Leica is well-known for its cameras and lenses (check out the final model M3 being sold for R7 million), but now the company is venturing into the world of watches. Not smartwatches, we might add, rather traditional analogue timepieces.

There’s nothing automatic here, since both the new Leica L1 and L2 are hand-wound, encased in 41 mm brushed stainless steel. You might notice the number of buttons on the side, these are used to set the time (the crown, containing a red ruby evoking Leica’s red dot), and another pusher for the date. The L2 has an additional pusher at the bottom to help set the GMT function on the internal rotating bezel, while it also has a day/night indicator extra). Minimal and understated at the front, the watches contain a sapphire crystal case-backs to display the internal workings of the clock mechanism.

Leica’s idea of getting into watchmaking dates back to 2012, when the chairman on of the board of Leica first mentioned it. The company tapped Achim Heine, a previous collaborator and professor of experimental design, to help out with the styling of the watches. The actual mechanics are done by Lehmann Präzision, based in the Black Forest. It means the watches are manufactured in Leica’s homeland of Germany, something that was very important for the company.  

Although Leica has ‘done’ watches in the past, these were designed under licence and not actually Leica timepieces. If you are looking for one you will have to wait till later this year, and have at least R150 000 in the bank. The Leica watches will be limited to 400 in the first year of production.