Danish horological architect Thomas Funder, in colab with Watch Angels, brings back 1970s monocoque design in a light, modern and minimalist way. With his ergonomic and modular Funder case, Thomas Funder has not only designed a remarkable and highly recognizable watch, he has created a watchmaking platform for watch enthusiasts.
Måne. The first complication
The moon phases is the launch complication of the Funder Watches platform. An emotional complication which replicates a natural phenomenon, by depicting what can be seen in the sky at any given moment. Often used in classic watches, in the Måne it comes alive in a completely different way through the use of minimalist Danish design language.
Måne "Phase Blue" Titanium
Måne "Day Silver" Titanium
Måne "State Cherry" Gunmetal Titanium
My watches are about Minimalism. I try to reduce the design to the fundamental, the essential and the necessary. I strip away the ornamental layers that distract from the core focus. My aim is to design objects that can manage the test of time and remain attractive for years to come. For me, minimalistic design becomes very inspiring when it hides complexity under the surface so that there is much more to the project than what is seen on the surface. The Funder Case and the Funder watch brand are about this.
Thomas Funder
The language of functions
Where the Måne stands out from other moon phase watches is the way in which the function is depicted and read. By using minimalist graphic design, Thomas Funder has created an intuitive and immediate way of reading the phases of the moon. Giving a new language to mechanical functions is the design signature of Funder Watches.
One complication. Three ways to read the moon
By interpreting the information provided by the Sellita SW288 movement, Thomas Funder has created three different ways to read the phases of the moon on the same caliber.
Phases of the moon module
"Phase" module
The Phases module depicts the moon at 6 o'clock and through 2 dots moving at the centre of the dial. The phase of the moon can be read using the traditional moon aperture or by observing the allignement of the 2 small dots.
State of the moon module
"State" module
The phases of the moon are depicted using 2 dots moving at the centre of the dial. The phase of the moon is represented by the alignment of the 2 dots.
Day of the moon module
"Day" module
In this execution the moon phase can be read in text by way of two apertures in the dial. At 12 o'clock the phase of the moon can be read, while at 6 o'clock the number of days left until the next full moon can be read.
Collect complications. Not watches
Funder watches are composed of three elements. A complication module, a case and a strap. Through a mechanical system, these elements can be seamlessly combined to create a preferred configuration.
The Funder Watches modularity
The Funder case, module and strap are "plug and play"
The Funder case
The 40.5mm Funder case, made out of grade 5 titanium, can be instantly recognized by its prominent "chimney" whose radius seamlessly disappears in the case-body, and by its polished bevels which underline the perfect ergonomy of the lugs which perfectly marry the shape of the wrist. The Funder case is the platform which allows watch enthusiasts to collect the different Måne modules as well as the future complications of the brand.
The ergonomic monocoque Funder case
The Funder case colours
The Funder module
The 316L stainless steel Funder module encases the movement, crystal, dial and hands and assures the 10ATM water-resistance. The module can be seamlessly inserted and extracted from the Funder case which features a spring-based ring that houses and holds the module.
The Måne moon phases module is the first complication of the brand. Powered by a Sellita SW288 movement It has been executed in 3 variants: Phase, State and Day.
The Funder strap
Through its easy change system the Funder rubber strap can be exchanged at will to create new aesthetic combinations. Additionally, the standard 20mm lug allows watch enthusiasts to mount any OEM strap to create even more configuration opportunities.
The configurations
The Funder Måne collection features 3 complication modules, each executed in different dial colours; 5 titanium case colours and 2 strap colours, for a total of 80 possible configurations.
Watch enthusiasts can choose and combine the tree elements in multiple ways to create their favourite watch and in 2023 they will be able configure their Funder case with a new mechanical complication.
"Måne Day" configurations
Prices
Måne complication module price: CHF 675
Funder grade 5 Titanium case. CHF 195 (Natural) - CHF 230 (Blue, Gunmetal, Brown-Bronze and Black)
Funder strap: CHF 95
By combining the elements a Funder Måne watch is priced at CHF 955- CHF 990.
Funder Watches can be purchased from Watch Angels
Technical Features
Diameter: 40,5mm
Case: Grade 5 Titanium
Case finishing: Horizontal brushed case side; Polished case bevels; Sandblasted top of case; Polished bezel; Engraved case-back with the moon phases engraving
Module: 316L Stainless steel module container with screw-in crown and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Sellita SW288 Moonphases mechanical movement
Dial: sunburst dials with circular brushed dial ring; luminous H, M hands and hour indexes
Strap: natural rubber strap with genuine leather inlay
Water Resistance: 10 ATM / 100m / 333ft
Movement
Sellita SW288, Swiss made
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and moon phases with rapid correction
Jewels: 26
Winding: Mechanical, self-winding, 28’800 bhp/4Hz
Power Reserve: 41 hours
About Funder Watches
Thomas Funder is a laureate from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. He started designing watches in 2015 and founded his own design firm in 2017 working for established luxury watch companies. With Funder Watches he has created a modular watchmaking platform based on the ergonomic monocoque Funder case. The modular concept has the purpose of offering watch enthusiast the opportunity to collect mechanical complications without having to buy a new watch every time. The moonphases is the first complication module of the brand. Website
About Watch Angels
Watch Angels is a leading Swiss watch manufacturer based in Mendrisio, Switzerland. It has developed the crowd manufacturing system and operates the watchangels.ch platform. On Watch Angels the watch community can fund watch manufacturing projects by independent creators and brands. The factory direct crowd manufacturing system offers more industrial value for money to watch enthusiasts than any other watchmaking and retail system. Watch Angels website
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