I read at some point that “the wristwatch” is a feature that says something about character in a handshake. The handshake itself is apparently not enough for the person who wrote this. – The statement was more in the direction of luxury watches, which would make a man in his late 30s look distinguished. I’m in my late 30s now, but I can’t warm to an Omega as a status symbol. Even though I almost fell for the product placement scene in Casino Royale. I’m more attracted to smart watches that go in the direction of the Qlocktwo W or slow!

I think I first heard about slow watches about three years ago and didn’t immediately grasp the idea behind them. Then, by chance, I became aware of slow again at the end of last year and was convinced by the slow hand that needs the whole day for one lap!

Basically, my sense of time is pretty good, but when I’m bored or stressed, I might look at my watch every two minutes. Why is that?

It practically screams at you: this is exactly what this watch was designed for! If you looked at the watch every few minutes, you would quickly notice that nothing was happening. The hand doesn’t move noticeably! “… leave it alone, Olli, there’s no point!”

This should also look good with a slow, and the manufacturers offer an extensive portfolio of around 45 watches for this purpose. The original model, the slow Jo 38, is the square version, later followed by the slow Mo 34. The numbers indicate the width of the model, with ’34’ being designed for narrower wrists.

The slow O followed that year and differs from the Jo and Mo in more than just its round case. The recessed crystal and the dial with its raised elements give the watch its own character and a noticeably more premium appearance.

All the models on offer can be customised with additional straps, so you can easily adapt the existing versions to your own liking.

Initially, I bought the slow Jo 03. The plain black model is made entirely of stainless steel and first had to be adjusted at the watch shop to correct the bracelet length. The fit for my wrist is still not perfect, but what the heck. The watch is also supposed to be water-resistant to 100 metres, which doesn’t bother me at all because I don’t wear a watch when I go swimming.

What’s a minor gripe is the protruding, rounded crystal. As a result, the numbers on the dial are somewhat indistinct when viewed from certain angles. But who cares if you don’t want to read the exact time anyway?

When the slow O came out, I didn’t need any hasty excuses to convince myself to get the O 10. The watch is almost the direct opposite of the Jo. A soft, round case surrounds the dial with raised numerals and markers. The crystal sits flush with the case and the weight is half that of the Jo. The O is also available in a heavier version with a metal bracelet.

I don’t have a preference between the two. It’s really a matter of mood whether or when I wear one. Both have their own merits. Apart from that, there is the possibility of customisation with additional straps.

You don’t commit as much as you would with an Omega, so you’re more likely to have two or three of them lying around, even though one can cost 280 euros.

The reactions when I shake hands have been mixed since I started wearing slow watches. People often ask me what’s wrong with the watch. I often reply that they just couldn’t stretch to a second hand. Now and then some people recognise the watch and are pleasantly surprised. On the whole, though, there is a lack of understanding as to how you can read the time with it… maybe I don’t want to?

Prices start at 230 euros on the slow website.