Back in Blue: Unveiling the Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G
What is Kollokium? It's a bit of a mystery. Is it a brand, a design studio, or a group of friends with a unique vision? Kollokium is a bit of everything, but it's not a watchmaker. At least, no one's pretending to craft in-house movements from outsourced base calibers. This project, initiated by Manuel Emch, Barth Nussbaumer, and Amr Sindi, has been around for two years, releasing its second concept and five versions of the Projekt 01 watch. Now, it enters phase 6 with the Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G, a fresh take on the brutalist concept.
On the surface, not much has changed. The Variant G retains the highly unusual approach of a die-cast steel case, staying true to the series' raw neo-brutalist aesthetic. It's identical to the Variant B and Variant F, with a 40mm diameter, cylindrical mid-case, and barrel-shaped base inspired by cruciform screwdrivers. The watch is closed by a cylindrical sapphire crystal, and the back is raw steel with 50m water resistance.
The main novelty lies in the dial. While colors have appeared in previous versions, the Variant G introduces a new, softer palette in shades of blue. The dial is studded, with a light background and darker studs, offering a highly graphical touch and improved readability. This airy, fresh, and almost summery design is unexpected from the brand, but it works nicely.
The Variant G offers two handset options. G1 features PVD blue hour and minute hands with a blue Super-LumiNova center and a white seconds hand. G2 provides more contrast with white hour and minute hands, a blue PVD center, and a blue PVD seconds hand. The team decided to release both, leaving you to decide which looks best. The dial is complex, with 468 steel pins in varying widths and heights, hand-filled with luminescent blue pigments, and given a deep navy blue PVD treatment for contrast.
Powering the watch is an automatic G101 calibre from La Joux-Perret, operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour with a 68-hour power reserve. It comes on a single-piece navy blue elastic textile strap with a hook fastening system, ensuring comfort and ease of adjustment.
The Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant G is released as a limited edition of 499 pieces, available on the brand's website and from physical retailers. It is priced at CHF 2,999 (excl. taxes). For more details, visit kollokium.com.
