24 + 1 equals Duo

Well it had to happen as in fact I said, in a post some time ago when reviewing some of the One Handed watches currently available. My favorite was at that time and still is the Botta series – and if you recall I reviewed the Botta 24 Uno in September 2011, and whilst I liked it very much, the Botta model I decided on had to have something a little extra –
The Botta Duo 24 Black – and here it is –

Botta 24 Duo

As you see this is a Dual One-Hand watch so to speak, which I know sounds a little bit odd, but bear with me because you might just be surprised. I know I was after taking a more careful look at it.
Basically what it does is show both local time and the time at one additional Time Zone – but – and here's the clever part – it uses just ONE hand in each case. It's what I personally call “minimalistic clever”. So maybe minimalist but it's actually showing remarkable detail as well. And to me that is clever!
Whilst I used the minimalist description, it is more accurately a watch designed more in the German “Bauhaus tradition”. This means it is produced in a radically simplified form but with the watchwords (sorry!) of rationality, functionality and not least – artistry. A wonderful concept.

Botta Duo 24 – both hands set to local time

As you see here the dial is very clear with the large yellow main hand pointing as it does to the main outer and upper level track. This track is divided into 5 minute segments and covers 12 hours as a regular watch. Using this outer ring the first revolution will reach at first the 12 noon and after 12 hours it's the 12 midnight.
However for the second time zone or GMT setting which is your choice of course, it is the lower level or inner 24 hr numerical ring that is used and with a rather neat secondary pointer hand. Here in this level of the dial, note the clever use of the darkened lower half of the face. This denotes day time and night time. So using and reading the 24hr ring it means that from 9am in the morning (left) till 6pm in the evening (right) is in effect a really intuitive graphical illustration of your day but spread out in front of you. Later of course and after 6pm we travel clockwise into the darkened lower half of the dial, through the evening then into the night and midnight, then move up once again towards daylight and 9am at the left side.
Interesting concept and as an example try and visualize the watch face as a man standing looking out to sea and at the horizon of the sea. Bekijk meer imitatie rolex en breitling super avenger horloges