It has been a little while since we have seen a new model from Eone. If you recall, the brand’s first watch, the Bradley, was a revolutionary design that displayed the time using raised markers and two magnetized ball bearings in recessed tracks. It was a stroke of genius that allowed both the blind and the sighted to read the time with a touch. It was a great success and Eone has introduced some cosmetic variations on the theme, but none as radical as the Switch, which they announced on August 20.
With the Switch, Eone now adds an interchangeable dial that allows users to remove and replace – to “switch,” if you will – the central ring with a simple twist (patent pending), tailoring the watch to suit their preferences or needs. No tools, no muss, no fuss.
Dimensions are similar to that of the Bradley: 41mm at the bezel tapering to 39mm at the base, 41mm long, and 11.9mm thick with 20mm between the lugs. The movement is a modified Ronda quartz and the watch is water-resistant to 30m.
As one would expect from a company so attuned to the needs of the vision-impaired, the Switch’s dials are as functionally and aesthetically pleasing to the touch as they are to the eye. The surface textures are quite pronounced, which not only looks cool but should also be a tactile treat, even for sighted users. I’ve seen many a guilloché dial, but I’ve never touched one. Other improvements include a new stepped case to provide sighted users a better view of the hour indicator, a hexagonal profile for quicker orientation.
This first edition of the Switch will launch on October 15. It will available in silver, black, and rose gold on mesh bracelets. Every model will come with two interchangeable rings: one 12-hour and one guilloché. More will follow. The Switch costs $360 and additional rings will be available for just $40 each. Early backers will be able to get it for just $295 at the Kickstarter presale.
We at The Time Bum expect to have a prototype for a hands-on review but in the meantime, head over to Eone to get more information, sign up for notifications, and see some videos of the Switch system in action.
