Cloister Watch Company
Cloister exists to transform rare & historic wristwatches into custom tailored timepieces. Collaboration and craftsmanship fuel successful men and women to see their visions realized.
“Blacksmith forged a brand that seamlessly aligns with our core design principles and, crucially, resonates with our increasingly discerning clientele. Their work not only serves as a stunning showcase for our products but also plays a pivotal role in guiding our product roadmap and shaping the overarching design language across all aspects of our work.
Their steadfast support has been instrumental in achieving an outstanding return on investment. It has empowered us to nurture and share our brand with an ever-expanding community of watch collectors and enthusiasts, thus propelling the successful evolution of our brand on a national scale.”
— Cooper Zelnick, Founder
Industry
Luxury
Description
Cloister oversees the disassembly and customization of luxury watches with restoration and re-assembly executed by specialists across the globe. Each piece is designed to spec—a collaboration between founder Cooper Zelnick & his clientele. Cloister also sports a museum-like vintage collection unavailable for purchase.
At first, Cloister watches were a hobby, purchased "off the wrist" if someone liked what they saw and inquired. Over time, word got out that luxury brand watches such as Rolex® and Jaeger LeCoultre® could be customized.
Aesthetically, Cloister favors mid-century watches, so our goal was to design an identity that could sit comfortably next to legendary brands while maintaining what is unique about the Cloister mindset.
Services
Brand Development Brand Identity Design Creative Direction Engraving Design Monogram Design Photo & Imaging Print Design Web Design & Development Copyediting Book Design
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Logo Mark
4 arches signify both the open quadrangle courtyard of an architectural cloister and the four primary positions of the watch face; 12, 3, 6, 9. The negative space of the arch hints at the end of a watch strap.
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Word Mark
A nod to classic luxury watch dial typography and an opportunity to once again incorporate the cloister arch, hinted at in the E and R letterforms.
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Color
The signature Just Orange color was sampled from the custom dial color of the first Cloister watch ever made.
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“Zelnick” mark
This signature mark was made for Cooper Zelnick, the founder of Cloister, fuses the letters C & Z with an hourglass shape, used to prove the final product has the Zelnick seal of approval.
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Typography
The typographic palette includes fonts selected for their visual balance between mid-century american luxury and medieval architecture. The smaller fonts are deliberately soft around the edges, emulating the hand-painted text on a watch dial.
