In a world of templated microbrands, Papar stands out by putting real life at the center of the design. “I just think the lens needs to be shifted a little bit that [watches are] not unnecessary. It’s an opportunity to show personality. It’s an opportunity to show a deeper understanding of what functional design means....

One of the three new watches from Urban Jürgensen brings to life an ingenious invention created by the late Derek Pratt. The recent relaunch of Urban Jurgensen is nothing if not ambitious. The company launched its first three watches in Los Angeles, under the leadership of Kari Voutilainen and Alex Rosenfield, with the stated ambition...