Too Small to Fail - Gavox

There are a lot of micro brands out there.  Truthfully, they are ten a penny.  Micro brand has become really, truly misunderstood and misapplied.  All too often, what micro brand leads people to assume is - bargain, value for money, even cheap.  What everyone fails to understand is that micro brand really should mean:

A brand that is small.  

And small does not mean weak, it does not mean insignificant, and in fact it should not, de facto, mean new.  Moreover, it should not default equate to "poor man's version" status for anything.  Now, when brands are in the "homage" business, then that is a barb that they will have to face.

But what about those people who do something completely different?  Something totally off of the radar?

Enter Michael Happe and Gavox.  And I think the watch that best sums up what the best possible meaning of micro brand should mean, is the Gavox Aurora.

My first review of this watch was nearly four years ago, and you can find it here -
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2016/04/practical-useful-and-shit-that-killed.html

And I have mused on it since -

http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2016/10/the-gavox-aurora-why-i-bought-it.html

http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2019/10/revisiting-gavox-aurora.html

Simply put, the world does not need more watch brands.  And the rapid destruction of several brand out there serves (albeit painfully) as a stark reminder of that fact.

But the world does need dreamers, people who thought - why not make a complex, multifunction quartz watch?

Gavox - too small to fail.

Revisiting the Gavox Aurora

So it's been a little more than 3 years since I first saw it, and just less than 3 years since I bought my own.

The Gavox Aurora is something of an outlier in the watch world.  On the one hand, it is without a doubt the most complex pilot's watch you can buy for south of $5,000 US.  On the other hand, it is a quartz watch and for some purists out there, that is an unforgivable sin.

A single watch that provides two time zones, a chronograph, a timer, date (month and date) and moonphase.  It's a lot going on made possible by a singular movement developed in partnership with Soprod.  But unlike a G-Shock or several of the other quartz options out there, the Aurora actually requires you to engage with it a bit.  You can just glance down and it's there.  No, you have to earn it by cycling through the functions.  And honestly?  For me this is, in many ways, what puts it right up there with anything else out there regardless of the price point.  The Aurora is still available, and for those making the trip to DC for District Time next weekend, you'll be able to check it out for yourself.  

And in case you missed it, here was my original review -

When you write a watch blog, even one that caters to a small readership such as Tempus Fugit, you get to test drive a lot of watches. And when you stop worrying about satisfying advertisers and stroking egos, you get to be honest.  This past spring I got to review the Gavox Aurora and to say that it made an impression on me would be a great understatement.

As I have said more than once, I am not a person driven by gadgets or the latest technical whimsy. I suspect whatever thirst for knowledge of the horological minutia of micro mechanics I might have once had got beaten out of me during my time at DOXA listening to armchair blowhards wax on about their superior knowledge (yes, that is sarcasm) of the fine points of the ETA 2824-2, or other sublime topics.

So the question is, what made such an impression on me?  Simple Complexity.  Yes, the Gavox Aurora has some pretty cool and sophisticated functionality, but all of the functions can be controlled even by a brain as "un nimble" as my own. 

But the other thing I really liked about about the Aurora was that it didn't just roll on its back like a faithful puppy waiting for you to rub its tummy.  No, if you wanted to check out or use the functions, you actually had to engage your brain, and the watch, by way of the crown/central pusher.  It makes the entire experience a bit more personalized, a WHOLE LOT MORE interactive.  It makes a complicated watch fun, without being an exercise in "haute behavior".  

So yes, this watch made a big impression on me, and hence I found myself in New York, cash in hand, to pick up my own and visit with Mr. Happe.

To a large extent, a watch is a watch is a watch.  And maybe it is just where I am emotionally, spiritually and intellectually in this world of watch fanatics of which I am a  member, but I want more than the latest innovation.  I want something that registers on a human, an emotional scale.

Something that provides a warm and fuzzy feeling.  And that is what the Aurora provides me.

When you find that special watch, well it is a love affair of sorts that you indulge in form the beginning of the day, until the sun sets.

So as the kitchen calls and I go to rattle a few pans to make dinner, remember that watches should be fun, as well as functional. The two are not mutually exclusive! So now I've got mine, and I am a happy guy!

I hope you find yours, whatever it is, or whoever makes it.

That's all for now - enjoy your watches!

Other Roads

From Gavox

Courtesy of Gavox

When most of us think about Gavox, we immediately think of aviation, and Belgium.  But interesting to relate, since he first started out, Michael Happés brand has grown and evolved beyond the confines of Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges.  With customers from all over the world, he wanted to pay small tribute to his now global fan base, and has done just that with his new Roads collection.  

Based on the same specs as the now well-known Squadron series, the Roads is a tri-compax chronograph that also features an alarm function.

The piece pictured above is the Gavox Roads Icefields Parkway.  This is a tribute to Alberta Highway 93 which is also referred to as the Icefields Parkway.  For more info. on the inspiration of this new piece, here is a link to our friends at Wikipedia's rundown -

Alberta Highway 93

But keep in mind that we are talking about ROADS - as in more than one!

As someone who has made the (at times) white-knuckle drive along 1, I can say that it is indeed scenic and beautiful.  And Gavox is offering two different pieces to commemorate it -

Courtesy of Gavox

 It is available in stainless steel (above), and a black PVD (below) -

Courtesy of Gavox

A black dial with grey sub dials, both versions are striking.

And last but by no means least - and far and away my favorite of the three versions, the Gavox Roads Atlantic Ocean Road, inspired by the Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway.

Courtesy of Gavox

 It is available in two versions - with date (above), and without (below).

Courtesy of Gavox

Each of the three versions features a "triptik" of sorts, highlighting the important milestones along the way engraved on the case back. 

This is a very limited series, with only 25 pieces of each version available.  Available on pre-order, and priced to move fast at: 330,58 € for the stainless steel version, and 363,64 € for the PVD Highway 1 version.  

If you are interested in pre-ordering, you can find the Gavox Roads pre order info here:

Gavox Roads Pre Order

Here are the pertinents:

Gavox Roads Specifications:

Surgical stainless steel case
Sapphire Crystal
Case diameter: ø 41mm
Case depth: 12 mm
Screw down CrownLuminescent on hands and dial (Superluminova)Turning Bezel 120 step (unidirectional)
Ronda Movement Swiss partChronograph 12H
TacimeterDate displayAlarm 12hSurgical Stainless Steel BandWater resistant: 10ATM (300 feet)

The Gavox Aurora - Why I Bought it

When you write a watch blog, even one that caters to a small readership such as Tempus Fugit, you get to test drive a lot of watches. And when you stop worrying about satisfying advertisers and stroking egos, you get to be honest.  This past spring I got to review the Gavox Aurora and to say that it made an impression on me would be a great understatement.

As I have said more than once, I am not a person driven by gadgets or the latest technical whimsy. I suspect whatever thirst for knowledge of the horological minutia of micro mechanics I might have once had got beaten out of me during my time at DOXA listening to armchair blowhards wax on about their superior knowledge (yes, that is sarcasm) of the fine points of the ETA 2824-2, or other sublime topics.

So the question is, what made such an impression on me?  Simple Complexity.  Yes, the Gavox Aurora has some pretty cool and sophisticated functionality, but all of the functions can be controlled even by a brain as "un nimble" as my own. 

But the other thing I really liked about about the Aurora was that it didn't just roll on its back like a faithful puppy waiting for you to rub its tummy.  No, if you wanted to check out or use the functions, you actually had to engage your brain, and the watch, by way of the crown/central pusher.  It makes the entire experience a bit more personalized, a WHOLE LOT MORE interactive.  It makes a complicated watch fun, without being an exercise in "haute behavior".  

So yes, this watch made a big impression on me, and hence I found myself in New York, cash in hand, to pick up my own and visit with Mr. Happe.

To a large extent, a watch is a watch is a watch.  And maybe it is just where I am emotionally, spiritually and intellectually in this world of watch fanatics of which I am a  member, but I want more than the latest innovation.  I want something that registers on a human, an emotional scale.

Something that provides a warm and fuzzy feeling.  And that is what the Aurora provides me.

When you find that special watch, well it is a love affair of sorts that you indulge in form the beginning of the day, until the sun sets.

So as the kitchen calls and I go to rattle a few pans to make dinner, remember that watches should be fun, as well as functional. The two are not mutually exclusive! So now I've got mine, and I am a happy guy!

I hope you find yours, whatever it is, or whoever makes it.

That's all for now - enjoy your watches!

Lunch with Michael Happé of Gavox

So I've been sitting on this one for awhile.  While Wendy and I were in Brussels, we had the great good fortune to meet with Michael Happé and have lunch.  And of course, there were some watches.

With the "sensory overload" of BaselWorld still "sloshing" around I thought today maybe a bit of a "photo essay".