Nazar Şigaher’s Fold Watch Reinvents the Analog Dial
The Istanbul-based designer replaces traditional hands and indices with a series of architectural, stepped layers that tell time through depth and shadow.
Summary
- Nazar Şigaher’s conceptual Fold Watch tells time using architectural, layered tiers instead of hands
- Brushed metal and shadows create a functional diagram, merging structural geometry with analog precision
- Currently a design concept, no retail price or release date is available
Nazar Şigaher, an Istanbul-based designer and co-founder of the multidisciplinary studio Daedalus, has unveiled the Fold Watch, a striking reinterpretation of analog timekeeping.
Şigaher frequently explores the tension between simplicity and complexity as demonstrated in his portfolio, often using geometric repetition to create “living” objects that interact with their environment. With the Fold Watch, he applies this signature architectural approach to horology, reimagining the watch face as a three-dimensional landscape.
Rather than relying on traditional hands or printed indices, the design utilizes a series of concentric, stepped layers to indicate the passage of time. By integrating the reading system directly into the dial’s physical structure, Şigaher transforms the act of checking the time into an exploration of depth, where the boundaries of each level serve as the primary visual reference.
Crafted in brushed metal, the timepiece emphasizes texture and depth, with its dial resembling folded surfaces that catch light differently throughout the day. The finish is deliberately understated, highlighting the interplay of shadow across the layered dial. The case and dial merge seamlessly, reinforcing the architectural concept, while the absence of conventional markers or decorative elements underscores the watch’s minimalist ethos.
At the time of writing, the Fold Watch was unveiled as a conceptual prototype with no official production or release confirmed.
