Kollokium Closes the Projekt 01 Chapter with the Luminous Variant H

Main Facts

Independent watchmaking platform Kollokium has officially announced the final chapter of its debut timepiece. With the introduction of the Projekt 01 Variant H, the brand brings its highly discussed inaugural design to a definitive close. First launched in 2023, the Projekt 01 challenged conventional watch design through an industrial, abstract, and deeply architectural approach to horology. Over the past few years, the platform has experimented with a variety of materials, colorways, and configurations, building a dedicated following among collectors of avant-garde independent watchmaking.

The Variant H serves as a stylistic synthesis of everything that came before it. It successfully marries the stark, stealthy black-dial aesthetic of the earliest 2023 editions with the complex, multi-layered abstract dial architecture introduced in the Variant F. Furthermore, it elevates the concept by incorporating the most extensive application of luminescent material seen on a Projekt 01 model to date.

Limited strictly to 399 pieces worldwide, the Variant H is priced at CHF 3,888.88 (excluding VAT) and is available directly through Kollokium and authorized retail partners. As the curtain falls on the Projekt 01 lineage, the independent platform is already laying the groundwork for its next major evolution, headed by the highly anticipated Projekt 02 series.

Chronology of an Avant-Garde Icon

To understand the significance of the Variant H, one must trace the timeline of the Projekt 01 since Kollokium burst onto the independent watchmaking scene.

• The Genesis (2023): Kollokium was founded as an independent platform driven entirely by design freedom and architectural experimentation. The debut of the Projekt 01 stunned the industry with its unconventional styling, moving away from traditional hand-finishing paradigms and embracing raw industrial aesthetics.
• The Iterative Phase (2023–2025): Following the initial launch, Kollokium rolled out several iterations of the Projekt 01. Each variant experimented with different color palettes, material treatments, and dial depths, allowing the creators to test the limits of their proprietary manufacturing techniques and material science.
• The Luminous Turn (Variant F): The introduction of the Variant F marked a major shift in how the watch interacted with light, serving as a luminous design manifesto that pushed readability and abstract geometry into the dark.
• The Final Act (September 2026): Kollokium officially unveils the Projekt 01 Variant H. Positioned as the ultimate swan song for the platform’s first generation, it combines the best design elements of its predecessors before the brand pivots entirely toward future developments like the Projekt 02.

Supporting Data and Technical Specifications

The engineering and material choices behind the Kollokium Projekt 01 Variant H are just as unorthodox as its visual presentation.

Case Construction

The watch is housed in a 316L stainless steel case measuring 40mm in diameter with a base thickness of just 7mm (expanding to 11.95mm overall once you account for the prominent, cylindrical sapphire crystal). Rather than relying on traditional CNC milling followed by meticulous hand-polishing and brushing, the case is produced via die casting. This industrial manufacturing method leaves behind a distinctly raw, subtly irregular surface texture that cannot be mistaken for standard luxury watch finishes.

The architecture is divided into two main parts: a barrel-shaped caseback paired with angular, industrial lugs inspired by cruciform screwdrivers. The central case container houses the movement securely, capped off by a distinctive valve-shaped crown. Like the preceding Variant F, the Variant H features a reworked case profile and sapphire crystal designed to accommodate the extra vertical clearance required for the heavy luminous hand stack. Despite its avant-garde styling, the watch offers a practical 50 meters of water resistance.

The Luminous Dial and Lichtblock Markers

The most striking element of the Variant H is its dial layout. Beneath a textured matte-black base sits an array of 488 individually hand-applied cylindrical pins. These markers are constructed from Kollokium’s proprietary Lichtblock material—a hybrid ceramic-resin composite.

For the Variant H, Lichtblock has been infused with high-grade Super-LumiNova BGW9, discharging a vibrant cyan-blue glow in low-light conditions. These pins vary across six distinct diameters and heights, creating a topographical, three-dimensional landscape under the crystal. Both the hour and minute hands feature integrated Lichtblock elements, while the striking blue secondsAccessories complete the hyper-visible nocturnal light show.

Movement and Mechanics

Powering the Variant H is the reliable La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, widely regarded as a robust modern alternative to industry staples like the ETA 2824. Measuring 26mm in diameter and 4.45mm thick, the calibre operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), contains 24 jewels, and delivers an impressive 68-hour power reserve. It is hidden behind a solid caseback, keeping the focus squarely on the industrial execution of the exterior.

Strap and Presentation

The watch is fitted on a cream-white elastic textile single-piece strap designed to contrast sharply with the black dial while matching the pale daylight appearance of the Lichtblock pins. For versatility, an additional black strap is included in the package. Both straps utilize Kollokium’s custom hook fastening system featuring stitched adjustment loops.

Technical Sheet Summary

• Case: 40mm x 7mm (11.95mm with crystal) | 316L stainless steel | Die-cast construction | Valve crown | 50m water resistance.
• Dial: Textured matte-black | 488 hand-applied Lichtblock markers with Super-LumiNova BGW9 | Matching hands and blue seconds hand.
• Movement: La Joux-Perret G101 automatic | 28,800 vph | 68-hour power reserve.
• Strap: Cream-white elastic textile + extra black strap | Die-cast steel hook buckle.
• Production & Pricing: Limited to 399 pieces | CHF 3,888.88 (excluding VAT).

Official Responses and Creator Insights

When Kollokium first launched in 2023, the founders—a collective of independent designers and watchmakers—emphasized that the platform was designed as an uncompromised outlet for creative freedom. Speaking on the conclusion of the Projekt 01 era, the team noted that the platform was never intended to be a static enterprise relying on a single design indefinitely.

"The Projekt 01 was born out of a desire to break away from the conservative design language dominating much of traditional watchmaking," a Kollokium spokesperson shared during the rollout of the Variant H. "We wanted to explore raw textures, organic chaos within geometry, and industrial purity. With Variant H, we have pushed this specific design architecture as far as it can possibly go. It brings together the stealth of our earliest pieces with the luminosity and depth we unlocked later in the journey. Closing this chapter allows us to turn our full creative energy toward what comes next."

Industry insiders have praised the brand’s discipline in putting a hard stop to the Projekt 01 series rather than over-milking a successful design. By capping the final variant at 399 pieces, Kollokium ensures that the original generation retains a distinct, collectible identity.

Implications for Independent Watchmaking

The retirement of the Projekt 01 series carries several wider implications for the contemporary independent watchmaking landscape:

1. The Rise of Design Platforms Over Traditional Brands: Kollokium’s success demonstrates that collectors are increasingly hungry for collaborative, design-first platforms that prioritize artistic expression over heritage narratives.
2. Acceptance of Industrial Finishes: By utilizing die-casting and raw, unpolished surfaces in a luxury product priced near the CHF 4,000 mark, Kollokium has helped normalize alternative aesthetics that reject the conventional trinity of mirror-polishing, satin-brushing, and Geneva stripes.
3. Anticipation for Phase Two: Now that the "first chapter" is officially closed, all eyes turn to the future. The impending rollout of the Projekt 02 series—which has already teased deeper, darker multi-layered architecture—will test whether Kollokium can lightning-strike twice and successfully transition from an exciting debutant to a multi-generation independent powerhouse.

For collectors who missed out on the earlier iterations of the Projekt 01, the Variant H represents the definitive, fully realized collector’s edition of Kollokium’s groundbreaking debut—marking the end of an era, and the exciting prologue to what comes next.