Explore Vario

Vario has a knack for finding fresh possibilities in old watch shapes. Its 1918 Trench pairs an enamel dial with wire-style lugs and large Arabic numerals, drawing on the wristwatches worn by soldiers during the First World War. The small seconds and onion crown complete the picture, but the pleasure is in the proportions: a compact case with enough dial space to let those numerals breathe.

Founded in Singapore in 2017, Vario also makes straps, and that interest in texture and color runs through its watches. The Empire takes a different route into the past, using Art Deco typography, patterned dials, and stepped case details. It feels more at home among the geometric lines of interwar design than in a trench.

Then there’s the Versa, a rectangular, reversible watch with two quartz-powered faces. Each side can display a different time zone, giving the turning case a practical purpose. It’s a particularly neat expression of Vario’s willingness to work beyond the familiar round watch.