The Holthinrichs x The Horology Club Signature Ornament ‘Concrete Jungle’

Six years ago, Robin wrote about Michiel Holthinrichs, an up-and-coming young Dutch architect-turned-watchmaker using 3D printing techniques to create his cases. The result, with its raw industrial finish, can be appreciated on Holthinrich’s second watch with its grainy concrete textures, although other cases were partially polished and hand-finished for a more refined look. Given the expense of producing 3D-printed cases, Holthinrichs launched a new entry-level collection, the Signature Series. Flaunting a new case design in titanium with sculptural lugs, the Signature Series was chosen by The Horology Club for its first collaboration watch with Holthinrichs. Known as the Signature Ornament ‘Concrete Jungle’, the watch takes inspiration from Hong Kong’s urban skyline and incorporates Holthinrichs’ modernist design leanings inspired by Le Corbusier’s Béton Brut (raw concrete). Getting even closer to the raw materials that inspire his watches, the Concrete Jungle features a concrete dial carved with mysterious hieroglyphs.

Before looking at the unique dial, it’s worth pointing out that the collaboration watch will be available in two different case options: a Signature Ornament CNC-machined titanium case with polished, brushed and grained surfaces and a Signature LAB case in titanium made using advanced 3D printing technology with details like openworked lugs. Both watches share a 38.5mm diameter, a thickness of 9.85mm and a lug-to-lug distance of 46mm.

As Holthinrichs explains, the design behind the Signature case is inspired by Art Nouveau and classic car design. This is exemplified by the elegantly sculpted lugs, which are not integrated into the case. The difference between the two versions is that the lugs in the LAB version are finely skeletonised thanks to 3D printing. Faithful to his Horlogerie Brut philosophy, the unusual architecture of the case features different textures to highlight its shapes.

Based in Hong Kong, The Horology Club wanted a watch that captured the city’s urban energy. Like many skyscrapers made from reinforced concrete that grace Hong Kong’s skyline, Holthinrichs settled on a concrete dial. To hint at the twinkling night lights of Hong Kong, the concrete is infused with luminescent material, the first of its kind. In the dark, the entire dial emits a grainy greenish glow.

Another nod to Chinese tradition can be found on the concrete dial. Instead of numerals, the dial features numeric indices in oracle bone script, the oldest form of Chinese writing dating to the 2^nd millennium BC. While they appear to be carved into the concrete, they are created using a moulding process. The hands are openworked, and Holthinrichs’ signature appears at noon.

The reverse side of the case reveals the unique Art Nouveau-inspired rose gold-plated rotor, which resembles stylised sunbeams. With a personalised rotor, the thin automatic Sellita SW-300 beats at 4Hz and delivers a 50-hour power reserve. Like all previous editions of the Signature Series, it was a deliberate choice to keep the costs under control.

The Signature Ornament LAB series (3D printing) is limited to 50 pieces, comes on a green interchangeable strap and retails for EUR 5,600 (excl. taxes); the Signature Ornament is a time-limited release, comes on a grey Nubuck strap and retails for EUR 3,850 (excl. taxes). Deliveries are expected in April 2025. More information at TheHorologyClub.com and at HolthinrichsWatches.com.