The Ochs & Junior Settimana Next

Embodying the very essence of ‘less is more’, Ochs & Junior is the expression of Dr Ludwig Oechslin’s vision in uncompromised yet functional watchmaking. With a knack for developing precise complications using as few components as possible, Ochs & Junior has a minimalist style running through the entire portfolio. Following the Ochs & Junior Settimana Raw, the company now releases the Ochs & Junior Settimana Next with a playful touch of colour.

While the Ochs & Junior Settimana Raw was perhaps a bit too “raw” and minimalist for some, the Settimana Next is a more frivolous take on the concept. It uses the same grade 5 titanium exterior, with all the machining and milling traces left visible. The case uses only two components and has short lugs that partially tuck the strap underneath the bezel. It is available in either a 36mm diameter or 40mm diameter, both with a reasonably slim height of 10.8mm.

In line with the whole concept of minimising the complexity of each complication as much as possible, Dr Ludwig Oechslin developed the Settimana weekday indication with only four additional components. And these four parts include the dial, which has been given a functional back for the triple function wheel, transmission wheel and additional gear that make up the weekday display.

In terms of design, the new Settimana Next has a brass dial finished in deep black, with white hour, minute and seconds hands coated in Super-LumiNova. The weekday display has been executed in light blue with a violet-coloured dot. The 1 o’clock position is for Mondays with Sundays positioned at 7 o’clock. The dot moves from 8 to 12 o’clock at the beginning of every week.

Mechanically speaking, nothing has changed. The Ochs & Junior Settimana Next comes with a Sellita SW 200-1 automatic movement. This means it is reliable and easily serviced. Running at a frequency of 28,800vph, it will run for 38 hours when fully wound. Normally this movement comes with a date function, but that has been removed to create the necessary space for the Settimana display, which is driven by the hour wheel through a reduction gear.

Just like the Ochs & Junior Settimana Raw, the Settimana Next is worn on a handmade textile strap in black. It comes with a titanium pin buckle that allows for the long end of the strap to be tucked in underneath the shorter end, eliminating the need for traditional keepers. And again, it is a non-limited, non-customisable model along with Ochs & Junior’s less-is-more philosophy in watchmaking. It retails for CHF 2,300, excluding taxes.

For more information, please visit ochsundjunior.swiss.