Who else has watchmaker friends?
A few pints down at the bar with my watchmaker friends and now we are starting our own independent watch brand. Any advices and thoughts? 😂🍻
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Sober up?
Sober up?
The rabbit hole has already been dug. Only one thing left to do, my friend. 💸
I guess you can't make my dream watch, anyhow!
But I would truly LOVE a very slim (5 to max 8mm) digital watch, made of solid black titanium OR ceramic, with a black display that show golden numbers & letters... Almost like the most elegant RADO watches... Or a golden display with black number & letters... With a 36mm wide and 40mm high case, with an elegant soft bevelled edge (as this Casio) and a 28mm wide 30mm high scratch resistant crystal... That first show - the name of day - at top and then - year, month & date - as the second line and then with clearly bigger numbers - HOUR, MINUTE & SECOND - as third line and finally - the Function (as DL for dual time, AL for alarm C for temperature and so on, plus) Hour, minute & second or the temperature - as the last line... And it may also be partly analog, with elegant hour minute second hands over a black dial with physical gold dots for each five minutes and golden numbers & letters for year, month, date, day and the other info... So I get max info, without extra key pressings... And it should naturally be 100m water resist and have minimum 6 to 10 years battery OR solar on the 22x3mm titanium OR ceramic solid link band... And the band should also have a new type of lock, that not make it thicker... So it would be both smarter and more elegant than any other digital or digi-ana watch... And naturally be mass produced for 88 to max 222 euro!
Casio made this W-800HG-9AVDF recently, that show all time info, are 100m and have 10 years battery life... But it have a plastic case, plastic "crystal" and are incredible 13,4mm fat - without being a G shock!
But 30 years ago, did Casio make [449] SA-70G with a 6mm thin metal case... But that one does not show every time info directly, are not even 50m water resitant and have probably only 2 years battery life... And I don't like the darkbrown frame or the slightly too green display background, so I did never use it and can sell that VERY RARE one (in mint condition) for 169 euro, plus shipping!
I guess you can't make my dream watch, anyhow!
But I would truly LOVE a very slim (5 to max 8mm) digital watch, made of solid black titanium OR ceramic, with a black display that show golden numbers & letters... Almost like the most elegant RADO watches... Or a golden display with black number & letters... With a 36mm wide and 40mm high case, with an elegant soft bevelled edge (as this Casio) and a 28mm wide 30mm high scratch resistant crystal... That first show - the name of day - at top and then - year, month & date - as the second line and then with clearly bigger numbers - HOUR, MINUTE & SECOND - as third line and finally - the Function (as DL for dual time, AL for alarm C for temperature and so on, plus) Hour, minute & second or the temperature - as the last line... And it may also be partly analog, with elegant hour minute second hands over a black dial with physical gold dots for each five minutes and golden numbers & letters for year, month, date, day and the other info... So I get max info, without extra key pressings... And it should naturally be 100m water resist and have minimum 6 to 10 years battery OR solar on the 22x3mm titanium OR ceramic solid link band... And the band should also have a new type of lock, that not make it thicker... So it would be both smarter and more elegant than any other digital or digi-ana watch... And naturally be mass produced for 88 to max 222 euro!
Casio made this W-800HG-9AVDF recently, that show all time info, are 100m and have 10 years battery life... But it have a plastic case, plastic "crystal" and are incredible 13,4mm fat - without being a G shock!
But 30 years ago, did Casio make [449] SA-70G with a 6mm thin metal case... But that one does not show every time info directly, are not even 50m water resitant and have probably only 2 years battery life... And I don't like the darkbrown frame or the slightly too green display background, so I did never use it and can sell that VERY RARE one (in mint condition) for 169 euro, plus shipping!
Curse the times! If only we came up with the idea before Casio was established...
Curse the times! If only we came up with the idea before Casio was established...
That is not a valid excuse... Casio did it first mainly right BUT partly slightly wrong 30 years ago, as you can see in my examples above... And then really right (today) in every aspects that was wrong - but instead very wrong, in every aspect that was right!!
And today can you still not find ONE really slim and elegant digital watch, with a 5 to max 8mm thin black metal or ceramic case and a scratch proof crystal - that show every time info directly, on a golden display or with golden digits, are 100m water proof and have a 6 to 10 years battery, for 88 to 333 euro!
Yes, this dream must be black to look really tough - even when it's slim and elegant... And grey titanium look slightly too grey and dusty, so that is not a great alternative!
And that magic combination - do not exist, except in my very realistic dreams...
But the magic would happen if someone like you - finally make EVERYTHING right at once (!) maybe in close collaboration with Timex or some Chinese watch maker, who may love to triumph over Casio... You can design the case and bracelet (or let me help you) they can do the rest...
And then would it be enough with just four (or maybe six) models... The finest in black titanium, for men and less wide for females... Then a stainless steel budget version with golden details, for men and less wide for females... And finally a black ceramic alternative, for men and less wide for females - if the other models become a great success and you especially want to sell more models, to the same customers...
I guess you can't make my dream watch, anyhow!
But I would truly LOVE a very slim (5 to max 8mm) digital watch, made of solid black titanium OR ceramic, with a black display that show golden numbers & letters... Almost like the most elegant RADO watches... Or a golden display with black number & letters... With a 36mm wide and 40mm high case, with an elegant soft bevelled edge (as this Casio) and a 28mm wide 30mm high scratch resistant crystal... That first show - the name of day - at top and then - year, month & date - as the second line and then with clearly bigger numbers - HOUR, MINUTE & SECOND - as third line and finally - the Function (as DL for dual time, AL for alarm C for temperature and so on, plus) Hour, minute & second or the temperature - as the last line... And it may also be partly analog, with elegant hour minute second hands over a black dial with physical gold dots for each five minutes and golden numbers & letters for year, month, date, day and the other info... So I get max info, without extra key pressings... And it should naturally be 100m water resist and have minimum 6 to 10 years battery OR solar on the 22x3mm titanium OR ceramic solid link band... And the band should also have a new type of lock, that not make it thicker... So it would be both smarter and more elegant than any other digital or digi-ana watch... And naturally be mass produced for 88 to max 222 euro!
Casio made this W-800HG-9AVDF recently, that show all time info, are 100m and have 10 years battery life... But it have a plastic case, plastic "crystal" and are incredible 13,4mm fat - without being a G shock!
But 30 years ago, did Casio make [449] SA-70G with a 6mm thin metal case... But that one does not show every time info directly, are not even 50m water resitant and have probably only 2 years battery life... And I don't like the darkbrown frame or the slightly too green display background, so I did never use it and can sell that VERY RARE one (in mint condition) for 169 euro, plus shipping!
You are too fussy! 😆
Resin is your new best friend 😆
Resin is your new best friend 😆
Plastic is NOT always fantastic!
Anything with a Japanese movement or better a Swiss movement will sell. Do a build video for Youtube and donate some to a couple budget minded Youtube channels then make your own storefront with Amazon and Walmart. Add in some gray market products to fill out your store inventory.
Plastic is NOT always fantastic!
You're right, but it's cheap, light weight, can be molded to any shape and it lasts forever, which for a product you'd want to last forever makes it a good fit... Plus metal mining isn't exactly better for the planet
You're right, but it's cheap, light weight, can be molded to any shape and it lasts forever, which for a product you'd want to last forever makes it a good fit... Plus metal mining isn't exactly better for the planet
Normally not any shape... Metal or ceramic is better for very thin watches...
And I do NOT like plastic straps and a metal bracelet feel strange on a normal plastic case...
But there are some excellent plastic compositions that can work just as good as ceramic, but they give not the same nice feel... And I simply want the purrfect digital watch!
You are too fussy! 😆
Watch lovers should be very fussy... And I actually think it is a scandal - that there not exist any single excellent digital watch, after all this years... Not even some that come close...
My very rare Casio W-800HG-9AVDF is rather close and I naturally love it for that, so I just bought a second one to have as reserve - but that one have a plastic "crystal" and is incredible 13,4mm fat - which is totally insane, when they could make a 6mm slim BUDGET digital watch with a metal case 30 years ago!
I would love to have watchmaking friends 🥹
Watch lovers should be very fussy... And I actually think it is a scandal - that there not exist any single excellent digital watch, after all this years... Not even some that come close...
My very rare Casio W-800HG-9AVDF is rather close and I naturally love it for that, so I just bought a second one to have as reserve - but that one have a plastic "crystal" and is incredible 13,4mm fat - which is totally insane, when they could make a 6mm slim BUDGET digital watch with a metal case 30 years ago!
https://www.fratellowatches.com/hands-on-with-two-new-casio-a1000-models-showing-the-stylish-side-of-this-characteristic-timepiece/
?
https://www.fratellowatches.com/hands-on-with-two-new-casio-a1000-models-showing-the-stylish-side-of-this-characteristic-timepiece/
?
The devil is in the details... The awful details...
The Casio A1000MGN-9ER you did link to is a very strange and greedy "tribute" to a very cheap simple basic vintage model... It's almost like a very bad joke!
It have mainly a tiny 2 row / lines display, which look natural on a G shock - but very cheap on a slim digital watch... And it not even show the month!
Yes... A perfect digital must have a generous 4 row / lines display, that first show the weekday at top and then - HOUR, MINUTES & seconds - year, month & date - function code and additional info...
The corners are also cut badly, which actually make the sides look oval and the case don't look mainly square anymore, which give a VERY weak or feminine impression... The famous Casio Royal world time and W-800HG-9AVDF have the right shape, with nice cut corners, except they both are too fat...
Then has it only a mineral crystal and the glass is not protected by a high frame (as a G shock) so it will soon be scratched badly...
And the low frame around the display, is neither soft rounded or elegant bevelled, so it look more simple and the plating will much faster wear out at the sharper edge...
Okay, the black version have a sapphire crystal, but the same cheap looking (or weak) shape AND a very ugly light green display, that absolutely not match the black and make it look even cheaper... And it is also greedy expensive at 249 euro... But the bracelet seem to be fine...
The movement (in both versions) have only an accuracy of ±30 seconds per month and just 3 years battery life... Not 6 to 10 years, as it should have...
And it is not even 30m water proof, just WR or rain proof...
And it is anyhow 7.3mm thick, even if Casio did make 6mm slim BUDGET digital watches with metal cases 30 years ago...
So this very expensive retro "tribute" have a lot of serious fault, even over the 30 years older [449] SA-70G and it come not even close to the modern W-800HG-9AVDF except that it is clearly thinner and have a mineral crystal...
And I would never dream to wear it, except in a terrifying nightmare!
The devil is in the details... The awful details...
The Casio A1000MGN-9ER you did link to is a very strange and greedy "tribute" to a very cheap simple basic vintage model... It's almost like a very bad joke!
It have mainly a tiny 2 row / lines display, which look natural on a G shock - but very cheap on a slim digital watch... And it not even show the month!
Yes... A perfect digital must have a generous 4 row / lines display, that first show the weekday at top and then - HOUR, MINUTES & seconds - year, month & date - function code and additional info...
The corners are also cut badly, which actually make the sides look oval and the case don't look mainly square anymore, which give a VERY weak or feminine impression... The famous Casio Royal world time and W-800HG-9AVDF have the right shape, with nice cut corners, except they both are too fat...
Then has it only a mineral crystal and the glass is not protected by a high frame (as a G shock) so it will soon be scratched badly...
And the low frame around the display, is neither soft rounded or elegant bevelled, so it look more simple and the plating will much faster wear out at the sharper edge...
Okay, the black version have a sapphire crystal, but the same cheap looking (or weak) shape AND a very ugly light green display, that absolutely not match the black and make it look even cheaper... And it is also greedy expensive at 249 euro... But the bracelet seem to be fine...
The movement (in both versions) have only an accuracy of ±30 seconds per month and just 3 years battery life... Not 6 to 10 years, as it should have...
And it is not even 30m water proof, just WR or rain proof...
And it is anyhow 7.3mm thick, even if Casio did make 6mm slim BUDGET digital watches with metal cases 30 years ago...
So this very expensive retro "tribute" have a lot of serious fault, even over the 30 years older [449] SA-70G and it come not even close to the modern W-800HG-9AVDF except that it is clearly thinner and have a mineral crystal...
And I would never dream to wear it, except in a terrifying nightmare!
Wow! You picked up on a lot of points there. Cool, the search continues.
Wow! You picked up on a lot of points there. Cool, the search continues.
It have never been any digital watch, that make all the basics right...
So it's still a great opportunity to make a dramatically finer digital watch, than anything that exist today or was made before... Maybe in collaboration with a Chinese watch maker like SKMEI or Timex... And the tech is not the problem, the solution is "simply" to select the right combination of great and delicate details...
And my greatest talent is to create finer systems, so I may have a special eye for this 😎
I guess you can't make my dream watch, anyhow!
But I would truly LOVE a very slim (5 to max 8mm) digital watch, made of solid black titanium OR ceramic, with a black display that show golden numbers & letters... Almost like the most elegant RADO watches... Or a golden display with black number & letters... With a 36mm wide and 40mm high case, with an elegant soft bevelled edge (as this Casio) and a 28mm wide 30mm high scratch resistant crystal... That first show - the name of day - at top and then - year, month & date - as the second line and then with clearly bigger numbers - HOUR, MINUTE & SECOND - as third line and finally - the Function (as DL for dual time, AL for alarm C for temperature and so on, plus) Hour, minute & second or the temperature - as the last line... And it may also be partly analog, with elegant hour minute second hands over a black dial with physical gold dots for each five minutes and golden numbers & letters for year, month, date, day and the other info... So I get max info, without extra key pressings... And it should naturally be 100m water resist and have minimum 6 to 10 years battery OR solar on the 22x3mm titanium OR ceramic solid link band... And the band should also have a new type of lock, that not make it thicker... So it would be both smarter and more elegant than any other digital or digi-ana watch... And naturally be mass produced for 88 to max 222 euro!
Casio made this W-800HG-9AVDF recently, that show all time info, are 100m and have 10 years battery life... But it have a plastic case, plastic "crystal" and are incredible 13,4mm fat - without being a G shock!
But 30 years ago, did Casio make [449] SA-70G with a 6mm thin metal case... But that one does not show every time info directly, are not even 50m water resitant and have probably only 2 years battery life... And I don't like the darkbrown frame or the slightly too green display background, so I did never use it and can sell that VERY RARE one (in mint condition) for 169 euro, plus shipping!
Seen it before and yes, it is interesting - except that the oval sides are ugly (in my view) and make it also look too big, or the bracelet lady sized... So I would never dream of wearing it!
And if you want to know what's looking good... Just look at the famous Casio Royal world time watch OR my two Casio, you find in the beginning of this post...
Or replace fullowing analog dials with a display... And yes, I did just order the WWOOR 😎