ManchesterWatchWorks is one of those brands that we have gotten to watch grow over the past year or so, and we have sampled quite a few of their watches. We have of course taken a look at both their TatoskoQ and TatoskoK, as well as the more recent Westminster and Vergennes. While the more recent watches were trench watches, for this new release, MWW is getting back to where they started – a dive watch. So, let’s have a look at what the newest ManchesterWatchWorks Armada has on offer.
Back in 2014, Matt brought you word of the first project from Hong Kong-based Anicorn, and I believe it is safe to say it was successful, as the brand is back with a brand new watch and project. While they are still utilizing a disc-based system, this one is (in my opinion) much more Anicorn Series K452.
When it comes to watches on Kickstarter these days, there are a great many of what I have taken to referring to as “me too” watches – another inexpensive slimline quartz that is barely distinguishable from those that preceded it. Not that that is anything particularly wrong with a slim quartz watch – it is just that there are so many of them without any real variation in design or styling. In the midst of all of that, we do get gems popping through from brands we have never heard of, and the Concept Watch O1 is certainly one of those.
There was a period when I was intrigued by the possibilities of a wooden watch case. They were a little unique looking, they were not very common, and they were different. Then, in a flash, they were everywhere and generic, and the limitations of the material really came into focus. The Pacific Standard Time Wood Watches hopes to at least limit one of the material’s obvious flaws, a lack of water resistance. It also looks pretty good, though I would have preferred an auto over a quartz chronograph.
Do you want a carbon fiber watch, but don’t want to spend a ton of cash to get one, well, the Ventus Black Kite on kickstarter may be just the ticket. I covered the brand previously with the Caspian models, which were very successful and well received, with the exception of some issues with the lume. With carbon fiber, you can layer the material or you can shred it, melt it and mold it. This latter technique was used for the Tempest Carbon One, but the Ventus Black Kite is using the layering style.
I told you guys to back this project back in November. Well, good things come to thee who wait, because the Cobra de Calibre Crossfire, is currently back on Kickstarter, at a reduced price (and fully funded at this point). I have looked at a number of Cobra de Calibre watches, and keep saying “hey you should check this guy’s work out.” There great success stories where one project turned into two or three and then into a full blown brand, and I am hoping that John Lee will developed a cult following that funds all his projects.
Gentlemen, what do you have, 2 weeks until February 14? Are you still wondering what to get? Well, maybe I can give you a few suggestions with the 2016 edition of the Wrist Watch Review Valentines Day Gift Guide. In general, women’s watches do not excite me. The majority of the ones I see have quartz movements, a mother of pearl dial, a few bucks worth of diamond chips and cost $100s more than the gentleman’s equivalent watch. In essence, they are designed as jewelry. But there are watches that are either made for a woman, or not so large they look out of place on a woman’s wrist, that are actually interesting watches.
The Caliper View watch offers a tightly designed modern automatic watch that should make every architect and engineer cry. This is a new watch company taking its namesake from the tools used to measure distances between two sides of an object. I got to wear the prototypes to see how they measure up. Read on for my impressions!
There is something elegant about a simply executed three hand watch. And the new Christopher Ward C5 Malvern Slimline Squared (or Slimline² for the mathematically inclined) is certainly elegant. Now available for pre-order (watches will ship in mid-February) for $549 on your choice of straps, this is a dress watch for everyone from a recent graduate to the executive that cares more about the watch than the brand.
LIV watches is back on Kickstarter with their send watch, a three hand automatic, the LIV Genesis X1. Their first watch was a Swiss made quartz chronograph. The new watch has a strong visual tie to the first, with a very similar looking sandwich dial, red ringed crown and oversized bezel. LIV did a great job on marketing the watch before it was released, catapulting them beyond the initial funding threshold immediately on launch (they are sitting on nearly $250K in pledges as of this writing). For all you future watch builders out there, take note of how important thus pre-release advertising is.
