A serious review of Gucci's "weighing scale" / Gucci "Grip"

Gucci's "Grip" has a 1970s-style design. When you unravel this unique grip, you can see the strong passion and deep knowledge of its creator, Alessandro Michele, for vintage watches from the 70s.

Gucci "Grip"

　With the withdrawal of the Swatch Group, Baselworld 2019 was often described as a smaller-than-usual experience, but one watch stood out in particular: Gucci's Grip. Its 1970s-inspired design is, needless to say, the work of the company's creative director, Alessandro Michele. I had the opportunity to wear this distinctive Grip for about a week, so I'd like to share my brief impressions.

The most eye-catching design is the 1970s style.

　This is the first time I've held a Gucci watch since Baselworld 2019. Longtime watch enthusiasts might sense a 1970s vibe in this "iron mask" design. However, for those unfamiliar with that era, seeing the watch for the first time in a while feels as fresh as ever. Rather than an iron mask... it looks like a watch that makes you want to be health conscious.

　One of the characteristics of watches with a 70s-style design is that they are perceived differently by different generations. Until now, when it came to retro design in wristwatches, the mainstream was those modeled after watches from the 60s, when mechanical watches were dominant. In contrast, 70s designs often featured unusual colors and styles, and to put it negatively, they were often treated as "eccentric."

　But trends tend to repeat themselves. For so-called millennials, including myself, the unsophisticated designs of this era are rather novel. In recent years, Gucci has incorporated this 70s-inspired design into its G-Timeless collection, gaining support from young people who had previously avoided buying watches. Gucci specializes in retro designs, and the Grip is a culmination of 70s-inspired watch designs.

　What makes the Grip the most 70s-style watch is its separate digital time display for hours and minutes, a design seen in travel watches previously designed by Gubelin and others. A small window on the outer edge of the dial at 12 o'clock displays the hours, while a small window further inward displays the minutes. Furthermore, a small round window above the 6 o'clock position, next to the logo, displays the date.

　The digital display on the grip takes some getting used to, but after wearing it for a while it becomes intuitive. The three discs for the hours, minutes, and date are driven by a Ronda quartz movement.

　Considering the need to drive three discs, some might argue that a mechanical movement would have been a better choice, but in terms of grip, the decision to go with a quartz movement was the right one. Above all, the case is thin and light.