Collection
Jay (Eire) delves into his experience with a Kickstarter-funded timepiece from Wild Horologists & Team, a brand that caught his eye while he was contemplating an Audemars Piguet Offshore. His post explores the allure of robust, statement-making watches and how this independent offering fulfilled a specific desire for wrist presence without the fit issues he encountered with traditional luxury options. This article highlights the growing appeal of microbrands and their ability to deliver unique designs and value.
So, I think many will have strong views about this watch. So don’t be shy in sharing them.
This is one of several Kickstarter watches I’ve followed and one of a few I actually purchased.
If we’re being honest, I had spent a lot of time looking at AP Offshores again. There’s something about that design, the bulk, the perceived ruggedness. But they never fit my wrist, or more precisely because of the flare outwards of the straps where they meet the case the Offshore always looked like it was not the right fit for me. The only exception was the End of Days on the Velcro, maybe one day.
So in the middle of these renewed Offshore thoughts Kickstarter brought me Wild Horologists & Team and their “school watch”.
It was an easy sale. The watches looked great, inspired by a Royal Oak Concept, there was a nice story behind the production and “brand” and the price was such that even if it turned out to be not for me or even if it was really just a little to big for my wrist it was OK and I wouldn’t lose much moving it on.
To top it all off, our own FX wrote a review while I was still considering placing a Kickstarter order and that kinda sealed it for me.
FX’s review described the project as “WH&T is not a brand but a banner behind which companies and skills come together to develop, produce and distribute a very special school watch. Indeed, the chronograph LCF888 is the first industrialised school-watch.”
There were several variations on the watch available, but opting for the optically slimming black on black made most sense for a watch I already knew was on the larger side.
It has definitely scratched the itch. But beyond that the watch really has the feel and finish of something that would sell for much more should the name on the dial be different.
Take a look back at FX’s review from November last year, all the details are there and his writing is of course more engaging than mine.
Here are various pictures, and a wrist shot or two.
I don't think it's trying to personify an Audemars Piguet at all. It has its own design. Yes, it does have an octagonal bezel. But if we said every octagonal bezel watch was hanging off Audemars Piguet's coat tails, then that'd basically mean anything with an octagonal shape is out. A copyright or patent office wouldn't support that. If we took the WH&T logo off and put in something like Rolex or Audemars Piguet or something else, it'd definitely be well received on social media!
I expect we'll be seeing more of this watch on your wrist!
But I do think that they readily acknowledged where the design inspiration came from. And that’s fine. For certain, with a different name on the dial this would get a lot more attention.
It was a relatively inexpensive watch via the Kickstarter campaign and so it’s not something one has to worry too much about. When you are running around with a little kid this is a important factor...I am sure not wearing a Resonance !
I was also made aware of this Watch through a publication and started researching as much as possible. Finally the all Steel version is on my wrist. I have been collecting for three decades now, and been through every one of the big names, and certainly enjoying them, but this watch is a pleasure to wear and quality wise I am just as happy wearing it, as it can get Much more so, when you get to know the team behind it, it is great people of the watch industry, for a project you become moved to s
And that joy can come in all shapes and sizes and all price points. The simple instinctual feeling of satisfaction that comes before you start thinking about desirability/ collectibility/rarity etc is a great barometer for choosing watches. And it rarely fails us.
This thread is active on the Horological Meandering forum with 17 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →
