Skip to main content

Foto Nouveau watches are inspired by Leica and Hasselblad camera designs

foto nouveau watch design camera leica hasselblad watches 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Smartwatches might be all the craze nowadays, but if you’re looking for something more traditional with a touch of photographic inspiration, you might find yourself interested in Foto Nouveau.

Founded by Getty Images Art Director William Bon, Foto Nouveau is an up and coming watch and accessory manufacture inspired by the designs of cameras new and old.

Recommended Videos

The company came to be with the help of a savings account Bon had created with the income he earned from shooting photo assignments. After developing a handful of designs, Bon traveled the world in search of facilities able to produce the watches he had meticulously designed.

Foto Watches 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

From the initial sketch to the final product took roughly three years, but it is now finally complete. The first three Foto Nouveau watches have been released to the world, each of which features a face inspired by photographic equipment.

All three of the watches are constructed of stainless steel cases, calf leather straps, sapphire crystal faces, and Ronda movements.

“Foto Nouveau combines design elements of classic film and modern digital cameras into unique small-batch time pieces and accessories,” says the company’s website, adding “the results are products that reflect visual and tactile elements of medium format and 35mm camera design.”

Foto Watches 3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Two of the watches are based off viewfinder designs, complete with focusing points and overlays. These come in at $300 a piece. The third watch is inspired by the optical construction of 50mm lenses and costs $280.

If traditional watches aren’t your thing and you already have a smartwatch, you could always save yourself the trouble and create a photography-inspired face all on your own.

Gannon Burgett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
GoPro launches ultralight, affordable Hero 4K Camera for $199
The 2024 GoPro hero is frozen in ice.

GoPro enthusiasts have a new camera to consider after the company introduced its miniature, ultralight 4K Hero late last week. It is the company's smallest and most affordable offering, costing just $199.

The Hero is waterproof and combines GoPro's simplest user interface with 4K video, 2x slo-mo at 2.7K resolution, and 12-megapixel photos. It is available on retail shelves around the world and online at GoPro's website.

Read more
The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Read more
An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots
The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Read more