While the practicality-first among us may balk at the idea of a watch that purposely obfuscates the act of checking the time at a glance, some are willing to sacrifice some functionality for a little pizzazz. Enter Paulin—the Glasgow-based brand (part of the anOrdain group of watchmakers, enamellers, and designers) have put out several delightfully dizzying, design-forward timepieces already, but their next project, a collaboration with Chicago artist Crystal Zapata, looks to be their most daring yet.
The Paulin Zapata Modul carries forward the brand’s flagship Modul case design, as seen throughout their lineup. The 316L stainless steel Modul case measures at a light and wearable 35mm with an 18mm lug width. I own a Paulin Oh No, which is also housed in a Modul case, and can vouch for its light stature, which doesn’t sacrifice its own neo-vintage charm despite being shared across several timepieces. The crown sits at the 3 o’clock position and wears a playful Paulin “P” logo. A Swiss-made ETA 955.112 quartz movement keeps the Zapata ticking and promises a seven-year battery life, while a Hesalite box section PVC crystal seals the dial in.
The star of the show, however, is the gloss lacquer dial, which lays over a sunburst engraving, and showcases the key design elements of the watch. Star-shaped markers dot the minute track at the perimeter of the dial, matched by a large star on the end of the running-seconds hand, while a chunky and cheerful arrow-shaped hour hand and rectangular minutes hand complete the set. “Crystal Zapata” appears in stencil-style below the 12 o’clock position, while Paulin’s logo sits below the 6.
Looming large and enticingly out-of-focus on the dial are the signature feature of the Zapata’s design—the blurred 12, 3, 6, and 9 numerals. Made up of tiny clustered dots in varying patterns, the numerals swim in and out of focus, giving the face a dreamlike effect. And while this may sound frustrating to look at, it seems to follow a principle that is common across Paulin watches—however experimental the dial design may be, it really only takes an extra second to parse accurately, thanks to grounding elements like the minute track and exaggerated hand designs.
Completing the celestial theme of the watch is an engraved caseback, featuring constellations and stars, alongside the artist’s initials, “CZ”. Two colorways are available for the Zapata Modul, appropriately named Day and Night. The former sports a silver background with light blue numerals, text details, and hour markers, and a red seconds hand; the latter wears a moody dark blue underneath white details. Both feature a mesh bracelet.
Retailing for about $484/$580, the Paulin Zapata Modul will be available online on March 14th, and in limited numbers at the Windup Watch Fair in Dallas on March 15th and 16th. Paulin
