Back in Blue, Meet the Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G

What is Kollokium…? Well, a bit of a UFO, really. Is it a brand, a design studio, a concept that thinks out of the box, a project from a group of friends that turned out to be more successful than anticipated? A bit of everything, actually. What Kollokium is not claiming to be is a watchmaker. At least, no one is here pretending to make in-house movements from an outsourced base calibre… What we know so far from this project initiated by Manuel Emch, Barth Nussbaumer, and Amr Sindi (The Horophile) is that it’s been around for two years already and has released its second concept recently, and 5 versions of its Projekt 01 watch so far. Until now, as the hardly definable watch enters phase 6 with the new Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G, an unexpectedly fresh version of the otherwise brutalist concept.

On paper, not much has changed for this (these, actually, more on that in a few) version of the Projekt 01. That means it retains its highly unusual approach with a case made of die-cast steel, staying true to the series’ raw neo-brutalist aesthetic. Identical to the Variant B or Variant F we reviewed, the two-part case is 40mm in diameter and includes a cylindrical mid-case and a barrel-shaped base with original lugs inspired by cruciform screwdrivers. The watch is closed by a cylindrical sapphire crystal that lets light in from all sides, and the back is raw steel, with a 50m water-resistance.

Now, the main novelty comes from the dial. It isn’t the first time that colours appear in the catalogue, as the Variant F was already using purple. For the Variant G, the Kollokium Projekt 01’s studded dial returns in a new execution that’s surprisingly soft and light, specifically compared to the darker and monochromatic takes of the earliest editions. Projekt 01 Variant G brings a new, softer palette in shades of blue, light for the background and darker for the studs, which not only offers a highly graphical touch but also makes reading easier than most editions. From this brand, the airy, fresh, almost summery touch is unexpected. But, in my eyes at least, it works nicely.

As with the Variant E, this new light blue Projekt 01 Variant G gives you the choice between two handsets. G1 comes with PVD blue hour and minute hands with blue Super-LumiNova centre, and a white seconds hand. G2 opts for more contrast with white hour and minute hands, with blue PVD centre and blue PVD seconds hand. The team couldn’t make up their minds, so they decided to release both… You’ll be the judge of what looks best. As always, the dial is complex and results from hand-appliying 468 steel pins in six varying widths and heights, with the hollowed tips hand-filled with the same luminescent blue pigments as the dial. The pins are given a deep navy blue PVD treatment for contrast, creating the hour markers. It might play with your mind a bit, but ultimately it is fairly legible. Specifically at night…

Power comes from an automatic G101 calibre from La Joux-Perret. Operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour and offering a 68-hour power reserve, it is in line with Kollokium’s philosophy. This new version comes on a single-piece strap in navy blue elastic textile, with a hook fastening system. Super comfortable and easy to adjust on the go.

The Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G is released as a limited edition of 499 pieces, now available on the brand’s website, with a smaller number of pieces available from physical retailers. It is priced at CHF 2,999 (excl. taxes). For more details, please visit kollokium.com.