Single-hand watches are not new, though they are rare. MeisterSinger is undoubtedly the most well-known brand embracing this style, but many others have tried to apply this concept. SNGLRTY has dedicated its entire portfolio to single-hand watches, yet all of them display both hours and minutes thanks to a clever patented design. Usually, this is done using a jumping hour, as seen in the MeisterSinger Salthora Meta X model, but SNGLRTY has figured out how to have the minute disc continuously synchronize with the hour hand, a first in the industry. We take an in-depth look at the SNGLRTY Blue Steel OHI-4 model.
HISTORY
A few years ago, Stephen Mansfield and Daniel Blunski brainstormed over drinks about designing a single-hand watch. The ultimate goal was to create something that hadn't existed before, where one hand could simultaneously show both hours and minutes. Brands have creatively approached making single-hand watches display both, like Konstantin Chaykin with the Genius Temporis, where the hand temporarily moves to show minutes with the push of a button.
Stephen and Daniel proposed a different idea: a minute disc rotates counter-clockwise to always show the minutes through an aperture on the hour hand. A reverse mechanism, if you will. Daniel has over 30 years of experience in the watch industry. Stephen has an engineering background, and they combined ideas from watch movements and engines with gearboxes (hence the reverse transmission idea). Thus, the final concept was born.
After extensive research, both concluded that the idea was unique and didn't exist. “To display time on one line like digital watches but on mechanical watches.” The concept was dubbed OHI - One Hand Indication - and the two set to work. Daniel focused on bringing the idea to life, while Stephen worked on obtaining a patent. Twenty prototypes were made, showing the accurate time, confirming the correctness of the design. After an initial rejection, they prepared a comprehensive rebuttal with their lawyer and eventually received the patent. It was time for a name that described how time converges at one point, and “singularity” seemed most fitting. Of course, it needed a bit of tweaking, so SNGLRTY became official.
SNGLRTY's range includes two collections - OHI-2 and OHI-4, the former having no date and accuracy of +/-12 seconds per day, and the latter featuring a date, several mechanism design options, and accuracy of +/-4 seconds per day (above the COSC standard). The Swiss movements, of course, have an external module, which makes the unique setup possible. Its height is only 1.2 mm, thinner than the normal 2 mm, and it's flexible enough for current and future collections. There's even a seconds indicator in the form of a small vintage compass pointer, meant more to show that the mechanism is operating. The result is a unique, eccentric design that is also highly functional.
A DIAL UNLIKE OTHERS
At first glance, the dial may seem like a typical single-hand with an open date wheel (like the MeisterSinger Pangaea Day-Date), but it is, of course, not. At the “6 o'clock” position, there's already a date window, so the central disc is for minutes. As the hour hand slowly completes its 12-hour cycle, the minute disc moves counter-clockwise in perfect synchronization, always showing the correct minute through the hour hand's aperture. The center seconds hand, resembling a compass, is there to show that the mechanism is running, though seconds can also be tracked.
The watch we have on hand is called Blue Steel and is a customized OHI-4 model. SNGLRTY offers individual color solutions via the website or phone, providing about 3,000 possible variations, excluding strap options. This includes the outer hour ring, hour Arabic numerals, minute ring, central plate, seconds ring, and hour hand. Almost everything can be customized, except for the case.
Blue Steel has a blue hour ring with white Arabic numerals, a black minute ring with white numerals and indexes, a silver central plate with Côtes de Genève, and a blue hour hand with a white tip. Pre-configured models of OHI-4 and OHI-2 are also available. The hour numerals and tip of the hour hand are coated with Super-LumiNova. The dial features two levels with the hour ring above the minute disc and central elements, creating a pleasant sense of depth. Although these are single-hand watches, they remind me of a regulator with the hour hand doing the primary work (instead of the central minute hand). Everything else is in separate registers. Of course, in this case, hours and minutes converge, so you read both together.
OVERALL DESIGN AND CASE
The dial of the SNGLRTY Blue Steel OHI-4 steals the show, but the stainless steel case complements it well. It's very comfortable to wear with a diameter of 40.5 mm and a height of 11.8 mm (47 mm lug-to-lug) and easily fits under a cuff. The double-domed sapphire crystal has no fewer than seven anti-reflective coatings, and they are very effective. Reflections are minimal both indoors and outdoors, which is essential as the minute numerals need to be clearly visible.
Flip the watch over, and the case back is secured with four hexagonal screws, with a small mineral glass window revealing much of the automatic movement. The case back also features a rare engraving – the official patent number. You don't see that every day. The lugs have a significant arc, smoothly transitioning into the sides of the case and securing the strap with hex screws. The 21 mm black Saffiano strap with a folding clasp is one of seven options, including a steel bracelet. Water resistance is 100 meters.
SWISS MECHANICS
The SNGLRTY Blue Steel OHI-4 is powered by the Sellita SW300-1 caliber, an alternative to the ETA 2892 and 1 mm thinner than the SW200 caliber. This height is necessary to accommodate the specialized module, which itself is only 1.2 mm, and maintain the thin watch case at 11.8 mm. This version of the SW300-1 is premium and chronometer-grade with an accuracy of +/- 4 seconds per day. It also features rhodium plating with perlage and Côtes de Genève. The watch has 25 jewels, a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), and a 42-hour power reserve. Functions (with the module) include central hours, counter-clockwise minutes via rotating disc, central seconds, and date.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's refreshing to see small independent brands pushing innovative ideas. Recent examples include Humism Rhizome Automatic and Vanguart Watches Black Hole Tourbillon, and SNGLRTY has a design unique enough to be patented. I've always been a fan of MeisterSinger and other single-hand models, like the Umbra by Solar Lab Co. (with a rotating disc), but SNGLRTY takes it to the next level. Jumping hours are an adequate and desirable way to display hours and minutes on a single-hand dial, but the presentation of “time on one line like digital watches but on mechanical watches” is a refreshing change of pace.
This is also not a novelty or a watch show. The SNGLRTY Blue Steel OHI-4 is sophisticated, well-crafted, and operates with chronometer precision. The dial is both familiar and a bit foreign, reminding me of the MeisterSinger Pangaea Day-Date, but with entirely different functionality. New concepts like this don't always land, but SNGLRTY has indeed succeeded in creating an intriguing and well-thought-out portfolio.
The SNGLRTY Blue Steel OHI-4 is priced at $4,390 USD, but the OHI-4 collection varies by about 140 depending on the addition of Super-LumiNova and specific colors. For instance, the pre-configured Blue Monday costs $4,250 USD. This is certainly not cheap but reasonable for such an innovative, patented design with a custom module. If you like the concept but want something more affordable, the OHI-2 collection starts at $2,250 USD (no date, accuracy +/- 12 seconds per day). For more information or to place an order, please visit the SNGLRTY website.
SPECIFICATIONS - SNGLRTY BLUE STEEL OHI-4
Case: diameter 40.5 mm x height 11.8 mm - 316L stainless steel - sapphire crystal with seven anti-reflective coatings - mineral glass case back - signed crown - arc lugs with open hex screws for strap attachment - water resistance 100 meters
Dial: blue hour ring with white Arabic hour numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova - recessed black minute ring with white numerals and detailed scale - silver central plate with Côtes de Genève - small central seconds hand - blue hour hand with open aperture and white tip with Super-LumiNova - retro compass-style seconds hand in red and silver - date window at “6 o'clock”
Movement: Sellita SW300-1 (alternative to ETA 2892) - automatic - 25 jewels - frequency 28,800 vph/4 Hz - 42-hour power reserve - central hours, minutes, seconds, and date - custom 1.2-mm module rotates minute disc to synchronize with hour hand - chronometer-grade accuracy +/- 4 seconds per day - decorated with perlage and Geneva stripes
Strap: 21-mm black Saffiano with steel folding clasp secured by hex screws (seven strap options available)
Price: $4,390 USD (OHI-4 price depends on exact configuration)