Trintec Industries Inc. lays claim to being the first company to produce modern aviation instrument themed watches, dating back 30 years. Now, I don’t want to wade into debate here, but they make a pretty decent argument. And with that, they also make a pretty cool looking watch. With their current Kickstarter campaign, they are also making two interesting 30th anniversary watches, the altimeter inspired 9060SE and the airspeed indicator inspired 9061SE.
One of the nice things about writing for a widely read site is that companies will send us notices of upcoming designs and products in advance of the public release. This was the case with the Can Watch, who sent us a notice a while back. I will be honest, my reaction at the time was not positive. But in reflection, the watch project on Kickstarter is definitely unique and will give anyone who gets one of these watches a story behind the product, and the project does hope to do good on a couple of levels.
I know it is Spring for everyone else, but I live in Southern California, and it is pretty nice year round, so I don’t really get the winter blues (but I did love seeing your weather troubles Patrick). So with great weather around, my mind automatically turns to hockey, with the LA Kings playing the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. No matter who wins, So. Cal. is headed to the next round. So when I saw the Noble Watch project, the Pursuit, on Kickstarter, my immediate association was ‘hockey puck.’
I really don’t like it when I make my mind up about something, only to slowly have to evolve my opinion based on addition information. I do it, but only begrudgingly. Such is the case with the latest watch project to come up on Kickstarter, the 1776 from Washington Mount Vernon. I was set to be really blase about the project, only to come around and like it.
In general, I tend to see new brands go the crowdfunding route, or perhaps new-ish brands returning to the crowdfunding scene for a second or third model. The Techne SparrowHawk II Eco, however, is the second recent project I have seen that was launched by an established brand. Techne has been covered on these pages previously, and I own a Harrier model, so they are not unknown to us. The produce quality wristwatches with a military/aviation theme, and the styling of this project is not a departure for the brand.
How many of us rely on our phones… a tad too much? How often are you out and about and find your phone on the brink of death because you have left the GPS on or posted a few too many pics to your facebook page? How many of you have space power cells with you? Well, Energy Bionics has mated a Japanese quartz movement to a power pack recharged through a solar cell and strapped it all on your wrist. Viola, the Carbon.
Do you want an accurate watch? Is a certified automatic too inaccurate and a quartz too, well, uninteresting? How about an atomic clock. Not a quartz watch that uses the atomic clock broadcasts, but an honest to goodness atomic clock that you can wear on your wrist? Well Bathys has the Kickstarter project for you, the World’s 1st Atomic Wristwatch.
Love your Pebble Steel Smartwatch? Hate the fact that you are locked into the strap options that come with the device? Well, a new project on Kickstarter out of the UK, the Steel Connect, provides a simple adapter to let you use any standard 22mm strap or band.
Kickstarter is being used to launch another designer-centric watch brand, the Canvas Watch Company. The launch includes two models, designed by two different guys, but sharing a key components and one unique bit of DNA.
Talley & Twine wants to upgrade your style. They want you to buy a watch from the “World’s Best Dressed Watch Company.” Now, I am going to say that it is pretty unlikely that Talley & Twine is the world’s best dressed watch company. Maybe they are, but I have my doubts. Buying a watch from them will not put you on a list of 10 best dressed gentlemen. But the Worley Chronograph that is available now on Kickstarter is a pretty nice looking watch. I would hazard that it could possibly make you a better dressed, depening on what else you might have on your wrist.
