The Company: Rugsac's Rise in the Indie Watch Scene

The timepiece you are looking at is the Extreme Torque by Rugsac. Rugsac is an emerging Indian microbrand making distinct waves in the indie horology community. While many modern microbrands focus heavily on traditional dive watches or minimalist dress pieces, Rugsac has chosen an avant-garde approach. They specialize in bold, affordable timepieces that bring high-end, complex dial layouts—typically reserved for luxury watchmaking—to the accessible market.

History and Inspiration: The Automotive Connection

The design of the Rugsac Extreme Torque is heavily rooted in motorsport history. For decades, horology and automotive racing have been closely intertwined, with drivers relying on highly legible, precision dashboard instruments. The dial of the Extreme Torque pays a direct homage to vintage sports car dashboards, specifically the tachometer and speedometer.

Mechanically, "jump hour" and "retrograde" time displays were born in the 1920s and popularized in the 1970s (with brands like Amida) to create futuristic, driver-friendly readouts that didn't require turning the wrist off the steering wheel. Instead of standard circular hands, time is read digitally and linearly, much like checking your speed on a gauge.

Specifications: Under the Hood

The Rugsac Extreme Torque mimics a complex mechanical gauge using clever modern quartz engineering. Here are the precise specifications:

• Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel with a sandblasted matte finish, giving it an industrial, engine-block aesthetic.
• Dial Layout: A speedometer-style interface featuring an outer retrograde minute track (0 to 60) and an inner faux-speed scale (0 to 200).
• Time Display: Features a jump hour window at the 6 o'clock position (displaying the hour '2' in your image) and a sweeping orange retrograde minutes hand.
• Movement: A customized in-house Quartz caliber paired with a modified Miyota 2036 base to reliably power the jumping hour disk and snapping retrograde hand.
• Crystal: Hardened mineral crystal for daily impact resistance.
• Hardware: A unique dual-crown design (one red, one silver) that mimics automotive pushers.
• Strap: A vibrant, racing-orange silicon rubber strap.
• Water Resistance: 50 meters (5 ATM).

Intended Use: Born for the Weekend Drive

The Rugsac Extreme Torque is strictly a casual, sporty, and enthusiast-driven timepiece. Because reading a retrograde jump-hour watch requires a slight mental adjustment compared to standard analog hands, it serves as an interactive experience rather than just a quick time-check.

Its intended use is as the ultimate "driving watch." It is meant for weekend road trips, car meets, or track days. It is an unapologetic conversation starter designed specifically for automotive enthusiasts who want to wear their passion for high-speed mechanics directly on their wrists.