Worth It! The Spitfire

From Gavox -

Courtesy of Gavox

So let's be clear - I am not now, nor do I ever foresee myself desiring to be a pilot. Having said that, there is something so fundamentally right and logical about pilot's watches. Clearly laid out, extremely legible, and accurate. Well, that's what it's supposed to be, but all too often this is not the reality. All too often, brands feel they need to dress up the dial as it it were an F1 race car. Not so with the Spifire.  The dial is elegantly simple. The time is easily read, and owing to the quartz movement, it is going to be bang on time. Which is sort of the main reason why you wear a watch, right?

The Spitfire's case is of stainless steel and measures 36 mm in diameter. And isn't refreshing to have a smaller sized watch? Odd though it may be for some, less is often more and in this case that is absolutely true.

And last but not least?  The price - just north of $200 US!

Here are the pertinents -

Smallest unit displayed 1 Hz

Calibre Seiko Instruments VD75

Autonomy (+/-3 years)

Accuracy (minutes per year) 4

Measurements Ø 36.0 x 41.5 x 7.9 mm

Water-resistance 3 bar (50 m / 199 ft, static)

Time base Quartz Oscillator

Limited Warranty 24 months

Measure between horns (lugs) 18 mm

Sapphire crystal (AL2O3)

Anti-magnetism 1,600 A/m

What I Like

So recently an anonymous comment came through with the tell-tale poor grammar combined with incredibly sophisticated vocabulary that led me to the inescapable conclusion that it either came from someone working in the marketing/pr department of a well-know watch brand, or from their likely intoxicated CEO.  Behind all of the bluster, rancor and (I can only assume) frustration, there actually was a valid point that I wanted to explore and expand upon.  The anonymous correspondent's critiques could be boiled down to a simple statement -


"You are very good at telling us what you don't like or disagree with, but what do you actually like?"

And to anonymous I would have to say, that is a very fair question.  So for those of you convinced that I am a profoundly contrary person, here are 5 things/people in the watch and luxury industry that I like, a lot!

1.  The Rolex Awards for Enterprise -
There is something profoundly wonderful about the Awards for Enterprise.  In their own words:

H ANNIVERSARY

ANYONE
CAN CHANGE
EVERYTHING

For four decades, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise have supported individuals with original ideas who are determined to make the world a better place. Over 100 men and women have been singled out for their spirit of enterprise.

Check them out here -

http://www.rolexawards.com/40


2.  Gavox
Michael Happe is doing something fantastic from his base in Belgium.  Without a lot of nonsense or bullshit, he has quietly been designing and making wonderful watches.  And he has been doing it in a slow, steady, self-sustaining manner.  His two most recent pieces, the Avidiver -

Courtesy of Gavox

and the Aurora -

Courtesy of Gavox

are different, interesting, and objects of great desire among those who have seen them.  Michael and a handful of other guys and girls out there represent the REAL spirit of the micro brand movement.  Let's hope they keep going!

3.  The Korona K0 from Sarpaneva 

Sometimes pictures speak louder than mere words, so here you go -

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

4.   The Scott Bag from the folks at Bleu de chauffe - 

Courtesy of Bleu de chauffe

Simple, beautiful - and yes, I want this!

5.  Benoît Mintiens -

Courtesy of Ressence

Yes, he is the man behind Ressence, and that in and of itself is a pretty serious calling card.  But having worked in the watch business for 10 years, and having covered it for 6, I can say without fear of contradiction that he is, without a doubt one of the very nicest people I have ever encountered, and I sincerely hope some of his kindness, positivity, and sincere approach rub off on some of his colleagues.

Win a Gavox Aurora!

Unfortunately, I can't enter this contest and while I patiently save pennies to purchase a Gavox Aurora of my own, I wanted to spread the word about your chance to win an Aurora of your own.

Courtesy of Gavox

So here is the breakdown from Michael Happe of Gavox -

Win a Gavox Aurora and HD files of your Deepart work.

Posted on 08/05/201609/05/2016

Dear Customers, Friends, Visitors

You have the chance here to win a Gavox Aurora and Some Deepart.io HD files of your realisation. (Rules of the contest will be posted below).

What is Deepart.io : I discovered some time ago a fantastic computer generated art work based on the unique Algorithm. I makes unique artwork from 2 Image mixed together. Going to https://deepart.io/#   I selected a Picture of a Gavox Watch and added an artwork I wanted the watch to resemble to. I chose a painting of a friend  James Jean .

Rule of this contest

1) with the tool Deepart.io Create a combination of a Gavox shot using one picture with a Gavox on it ( from Internet or elsewhere) and combine it with an Artwork image of your choice. in order to creat a new and amazing Art.

2) Submission need to be done using on of these media : Instagram, Facebook , Email  “deepart@gavox.com“

3) for Gavox to be able to see the post in Instagram and Facebook , make your post public  if not sure send it over mail to deepart@gavox.com

4) For Instagram and Facebook submission :  Post it and tag you new art with @Gavoxwatches  on Instagram And/Or Facebook 

5) in message section add  these Hashtag  #Gavox ,  #Deepart , #deepartgavox  and the artist you got inspired from.

6). Last submission 31st of May 2016.

7) Best picture wins. ( judges are Gavox Team)

Winning Prizes 

Winner Gets a Gavox Aurora of his choice (+/- 950€) and his Super HD made will be given to him and Gavox will use it for his site.

2nd and 3rd will get HD resolution free from deapart

Many Thanks to Deepart.io  Team  who will offer Some Some HD resolution to the Top Winners

Thanks to @jamesjeanart ( I used the Adrift image to create this).

Thanks to Deepart Team for their Support.

The Avidiver

From Gavox

Courtesy of Gavox

I actually got a chance to see one of these in person a few weeks ago at BaselWorld when Michael Happe was kind enough to take a few moments to share it with me.

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 !