Yarman & Stübi has made golfers' dreams of combining a wristwatch with a golf counter a reality with its shock-resistant construction. However, impacts don't just affect the movement; they can also damage the hands. Looking at the details of this watch, you can see that it has been designed to minimize damage.
Photographs by Eiichi Okuyama
Yosuke Ohashi (this magazine): Interview and writing
Edited & Text by Ohashi Yousuke (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published in the July 2025 issue of Kronos Japan]
Yaman & Stübi "Time to Play" "Eagleheart/Time to Play"
This watch features a score counter that can count strokes per hole, total strokes, and number of holes. The bezel is set with 71 diamonds, and a crimson ruby at 12 o'clock makes it one of Yaman & Stübi's most dazzling models. Automatic (Cal. A10-2). 25 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve: approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel case (44mm diameter). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,375,000 yen (tax included).
The idea of a wristwatch equipped with a golf score counter must have been a long-held dream for golfers. In the antique watch market, golf counters that look just like wristwatches can occasionally be found. Their existence shows that wristwatches with golf counters have been in demand for many years.
YAMAN & STUBE have made the dream of a golf counter on a wristwatch a reality. This is achieved by installing a module that controls the golf counter mechanism above the movement, below the dial. However, simply having a counter is not enough. Golf is a sport in which players swing a golf club. This places a great deal of strain on the wrist of a watch. Conventional mechanical movements would not be able to withstand this and would break.
❷ Total score
❸Crown
❹Stroke pusher
❺Reset button
❻Next hole pusher
❼Hole number counter
A golf score counter is used as follows: After each stroke, press pusher ❹. The hands of counter ❶, which displays the number of strokes per hole, and counter ❷, which counts the total score, will advance simultaneously. When you press pusher ❻ for the next hole, counter ❶ will reset to zero, but the total score in ❷ will continue to accumulate. The hand of the hole number counter in ❼ will also advance by one. Finally, press the reset button ❺ to reset everything to zero.
To address this issue, Yaman & Stübi developed their own shock-resistant device, "Shock Guard." The movement is housed in a frame between the middle case and the case back. By sandwiching the frame between rubber gaskets on the top and bottom, Yaman & Stübi developed a system that uses the power of the rubber to absorb the powerful impacts of a golf swing.
However, shocks don't just affect the movement. They also affect the hands. If you look closely at the hands, you can see that measures have been taken to prevent this. First of all, the height of the hands. The hour, minute, and second hands are designed to be slightly higher. This is to prevent the hands from bending and damaging the dial when they receive an impact.
Next, all hands except the second hand have a slightly larger design with a hook at the base. This design is thought to reduce damage to the hands when they are subjected to impact, making them less likely to come off. Also note that the hour and minute hands are hollowed out. This is likely to be to ensure an appropriate balance so that the hands do not move erratically even when a large centrifugal force is applied to the watch. The large counterweight attached to the second hand is likely for the same reason. Additionally, the hour and minute hands are coated with luminous paint to match the hollowed-out shape, ensuring visibility in dark places while also maintaining the balance of the hands.
This is a variation of the Time to Play model with a silver dial. The dial is gray and it comes with a red alligator strap. The strap is lined with moisture-wicking material, making it comfortable to wear even while playing golf. Automatic movement (Cal. A10-2). 25 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve: approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel case (44mm diameter). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,375,000 yen (tax included).
The dial design of this watch appears to have been designed with functional necessity in mind. The counter hands are all red, and the numbers are color-coded for easy visibility, so you can easily check your score while playing. On the other hand, the timekeeping hands are silver, and the hour markers are applied and eye-catching. This makes them difficult to confuse, even on the same dial.
This watch requires high visibility due to the inclusion of a score counter, and it also needs to be able to withstand large impacts. The skill with which the dial design embodies these required functions is truly impressive.
