Last December, I took a look at a new automotive inspired watch from Ferro Watches, the inaugural offering from the brand on Kickstarter. The watch was funded, and from the looks of the comments on the campaign, delivery is ongoing to very positive reviews. Now the brand is back on Kickstarter with their second watch, a more involved design, and one that takes its inspiration from aviation. I wonder if they will do a trifecta of transportation watches with a locomotive inspiration (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) or nautical inspiration (in the air, on land and sea). Regardless of where they go next, this watch, the Ferro Watches Airborne, and the last one, are making me a fan of the brand.
We have had some discussions behind the scenes here at WWR, and there are too many generic, cookie cutter designs that are being released through crowd funding, and we want to be more selective in what we cover. For me, this watch is anything but generic. Most of the marketing shows off the chronograph, which utilizes a Seiko VK64 mecho-quartz movements. This movement offers the reliability of a quartz, but with the flyback operation of a mechanical chrono. Also on offer is a three hander with a Miyota 8215 automatic movement. The watches have a 44mm case with an aviation inspired crown that looks large enough to wind with gloves on. The dial uses a die-cut process to show off a luminous disk below the numbers, giving it a depth and visual interest.
In addition to choosing between the chrono and the three hander, you also get to pick your case material. The watch prototypes were manufactured in stainless steel, but the final products will either be titanium or copper, with sapphire crystals across the board. You also get to pick from four dial colors, black, green, white and grey. The chrono in titanium has early bird offers left for $195 USD (the pledges are CAD, hence the approximate value), while the three hander automatic is ~$225 USD for early birds. In copper, the chrono is ~ $265 USD and the automatic three hander is ~ $325 USD. This is a crowd funded project, not a retail purchase, so there are risks associated with backing the watch, so do your own research to see if this is right for you. But I like it. Quite a bit. ferrowatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Ferro Watches Airborne
- Price: approximately $195 to $325, depending on movement and case material
- Who we think it might be for: You want some aviation themed, but different.
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: I would definitely consider a three hander with the titanium case and grey dial.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: I am not in love with the wire lugs.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The 3-D look of the dial with the die cut numbers.
Tech Specs from Deep Blue Watches
- Movement: Seiko VK64 mecho-quartz or Miyota 8215 Automatic
- Functions: 24 hour chronograph with date or three hand automatic with date
- Case: Titanium or copper
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Lug width: 22mm
- Straps: Leather with buckle to match the case
- Diameter: 44 mm
- Case Height: 12 mm
