We’re used to seeing classical styles in watchmaking; fine timepieces are themselves ancient, so the hand-finishing and fine craftsmanship that are part of the design themes and themes of the past fit perfectly. Yet even by those standards, the inspiration behind the Valimor Valknut is ancient.
Available in two different designs, the first is the horological equivalent of a Gothic knight, an impressive piece of watchmaking adorned with a richly decorated suit of armor. The first thing you notice, from the outside in, is the serpentine dragon-scale bezel. It’s a solid, eye-catching element, and one that instantly distinguishes the Valknut from… well, anything else.
Then there are the chapter rings and numerals, which look like they were taken straight from a 17th century clock tower, punctuated by textured panels that create a rich, layered look to the dial. The centerpiece is a design that resembles wrought iron metalwork, again with a strong Gothic feel.
The final flourish is the watch’s open heart, the ornately decorated balance wheel, which is as much a part of old carriage clocks as it is of modern watchmaking. Indeed, the movement is where modern meets classic, as the Valknut features a Japanese Miyota 82SO automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve.
We see more of that in the second variation of the Valknut. Instead of ornate numerals and multi-layered finishes, the entire dial features a striking architectural swirl skeleton.
It’s the stark contrast of black and silver that, more than anything, opens up the piece to a more modern and techy feel. It’s still powered by the same Miyota movement and has the same custom, beautifully engraved rotor. It’s just a twist on the same formula.
Of the two, we prefer the dial version over the skeletonized one, especially with the black and white numerals. The darker color contributes to the gothic influence that’s been seen on a slew of skeletonized watches lately, making the design stand out even more.
Whichever variant you choose – black, white, blue or skeletonised with hour markers in a variety of colours – the Valimor Valknut is a great value watch; a great design backed by a solid automatic movement will set you back between £380 and £444.
Prices and specs:
Brand: Valimor
Model: Valknut
Case/dial: 42mm diameter x 12.65mm height, stainless steel, PVD-coated
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre Miyota 82S0, automatic
Power reserve: 40 hours
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Functions: Hours, minutes, stopwatch
Strap: Dragon hornback leather, vintage Italian leather or 100% vegan leather
Price: £380 – £444
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