I Love LA! The Camp Malaga Red

"Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north, and we were born to ride!"

Randy Newman, I Love LA

Courtesy of Camp Watches

Having spent many years Los Angeles adjacent in Santa Barbara, I was excited to learn (belatedly) about Camp Watches and their Field Timer. 

But back to the matter at hand -

I love LA, but those who know me also know I love an enamel dial, and this little wrist rocket ticks all of the Henki boxes:

Hand winding, enambel dial, unique typeface, and for me just as important - a small (likely to grow) brand with small production - to quote the Dynamic Duo at the Wrist Check Podcast - "When you know, you know."

Camp Watches is the baby of Justin Jakobson. He mentions that his first watch was a Swatch Yamaha Racer. As one of mine was the Swatch Calypso Diver (bought at May Company in the  Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio back in August 1985) I already feel a bond!

So per the website, it appears that all conception, design, sales, and marketing rest with him and Camp Watches in LA. The watches are assembled by Reglatronic SA in Ligornetto, Switzerland - that's the Ticino region for those of you unfamiliar. On a side note, I highly recommend a trip to the region if you are so inclined, but save Lugano for last. Ticino is beautiful, and an under-appreciated hub of Swiss watchmaking. 

Courtesy of Camp Watches

If I have read correctly, the Camp Malaga comes with three straps, my favorite being the Bonklip bracelet - I'm just funny that way. But it also comes with a leather strap (above), and on in Cordura nylon (below) -

Courtesy of Camp Watches

The movement is Sellita's SW210-1b which is a hand-wound caliber.

Courtesy of Camp Watches

And it is attractively priced at $900 US.

I realize that for many possibly reading this, The Camp Malaga is not a "new" item, but then again I often find myself at the back of the "Conga Line" -

Shamelessly borrowed from the world-wide infoweb

Here are the pertinents -

Specifications

• CASE: Brushed + polished 316L stainless steel 
• WATERPROOF RATING: 100m/330ft
• DIAL: Berlac stove enamelled lacquer, 15 layers, 1.3mm thick
• DIAL TYPEFACE: 1940 Ford Coupe numerals
  
• FEATURES: Swiss Super LumiNova on hands + numerals
• MOVEMENT: Sellita SW210-1b manual winding, 28’800 A/h (4Hz) with an accuracy of +/-12 sec/day, 18 jewels, adjusted to 2 positions, fully customized train wheel bridge
  
• CRYSTAL: Top hat double dome sapphire with internal AR coating
• CASEBACK: Flat sapphire exhibition window
  
• CASEBACK TYPEFACE: Aeronaves, designed by Mans Greback
• CASE DIAMETER: ø 39mm
• LUG-to-LUG: 47.2mm
• LUG WIDTH: 20mm
• THICKNESS: 10mm including boxed sapphire
• FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, seconds
• POWER RESERVE: 42 hours minimum, 45 hours average
• STRAPS, 3 Included: Full-grain Italian leather, Cordura nylon, Steel Bonklip-style
  
• BUCKLE: MIM 316L stainless steel
  
• WEIGHT: 66g/2.3oz with leather strap
• PRODUCTION: 100 pcs

Now to put you in the mood -

Yes, Randy Newman was the original, but in terms of pure audio quality I prefer OMC's take ; )

The Vanitas

From Arena Timepieces -

Courtesy of Arena

This is the latest of a (thankfully) growing number of US based watch brands who although sourcing movements, cases, etc. from other locales, are in fact assembling their watches here in the US.

DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, AND ASSEMBLED IN LOS ANGELES

Now before anything else, I have to speak to what I have sensed as the brand's ethos - nothing is permanent, even time. Now in fairness, I can't claim super powers of intuition, but was tipped off by this statement on Arena's landing page:

YOUR TIME WILL END

You can't put it more plainly than that ; )

The case is of stainless steel, and measures 39 mm in diameter, featuring a domed sapphire crystal.

Courtesy of Arena

The Arena comes standard with a stainless steel bracelet (above), and if I have understood correctly, a vulcanized rubber strap (below) -

Courtesy of Arena

Now onto the ever burning question - the price and availability. 

$1,430 is the ask, and for what you are getting it is a very, very fair price. This release is limited to 300 pieces.

For a first release, this is a very, very strong contender. The lines are clean, the dial super clear and legible (YOUR TIME WILL END - and your eye sight will not always be perfect). The bracelet is not like so many others out there, the look is unique. For movements, the choice of a Sellita is a solid one. Oh, and it's Chronometer Grade! 

The Vanitas is assembled in Los Angeles, not a third-party white label company in the Swiss Jura, Ticino, or other locales. Closer to the source, and easier to ensure quality control.

For more information, and to place your order, visit Arena Timepieces -

Arena TImepieces Vanitas

North America Might Be Bigger Than You Think...

So it has been an interesting few weeks during and following BaselWorld.  One of the biggest requests I received from potential clients was to help them get a better foothold in North America.  Now wanting to sell watches in North America is, in and of itself, not so unusual.  But what was intriguing?  Some of the brands that these potential clients thought had a good foothold in North America.

Potential Client:  "Look at Brand X!"  They have like, 15 stores in the US!"

Henki:  "Okay, let's look at where they are, and who they are with..."  

Potential Client:  "See!  They have 6 stores in New York City alone!  They have 4 in Los Angeles, and 3 in Florida!"  

Henki:  "Well, yes and no.  Of those stores indicated on their retail partner list, 1/3 of those are web shops.  That means if you are a potential customer, you are not going to be able to actually go into a store and see the watch.  Of the actual retail stores, several are in the same city, so in fact, their real coverage or foothold is not really as great as it might seem.  And those 3 stores in Florida?  They are all in the same metro area.  Florida is a huge state, so why only be available in one city?"

Potential Client:  "But if you have stores in LA and New York you're covered!"

Henki:  "Well, yes and no.  While LA and New York are the largest and most well known cities in the US, there is an entire continent full of people (i.e. potential customers) in between them.  Also, consider that if you have 10 stores and most of them are in the same city, you have not created an opportunity for those retailers to succeed.  Rather, you have created an opportunity for them to fight it out among themselves to win customers.  This will lead to price cutting.  Wouldn't it make more sense to also be in Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, TEXAS - which could be its own country, Boston, Nevada... I think you get the idea.  Also, what about Canada?".

Potential Client:  SILENCE

This is something that can be hard to understand for a brand that is based overseas, but to me it's just common sense.  If you are only available in very small market spaces, with your product available in several stores within minutes of each other, you are achieving 2 things:
1.  You are ensuring that your watch will not be as "discoverable" as you'd like.
2.  You are ensuring that the stores in the same area that have the same product will compete at whatever level they have to to sell your watch - which inevitably means dumping stock for 30 - 40% off.

Sometimes, smaller markets are better.  As I've said before, if you sell 10 watches in Cleveland, it is the same as selling 10 in New York.  And you probably stand a better chance of the store owner paying you ; )

 

Martenero for Tanner Goods

This is the latest offering from NYC's Martenero -

Courtesy of Martenero

This is a variant of the Martenero Ace made and offered in collaboration with Stumptown's own Tanner Goods.  Tanner Goods has grown to include locations in San Francisco and my neighbors in Los Angeles.

Courtesy of Tanner Goods

Limited to 75 pieces, it is available with either traditional style cordovan strap -

Courtesy of Martenero

or a NATO style -

Courtesy of Martenero

The detail finishes for a watch at this price point are impressive -

Courtesy of Martenero

So box one up!

Courtesy of Martenero

Movie Day

A short movie about Weiss just down the road in Los Angeles - your on your own for popcorn ; )

https://vimeo.com/weisswatchcompany/american-watchmaking



Weiss Watch Company- An Introduction from Weiss Watch Company on Vimeo.

The Watch of the Future is Made in...

Los Angeles!

Yesterday started out with some uncertainty.  I took a day off of work, hopped the train down south and got off at Union Station.  I was on my way to meet Cameron Weiss and talk about his "little project" of making "a few" hand wound watches...

"I'll take poor assumptions for $800, Alex."  Jamal Wallace, Finding Forrester

Regrettably, it is a bit too easy for those of us who follow watches to get jaded.  We get bombarded with press releases that promise the world about a given watch, that in turn delivers less than half.  Brands that bend the truth about the true provenance of a movement instead of just focusing on what they are supposed to be doing - making a watch.

Yesterday I was reminded of why I started writing about this stuff, and I fell in love again with watches.

Enter Cameron Weiss and his brand the Weiss Watch Company.  And if what he is doing can be done in Los Angeles, what the hell is wrong with these other "so-called" heritage brands claiming to revive "the lost art" of watch making with "bespoke" movements and pixie dust?

No false history, no claims of a movement made "just for him". He uses the ETA 6497 base and does finishing work locally. No claims of "proprietary", "in-house" or "bespoke". Refreshing, isn't it?

Courtesy of Weiss Watch Company

Consider the following:

All case parts, dials, spring bar tools, are designed, engineered and manufactured in Los Angeles. The dials are made of "naval brass", and then hand painted.

So in other words, unlike some bigger, more powerful, wealthier brands finding the least expensive components in locations "Eastern" and jacking up the price, Mr. Weiss has decided that he wants to make a watch with as much LOCAL CONTENT as possible - even if he has to produce some of those items himself. And even more surprising? He is doing all this and providing a fantastic watch at a very, very good price - the current collection sells for $950 US, with the option of adding a second strap and strap changing tool for $1,100 all in!

I have a longer post with an interview - and a LOT MORE images coming in a few days, but I wanted to get something out there today while I was still basking in the after-glow.

I seldom say this, but I am ready to place my order.

A Look at the Future

Today I ventured down to Los Angeles to view what I truly think is the REAL future of American watchmaking.

Tune in tomorrow (AM) for a full report.

The GRAMMIUM® TIMEPIECE from Gucci

This just in from Gucci -

Courtesy of Gucci

Gucci Timepieces & Jewelry announces the launch of the Gucci GRAMMY^® Special Edition Interlocking watch with a dial made of GRAMMIUM^®, the very same material used to forge the iconic trophy statuette in the shape of a gramophone — the GRAMMY Award^®. 

Weiss Watch Company

I was very, very happy to learn of a neighbor down in Los Angeles who is rolling up his sleeves and assembling watches by hand.

Courtesy of Weiss Watch Co.