My first watch design at Sternglas, inspired by 1930s sector dial watches. Featuring dual-surface finishing and a smooth VH31 movement for visual harmony.

Sedius

The Sedius was the first watch I helped bring to life as a working student at Sternglas. It marked my entry into watch design and taught me how to translate historical references into modern, wearable products.

We took inspiration from vintage watches of the 1930s, specifically so-called sector dial watches. These dials were once used for scientific or technical purposes and are characterized by a clear subdivision of hours, minutes and seconds. Their rational layout felt like a natural fit for the functional design language we were exploring.

The dial features two distinct surface finishes. A sunburst effect in the hour ring creates subtle reflections depending on the angle of light, while the surrounding area is finely satin brushed for contrast and clarity.

Inside, we chose the Seiko VH31 mecha-quartz movement. Its sweeping seconds hand beats at four ticks per second, which creates a smooth motion that aligns with the detailed minute track. This was especially important to me, as a standard ticking seconds hand would have disrupted the calm, precise character of the dial.

This watch became a meaningful first step in my journey as a designer and continues to reflect my interest in clarity, proportion and the quiet beauty of functional design.