A History and Guide to ROBOT Watches – Windup Watch Shop

Originally founded as “Bohematic” in 2018 by Josef Zajíček, ROBOT is a unique microbrand based in Nové Město nad Metují, a small historic town located on the Metují River in the northeastern Czech Republic. ROBOT is proud of its Czech heritage, with every facet of its design — from its name down to its models — inspired by the legacy of Czech ingenuity. Each watch is produced in Nové Město nad Metují by a small team emphasizing quality. Production is low — currently between 250 and 500 watches per year, with plans to grow towards 1,500 to 2,000 watches annually — providing exclusivity as well. ROBOT utilizes Swiss movements as a reliable and high-quality base for their unique designs.

Each ROBOT timepiece is inspired in part by an icon of Czech design, with a range of influences based on Czech history. Zajíček is also a major auto enthusiast, having spent over two decades in the field and as an owner of the Autodrom Most track in the northwest Czech Republic, making it a natural influence for the brand.

Models like the Aerodynamic take inspiration from icons like the Tatra 77 and Wikov 35 Kapka, some of the first automobiles ever designed with aerodynamics playing the key role. It features a Grade 5 titanium case housing an embossed dial, the ribbing of which references the distinctive appearance of the Wikov 35’s metalwork, with a manually-wound La Joux-Perret caliber forming the engine behind this automotive-inspired reference.

The Spectra highlights the brand’s ability to balance high-end craftsmanship with unique design, showcasing its brilliantly faceted ice blue dial that dramatically changes light against are strained polished steel case. The automatic La Joux-Perret movement inside beats away the hours for a highly-finished end timepiece that lives up to the motto inscribed on its caseback:“where light meets time.”

Aviation also forms an important influence. The Albatros (one ‘s’, unlike the bird famous for Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 18th-century maritime poem) honors the Aero L-39 Albatros jettrainer — a Cold War icon known for its precision handling and elegant engineering. Designed in the 1960s by Jan Vlček, it saw two decades of prominent use among Warsaw Pact countries before the fall of the Soviet Union. The Albatros features aeronautical-inspired subdials, detailing the movement’s small seconds and date complications at six o’clock and its eight-daypower reserve at twelve o’clock.

ROBOT also pays tribute to Czech cultural heritage and design history. The Franz Kafka Limited Edition pays tribute to one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers, with a textured dial chosen to mimic the author’s layered prose and his signature at six o’clock. It features Kafka’s portrait on the caseback, a fitting tribute to the legacy of the brilliant author.

The Graphic Analog, by contrast, is a celebration of Czech modernism. Its silver dial gives way to oversized relief markers reminiscent of mid-century analog flip clocks and Prague signage, sharply accented by the bright red seconds hand. Featuring a larger 42mm case, the Graphic Analog makes a bold stylistic statement while remaining true to its inspiration.

Though still in its first decade, ROBOT Watches brings a unique vantage point to the world of horology. Its strong Czech roots and passion for heritage result in a design language all its own, replete with modern high-quality manufacturing and limited production. For enthusiasts who love deep cuts, ROBOT is an impressive option. To see more of our favorite ROBOT watches, checkout the brand page on the Windup Watch Shop. As always, the Windup Watch Team is available via consultation to answer any questions you have. In addition, many of the products shown are eligible for free domestic shipping across the US.