There are two competing strands now in the world of horology. One pushes towards smartwatches, the other seeks to update the base technology and timeless style standards set by classic analog chronometers. Leading the field in the second camp sits MINUS-8, the San Francisco-based brand whose flagship wristwatch, the Leather Layer, is as much a piece of forward-thinking design as it is a smart piece of tech.
Designed by Astro Studios, the Layer shares design blood with the Xbox 360, the Nike+ FuelBand, and the 3DR Solo drone. Born from a desire to update traditional watch designs through new construction techniques and with a futurist, architectural mindset, the result is a collection of wristwatches from MINUS-8 that each share a subtle industrial aesthetic.
MINUS-8’s Leather Layer incorporates a Japanese movement, contained within a 45mm case constructed of six individually layered strats of 316L bonded steel that flow uninterrupted from the exterior to the watch’s interior in a single unified gesture. Its PVD-coated stainless steel finish contrasts with the vegetable-tanned leather strap while the interior sports a 3-hand date window and over 40 hours of reserve power.
The label takes its name from the brand’s native West Coast time zone, GMT-8, however with design cues that firmly look to the future, MINUS-8’s Layer is an essential accessory for your wardrobe.
