Minimalist watches (+ discount!) from Max René

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Being the minimalist that I am, I don’t tend to wear much jewellery – just the occasional piece in gold or silver (plus my wedding and engagement rings, of course). But one thing that does always attract me like a magpie is a sleek and stylish watch, and Scandinavia seems to produce some of the best. Over the last few years I’ve built up quite a collection, and the latest addition comes from Danish designer Max René.

Max René has been designing watches for world-renowned brands since 1977 and his pieces have twice been named ‘International Watch of the Year’; some have even ended up on display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. But he’s spent the last few years crafting a standalone collection to be launched under his own name, and the result is a range of minimalist watches that fit my style perfectly.

Anything unnecessary has been stripped away, leaving an ultra-thin, understated and very elegant timepiece in ion-coated rose gold, stainless steel or titanium, with the choice of a black, white or blue scratch-resistant face and a leather or metal-mesh strap. I opted for a men’s watch in rose gold and black as I like the slightly chunkier appearance, but all combinations are available as slimline women’s versions, too.

The curved design of the watch case makes it incredibly comfortable to wear, as there are no sharp angles to dig into your skin when flexing your wrists for writing, driving or typing. But what I like most is the fact that the strap just slides in and out of its fitting, meaning you can change it in a matter of seconds. I have straps in both rose-gold mesh and black leather, and I love being able to swap them around to suit my outfit without the need for any tools.

All Max René watches are also water-resistant to a depth of 50m, meaning they’re fine to wear while showering and swimming. In fact mine has so far survived a full drenching in a torrential downpour and several coffee spillages without any issues whatsoever.

The watches start at DKK1,599 (€213.63 / $247.05) and additional straps are priced from DKK365 (€48.77 / $56.41), with free worldwide shipping. If you fancy treating yourself or someone you know to one, Max René is kindly offering my readers 30% off any purchase until 31st October 2018. Just follow this link and shop as normal, and the discount will be automatically applied at the checkout. Alternatively, use the code ‘thesefourwalls30’ when prompted.

All photography by Abi Dare