Having teased its newest collection with a family and friends edition last year, Kollokium has finally taken the wraps off the Projekt 02 Variant B, which offers a low-profile die-cast stainless steel case and a terraced topographical dial. A massive box-form crystal contains the scene, offering a panoramic view of the 67 pieces that comprise the nine layers of the dial.

A limited edition of 399 pieces, the Variant B is a well-priced entry point to the world of independent watchmaking, and could easily be worn daily.

Initial thoughts

Kollokium is a relatively new name in independent watchmaking, but the company’s three founders, collector Amr Sindi, designer Barth Nussbaumer, and Louis Erard managing director Manuel Emch, bring a trained eye and a fresh perspective to the brand. With a strong emphasis on design, underpinned by a simple but competent calibre, Kollokium seems to have mastered the game of trade-offs required to market a distinctive watch at an affordable price.

Left to Right: Amr Sindi, Barth Nussbaumer, Manuel Emch.

The Variant B is fundamentally a simple time-only watch, powered by an off-the-shelf La Joux-Perret cal. G101, an increasingly common base movement prized for its economy and autonomy, with a healthy 68-hour power reserve.

But Kollokium’s watches are anything but ordinary, owing to the brand’s unusual dial treatments and case processing. The Variant B is technically the first publicly available version of the Projekt 02, which debuted last year in a limited edition for friends, family, and fools, the brand’s playful sobriquet for its early customers.

The brand clearly has a sense of humour, though the self-referential case back text might be a step too far. That said, some will find it a breath of fresh air in the usually conservative Swiss watch industry.

Largely similar to the earlier edition, Variant B features the brand’s signature triangular seconds hand in vibrant safety yellow, while the hour and minutes hands match the dial’s gradient colourway, which fades from grey at the top to black at the bottom. Unchanged is the delightful 39.5 mm die-cast stainless steel case, which sits low on the wrist, offering the weight balance of a much slimmer watch.

Like other Kollokium models, the Variant B is smartly priced at CHF3,666.66. Though not as technically advanced as similarly priced watches from major brands like Tudor, the Variant B is an accessible entry point to the world of independent watchmaking and offers a surprisingly rewarding wearing experience.

Alongside the debut of the 299-piece limited edition, a single prototype is being auctioned by Marteau & Co, with 100% of the proceeds destined for the Musée International d’Horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of the most important watch museums in the world.

A puzzling dial

Each Projekt 02 dial consists of 67 individual parts, painted, lumed, and press-fit together by hand. The assembly of the dial a tedious, almost artisanal process that’s unusual to find at this price point, which suggests the brand has found a way to control costs elsewhere. Like a miniature jigsaw puzzle, each dial requires 6 hours of assembly.

The dial is strongly topographical in its design, with ridges and valleys that give definition to the hour markers. The all-grey livery of the debut model has been replaced with a gradient design that fades from black at the bottom to lighter grey nearer the summit. This colourway emphasises the shadows, creating the effect of even deeper valleys.

Each dial plate is hand-painted with lacquer infused with Super-LumiNova, while the hour and minute hands feature lozenge-shaped lume blocks that glow vividly.

Biosphere on the wrist

The Projekt 02 features a very distinctive wearing experience owing to its low-profile stainless steel case, which accounts for less than half of the 12.4 mm case thickness. The balance of the case height comes from the cylindrical box-form sapphire crystal, which stands vertically at the sides and is flat on top, like an upside-down beaker.

Enclosing the nature-inspired topographical dial, the cylindrical crystal creates the impression of a miniature terrarium or biosphere; it’s an incredibly distinct look that reminds me of watches like the HYT H0. The side view is especially interesting, offering a cross-sectional view of each of the nine dial layers.

Combined with the soft, lightweight textile strap, the Projekt 02 wears more like titanium than steel. Part of the comfortable weight balance is due to the mono-block construction of the die-cast case, which features a solid case back, and downward-arching lugs.

Key facts and price 

Kollokium Projekt 02 Variant B

Diameter: 39.5 mm
Height: 12.4 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: La Joux-Perret G101
Features: Hours, minutes and seconds
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 68 hours

Strap: Black elastic textile single-piece strap with “hook” buckle in die-cast steel

Limited edition: 299 pieces, plus 1 prototype being auctioned for charity.
Availability: Direct from Kollokium, and for a limited time at Uhrsachen in Bern starting March 12. Deliveries will take place between April and May 2026.
Price: CHF3,666.66 excluding taxes

For more, visit Kollokium.com.