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We at worn&wound recently did a follow-up to some of the crowdfunding watch projects that we have featured on the site. The idea of crowdfunding – as we have mentioned – has proved to be a big boost to getting new watch companies off the ground. Below is a round-up of hopeful projects using either Kickstarter or Indiegogo to fund their project. All still have time to go before their campaign ends which means you, dear reader, have a chance to make someones dream come true.
Burel Class Cape Watch – Ends March 6, 2014
Burel already has two models available and is hoping it will gather enough support on Indiegogo for its third, the Class Cape. The Class Cape is unique in that it has no hands: the time is read via an indicator line superimposed on the dial using the rotating dial for hours and minutes. The inspiration for such a design comes from nautical instrumentation. The movement inside is the well known Swiss ETA 6498 hand-wind movement. Burel was looking for a goal of $10,000 and $750 towards that goal will get you your own Class Cape.
THE HAWAIIAN: A Watch Made With The Spirit Of Aloha! – Ends March 8, 2014
The Hawaiian is one of those projects that reaches funding well before the campaign is over, which is good news for backers as you know it will be coming. SWAE Watches out of San Diego, California, uses natural wood from fallen Hawaiian trees. The Hawaiian Koa Wood, frown on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a prized wood that symbolizes strength and bravery. The rectangular watch uses a Swiss Ronda 705 movement and a sapphire crystal. Even the bracelet is made from Koa Wood to match the case. A $160 pledge will get you one of The Hawaiian watches, and a koa tree planted with your pledge and you will receive a certificate with coordinates of the location.
Horn Watch with Genuine Leather band – Ends March 10, 2014
The Horn Watch, from Florida based Sioux City Watch, is actually a watch true to its name: the case material is water buffalo horn. Horn as a material is fairly common in the area of silverware and jewelry, and is very durable. The team behind the watch figures that watches “made from metal are all super similar” and this watch will let you “completely stand out from everyone.” The watch will be available in 45mm and 52mm sizes and will come with a genuine leather strap. The case shows very narrow lugs which means replacement straps will have to be custom or modified from existing straps; forget putting this one on a NATO, just not enough lug there. There is no mention of the movement in their campaign description, but good money is that it will be a simple quartz. Pledge prices start at $1; $165 will be needed to get a watch into your hands, though.
Cobra de Calibre Watches – Ends March 14, 2014
Cobra de Calibre Watches is hoping to release it’s first watch via Kickstarter, and they want your help. The watch has familiar design elements as one can see from the case shape, with a large anchor at 12 o’clock as the centerpiece of the dial. The anchor came from a sketch for a tattoo that migrated onto the dial of the watch. The movement they plan to use in the 42mm case is the Citizen Miyota 9015. If this watch clicks for you, you’ll need to pledge at least $389 CAD to get one in your hands.
Rubicon Big 50 – Ends March 19, 2014
The Rubicon Big 50 will look a bit familiar to Bell & Ross fans as it shares the same “instrument” style looks. The design background is from the work Rhynofit Inc. creator did as an avionics technician. The 50 in the name is in reference to the 50mm size of the watch case, making it a beefy piece. The other dimensions of the watch include lugs of 24mm with a height of 17mm. This is another of the recent crop of lesser expensive watches that uses the Miyota 9015 movement. A pledge of $299 will get you the watch in either black or grey.
Lew & Huey Watches – the Spectre – Ends April 13, 2014
Lew & Huey (check out our review of their Riccardo watch) are using Kickstarter to get their third watch model off the ground. The Spectre is their take on an updated pilot watch. The watch, named for the Lockheed Martin AC-130 Spectre, takes design cues from the 1970’s through today, claim the makers. The watch will be available in black or orange dials, a sapphire crystal and have a 44mm case with 22mm lugs. The movement chosen is a Seiko NH35 automatic movement. To get one in either black or orange you will have to pony up either $175 now with an additional $175 due when production is complete, or an upfront “no brainer” payment of $300. The good with the Spectre is that Lew & Huey is a proven brand having existing models available, so there is less risk of the project vanishing.
There you have our first round-up of crowdfunding projects for 2014. We plan on continuing to summarize these types of watches on a semi-regular basis, depending on the number of ongoing campaigns at any one time. So, any of these strike your fancy? Think any are worth pulling the trigger? Let us know in the comments.
