some-odd years later! This particular model, a Cyclope, dates from roughly 1993. Housed in a round 38mm stainless steel case with stubby lugs, a sapphire crystal, and a wildly stylized, triangular winding crown with white enamel inlay, it features a matte black dial disc with red ‘cyclopse’ date indicator and a rotating jump-hour disc beneath; an outer black chapter ring; and a florescent yellow ‘squiggle’ minute hand. With its mix of sedate background elements and bright pops of color, it speaks volumes about the imagination of its namesake designer. Powered by a modified ETA 2824 automatic movement and paired to a signed, black calf leather strap with a stylized stainless steel pin buckle, this wonderfully unique timepiece comes complete with all its factory goodies. Irreverent and fun, it’s a watch that simply begs for wrist time!