TISSOT by Ettore Sottsass, 1988

— A postmodern poem —

1988, and a meeting between Tissot, with its Swiss tradition, and Ettore Sottsass, a giant of Italian design.

The S 180/280 goes beyond being a watch: it is a historic art piece carrying the philosophy of Memphis, the design group that dominated the 1980s.

— Geometry, invented —

Circles, straight lines and dots. A dial drawn like a calculated graphic turns the idea of time into a visual game.

Satin-finished silver, matt black lugs, and a solid 18K gold bezel too expensive to contemplate today. The contrast of materials and colour states the pleasure of ownership quietly.

— Dignity and history —

The case back carries Sottsass's signature and the year 1988. A modern bearing undimmed after more than thirty years is proof that essential beauty outlives its period.

A slim case with 30m water resistance, adding an unassuming intelligence to daily life.

— A philosophy at the wrist —

The 1988 Sottsass limited edition still holds designers and collectors. A scarce milestone even among vintage Tissot, and a signature as much as an instrument.