The horological landscape continually evolves, with brands seeking to blend established mechanical traditions with contemporary design philosophies and user needs. SEVENFRIDAY, a Swiss brand recognized for its distinctive industrial-inspired aesthetics, has consistently carved its own path since its inception. The company has cultivated a reputation for challenging conventional watch design, fostering a global community around principles of individuality, creativity, and a vibrant approach to daily life. More than just a manufacturer of timepieces,
Sevenfriday positions itself as a mindset, extending its design language to eyewear and accessories, all while embracing technological integration like blockchain-based authentication to underscore its commitment to transparency and modern experiences.
In a significant development for the brand, SEVENFRIDAY has announced the introduction of its first-ever GMT complication, a feature highly valued by international travelers and watch aficionados alike. This new capability is showcased in the freshly unveiled PG1/01 "GMT" watches, launched on May 14, 2025. This collection marks a noteworthy step for SEVENFRIDAY, signaling an expansion of its mechanical offerings and a deeper engagement with functionalities that cater to a globally mobile audience. The PG-Series, of which the PG1/01 is a part, represents the latest advancement in the brand's recently introduced retro-futuristic range, which also includes the ME- and PE-Series, further diversifying SEVENFRIDAY's unique product ecosystem.
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The PG1/01 GMT collection is presented in two variations, differentiated primarily by their strap choices: one model features a robust stainless steel Milanese bracelet, while the other offers a classic black genuine calf leather strap. This introduction is framed by the company as a logical progression, enhancing the brand's appeal and utility. Dan Niederer, Co-Founder & CEO of SEVENFRIDAY, articulated this sentiment by stating, “Introducing the GMT was a logical step in taking SEVENFRIDAY to the next level and what better way to incorporate it into our new retro-futuristic collection.” This move underscores a strategic effort to evolve the brand's offerings while remaining true to its core identity.
At the heart of the PG1/01's design ethos lies the MAYA principle – “Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable.” This guiding concept seeks to harmonize innovation with an approachable and recognizable style. For the PG1/01, SEVENFRIDAY aimed for a clean, minimal design that could offer broad appeal without sacrificing the brand's characteristic boldness. The company describes the aesthetic fusion in the PG1/01 as a meeting point of "brutalism, meets aerodynamism, meets time-travelling," suggesting a design that is at once stark, streamlined, and evocative of movement across time zones.
Visually, the PG1/01 presents a compelling square-ish silhouette, a hallmark of SEVENFRIDAY's design language, often referred to as a "squircle" or cushion case. The watch immediately conveys a modern, architectural feel. The interplay of brushed and polished surfaces on the stainless steel case creates a dynamic visual texture, catching light in varied ways. The dial is a complex arrangement of layers and information, drawing the eye inward towards the central indications, while the overall form remains robust and substantial on the wrist. The integration of the GMT function is handled with a clear visual hierarchy, ensuring that the additional time zone information is accessible without cluttering the primary time display.
The case of the PG1/01 measures 44.5mm from the 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock positions and 44mm from the 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock positions, establishing a confident presence. Crafted from stainless steel, the case body exhibits a thoughtful application of finishes. The top domed section of the case body is horizontally satined, providing a soft, diffused reflection, which contrasts with the lower part of the case body that is polished to a high shine. This juxtaposition of textures adds a subtle complexity to the watch's profile, highlighting its geometric form.
Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY
Further refining the case's appearance is the polished bezel, which features a sunray brushed finishing on its inner part. This detail creates a radial pattern that plays with light, drawing attention towards the dial. A distinctive grooved line within the bezel is refilled with Matt Black Berlac lacquer, offering a sharp, contrasting accent that underscores the bezel's circularity against the squared case, adding another layer of visual definition.
The caseback of the PG1/01 is not merely functional but also incorporates modern technology. It features a combination of sunray satined and polished finishes, mirroring the attention to detail seen on the main case body. Significantly, embedded within the caseback is an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip. This allows for secured authentication and registration of the watch when used in conjunction with the SEVENFRIDAY App, available for both iOS and Android devices. This feature represents SEVENFRIDAY's commitment to integrating digital solutions for authenticity and owner engagement, reflecting a contemporary approach to product ownership and brand interaction.
The dial of the PG1/01 is a testament to SEVENFRIDAY's layered design approach, constructed with four distinct layers that create a sense of depth and visual interest. The innermost element is a black, sloped, soft-touch finishing plate. This plate features a high-relief SEVENFRIDAY logo, along with prominent hour numerals and tracks. The minute tracks are recessed, further enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the dial and improving the segregation of information for quick reading.
Surrounding this central area is an outer ring finished in galvanic gunmetal with a sunray satined pattern, continuing the theme of radial brushing seen on the bezel. Beneath this, the base plate is rendered in sandblasted galvanic gunmetal, offering a matte, slightly textured foundation that contrasts with the brighter, more reflective elements above it. This careful layering allows for a complex interplay of light and shadow, making the dial a focal point of the design.
Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY
A central applied ring, finished in circular satined rhodium, carries engraved and refilled numbers and markers, contributing to the rich detailing of the dial. Between the 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock positions, a distinctively pointer-shaped window reveals the date function, neatly integrated without disrupting the dial's overall symmetry. This multi-faceted construction ensures that the dial is not just a surface for displaying time, but an intricate landscape of textures, finishes, and information.
The indication of time, including the new GMT function, is managed by a set of uniquely designed hands and discs. The 24-hour GMT function is displayed via a disc in galvanic gunmetal opalin. This disc features cut-outs and a glossy yellow relief printed marker, providing a clear and intuitively readable second time zone indication. The choice of yellow for the GMT marker offers a vibrant pop of color against the predominantly monochromatic and metallic tones of the dial, ensuring it stands out.
For the primary time display, the 12-hour hand is finished in a striking glossy turquoise, offering another deliberate splash of color that aids in quick differentiation. The minute hand is rendered in glossy white and features a luminous tip for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions. Completing the handset is the seconds hand, which is fine sandblasted rhodium with a matt black circle near its axis and a slender pointer, providing a continuous sweep that animates the dial. The combination of distinct colors and finishes for each indicator ensures that legibility is maintained despite the complexity of the dial.
Protecting this intricate dial assembly is a sapphire glass crystal. Sapphire is chosen for its superior scratch resistance, ensuring the watch maintains its clear view over time. The underside of the sapphire glass is treated with an anti-reflective coating, which significantly reduces glare and improves readability by minimizing distracting reflections, allowing the wearer to appreciate the dial details more clearly under various lighting conditions.
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Powering the PG1/01 is the automatic MIYOTA 9075 GMT movement, a caliber made in Japan and known for its reliability and performance. This movement provides the essential functions of displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, along with the newly incorporated 24-hour GMT hand and a date function. The MIYOTA 9075 is a "true" GMT movement, meaning the local hour hand can be independently adjusted, which is a convenient feature for travelers changing time zones. The movement operates with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours, a standard duration that ensures the watch will continue running for nearly two days off the wrist before requiring winding.
As mentioned, the PG1/01 collection offers two distinct personalities through its strap choices. The model designated PG1/01 M "GMT" is equipped with a stainless steel Milanese bracelet. This type of bracelet, characterized by its fine mesh construction, offers a sleek, somewhat retro look while providing a comfortable and breathable fit. It secures with a stainless steel sliding buckle, which is engraved with the SEVENFRIDAY logo, allowing for precise adjustments to suit the wearer's wrist.
Alternatively, the PG1/01 "GMT" model comes with a black genuine calf leather strap. This option lends a more classic, yet still assertive, feel to the watch. The strap features black stitching for a tone-on-tone look and has "SEVENFRIDAY" stamped on its reverse side. It is fastened with a stainless steel butterfly clasp, also engraved with the SEVENFRIDAY logo, providing a secure and convenient closure that also helps to reduce wear on the leather strap over time compared to a traditional pin buckle.
In terms of practical resilience, both versions of the PG1/01 GMT offer a water resistance rating of 5ATM. This equates to approximately 50 meters, making the watch suitable for everyday wear, capable of withstanding splashes, rain, and brief accidental immersion in water, though it is not intended for swimming or diving activities. This level of water resistance aligns with its positioning as a versatile travel and lifestyle companion.
The SEVENFRIDAY brand ethos extends beyond the physical attributes of its timepieces. It aims to cultivate a worldwide community of individuals who resonate with its values of innovation, distinctive design, and the importance of meaningful connections. The integration of technology, such as the NFC chip for authentication, with its lifestyle products is a clear indication of SEVENFRIDAY's forward-thinking approach and its desire to offer more than just an analog experience. The brand emphasizes that each piece is designed to be a statement and an experience, reflecting a life lived with enthusiasm and individuality.
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The launch of the PG1/01 GMT is positioned as "The Next Chapter of Retro-Futurism" for SEVENFRIDAY. This tagline encapsulates the watch's design direction, which seeks to draw inspiration from past visions of the future while grounding them in contemporary watchmaking. The PG1/01, with its blend of robust, industrial-inflected case design, complex layered dial, and practical GMT function, embodies this philosophy. It is presented not merely as an instrument for telling time in multiple zones, but as an accessory that reflects a certain attitude and approach to life, consistent with SEVENFRIDAY’s broader brand narrative.
The SEVENFRIDAY PG1/01 GMT watches were made available from May 14, 2025. The PG1/01 "GMT" with the leather strap is priced at USD 1,580 (excluding VAT), while the PG1/01 M "GMT" featuring the stainless steel Milanese bracelet is priced at USD 1,600 (excluding VAT). Both models can be acquired through SEVENFRIDAY's official website and via its network of authorized retailers worldwide, making this new chapter in the brand's story accessible to its global following.
PG1/01 M "GMT"Case: Stainless steel construction, dimensions 44.5mm (3H-9H) x 44mm (12H-6H). Top domed section of case body horizontally satined, lower part polished. Bezel is polished with sunray brushed finishing on inner part; grooved line refilled with Matt Black Berlac lacquer. Caseback is sunray satined and polished, featuring an embedded NFC chip for authentication with the SEVENFRIDAY App.
Movement: Automatic MIYOTA 9075 GMT, Japanese origin. Functions include 3 Hands, 24h GMT, and Date. Offers a 42-hour power reserve.
Dial: Four-layer construction. Features a black inner sloped soft touch finishing plate with high relief logo, numbers, hour tracks, and recessed minute tracks. Outer ring is galvanic gunmetal with sunray satining. Base plate is sandblasted galvanic gunmetal. Central applied ring is circular satined rhodium with engraved and refilled numbers/markers. A pointer-shaped window between 4h and 5h indicates the Date. The 24-hour disc is galvanic gunmetal opalin with cut-outs and a glossy yellow relief printed marker. Hands: 12-hour hand in glossy turquoise; minute hand in glossy white with luminous tip; seconds hand in fine sandblasted rhodium with a matt black circle and pointer. Protected by sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating on the bottom.
Strap: Stainless steel milanese bracelet, equipped with a stainless steel sliding buckle that includes an engraved SEVENFRIDAY logo.
Price: USD 1'600.00 (ex. VAT)
Reference Number: PG1/01 M "GMT"
Notes: This model marks SEVENFRIDAY's first implementation of a GMT function. It belongs to the new retro-futuristic PG-Series. Water resistance is rated at 5ATM.
PG1/01 "GMT"Case: Stainless steel construction, dimensions 44.5mm (3H-9H) x 44mm (12H-6H). Top domed section of case body horizontally satined, lower part polished. Bezel is polished with sunray brushed finishing on inner part; grooved line refilled with Matt Black Berlac lacquer. Caseback is sunray satined and polished, featuring an embedded NFC chip for authentication with the SEVENFRIDAY App.
Movement: Automatic MIYOTA 9075 GMT, Japanese origin. Functions include 3 Hands, 24h GMT, and Date. Offers a 42-hour power reserve.
Dial: Four-layer construction. Features a black inner sloped soft touch finishing plate with high relief logo, numbers, hour tracks, and recessed minute tracks. Outer ring is galvanic gunmetal with sunray satining. Base plate is sandblasted galvanic gunmetal. Central applied ring is circular satined rhodium with engraved and refilled numbers/markers. A pointer-shaped window between 4h and 5h indicates the Date. The 24-hour disc is galvanic gunmetal opalin with cut-outs and a glossy yellow relief printed marker. Hands: 12-hour hand in glossy turquoise; minute hand in glossy white with luminous tip; seconds hand in fine sandblasted rhodium with a matt black circle and pointer. Protected by sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating on the bottom.
Strap: Black Genuine calf leather strap with black stitching and "SEVENFRIDAY" stamped on the back. Secured with a Stainless Steel butterfly clasp featuring an engraved SEVENFRIDAY logo.
Price: USD 1'580.00 (ex. VAT)
Reference Number: PG1/01 "GMT"
Notes: This model marks SEVENFRIDAY's first implementation of a GMT function. It belongs to the new retro-futuristic PG-Series. Water resistance is rated at 5ATM.