Hands-On with the Elliot Brown Tyneham

“Form follows function” is one of the oldest rules in design, and it’s endured through the ages for good reason. The idea that the shape and appearance of an object should be determined by its functionality is fundamentally sound, but as watchmakers create ever more hyper-capable, rugged pieces, this can lead to some rather unattractive designs. Massive cases, seas of lume, mountainous crown guards—the list goes on and on. What about the man who wants a truly go-anywhere, do-anything timepiece, but still wants something a bit more refined on the wrist? The team at Elliot Brown think they might have the answer in the Tyneham—the brand’s first automatic effort and a serious example of stealthy functionality. At first glance, the Tyneham simply looks like a dressed-up field watch, but there’s some surprising capability packed under the hood. Let’s dig in.