At Watchisthis?! we are always looking for watches that surprise and innovate, yet are still keeping it on a budget. A watch that checks all these boxes is Mysterali by the Swiss brand Ali & Co. It actually innovates on many different levels, but the very first surprise is that the watch is designed by Eric Giroud. Being one of the most prominent watch designers of this time, it is always good to see that despite his great success he doesn’t shy away from designing more affordable watches as well. By the way, you can find an interview with Eric in the Winter 2015 issue of Watchisthis?! Magazine here.
But that is not where the fun ends. Thanks to a patented, round quartz movement by Soprod you can actually see straight through the center of the Mysterali, with only the hands visible. They are actually printed on transparent discs that move around to tell the time. What makes it even more unique is that you can flip over the watch, and now have a different color numeral ring, making it look like a completely different watch. Because the movement only runs clock wises, the numerals on the back of the watch are printer counter clockwise, making it actually extra fun, because now the hands seem to be moving in the wrong direction for the casual observer.
To accommodate the two dial colors, Ali & Co fitted the Mysterali with a strap that has two sides, one to match each dial. But that is not all that there is to the dial. Inside the strap is a wireless prepaid Mastercard chip, so when you want to pay for something, like gas for your convertible, or cocktails on the beach, all you have to do is swipe your watch bracelet over the payment terminal and done you are! For places that don’t have a wireless terminal yet, Ali & Co supplies each Mysterali with a physical Mastercard as well, that is connected to the same account. Through a secure website you can check your payment status, as well as the balance on your card, and add more as you desire.
With a diameter of 41 mm and a height of 11.56 mm the watch suits both men and women, although some of the six color combinations are bound to please one sex more than the other. You can check them all out on the Ali & Co website, where the Mysterali is also available for pre-order for US$315,- VAT excluded, with delivery expected in August of this year.
Different,veritable. Nice