The IFL Watches team never stands still. Just a month has passed since the presentation of the vibrant Citizen Tsuyosa Calavera model.
For their new project, IFLW chose a new platform for their artistic expression. In honor of the idea of freedom, the brand created hand-painted dials for two Festina On The Square models. The larger 36mm model is aimed at men, while the smaller 29mm version is designed for women. The IFLW team developed similar artistic solutions for both versions, combining figurative elements, typography, and protest symbolism on their dials. Let's examine the details further.
Sometimes the idea for a new dial is born from a broad concept. Last month's Citizen Tsuyosa Calavera collection vividly reflected the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration with colorful dials adorned with well-known symbols of the event. In the case of Festina Freedom, the idea started from a much smaller but equally expressive image. This clearly demonstrates that inspiration can come from any source.
The Concept of Festina Freedom
As simple as it sounds, the starting point for the series was the letter "F" on the dials of these Festina watches. Usually, this typographic element symbolizes the brand, but here it has transformed into a symbol supported by a visual manifesto embodying the idea of freedom.
Each hand-painted dial is framed by a colorful railway track, serving as a border for the artistic depiction. The painting is done in stencil and spray-paint style - a technique widely used in contemporary street art. This style often turns city walls into canvases for social commentary and creative expression.
The Story of Freedom on the Dial
Upon closer inspection of the image, you can see a child pulling back a curtain, revealing a colorful brick wall. At the center of the composition is a graphic image of Nelson Mandela, which becomes the focal point symbolizing freedom. Around Mandela's image, bright graffiti emphasizes the protest theme of the work. The result is a dial that combines figurative elements, typography, and a message of protest in a small yet expressive wrist accessory.
The contrast between the vibrant street style and the classic white outer scale with Roman numerals makes this model particularly interesting. As always, each dial is hand-painted by IFL artists, ensuring unique variations in brush strokes, contrast, and texture. Thus, among the 400 produced dials, there will be no two identical ones.
Technical Specifications of Festina On The Square
The On The Square collection from Festina is one of the most recognizable, dedicated to classic rectangular watches. For the latest project, IFLW chose two models with silver dials, Roman numerals, and blue hands - a style made iconic by Cartier.
The larger model features a stainless steel case measuring 36 × 48 mm, with a thickness of 9 mm and a lug width of 19 mm. The case combines matte and polished surfaces and comes with a stainless steel bracelet with a compact folding clasp with buttons.
The smaller version features a 29 × 39 mm case with an even slimmer profile - 8 mm and a lug width of 16 mm. It is equipped with a stainless steel bracelet, similar in style to the larger model's bracelet. Both models are powered by the Miyota GR12 quartz movement, with a thickness of 2.71 mm. This caliber has a date function, provides an average accuracy of ±20 seconds per month, and has a battery life of up to three years. It is a reliable and convenient movement for the new IFLW Festina Freedom watches.
Limited Edition - 200 Pieces of Each Size
As mentioned, the IFLW team will release 200 dials for each of the two models. Both versions - 36mm and 29mm - will go on sale today at 4:00 PM Central European Summer Time (CEST) for USD 590 on the official IFLW website. The new Festina Freedom collection is one of the most affordable in IFLW's lineup, which I believe will ensure rapid sales. If you are interested in acquiring one of the 400 available pieces, we recommend visiting the brand's website as soon as possible.
