If you want a slim quartz three-hander, you have no end of choices when it comes to what has been showing up on Kickstarter. Now, if you want one that is discernibly different from the five that preceded it, and the five after, then you are a bit more stuck. To put it plainly, there are just a lot of carbon copies out there with the only real difference being the name on the dial. Then you run across things like the Freedom to Exist 40, and you see something that mixes up the formula just a bit.
As you can probably guess, the Freedom to Exist 40 would easily be lumped into the slim (it’s 11mm) quartz (driven by a Swiss-made Ronda 763.3) three-hander camp. So, what makes this one different? For starters, it’s the dial. The changes are subtle, but they’re there. The baton markers are longer than you would expect, and with the pip on bottom of the 12 o’clock one, it just feels different. Add in the baton-style handset and the domed crystal (mineral, for those keeping score at home) and you have something with more than a hint of that Germanic minimalism. Oh, also of note? The fact that there is no branding whatsoever on the dial. A bold move for a new brand, to be sure.
While Freedom to Exist is indeed new, the Freedom to Exist 40 is not their first entry. They actually produced a 30mm version back in November, so that should give prospective buyers some comfort that the company knows what it’s doing. Then again, at the pricing these watches come in at (early bird pricing starts at $70), it’s not that big of a risk that you are taking. For me, I feel that the Freedom to Exist 40 is well designed, and at this price, makes an interesting “ready to go” option if you are looking for a tidy dress watch. Funding for the project (which closes out on May 10th) is just at 10% as of the time of this writing, so we’ll see how things pan out. Oh, and should you want to pick up the 30mm variant? You can get that direct from the company at a 30% discount using the code KICKSTARTER. Not a bad his-n-hers combo! freedomtoexist.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Freedom to Exists 40
- Price: Earlytbird pricing starts at $70
- Who we think it might be for: You’re looking for an affordable dress watch that has a Germanic influence to its design
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Based on the design, I could see something like this on my wrist
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Don’t be afraid to experiment with some lume
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The overall feel of the dial combined with the domed crystal
Tech Specs from FTE
- Expected Retail Pricing = £190/$270
- Case Material = Stainless Steel
- Case Thickness = 11mm
- Watch Weight = 50g
- Movement = Swiss Ronda 763.3
- Lens = Domed mineral glass
- Strap Material = Genuine Leather
- Water Resistance = 3ATM
- Warranty = 2 years
