Introducing the Optik Instruments Horizon—a Clever Take on the “Single-Hand” Concept

Kickstarter can be a mixed bag, but every now and then you’ll find an inventive and well-thought-out watch worth a mention. Case in point: The Optik Instruments Horizon. What looks at first glance to be something incomprehensible is actually extremely simple—essentially, what we have here is a 24-hour single-hander (think old-school Luch).Nearly the entirety of the main dial works as a giant disk hand, split at first into day and night halves, and then marked further all the way down to 15-minute intervals. The red lines at 12 and six are your current time indicators as the dial surface rotates. It takes a moment to adjust to this perspective, but it’s elegant and simple once you do.

There’s an impressive array of colorways and options for a first-time effort, with the yellow and gray Flagship, the two-tone gray Billet, the blue and red Technik, the black and blue Navigator with its pops of yellow, and the more delicate white and gray Solis.

All of these share the same 40 millimeter lugless case—a rounded, futuristic pebble that sends off serious Marc Newson/Ikepod vibes. Like the dials, each model offers its own unique case treatment, with polishing, sandblasting, brushing, black DLC, and rose gold plating. Once again, it’s a very strong start from a newcomer on the variety front.

With all this quality and variety on offer on the outside, the presence of a Ronda 515.24 quartz movement within offers a bit of a letdown. That said, reliable 24-hour, single-hand mechanical power plants are rather thin on the ground, so it’s an understandable compromise.With the exception of the gray on gray Billet model, each Horizon comes on a custom black silicone strap with trick curved spring bars to seamlessly blend into the case. The Billet offers the same party piece with handsome tobacco-brown leather.

There’s even further evidence of Optik’s quality in their warranty program. Most Kickstarter arrangements laugh at the idea of warranty protection, and even those that do offer anything usually cap it at two years. The Horizon’s five-year limited program, then, comes off as quite the vote of confidence.Overall, the Optik Instruments Horizon series leaves a strong first impression. At the current discounted price of about $390 for Kickstarter backers, it’s a respectable value. But time is of the essence! Once the campaign ends on the 29th of March, the price goes up to $549. Optik Instruments Horizon Kickstarter