Lytt Labs Inception Prodigy watches

The Lytt Labs Inception Prodigy is an automatic watch from Lytt Labs, a brand started in Singapore by the collector Edwin Seah. It keeps the cushion-style square case the brand introduced with the Inception V1, and builds its character around an unusual way of showing the seconds.

Instead of a seconds hand, a centrally mounted disc does the job. A red arrow on the disc points to the elapsed seconds like a conventional hand, while a small window just beneath the arrow frames a numeral printed on the dial below, so the seconds can also be read as a number. The designer has said the dial was inspired by decorative public fountains. Reviewers found the lume strong, and the dial sits under a flat sapphire crystal with four layers of anti-reflective coating.

The case measures 45 mm across and 14 mm thick, in steel, with water resistance to 50 m. Being square, it is a big watch on the wrist, at about 63.5 mm corner to corner. It comes on a fitted rubber strap with a Lytt Labs buckle, and the brand's cases all take the same strap fitting. Inside is the Seiko Instruments NH35, a 3 Hz automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

The versions share the case, movement and display and differ in finish, with names that give the case colour and then the dial. The Stainless Steel / Silver (P03-01) is brushed steel with a silver dial. The Gunmetal / Black (P03-02) pairs a dark case with a black dial. The Rose Gold / Champagne (P03-03) has a rose gold tone and a champagne dial.