Just an opinion about the market
As the founder of a brand and as an entrepreneur hoping to have the support of the community to fund a kickstarter campaign (now active) I want to comment on something that I have observed over time, a subjective opinion and perhaps therefore biased, but In any case, open to your opinions. Something that motivated this message and that surprised me enormously, was that there are campaigns (one active right now) that do not have real prototypes of the watches, only renders and still achieve funding (in less than an hour!), even for Comments from some customers have mentioned that the creator of the campaign has blocked and deleted comments about delivery dates and models, and even so, it was funded and continues to sell. What I want to say (vent), is that it surprises me that the people who make up the microbrand market, who are supposedly knowledgeable about the market, end up in many cases always supporting the same type of project, a diver watch, a "covert" homage ", a watch with a crazy design and almost a copy of a more expensive one, etc., but almost never, something classic or that is not part of the already known brands. I have seen how people go crazy with watches that are almost identical copies of the Rolex Submariner or the Nautilus, but at the same time they destroy a watch that pretends to be different. Anyway, I think that the microbrand market is extremely complex, multifaceted and at the same time difficult for new brands, but in the end, it's all a matter of time, perseverance and some (or a lot) of luck. Greetings to all!
I'm the founder of Justiniani Watches. Watches have been my passion for many years. In them, I have found the purity and beauty of time. Justiniani watches are not inspired by racing, pilots or diving...
Most people are more timid than they claim to be. When they say they want different, they rarely mean that different. On the other hand, there's a reason that manufacturers are similarly timid. The more daring, the more potentially alienating.
If we're talking about this, I'm very fine with the lugless look and overall layout. The size and thickness give me pause, and I'm probably outside the norm there.
But yes, it is a fine line to walk in making something interesting and not overly derivative while remaining accessible and unintimidating.
Bring it on. I like different materials and colors. The onething I don't care for are 3D printed watches ie Swatch group. I love to have a time piece that out lasts me and my sons. I do prefer really good micro brands now.
Enjoy the watch!
Cheers
Most people are more timid than they claim to be. When they say they want different, they rarely mean that different. On the other hand, there's a reason that manufacturers are similarly timid. The more daring, the more potentially alienating.
If we're talking about this, I'm very fine with the lugless look and overall layout. The size and thickness give me pause, and I'm probably outside the norm there.
But yes, it is a fine line to walk in making something interesting and not overly derivative while remaining accessible and unintimidating.
I understand and I think you are right. Greetings!
Good luck with your campaign. I hope you can show off your wares.
I'm always looking for something new, some different, but different doesn't mean it's going to please me.
Already came to the conclusion that the perfect watch doesn't exist.
I respectfully disagree. To me, the key is finding the correct watch for the purpose. A dress watch is not a diver. A diver is not a dress watch or even a tool watch if that is not your field. However, the perfect dress watch for you does exist. If one is clear on the purpose, then the answer will reveal.
I respectfully disagree. To me, the key is finding the correct watch for the purpose. A dress watch is not a diver. A diver is not a dress watch or even a tool watch if that is not your field. However, the perfect dress watch for you does exist. If one is clear on the purpose, then the answer will reveal.
You have an interesting perspective but I agree with @Riverside, there is no perfect watch. To me there are just watches that are almost perfect or good enough. A good enough watch is, well, good enough.
In your argument, you’re saying fit for purpose can make a watch perfect. However, that implies you need more than one watch because one watch can’t do it all, hence no watch is perfect. For me, if it’s perfect you only need the one.
You have an interesting perspective but I agree with @Riverside, there is no perfect watch. To me there are just watches that are almost perfect or good enough. A good enough watch is, well, good enough.
In your argument, you’re saying fit for purpose can make a watch perfect. However, that implies you need more than one watch because one watch can’t do it all, hence no watch is perfect. For me, if it’s perfect you only need the one.
I guess I have to agree then. No watch is perfect for all times and places.
I’m with @PoorMansRolex about the Odysseus. While I don’t mind the lugless look, it’s a little too thick for me. I tend to go for the thinnest I can afford.
As for backing projects that only have renders, I typically back companies that have had other successful campaigns or have sold watches in the past. I do want to see that it’s not just a pipe dream. If they have a good history, a render can be enough for me.
As for the kinds of watches I buy, I typically like something that is classic at its base, but has a little something that sets it apart. I have 2 from Valimor, for instance, because I like certain elements. Admittedly, they are a little kitschy, especially when you factor in their “inspiration”, but they appealed to me. But they are still basically watches. If RMs were only $300, I still wouldn’t touch them because I find them to be gaudy.
I also think there are too many dive watches. I’m not a diver, and probably never will be, so I personally have no use for them, much less one that looks almost exactly like 10 others. I think there are also too many homages, but they’re usually cheaper and give one the opportunity to wear something similar. And if they have some feature that is an improvement, then I find no problem in that.
My standards are not always well defined, and change through the years, but ultimately, I don’t have infinite wealth so I have to be choosy.
This isn't my take I'm just saying it how it is,what sells sells that's why homages good ones do really well the market demand is already there,make anything look like a rolex it's sold sad but is what it is,I'd rather someone make a 1930s jump hour watch and have it waterproof so they can be worn 😂or something original,if you produce something original with passion stand by it not to make millions but because you love your product it will get support,hard to stand away and make a lane good luck 👌
Some harsh feedback so I'll apologise in advance if it offends.
Watch companies that try to create a sense of fake heritage by linking to historical events, mythology, names with no relevance or some other random unconnected bull are taking their potential customers for fools. This marketting technique is more likely to remind people of Spaghetti Scametti than make them think about high end microbrands. If your product doesn't sell on it's own merits then the consumer gods of ancient Greece are trying to tell you something.
Now onto the watch itself. Looking at the image supplied above, my initial thoughts were that it was an interesting looking watch. The current trend is definately heading down the vintage inspired route. You've missed the boat there, with 41mm diameter and that 12.9mm thickness and the on wrist shot on your campaign page completely turned me off the product as it looks huge.
As a kickstarter you are asking people to invest in you, your company and your product. Having read through your campaign page I wouldn't be inspired to back it as it has not really told me anything about you, your company or your design cues. Just a lot of airy fairy nonsense about Romans and Greeks.
When I am looking at watches in the microbrand arena I want it to satisfy a few things. The first test is that I have to be able to buy into your “why”, there is a lot of competition and therefore your values and whether your brand is relationship based or transactional really matters to me.
The next test is I have to like the watch, and what I like is not too specific but there is a natural reaction factor that I try to listen to.
The last point is I am looking for value, the more established brands usually have heritage and plentiful designs but may put me off because they are of a price that is out of reach. So micro brands do have an advantage with me if they can get the value right, which kind if links into the first two points as well.
Hope your campaign goes well
I like traditional watch designs. GADA type usually military. There are so many watch companies that have tradition and heritage that no longer trade and it's always baffled me why more micro brands don't spend a few $ to buy the trading rights. They can then produce legitimate homage - reissues with as much legitimacy as many established brands.
Purchased a watch based on a render...once. Learned my lesson.
Some harsh feedback so I'll apologise in advance if it offends.
Watch companies that try to create a sense of fake heritage by linking to historical events, mythology, names with no relevance or some other random unconnected bull are taking their potential customers for fools. This marketting technique is more likely to remind people of Spaghetti Scametti than make them think about high end microbrands. If your product doesn't sell on it's own merits then the consumer gods of ancient Greece are trying to tell you something.
Now onto the watch itself. Looking at the image supplied above, my initial thoughts were that it was an interesting looking watch. The current trend is definately heading down the vintage inspired route. You've missed the boat there, with 41mm diameter and that 12.9mm thickness and the on wrist shot on your campaign page completely turned me off the product as it looks huge.
As a kickstarter you are asking people to invest in you, your company and your product. Having read through your campaign page I wouldn't be inspired to back it as it has not really told me anything about you, your company or your design cues. Just a lot of airy fairy nonsense about Romans and Greeks.
Second this, especially the part about nothing to know about you and why you make watches and not generic Greek mithology.
As for watch couple of more issues - I don't get the concept and what it wants to be. It has dressy/field look with 5ATM but is thick and lugless. Also 1 year warranty is not according to EU laws and doesn't sounds trustworthy.
To finish I get what you want to say regarding wanting something different but just being different is not appealing as such. As @PoorMansRolex wrote it is thin line and buyers will eventually decide about validity of your product, wheather you like it or not. Nothing personal, that is how the world works.
I’m with @PoorMansRolex about the Odysseus. While I don’t mind the lugless look, it’s a little too thick for me. I tend to go for the thinnest I can afford.
As for backing projects that only have renders, I typically back companies that have had other successful campaigns or have sold watches in the past. I do want to see that it’s not just a pipe dream. If they have a good history, a render can be enough for me.
As for the kinds of watches I buy, I typically like something that is classic at its base, but has a little something that sets it apart. I have 2 from Valimor, for instance, because I like certain elements. Admittedly, they are a little kitschy, especially when you factor in their “inspiration”, but they appealed to me. But they are still basically watches. If RMs were only $300, I still wouldn’t touch them because I find them to be gaudy.
I also think there are too many dive watches. I’m not a diver, and probably never will be, so I personally have no use for them, much less one that looks almost exactly like 10 others. I think there are also too many homages, but they’re usually cheaper and give one the opportunity to wear something similar. And if they have some feature that is an improvement, then I find no problem in that.
My standards are not always well defined, and change through the years, but ultimately, I don’t have infinite wealth so I have to be choosy.
I understand and agree with you in most of what you said, however, if your parameter to back a project is only back a brand because it has a succesfull campaing in the past, then what happen with the new ones? Something that I've learn from kickstarter is that many, many brands "self-finance" their campaigns, so they create the "funded in just one hour" hype, and believe me, all most all do that.
Some harsh feedback so I'll apologise in advance if it offends.
Watch companies that try to create a sense of fake heritage by linking to historical events, mythology, names with no relevance or some other random unconnected bull are taking their potential customers for fools. This marketting technique is more likely to remind people of Spaghetti Scametti than make them think about high end microbrands. If your product doesn't sell on it's own merits then the consumer gods of ancient Greece are trying to tell you something.
Now onto the watch itself. Looking at the image supplied above, my initial thoughts were that it was an interesting looking watch. The current trend is definately heading down the vintage inspired route. You've missed the boat there, with 41mm diameter and that 12.9mm thickness and the on wrist shot on your campaign page completely turned me off the product as it looks huge.
As a kickstarter you are asking people to invest in you, your company and your product. Having read through your campaign page I wouldn't be inspired to back it as it has not really told me anything about you, your company or your design cues. Just a lot of airy fairy nonsense about Romans and Greeks.
So from your perspective, if a brand creates a watch that tries to distance itself from the same sources of inspiration, is it trying to deceive? Maybe then I should have been inspired by races, cars, sharks, a plane, a seal, etc., I didn't know that there was a few only authorized sources of inspiration, also, didn't know that only big brands could use history as inspiration. To be honest, I think there is nothing honest or realistic about your comment, there is always some "knowledgeable" who thinks he or she speaks for everyone. The watch and its dimensions do not make it large, as it does not have handles it does not have the rest of the dimensions associated with a traditional watch, for example, a 39mm watch with handles can measure up to 45mm from lug to lug, so, In fact, aesthetically my watch would be more compact on your wrist than one with lugs. Finally, I think that the notion of "success" associated with a "successful" kickstarter campaign is somewhat diffuse, many brands self-finance to achieve the status of "successful" and "trustworthy" so that people like you can include them in their wish list. authorized brands...
Hi I hope you are well. The lesson here for me is to keep trying until that watch design came.
So from your perspective, if a brand creates a watch that tries to distance itself from the same sources of inspiration, is it trying to deceive? Maybe then I should have been inspired by races, cars, sharks, a plane, a seal, etc., I didn't know that there was a few only authorized sources of inspiration, also, didn't know that only big brands could use history as inspiration. To be honest, I think there is nothing honest or realistic about your comment, there is always some "knowledgeable" who thinks he or she speaks for everyone. The watch and its dimensions do not make it large, as it does not have handles it does not have the rest of the dimensions associated with a traditional watch, for example, a 39mm watch with handles can measure up to 45mm from lug to lug, so, In fact, aesthetically my watch would be more compact on your wrist than one with lugs. Finally, I think that the notion of "success" associated with a "successful" kickstarter campaign is somewhat diffuse, many brands self-finance to achieve the status of "successful" and "trustworthy" so that people like you can include them in their wish list. authorized brands...
Yes, from my perspective. You can use anything you want for inspiration. But, if you want me, the consumer to buy into the product then you need to demonstrate how that inspiration is seen in the design language of the piece. If you can't do that then it reads as a load of marketing BS, all fluff and no real content, and that does your proposition no favours. I recently saw a watch influenced by the Arthurian legends and you could clearly see how that tied into the design. I didn't like the watch but I could appreciate the storytelling behind the marketing and link that to the design of the watches.
"The proof is in the pudding" as we say in the UK. You have failed to raise the money via Kickstarter, relisted and with 12 days to go are set to fail again. There is just not a market or interest in your watch at this time. I understand it is a labour of love for yourself and you will have personally invested time and money into the project. However, feedback is a gift, you can take it or leave it. Just don't get butt hurt by one persons opinion because they disagree with you and call you out over your marketing & design choices.
As for being "knowledgeable" I would never claim that or claim to speak for anyone else in our little community here. My opinions are mine and mine alone. Of course speaking of our community, I noticed you only seem to post about your kickstarter. I'll just let that one and it's implications sit there...
I wish you all the best and every success in your future endeavours.
I actually think this is a classic branding dilemma. (ok, I work in marketing) Branding is important, it helps us understand products and make decisions. It's not rational, it's an emotional response. Heritage is a common element amongst many watch brands, as the products themselves are mechanical in a digital age. This is where the brand truth comes home to roost. Brands that lie about heritage will not bear up to scrutiny. So a new brand has to live up to its own brand truths. Apples simple integration to phone lives up to its promise. Richard Mille brings a fresh interpretation to luxury, with its distinctive designs. I like neither, but you would recognise them both. For a start up brand, you gotta ask, what's the brand truth or story. If that resonates, and translates to features and design, then people will “get” the watch. Without it, it's just another product in a world where even premium watches can be imitated to a degree of quality difficult to distinguish from the original.
Yes, from my perspective. You can use anything you want for inspiration. But, if you want me, the consumer to buy into the product then you need to demonstrate how that inspiration is seen in the design language of the piece. If you can't do that then it reads as a load of marketing BS, all fluff and no real content, and that does your proposition no favours. I recently saw a watch influenced by the Arthurian legends and you could clearly see how that tied into the design. I didn't like the watch but I could appreciate the storytelling behind the marketing and link that to the design of the watches.
"The proof is in the pudding" as we say in the UK. You have failed to raise the money via Kickstarter, relisted and with 12 days to go are set to fail again. There is just not a market or interest in your watch at this time. I understand it is a labour of love for yourself and you will have personally invested time and money into the project. However, feedback is a gift, you can take it or leave it. Just don't get butt hurt by one persons opinion because they disagree with you and call you out over your marketing & design choices.
As for being "knowledgeable" I would never claim that or claim to speak for anyone else in our little community here. My opinions are mine and mine alone. Of course speaking of our community, I noticed you only seem to post about your kickstarter. I'll just let that one and it's implications sit there...
I wish you all the best and every success in your future endeavours.
I honestly don't understand how you can insinuate that my brand is trying to scam, and when I defended my brand, you respond with something like "feedback is a gift." I appreciate and value criticism, but it is not my duty to "take note" of unfounded disqualifications. On the other hand, I do take note of what I should improve or change, in the end, I have to learn that you can't keep everyone happy.