In today?s arena of off-the-shelf designs, standing out can be a challenge for a new watch company. And it’s a challenge that up-and-comer Gruman Watches takes seriously. The team behind Gruman didn’t want to put out another minimalist watch that would disrupt the industry. Now with its first watch, the Sputnik, the young brand is confident that it has avoided many of the micro-brand pitfalls with a fresh design at a solid price point.As the name suggests, the inspiration for the Sputnik was drawn from Russian sources, specifically referencing the first-ever man-made satellite to orbit Earth.  Gruman’s design goal with the Sputnik was to develop a watch that would fit into any situation with versatile specs for everyday wear.
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First, there’s the dial. It features a pattern that draws from the texture of a satellite?s body, emulating bolted metal plates. It is the first thing to catch the eye and the concept looks well executed. The dial is actually one piece with engraved lines (the delineation between the plates) and embossed dots (the bolts). This gives the dial three distinct levels and some welcome dimensionality.
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The hour markers are applied batons and filled with C3 Super-LumiNova. The sword hands also feature Super-LumiNova applied around a unique design, where the center is split down the middle and luminescent material flanks the center line along the forward-half of the hands. The second hand is a simple n...