When you wake up every day, is the first thing you do when you reach for your phone to check the time? This habit seems natural, but it also quietly changes our relationship with time. When the cold white light screen becomes the first light in the morning, it may also mean that we are missing a little bit of the rhythm and warmth that we should have. recent BALMUDA with beforeappleLoveFrom, founded by chief designer Jony Ive, collaborates to launch a new concept of smart clock, trying to make “watching time” gentle and ritualistic again. This is not just a breakthrough in design, but more like a rethinking of modern lifestyle.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
BALMUDA teamed up with former Apple chief designer Jony Ive to launch The Clock smart clock, priced at about 12,000 yuan
After the widespread popularity of smart phones, traditional clocks have almost withdrawn from most people’s daily lives. When you wake up in the morning and check the time, swiping your phone has become the most intuitive action. Even the alarm clock function has long been replaced by your phone. However, such convenience actually brings some hidden effects, such as blue light stimulation, attention being disturbed by messages, and even making the start of the day a little hasty.
Because of this, the Japanese brand BALMUDA chose to start again from the simplest device this time and left Jony Ive Apple The design team founded later, LoveFrom, collaborated to launch a smart clock called The Clock, trying to redesign the “telling the time” thing.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
The external dimensions of this clock are 75 x 36.5 x 105 mm. It looks quite small, but it is made of a single piece of aluminum metal and is precisely machined. It feels solid when held in the hand. The design is inspired by pocket watches, especially the top handle, which is polished and will show detailed reflections under light, making the whole thing more like a decoration than just a tool.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
The biggest difference from ordinary clocks is that The Clock has no traditional hands at all. BALMUDA calls this display method Light Hour, which displays time through LED light points. The entire surface does not directly emit light, but presents a soft, painted-on light that looks closer to a natural light source than an electronic product.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
The flow of seconds is also deliberately designed to have a slow swinging rhythm, inspired by Foucault’s pendulum in the history of science. This detail is actually easy to overlook, but when you really stare at it, you will find that time becomes more “breathing”, not as direct and cold as digital time.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
In addition to visual presentation, sound is also another focus of The Clock. Built-in tweeter and woofer, supports a variety of environmental sounds, such as rain, river, fireplace burning, etc. These sounds are not randomly pieced together, but are jointly produced by the brand and musicians, making the overall sound more natural.
If you are used to listening to white noise or ambient sounds before going to bed, this clock also has built-in related functions, and even provides focus mode timing with white noise. It will be a practical gadget for people who need to concentrate when working or reading.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
When the alarm clock starts, it does not sound suddenly. Instead, it will gradually increase the volume 3 minutes before the official time, allowing people to wake up more naturally and reducing the discomfort of being woken up.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
In terms of operation, The Clock also supports a dedicated App, which can adjust settings through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, such as sound mode, brightness, time display, etc.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
The built-in battery can provide up to 24 hours of use, and it can also be carried when traveling. It weighs only about 255 grams and comes with a cloth storage bag, making it almost effortless to put it in carry-on luggage.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
When talking about this product, we have to mention the design team behind it. LoveFrom was founded by former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, and this cooperation with BALMUDA also allows the product to reach a higher level in metal processing. Brand founder Gen Terao once mentioned that this level of aluminum processing technology would be difficult to achieve without this cooperation.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
BALMUDA itself is a brand with great personality. From the early aluminum laptop stand, to The GreenFan, which later pioneered the high-end electric fan market, to The Toaster, a steam toaster that was once out of stock, each product does not follow the traditional route, but rethinks the use experience.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
The Clock actually continues this spirit. Rediscover the value of existence in a product type that seems to have been replaced by mobile phones. This clock is currently on the market in Japan, priced at 59,400 yen (approximately NT$12,000). At this stage, it is only available in silver version. Whether it will be launched in other markets remains to be seen from the official.
▲Picture source:BALMUDA
Conclusion
When technology products are increasingly pursuing multi-function and high efficiency, BALMUDA instead chooses to do something seemingly “simple”. The Clock isn’t trying to replace our phones, but rather redefine how we interact with time. From the light, to the sound, to the overall rhythm, it is more like a life experience than a mere tool.
For people who are accustomed to checking the time on their mobile phones, this product may make people rethink whether they really need to start their day on the screen. If you care about sleep quality, a sense of ritual in life, or simply like objects with strong design, The Clock may be a small change worth putting on your bedside.
Further reading:
https://www.kocpc.com.tw/archives/635377
Source: KOCPC Chinese