Aittokoski Timecrafts is an independent watchmaker based in Jyväskylä in Central Finland. The brand was founded by Dr. Timo Aittokoski.
Aittokoski Timecrafts creates exceptional, innovative, unique, and authentic high-quality wristwatches. The brand’s debut model is Fractalis, an automatic watch with highly distinguishable features.
In the design process of the Fractalis three equally important imperatives of practicality, ergonomics, and aesthetics of ideal design were respected, translating them into requirements of accuracy, robustness, wearing comfort, maximum readability in displaying the time, and aesthetically pleasing look and feel.
Fractalis is a watch with a fresh combination of traditional and novel features; crystal protected by bezel, rotation free caseback, downward shaped and changeable compressor lugs holding bezel, case, and caseback together, and functional solid-steel dial. It has authentic, easy-to-recognize design, where form largely follows the function, and decidedly clean solid lines suggest strong masculinity but in refined manner.
Fractalis come with a number of small distinctive details to look at, such as flat and round surfaces, tilted edges, grooves, conical shapes, hollows, textures, and technical components. The original design of Fractalis conveys precision, craftsmanship, durability, and toughness.
In Fractalis watch, lugs and case are separate pieces. Lugs have small claws at the upper and lower sides, and claws compress bezel and caseback to their places when lugs are tightened to the case with small machine screws. Also, the strap/bracelet is secured firmly with screws instead of spring bars. In contrast to commonly used bulging crystal, in Fractalis crystal lies below the level of the elevated bezel, reducing the risk of any mechanical impact to crystal.
Claws of the lugs compress caseback to the case for good sealing, and there is no need to tighten caseback by rotating it, which could compromise the gasket’s sealing capacity.
The dial of Fractalis is a heavy and solid block of stainless steel/bronze/titanium, and it also serves as a movement holder. Traditionally watch movement is kept in place by dial feet, two thin wires that extrude from the dial back into the movement. This arrangement is susceptible to bending or breaking of the feet, causing movement and hands to break loose.
In Fractalis, movement fits inside the dial block and is locked in place with three screws and a sturdy retainer ring. The above mentioned design choices give Fractalis its unique, strong and easy-to-recognize look, where form follows function. The watch houses a Swiss made ETA2892-A2 self-winding movement.
Finally, materials used in Fractalis range from commonly used 316L stainless steel to much harder and much more corrosion resistant 2205 Super Steel, and further to Grade 5 titanium which is very hard, and basically corrosion-free in any conceivable environment.
Flat sapphire crystal is kept in place under the bezel, which completely prevents the possibility of crystal pop due to air pressure changes.
Technical details
Model: Aittokoski Timecrafts Fractalis
Case
Material choices: Stainless Steel 316L, Super Steel 2205, and Grade 5 Titanium
Scratch & corrosion resistant
Material nickel content from medium (316L) to low (2205) to zero (Titanium)
Special compressor lug design
Diameter: 42 mm
Thickness 10 mm
Lug width 22 mm
Lug-to-lug distance 48 mm
Crystal: 1mm thick distortion-free flat sapphire crystal; Retained and guarded by elevated bezel
Water resistance: Verified to 6 bar; Special non-shear gasket arrangement
Movement
Swiss made ETA2892-A2, automatic, mechanical
Frequency: 28’800 vph (4 Hz)
21 jewels
Power reserve: 42 hours
Diameter: 25.6 mm
Dial
Single-block steel with integrated indices
Uncluttered, clean design
Original skeletonized or lumed spring steel hands
Strap
Secure screw attachment for strap/bracelet
Available with a variety of natural rubber and leather straps
Retail price
Fractalis Titanium G5: 7 750€, incl. VAT 24%
Fractalis Super Steel: 6 450€, incl. VAT 24%
Fractalis Steel: 5 250€, incl. VAT 24%
About Dr. Timo Aittokoski, the founder
Albeit being academically highly educated (Ph.D. in computer science and M.Sc. in sports science), Dr. Timo Aittokoski has his roots deeply grounded in the Finnish countryside. During his formative years as a farmer’s son, he assumed an independent creative mindset needed to keep machinery running and to create complex things from just basic materials with elemental tools.
As an adult, Dr. Aittokoski has treasured keen interest in all things mechanical and technological. He has designed and manufactured progressive and unconventional designs in several fields of engineering, including modern turbocharged motorcycles, traditional V-2 custom motorcycles, snowmobiles, competitive two-stroke engines, power dynamometers, flow benches, complex control electronics, and even loudspeakers.
Dr. Aittokoski pinpoints that his interest in mechanical wristwatches was enhanced probably by John Christopher’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi classic, in which mankind has deteriorated under the rule of Tripods and is largely pastoral, and lifestyle is reminiscent of the Middle Ages, but small artifacts from the Modern Age are still used, such as watches. One of the watches is awe-inspiring to protagonist Will and makes him think that humans must have had a much higher technological level prior to Tripods.
Website: www.aittokoski.watch
