Colorful Elastic Watch by Ernest

A band of expanding links, no buckle behind the wrist

The band is built from flat links that pull apart and spring back. Pull them apart with two fingers, slide your hand through, let go, and the band closes up again on its own. There is no buckle and no clasp, so there is no sizing to get right before you wear it. Each link carries the same print as the dial, so the pattern runs all the way round, including the underside. The same construction turns up across the other watches built on expanding links, in different prints. Pulling one on takes about a second.

Numerals with a hand-drawn look on a coral and green dial

The dial is split into two colour fields: coral across the top, green underneath. Straight black stems rise from the lower half and finish in concentric circles of blue, purple, orange, yellow and pink. All twelve numerals have a hand-drawn look, each one leaning at its own slight angle, which is what keeps the face looking sketched rather than typeset. Orange-yellow hands sweep over the pattern without disappearing into it. On the right-hand side of the case, a small red crown breaks up the pale metal.

Colours, numerals and band at a glance

What to wear with a dial this busy

A face carrying this much colour asks for very little around it. Against a grey marl sweatshirt, a plain white shirt or a tan trench, it does all the talking on its own. The coral picks up rust and terracotta tones; the green sits comfortably with olive and stone. You can stack, but keep any extra bangles thin and dark so the print still reads. The same energy runs through the label's leaf, animal and abstract prints, gathered across the rest of Ernest's printed dials. A pushed-up sleeve shows far more of the band than a buttoned cuff.

Wiping the links and putting the watch away

Wipe the band with a soft, barely damp cloth, working along its length so it reaches between the links. Dry it straight away rather than leaving moisture sitting in the joints. A dry cloth is enough for the glass, and fingerprints lift off in one pass. Keep abrasive cleaners away from the printed surfaces. Store the watch flat rather than coiled, and the band will hold its tension.