The design team behind the unique watches believed that their products should embody a sense of calm and balance and help to create a universe free from all superfluous details. This is the goal of the Obaku branch of the Zen Philosophy.

Obaku Denmark watches - Timepieces that create harmony

Simplicity is also a strong feature of the Nordic Design tradition. Here it leads from the harsh conditions of the winter and a desire to get the best out of the limited materials rather than the Zen tradition of seeking the pure essence of life through simplicity. However the unique design also make use of high-technology materials, such as high-strength Titan glass to ensure the longevity of their products.

As you would expect from a Scandinavian watch maker there is heightened sense of both environmental and social responsibility. The watches feature high-quality Japanese movements, fitted with ecological batteries that are lead and mercury free. The company sponsors a number of projects to help children in the developing world and a separate project to help protect refugees fleeing from war, political injustice and natural disasters.

Obaku Denmark watches were created by Danish designers Lau Liengard Ruge and Christian Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen grew up in a small town in the Scandinavian nation, a town in which craftsmanship was a way of life. He trained as a industrial designer and has subsequently worked with a variety of watch companies as a designer before launching Obaku Denmark watches.

Mikkelsen’s work has been influenced by both his industrial design background and the values inspired in his home town.

Lau Liengard Ruge trained at the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark. He has always been interested in combining form and functions in a sublime design, a feature which is exhibited by the watches the company creates.