The Legacy: When FOMO Is A Reasonable Response

From Gorilla Watches -

Courtesy of Gorilla

FOMO.  It's a term we hear bandied around quite a it. It speaks to the anxiety or fear of missing out on something when you have the opportunity to get it, but you worry that your decision making paradigm might not be efficient or quick enough for you to take possession of that which you truly desire. And for some watch collectors this can be worse than a failed relationship. As the old saying goes, there are plenty of other fish in the sea (yes, in today's climate change reality even that old chestnut is debatable), but missing out on the Original Gorilla Fastback has haunted me far worse than the unrequited love I had for a certain girl growing up in Northern Ohio in the early 80s.

With all that being said, allow me to acquaint you with the Gorilla Legacy. And I say this without fear of contradiction - this watch IS THE SHIT THAT KILLED ELVIS! (that's good).

Courtesy of Gorilla Watches

It's Déjà vu all over again!

The Legacy looks completely different, yet hauntingly the same.  Go figure! 

The case's vital statistics are as follows:

44 mm case diameter
48.5 mm with crown guards
13 mm case thickness
57 mm lug-to-lug

But it's not just about the dimensions, but rather the dimensions explored with the materials used to make said case:

Layered forged carbon case and bezel, anodized aluminum pinstripe, screw-down titanium crown for improved water resistance

Courtesy of Gorilla Watches

The case back is of titanium.

The movement is, as you've come to know and expect, a Miyota.  In this instance it is the 8215 (self-winding/automatic).

The price is reasonable - refreshingly so at $980 which if my reading is correct will include shipping.  

Here are all the pertinents, straight from Gorilla HQ:

CALIBER

Miyota 8215, self-winding, 3Hz/21.600 vph

FUNCTIONS

Hour, minute, sweeping seconds

CASE MATERIAL

Layered forged carbon case and bezel, anodized aluminum pinstripe, screw-down titanium crown for improved water resistance

CASEBACK

Titanium caseback, engraved

DIAL

Forged carbon, anodized aluminum, numerals printed with Super-Luminova™, hands and hour markers filled with Super-Luminova™

CRYSTAL

Scratch resistant sapphire, anti-reflective coating on both sides

STRAP

Bi-color Viton™

BUCKLE

Titanium pin buckle

CASE DIMENSIONS

44 mm case diameter
48.5 mm with crown guards
13 mm case thickness
57 mm lug-to-lug

WATER RESISTANCE

100M/330FT/10ATM

Summer Rerun - Wrapping up the GAVOX Legacy Navy 358.5 Logical Stars

Okay, point of full disclosure. I had hoped to have this wrapped-up in the usual 7 day sequence, but was felled by an epic case of the flu that has only now decided that maybe, just maybe it will let me get on with my life now that we have shared the last 3 weeks together. Luckily for me, Michael Happe the owner of GAVOX was very kind and understanding. The good news for you is that you now have the benefit of nearly 3 times the normal review period ; )

Okay, I'm going to "invert" this a little and hit you with the vital statistics first:

The case size is, to quote Goldilocks, just right!  41.4 mm in diameter with lug to lug is 48.7.  The "glass" is in fact sapphire crystal that fits nice and flush into the bezel of the watch.  The crown at 2 o'clock is one of the few watches I've tried with such a configuration that actually works WELL.  The crown itself is tactile, and functions smoothly in the wind position, date setting position (which is quick set, by the way) and the time setting (also known as "position 3").

The crown is "tagged" with the GAVOX logo. 

Unlike a lot of watches at much higher price points, this detail is clear, clean and nice, not "sketchy".  The winding action of the watch is quite good and it is possible to wind up from a dead stop.

Staying with the case, the finish of the stainless steel case is really quite good.  There is a perceptible "joining point" where the lugs join with the case itself.  But it is neither too smooth or too abrupt.  Again, just right.  This is a nice touch because frankly when a watch is 40 mm or larger and the lugs seem, well... seamless, it sometimes can give the watch case a sort of unbalanced appearance.  Not so with the GAVOX Legacy Navy!  It gives the watch a somewhat more "rugged/tactile" look and feel without being over the top.

And one last point about the crown position, it is very comfortable and has plenty of clearance so you do not gather abrasions and rubbing on your hand or wrist.

The comfort of the watch has been truly wonderful.  The case sits well on the wrist and the strap broke in quite smoothly (and fairly promptly).

As you can see, the watch sits very well on the wrist and has great presence without being overwhelming.

And the strap is an honest, straightforward leather not masquerading as something it is not with faux stamp/printing/patterns.  It is leather with a tasteful stitching in white.

As I said, the leather broke in very quickly and had a great "old friend" type of feeling after a week or so.

Keeping true to a watch of this type, no "tarted up" deployments!  A practical and useful stainless steel buckle bearing the GAVOX logo.  Simple in the best possible way.

The movement is something that I can't really say enough good things about.  This as well as the other two pieces from the Legacy collection utilize a Miyota self-winding movement, in this case the  8219. 

The movement's rotor has been customized with the GAVOX logo which is a welcome change from the usually plain-Jane look of watches priced at a similar level.  The watch itself has had a very good power reserve.  I was able to get the power reserve as advertised - 38 hours according to the GAVOX website.  CONFIRMED!

Moreover, the watch is ACCURATE!  On average about an average of 13 seconds per day over the "extended" 7 days.  The greatest stretch of deviation was the first day (starting from a dead stop) and the first day after testing the power reserve) again from a dead stop.  On these 2 days the variance was  just south of 20 seconds.  BUT - when the watch had been worn for 24 hours and was essentially "self-winding" the accuracy was much better.

The dial and the functions were perhaps what drew me to this watch first.  Hours, minutes, seconds and date laid out in an easy to ready format.  But if I am very honest, the feature I like the most is the "Day/Night" / 24 hour indicator.  I really appreciated this feature as the days became shorter, shorter, and then with the arrival of the Solstice, the days started to get longer.  It takes the measure of time outside of the hour/minute and puts it in a larger context of day and night.  

So getting down to brass tacks, let's put this in context in terms of price - 330,00 € 

Direct from GAVOX.  And if you happen to not live in the EU, your price is even better!

It is easy to say that this is a great watch for the money, but at 5 times the price I would still recommend it.  It is a solid, unique, dependable - and good looking, dammit!

When a Watch is More than Just a Watch -

Eterna's Legacy Date

Courtesy of Eterna

41.5 mm of Swiss stainless steel goodness with a blue dial that is calling to me.  So no, this is not a completely objective post, because it is hard to be objective and smitten at the same time.  The lugs, the indices, and a proper, LEGIBLE date window, the black strap... this is a beguiling watch, and I want one!

It's hard not to be romantic about watches.

A Few Minutes With Michael Happe

Wendy and I had the very good fortune to spend some time with Michael Happe over lunch and a beer in Brussels a few weeks back.  That will be a different post ; )  But that planted the seeds for this interview which you'll find below.  And now, a few minutes with Michael Happe -

Tempus Fugit - What was your first watch?  Was it a gift?  Is there a story behind it?

Michael Happe - My first watch was a Kelton which I received when I was 8.  It was supposed to be water resistant to 25 meters  and I loved it.  However from time to time, when I went swimming with it, water leaked in.  This is when I started getting a closer look at the movement. 

TF - When you were a boy, what did you want to be when you "grew up"

MH - I wanted to be a pilot and Astronaut.  The sky, space and sciences were great sources of inspiration for me and are still today. 

TF - What did you study in school?

MH -I graduated from university with a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering.  I loved my studies and learned so much. I do believe this is one of the best programs if you want to study all science topics. 

TF - What got you into the world of watches in the first place?  

MH - At the age of twelve I discovered the LCD and Quartz revolution and started collecting
watches.  Later the mechanical watches caught my attention. And now it is a dream to make my own watch brand. 

TF -  So what is the idea behind GAVOX?

MH - My aim is to make technical and ergonomic watches that are easy to use and possessing useful functions.  Moreover, to offer this at the best quality for a fair price.  I offer watches in three categories: higher (aviation and space exploration) farther  (land and see exploration) and deeper 

(ocean and depth exploration) .

TF - I know that it is hard for a "father" to choose his favorite "child", but which is your favorite GAVOX?

MH - This is a difficult question for me to answer.  On one hand it would be the Gavox Squadron as this was born from a collaboration with the Belgian Air Force and myself, and I am so pleased that many pilots wear these watches with pride.

  

Courtesy of Gavox

Courtesy of Gavox

On the other hand I love the Gavox Legacy Navy, my first automatic watches with a lot of hidden detail to look at.

TF - What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced so far?

MH - My biggest challenge was and is the creation of the Gavox Aurora. This watch will bring some real innovation and I challenged many suppliers to produce the best parts that they could.  This watch will be very innovative and unique. 

TF - What has been the most successful GAVOX model? 

MF - The Gavox Legacy Collection is very successful.  I often receive happy customer feedback telling me the watch is better in real life than in pictures.

TF - What is your strongest market?

MH - Europe and all English speaking countries. I sell mainly through my web shop to clients who want something unique that is offered in small series. 



TF - Who else out there is making watches that interest you? 

MH - I love all smart and simple innovations like Oris has made with the Big Crown ProPilot and Aquis Depth Gauge.  I appreciate the people who have managed to get mechanical and simple devices to measure altitude and depth in a watch.  I also love many of the watches from Sinn and Nomos.

TF - Having visited Belgium recently I was surprised by what a "watch place" it was.  Has it always been this way?

MH - Belgium was always kept in the shadows regarding watches with very talented people working in Switzerland after a good watch study scholarship in Belgium.  However in terms of Belgian watch brands it mainly took at new turn in 2005 with Icewatch.  Today  We have great watch maker full of ideas in Benoît Mintiens with his great brand Ressence.

TF - I understand that you have a few "famous" customers, can you tell us a bit about some of your more "well-known" GAVOX clients?

MH - James, I understand your curiosity ;-)  Out of respect of my customers, I can't disclose this type of information.



TF - Please tell us about your partnership with some of Belgium's flying squadrons.
 

MH - It started with my passion for aviation, I was a glider pilot and was trained on a Cessna.  I have many good friends who are pilots who flew in the Belgian Air Force some years ago.  They introduced me to two Belgian squadrons and we developed a watch that fit their needs and specifications. Their logos have been integrated on the dial and case back of the Gavox Squadron. 

TF - What do you like to do in your "down time"? 

MH - The first thing I like to do is to take some time with my wife and children, playing board games, visiting museums and going on city trips.  I love meeting new people and discovering new culture.  I also have other passions like volleyball, whisky, folding knives and art.



TF - What advice do you have for the aspiring watch "start-up"? 

MH - Stick to your dreams and face the challenge, it will only make you stronger.  Ask advise but follow your instinct.  If you believe in your product your will reach your client .  Good Luck and have fun !