By Wesley Wright
Euclidean geometry
I started following Canuck Timepieces a few months ago after the Vancouver Timepiece Show while scrolling my feed and seeing a few posts about the Wormhole piece they had released. I thought it was a very interesting way to tell time through a theme of space and adventure. Little did I know that I would be writing for all of you about their newest release, The 4th Dimension, only a little while later.
The Toronto Timepiece Show Returns for Its Third Edition With a New Focus on Artisanal Horology
Growing up, I was a Star Trek kid. Watching re-runs of the original series and The Next Generation with my dad on weekends, then going and watching all the space-themed movies that flooded the mid 2010s. I can’t say that Interstellar was the movie that pushed me into watch enthusiasm, but I think it may have quietly planted the seeds in my brain.
After speaking with James from Canuck, I was very happy to find out that the movie has heavy inspiration for this watch, and the others in his lineup. The collaboration echoes the story telling of the panoptical moment in the film, with Coop flying into the Black Hole (the first model in this line), then entering the Wormhole, and finally arriving in the 4th Dimension. That brings us to our review today of the final piece in the collaboration with AndoAndoAndo, The 4th Dimension.
Advertisement
Key Features of the Canuck Timepieces The 4th Dimension
The Dial: “To them, time might be another physical dimension”
I had to throw in some quote from Interstellar on this one and it won’t be the last. This collaboration collection has featured some wild case shapes, bold dials, and unconventional crown placements–with this model being no exception. The dial really challenges the conventional layout by flipping it on its head. Instead of the conventional handset where the hands would follow an hour track, the 4th dimension puts a stationary hand at the 12 o’clock position and has the hours and minutes pass through the cutout to tell the time. The hand chosen is fully lumed and features James’ (brand founder) signature displayed proudly at the top and is a matching style to the other watches in his previously released models which provides a through-line for the styling of these watches.
This dial has layers or dimensions if you will (sorry, not sorry) with the hours, minutes, and seconds being on different rings of the dial at different heights which gives it a very interesting look. For those eagle-eyed viewers, you will also notice the seconds disc spells out “STAY” in Morse code, which is a reference to the climax of the story for Interstellar, and is the message sent back to Murph through the 4th Dimension.
Advertisement
The black dial provides a blank canvas for the numerals to be laid on, but because of the way it is layered it plays with light in such a way that there are endless possibilities on how to view the time on this watch. The numerals are done in a stark white to contrast and provide high legibility. The font chosen is this glitchy, almost alien looking text. It reminds me a lot of the font used in the Dead Space series.
At first, I thought this might be an issue for legibility, but I find it quite easy to read at a glance. My largest concern with the time-telling was the turning rings for the hour hand, where after the 30-minute mark of any hour I would have to do a double take to make sure I had the right time. I adjusted to reading the dial and figuring out that in-between time. This dial provides a unique and fun way of telling the time, while also being a fantastic conversation starter. Small personal anecdote, I wore this watch to the office on a Wednesday (our busiest day of the week) and had 6 people stop me and ask “whoa, what is that??” which shows this watch’s ability to really stand out.
Advertisement
The Case: “It’s not possible. No, it’s necessary”
That wild dial is housed in a sandblasted steel case landing at 35mm and 43mm lug-to-lug. The case size really defines the styling of this watch. It uses all available space on the front, as there is no bezel on this model. The bead-blasting treatment provides a proper framing for the dial. It doesn’t detract.
Admittedly, the case is where I initially had some reservations. When I received it the first thing I noticed was the lugs as they are differently shaped. The reasoning for the different shape is the crown being located at 6 o’clock, where the lower lugs act as a crown guard making them a bit thicker and more structured than the top lugs. At first, I thought this would bug me (and it did for maybe an hour) but after wearing it for a few days I noticed it doesn’t affect the wearing experience of the watch.
After speaking with James from Canuck, I started to understand it a bit more–where the brand wants to take risks and create watches that don’t conform to the standard. After looking at The 4th Dimension even closer, I started to recognize the space theme being carried over into the case where it looks a bit like the back of a spaceship. With that in mind all my worries fell away. My only critique of this (if at all) is the 6 o’clock crown itself. I initially found it a weird experience to use as you are reaching under the strap to access it. However, it is easy to manipulate and is genuinely fun to play with and watch the time go back and forth (@canucktimepieces has a great video of this, playing with time quite literally).
Straps
In terms of strap options, The 4th Dimension is offered on an 20mm quick-release leather strap, which is custom marked with the capital A from AndoAndoAndo’s logo, displaying the collaboration in full force. The leather is a great choice for this watch as it ties in the experience, giving the watch an added feel of quality–reminiscent of the leather seats in the Endurance in Interstellar or the captain’s chair aboard any sci-fi movie.
Advertisement
Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 35mm Diameter 43mm Lug-to-lug 20mm Lug Width 100M Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Layered Black Dial Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 Sapphire Crystal Stationary Hand |
| Movement | NH38A 24 Jewels 21, 600bph 41-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Leather /w Quick Release |
Canuck The 4th Dimension
Advertisement
Final thoughts: “Do not go gentle into that good night.”
The 4th Dimension is a wild, unique, and bold watch that really took the challenge of going against the grain to the maximum. As the last piece in the collaboration, it is only appropriate that they went all out. It has certainly landed well. The rotary style time-telling is an interesting way to set up a dial and is even more engaging to look at. Watching time go by on this watch is an actual experience of seeing the hours pass by through a single window and accomplishes its goal of showing us another way to tell time.
Pricing & Availability
The 4th Dimension is currently on pre-order with 15 more units available of the 50 unit run, at time of publication, in both sandblasted stainless steel and black PVD options. Both models are priced at $680 CAD.
Check out The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide
Advertisement
About the Author
Based in Vancouver, BC, Wesley shares his passion for watches, photography, and EDC through his Instagram, @wesandwatches. With a strong interest for innovation within horology, he dives deep into brands with compelling stories, thoughtful design, and standout personalities. Beyond watches, Wesley keeps a close eye on men’s fashion and is an avid automotive enthusiast.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.