Watches and clocks have fascinated me all my life, ever since I discovered I could move the hands of the clock on the classroom wall with the power of my thoughts.

 Now I design watches, pouring my imagination into the complex tracery of their faces and casings. My latest range, which I flew back to Britain to promote this week on QVC, includes chunky models for men and a slimmer version which Hanna adores.

 I have longed to create a digital version for years, ever since I saw an incredible watch on the wrist of my friend Ivan Levy, chief executive of the Body Shop in Switzerland.

Ventura v-tec Alpha

 Ivan told me the model was designed by Flemming Bo Hansen and manufactured by Ventura. Its name was simply The Watch. I loved it — flat, steel housing, and a plain display of four glowing numbers. It looked like the countdown on a James Bond doomsday device. The Watch was an instant design classic, immortalised in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Part of its appeal is its incredible eco-friendly status — it requires virtually no power.

Vantura sparc px model W11L

Ventura Watch Ltd. engages to carry-on the development of innovative
quality timepieces in the design tradition of the late Hannes Wettstein and
of Paolo Fancelli, the creator of v-tec Sigma recently featured in the motion
picture «Bangkok dangerous» with Nicolas Cage.

Some of the Ventura watch design now sits in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York.

I called the company’s owner, Pierre Nobs, and he offered to give me two watches. I was tempted to wear them both at once, especially when I saw Nicolas Cage sporting one in the movie Bangkok Dangerous last year.

Richard Tibber

When I heard the company was in financial trouble, I decided this design was too iconic to be lost. I asked Richard Tibber, boss of Zeon Watches, which makes my QVC range and is the biggest manufacturer of timepieces in the UK, to join me. Together we set up a deal to buy Ventura and we’re planning to relaunch The Watch.

If you want to own one click here