The right way to honour a culture – The Klasik:Hitam from Waktu Horology

Part of the fun of loving watches is that you get to learn about the main inspiration of a brand when they are creating a timepiece. I would say it can go any direction and not because they are not interesting, but because sometimes it can have a very strong feeling to the founder that fails to connect with the audience.

There are other times when the story is so far from the watch itself that it feels fabricated, but let’s not be negative because sometimes, it is special.

Watchmaking is a lost art, and we all nerds know about this, there is no need for a watch in the practical sense of things, mobile phones can do a far better job than the best COSC certified watch. But that is the main issue, although people use these devices more than anything else on their day to day, there is still a disconnection to the object, even if is beautifully designed, it just feels empty.

In order to create this connection, there is a group of people who truly believe that watches, as obsolete and complicated as they are, can bring that flavour that an iPhone is missing. A reminder that craftmanship and design matter and that disposal objects are just that.

On my endless Instagram scroll (yes, I am guilty of that), I came across with Waktu Horology. Of course, I couldn’t know the story of the brand right away but the striking design of their newest Klasik:Hitam was breathtaking, from the hands to the pitch-black dial. I knew in that seconds that I needed to learn more about them, so I clicked on their website page.

That click took me into a rabbit hole of history and it was quite a ride. The celebration of the Malay civilization, the history of the founder and the design choices, made stay on their website for hours and gave the strange feeling that even after 250+ reviews, I haven’t come across with anything similar.

Dahliah Kamaru Zaman founded Waktu Horology with the intent to revive that Malay culture and she did it not only by explaining their evolution but by incorporating key elements into a watch that doesn’t feel ‘’gimmicky’’, instead it feels special.

Join me to discover the Klasik Hitam and why I think is one of a kind. Actually, it is, because there will be only 300 of them made, so it is quite special. Let’s begin.

The specifications

As soon as I opened the box, I understood the size of the watch. At the beginning 40mm in diameter could sound scary for an elegant dress watch, but because of the very short lug spam, the watch Klasik more like a 38mm. The stainless-steel case is quite beautiful with a high polished finishing that accentuates its curves nicely, it gives you the sense of a H. Moser & Cie because of the simplicity and to me, that is the ultimate compliment as we are talking about a watch that costs at least 10 times less that those very high-end pieces.  Also, there is the fact that the full black enamelled dial makes the watch look more compact and visually striking, they really did a great job to highlight the Malay details like the hour hand and the central pinion which looks like an 8-petal flower, they can all be found in the ancient songket art form.

Staying with the dial, we can also appreciate the logo at 9 o’clock which brings flair to the Klasik by adding the traditional tengkolok headwear on top of the ‘’W’’. As I said it brings all these elements together without feeling crowded or even toyish, it a serious watch that I enjoy wearing in formal occasions.

Turn the watch over and you will be greeted with closed caseback engraved with a texture logo. Under that back, you can find the premium ultra slim Miyota 90S5 that keeps the watch nice and tidy while offering 42 hours of power reserve. A small but appreciated technical feature of the Klasik: Hitam is that it offers 100 meters of water resistance via it’s screw down crown. I quite enjoy when dress watches do this, doesn’t mean that is a watch to dive, but having the same depth rating many sports watches its quite comforting.

On the wrist

With those dimensions, it is easy to see why the Klasik Hitam wears so well on 6.25-inch wrist. The thin profile with the short lug dimensions makes the watch unisex, it can really be worn by anyone.  The bezel dominates the headshot with that high polish and then you have this black dial that just looks impressive from any angle, it is a very beautiful thing to behold.

Having a minimal dial has its own nuances and although is one of the most legible dials I’ve experienced, telling the exact time (or setting it) is not the easiest of tasks but again, that is ok because this is a tribute to the beauty of a culture. The iPhone will always win in precision, but we are not here for that. That said, I would recommend setting the watch when it’s close to a 15-minute mark, problem solved.

I wore the Klasik Hitam mostly at the office, it is a great companion and when those dull excel tasks start to kick in, watching something as ornamental and analogue takes you a step back, it doesn’t distract you but inspires you.

The watch is very easy to pull with any outfit, the monochromatic scheme is a testament of good design, it doesn’t need more to shine, it is different in a good way. The watch also comes with a black leather strap and although it does look good and keeps the composition quite consistent, the quick release system means that you can easily swap it for something else like grey or olive green, it is a strap monster.

The AR coating also does a good job to avoid any unwanted reflections, this was a key concern with dials which have such a large black surface but again, not here because the sapphire crystal will allow you to enjoy all of those details in high definition.

Concluding thoughts

This has been a watch that I’ve quite enjoyed as you can read. The simplicity and importance that it means for the Waktu is reflected on the amount of refinem

ent that it brings. It is not a loud watch but is not quite either, it manages to get attention without shouting.

Another aspect we haven’t discussed is the price. The Klasik: Hitam is offered at 538 USD and is limited to 300 pieces, quite a bargain in my opinion because of its uniqueness. There is also the option of choosing your number, but they are moving fast so it is down to availability.

Also is worth noting that this is the first watch from the brands which is quite remarkable, having this amazing design with right proportions is a true success. It was right out of the gate.

Watches like this make me think about marketing strategies that big brands have, the story that they are trying to convey and even if they spend millions on a campaign, they still feel a bit recreated. I am Venezuelan and definitely not connected to Asian culture, but the Klasik: Hitam, did make feel that somehow, I understood what this watch is all about, is not connecting me to military teams or diving records, it is connecting me with something real, beautiful, alive and still relevant. To me that the reason why is so special, it educates me.

For more information on the brand, please visit https://waktuhorology.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooeeWWr9ceQ9ieSzK9R6uwrBybb4VDIxIWCsEQ3WLlZyXfRwzH3

Technical Specifications

Japan-made MIYOTA premium automatic movement 90S5

Black enamel dial

Sapphire glass with AR anti-reflective coating

Solid caseback, Waterproof to 10 ATM

24 jewels, 28,800 vibrations / hour, power reserve 40 hours

High-polished 40mm stainless steel case

Calf leather band (20mm at lugs, 18mm at buckle)

Designed in Singapore