The New Farer Lissom, a Dressy British Watch with More than a Twist

That above is a quote from The Philosophy of Dress by Oscar Wilde, whose wardrobe was a hallmark of the Brit’s flamboyant and eccentric personality. Imagine flowing capes, wide-brimmed hats, luxurious fur and velvet… Regarding dress watches, specific images are almost instinctive: slim profiles, minimalist three-hand layouts, and timeless dial tones – black, navy, white, or salmon if you’re feeling bold. Long considered a conservative category, the dress watch is quietly undergoing an evolution. Fueled by a wave of vintage appreciation and bold design thinking, brands are reinterpreting the genre with fresh energy, nuance, and vibrant colours! The new Farer Lissom collection is a case in point; the name says it all. The Lissom series reflects Farer’s signature character, but the names of its five models recall famous British botanists rather than fashionistas. Intrigued? Let’s take a look.

The Farer Lissom collection debuts with a sleek 38mm stainless steel case. True to its name, lissom, the case is just 7.95mm thick and has a comfortable 42.8mm lug-to-lug length. The short, slightly curved lugs enhance wearability, while the brushed mid-case features deep contours for added texture. A polished bezel and lugs provide contrast, and the push-pull crown at 3 o’clock is finished with a bronze insert bearing the Farer logo (a classic for the brand). Up top, a flat sapphire crystal protects the dial, and a transparent caseback offers a view of the movement. Water-resistance is 50 meters, which is sufficient considering the vocation of the Lissom.

At launch, the Farer Lissom collection includes five references, each named after a notable British botanist: Agnes Arber, Isaac Bayley Balfour, George Forrest, John Lindley, and Daniel Solander (a Swede by birth, but closely tied to British scientific history, even joining Captain Cook on his voyages). Each watch features a satin-finished dial with distinctive colour combinations.

The model photographed here is the Lindley, featuring a deep purple dial paired with a powder blue recessed sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The sunken minutes track in blue is punctuated by pink double-digit numerals at five-minute intervals, echoed by a pink small seconds hand. White hands and applied Arabic numerals complete the look, all glowing thanks to Lumicast – a mix of Super-LumiNova and ceramic – while the hands are filled with high-intensity X2 Super-LumiNova.

Only the Balfour version diverges with electric blue hands and indices set against a crisp white dial and warm grey accents. The other references follow the same layout with bold palettes: Arber offers a punchy raspberry red and purple mix; Forrest goes for teal and orange; and Solander keeps things monochromatic in grey. Each small seconds hand is uniquely coloured, lending extra personality to the model.

Powering the Lissom collection is the hand-wound La Joux-Perret D100 calibre, finished to the brand’s top soigné standard. Based on the ETA/Peseaux 7001, it beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and features a boosted 50-hour power reserve. On the reverse, the movement reveals polished chamfers, blued screws, and bridges decoration, with “British Design × Swiss Made” proudly etched on the caseback.

Each Farer Lissom watch is paired with a leather strap in a complementary tone fitted with quick-release spring bars for easy change, closed with a classic pin buckle. The price is EUR 1,350, USD 1,295 or GBP 1,150.

For more details, please visit www.farer.com.