In the 1950s and 1960s, the era of the German economic miracle and Woodstock, the car was the epitome of individual freedom – a potent symbol of new beginnings, adventure and financial prosperity. The Newton Speedometer Automatic is dedicated to this glorious era. Gone are the classic watch hands and date display that you expect to see. Instead the Swiss watch manufacturer has created a dial that might have come from the cockpit of a legendary sportscar – without any gimmickry. Characterised by a subtle elegance, its clarity and timelessness draws all eyes.

Just like their automotive colleagues in the 1950s and 1960s, the developers at DAVOSA have brought particular creativity to the dial design for the Newton Speedometer. On the lowest level, the hour hand has been replaced by a rotating disc that shows the hour in a window set in the upper third of the next dial level by means of a sleek red arrow. An index scale shows the minutes, which
the only conventional watch hand circles from the centre with great aplomb. The outer frame is formed by a third level which, in place of conventional hour markers, repeats the minute scale in increments of five in a classic, unfussy font. At the centre, a permanent seconds display rotates discreetly in the form of a matt silver disc accented with a red line. This fine composition is available in neutral black with white Super-LumiNova BGW09 or in bicolour grey-black with natural Super-LumiNova, which develops a yellowish green shimmer in daylight. In poor light, the luminous material lets you read the hours and minutes in a pale blue or pale green. The readability certainly takes a little getting used to, but once you understand the basic principle, the simple yet effective design is truly fascinating.