Umbra is Latin for “shadow” and, of course, a direct reference to the source of inspiration of this watch. Unlike the original Gnomon (the brand’s first project), which had a single hand conventionally rotate around the dial, the Umbra has a static hand with a rotating time disc, more reminiscent of an actual sundial. The […]
echo/neutra is a new Italian microbrand launching its first AVERAU collection on Kickstarter, consisting of five pieces known as the Versante line. While being quite classic in their design at first, several discreet details make them appealing and different. But best of all, besides this cool tool-ish design, it’s what you’ll get for the price […]
We’ve seen dozens of microbrands on the market recently, but only a few get mentioned on MONOCHROME. Not new to the watch industry, the people behind Carpathia are launching their first watch – an elegant, slightly original model named the Ascent. Swiss engine, American and Polish roots for a competitive package. Carpathia was founded in 2016 […]
No doubt anymore, the face of the watchmaking industry has changed with the arrival of dozens of Kickstarter projects… Some more inspired than others, some worthy of being covered on MONOCHROME, many failing to catch our interest. With such a large amount of new “brands”, differentiation is key. Atelier Wen, the project of two young Frenchmen, is all about that. Slightly vintage-inspired watches but with a rather unique focus on China – both for the design, the manufacturing and the targeted audience. Overview of their inaugural collection, the Porcelain Odyssey.
Belgium might not be the first country you think of when it comes to watches. Of course, there’s Ressence and its impressively modern watches, but that’s about it. And now there’s a newcomer on the market called Méraud, which has just launched its first watch a few hours ago on Kickstarter. Get used to this new launch pad format because it is the way to go nowadays when you want to start a brand. The first model is named “Bonaire” and it is quite a cool-looking, retro-inspired dive watch with multiple details to catch our attention. Overview.
Things have really changed in the watch industry. When I was a boy, if you wanted a watch you went to a jewellery store and picked one out of the cabinet. If you were really particular, the dealer would let you look at his catalogue and you could order one and wait (and wait (and wait)). Now if you want a watch you can go to an online retailer and have it shipped to you the next day. What if you don’t want a watch that already exists? What if you want a watch that is either technically or stylistically cutting-edge? Thanks to Kickstarter, you not only get to see the newest and greatest watches, but you also get to take a hand in their very existence! Trifoglio Italia, the brainchild of Alessandro Baldieri and Jessie Yeo are launching their first series of watches on Kickstarter: The Veloce (speed in English).
Founded in 2014 in New York, Martenero already has six lines of watches in its portfolio. Their latest line, the Edgemere Reserve, is the most detailed piece yet with three complications. Inspired by the marine chronometer (a timepiece accurate enough to allow ships to use celestial navigation), the new line has bold, contrasting colours and a bit of playfulness that remind me of watches from Farer Universal. Like that company, Martenero has found a unique aesthetic without going overboard, being both fun and sophisticated. The Edgemere Reserve follows the original Edgemere with a more mature sequel and is the first follow-up to a piece for the company.
Leyden Watches, a one-man operation out of Leiden, The Netherlands, is following up on a successful Kickstarter campaign from 2016 that launched the inaugural Velox Chronograph. That initial piece was a second attempt by the company as their first Kickstarter watch, the Power Reserve, was never funded. The Lorentz dress watch is now the third crowdfunding campaign from Leyden and is named after Hendrik Antoon Lorentz, one of the most renowned physicists from Holland (who later moved to Leiden to teach at Leiden University). It’s a classic, understated dress watch that can fit with a suit or more casual attire. Powered by a hand-wound Swiss movement and with three colour options, this new offering from Leyden is another solid, affordable entry in the microbrand space.
Ikepod… A mysterious brand, with a design that most of us can easily recall. Yes, Ikepod was all about that: a great design! Founded in 1994 by Oliver Ike and Marc Newson – who designed the watches, and was later involved in the design of the Apple Watch – the brand was famous for its disc-shaped/pebble-shaped watches – watches that will become modern icons. Yet, the story had its ups and downs, and Ikepod stopped production in 2012 when Newson left the company. Until now… as this cult design is back in 2018, with new investors, new people and mainly a new strategy of affordability. Meet the new face of Ikepod, which collection just launched on Kickstarter.
We’ve written quite a lot about microbrands lately, with brands like Gaia & Co. and Marnaut launching interesting new watches on Kickstarter. Most are unique and have a character of their own, but all share one thing in common – simple, generic automatic movements. SEMPER & ADHUC is taking a different approach by building new cases for vintage, restored movements from the 1930s to the 1960s. Similar to what Vortic Watch Co. started a couple of years ago (3D printing new cases for vintage pocket watch movements), SEMPER & ADHUC is combining modern techniques with the handcrafted tech of the past. It’s a novel idea and brings a history and soul to the watches that a new Miyota or ETA movement simply can’t match. Is this enough to raise their head above a very crowded market? Let’s take a closer look.