Swan & Edgar’s Horizon blends minimalist design with maximum story
Tom AustinMinimalistic watches take on several forms, from the clean Bauhaus lines of a Junghans Max Bill to the unadorned restraint of a modern H. Moser & Cie. These are the watches that manage to command the room without having to shout. Yet, by design, minimalistic watches can sometimes risk feeling a little too quiet, stripped of the narrative and storytelling that so many collectors seek. British brand Swan & Edgar’s new 300-piece Horizon collection is here to change that.
Firstly, the father-and-son company draws inspiration from the famous historic London department store of the same name, which played a significant role in the London West End fashion scene throughout the early 20th century. Sadly, that much-loved store is no longer there, but its spirit and name live on as a watch brand, founded by Antoni and James Fields. Their range is an eclectic mix of affordable, ornate dress watches, alongside contemporary mechaquartz chronographs. This new Horizon collection, however, is quite the departure from the rest of Swan & Edgar’s offerings. The Horizon collection, comprising two pieces, draws inspiration not only from England’s White Cliffs of Dover, but also from the pivotal Battle of Britain in 1940, both of which are iconic symbols in British history and culture.
The case
Like several of the watches in Swan & Edgar’s range, the Horizon features a distinctly traditional case design, which both models share. At 39.5mm in diameter and 11.3mm thick, the proportions are ideal for a practical everyday dress watch, and the 47.7mm lug to lug means it’s suitable for most wrist sizes. Every surface on the 316L stainless steel case is polished to a high sheen, including the gently curved lugs, the clean bezel that reaches to the edge of the case, and the embossed crown.
The front of the case is sealed with a double-domed sapphire crystal that features an anti-reflective coating, and the back of the watch is closed with a screw down caseback, embossed with a depiction of the white cliffs of Dover. Thanks to that caseback, the watch boasts 50-meter water resistance; while that does offer some protection, I probably wouldn’t venture too far into the English Channel wearing it, though.
The dial
This is where the watches get really interesting. Firstly, the finishes. As I mentioned, there are two different pieces in the Horizon collection. The first is the Mineral Musou, which features a clean, natural white quartz stone dial specifically selected for its cliff-like texture and soft translucence. This is set above a Musou black base that absorbs 99.4% of visible light, giving the white stone dial the effect that it’s sitting floating in the centre of the watch.
The second piece in the collection is the Blue Enamel, which is a little more self-explanatory with its kiln-fired Swiss Berlac enamel finish in a fumé blue. Gradiating from the lighter blue in the centre to darker blue at the edges, the surface is crackled and textured, which is a classy and well-executed representation of the sea beneath the cliffs.
As the silver frame around the dial meets at a V-shape at the top, you’ll notice a rather distinctive 12 marker, framed by a triangular gold-plated plaque. This is more than just an hour marker; this, along with the red-tipped seconds hand and the blue date window, is a unique tribute to the Battle of Britain sector clock used by the RAF in operations rooms, which would be used to track enemy aircraft as they were sighted in the skies over the channel. These details, paired with the CNC-machined and polished sword hands and the two different dial finishes, manage to bring together a backstory and maintain a sleek, minimal aesthetic that looks superb.
The strap
Custom-fitted to the case, the Italian suede strap fits like a tailored suit, with no visible gap to the case. The subtle bend in the strap enhances comfort on the wrist, and it’s safely secured with a polished stainless steel pin buckle. The blue-dialled model comes fitted with a light grey strap, while the white-dialled watch arrives with a charcoal grey strap, but these are interchangeable thanks to quick-release spring bars integrated into the leather.
The movement
Swan & Edgar have opted for a Japanese Miyota 9015 automatic self-winding calibre to power the Horizon. While it’s not an especially exciting movement, it doesn’t need to be; this watch is all about interesting dial finishing and backstories. It features a 42-hour power reserve while beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and comes complete with a Parashock shock resistance system. Although it’s made in Japan, it has been regulated in Maidenhead by Horologium UK, Britain’s leading specialist in watch assembly and regulation. Horologium also takes care of the assembly of the Horizon, too, so it’s safe to say the watch is undoubtedly up to standard when it comes to build quality, which is especially interesting at this price point.
Swan & Edgar Horizon pricing and availability
The Swan & Edgar Horizon collection will be available to pre-order directly from Swan & Edgar from Monday, 6th October, and the first 150 watches will receive a custom Horizon launch coin to commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The collection is limited to 300 pieces in total. Price: £795
| Brand | Swan & Edgar |
| Model | Horzon Collection |
| Case Dimensions | 39.5mm (D) x 11.3mm (T) x 47.7mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 316L tainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Double-domed sapphire crystal front |
| Dial | Blue fumé Swiss Berlac enamel White quartz stone |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Grey or charcoal Italian suede strap |
| Movement | Miyota 9015, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Limited to 300 pieces |
| Price | £795 |