Doing Good - SEVENFRIDAY and Micah's Voice

Autism is something that touches more people that you might think. What had (in my coming up) been widely misunderstood (and often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all) is becoming more and more understood, but autism still presents unique challenges. 

Those of my vintage may remember Shawn Stockman from his Boyz II Men days. What they may not know is that he and his wife, Sharhonda, created the Micah's Voice charitable organization. The mission of Micah's Voice (per their website) -

With the core belief that each child has unique abilities and gifts to share with the world, Micah’s Voice provides hope and inspiration to families dealing with a diagnosis of autism. Through programs that provide education, awareness, support and financial assistance for those in greatest need, Micah’s Voice empowers families and gives a voice to these special children, so that they can enjoy the best quality of life possible.

And enter SEVENFRIDAY, who have previously supported the efforts of Micah's Voice and are doing so again with a very special limited edition -

Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY

Limited to 100 pieces, and priced at $998 US, here are the pertinents -

DIMENSIONS
Case: 45x45,6mm (HxW)
Thickness: 12.95mm
Strap: 26 to 22mm
Crown diameter: 7.5mm

MOVEMENT
Automatic Skeleton TMI-Seiko NH70
40 hours power reserve

CASE CONSTRUCTION
Two piece, stainless steel bezel, case and crown
3ATM water resistance

CASE BACK
Specifically designed polycaronate chip cover, celebrating the collaboration between SEVENFRIDAY and MICAH’s VOICE foundation

DIAL
Four layers construction
Gradient grey semi-transparent CR39 eyewear lens
Printing relief in white, “little bit louder now” motto in white, Micah’s Voice smiley logo in
yellow at 6h
Circular brushed intermediate ring, cut out indexes from 2 to 10h, SEVENFRIDAY logo in relief printing
Double layer dial ring, beveled inner circle in brushed rhodium with 12 luminous printed tracks  Outer plate in hard sandblasted gun metal finishing

GLASS
K1 hardened mineral

FEATURES
Watch in connection with the SEVENFRIDAY App, thanks to an NFC chip embedded in the caseback, allowing secured authentication and registration
Yellow luminous painting on hour and minute hands

STRAP
Premium quality Calf skin leather, yellow stitching details towards the case, mobile loop in yellow leather

You can find more information on Micah's Voice here -

https://micahsvoice.org 

And here's the info on the collaboration, straight from SEVENFRIDAY -

SOMETIMES AT 7F WE CAN BEHAVE LIKE ADULTS,
WHEN IT’S TO HELP CHILDREN

When our friend Shawn Stockman, of BoyzIIMen fame, asked us to help him and his wife Sharhonda raise funds for their charity Micah’s Voice, we put away childish things and came up in 2015 with the P3/01, a 99-piece limited edition, with the whole money going to support autism awareness, a whopping USD 100,000! And we threw in a unique custom guitar to be auctioned off for good measure!

You see, when it comes to our friends and children, we are happy to grow up just enough to come up with ideas and especially funds to help those in need.

It started in 2014 when we helped our friend Mark Suttcliffe and Prior’s Court to raise over GBP 100,000 which funded the build of an outdoor activity area for children and young adults diagnosed on autism spectrum disorder. Then, we partnered with Handicap International and raised enough funds to demine an area equivalent to 20 football pitches in Laos. You see, we all want children to play and kick a ball safely, with the only risk of explosion one of joy when scoring a goal!

Well it’s now time to behave once more , to put on our suits and ties and look all grown up again!

Proudly introducing the new T1/02 Micah’s Voice, a novel limited edition of 100 pieces, with proceeds going towards this foundation to educate and support children and their families, suffering from autism spectrum disorder.

Not only will you get a brand new and original T-series, with all the mod cons you have come to expect from SEVENFRIDAY, such as our unique NFC authentication and signature animation ring. This time you will discover a distinctive four-layer construction and semi-transparent dial, using a special gradient grey eyewear lens, with a cute white print relief motto which reads “little bit louder now”.

And the whole underlined with a smile-like curve, just to remind you that thanks to your generosity, you will bring a welcome smile to someone who really needs it. And to ensure we make you grin too, we also include with this special watch our friend Riley, the 7F bear with an attitude.

So go on, behave now, it’s for the children!

The S1/01

From SEVENFRIDAY -

Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY

The S1/01 is an interesting addition to the SEVENFRIDAY collection and offers some interesting nuances that make it an intriguing watch.

The animation ring (minute scale) is made of recyclable materials, as indicated by a recycle symbol on the side of the watch case -

Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY

 

Sort of an interesting notion, although I am honestly unsure as to how likely individual watches are going to be knocked apart to "compost" in separately piles.  Now had this been an animation ring crafted from recycled materials?  Well then that would be even better!  But again, it is a cool idea, and well done to SEVENFRIDAY for thinking of it. 

The second interesting idea was the inclusion of an NFC chip in the case back, which allows the owner of the watch to register it with SEVENFRIDAY via the SEVENFRIDAY APP.  

Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY

The APP is currently only available for Android based phones, but the hope is that a version for iPhone will be available in the future.  The chip is a great customer service idea and I think SEVENFRIDAY is to be applauded for thinking outside the "watch box" on this one.  You can find more info. on the App here - SEVENFRIDAY APP

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

S1/01

ENGINE
Automatic movement:
Open balance wheel on Miyota 82S5 40H power reserve.

BOX
Size: 47mm x 47.6mm 

BOX:
Case: Polished and sandblasted stainless steel with polished stainless steel bezel.
Caseback: Polished stainless steel with NFC chip embedded behind the globe.
New recyclable animation ring: Translucent nylon, showcasing the 4x metallic blue PVD structural screws. Classed as a recyclable plastic, the nylon bares the recyclable 7 logo.
Glass: Specially hardened and anti-reflective treated mineral glass. 

MULTI LEVEL INTERFACE:
Gun metal Opaline outer plate, rhodium dial ring with luminous filled indexes, finely sandblasted rhodium “SEVENFRIDAY” plate and polished rhodium stamped grid at 9H. Sandblasted rhodium “S” plate between 4-5H with metallic blue second indicator.
Hands: Metallic blue hour hand and metal minute hand designed as an extension of the mechanical engine. Both rhodium coloured hands are filled with Super-LumiNova®.
Discs: Seconds displayed as an extension of the mechanical engine via rhodium disc with black printed numbers and tracks.

STRAP:
Black calf skin leather with soft touch padding and black stitching.

WATER RESISTANCE:
3ATM (30 metres).

NFC:
Chip that allows authenticity verification via the SEVENFRIDAY Android app.

Doing Good - SEVENFRIDAY

This was a very, very welcome sight over the Thanksgiving weekend.  A watch company actually spending time, money and effort in a meaningful way.

Courtesy of SEVENFRIDAY

I like to walk. In fact, I like to walk a lot. In my life I have been pretty lucky. For the most part I can walk anywhere I want without worrying about stepping on something that at best would blow off my leg, at worst... well you know the worst.

So bravo to SEVENFRIDAY for focusing some of their ever-growing marketing muscle on raising money to help clear land mines in Laos by directing not 10%, not 20%, not even 50% but 100% of the sales of 100 special watches to benefit Handicap International!

That's right, ALL money after tax from the sale of every M1/05 Freedom goes to Handicap International to help aid their essential work demining Laos.

SEVENFRIDAY has partnered with Handicap International to raise funds to help finance the removal of landmines in Laos. And because they are doing something so valuable, so important, I think it's only fair that they get a chance to tell this story in their own words -

SEVENFRIDAY is about Freedom. For people in some regions, the simple freedom of stepping on their own soil represents a mortal risk. Ones of those regions is Laos. It was the most bombed area in the world and still to this day it’s covered with bombs and landmines, even more than 40 years after the war. Many loose their lives or are disabled because of these remnants of war.
 

As a global, community centred brand, SEVENFRIDAY feels committed to take social responsibility. To support the courageous  people in clearing the fields and demining Laos we launch the #freetowalk project to raise awareness and launched the M1/05 to raise much needed funds.

100% of the sales of each M1/05 FREEDOM Limited Edition (100 pieces) goes to support Handicap International, clear landmines in Laos so the people there can be #freetowalk, free from danger and free from fear.

 

                             M1/05

 

The M1/05 is a limited SEVENFRIDAY watch constructed in partnership with the Global Peace Prize winning charity Handicap International. All money after tax from the sale of every M1/05 goes to Handicap International to help aid their essential work demining Laos.

1 watch sold = demining an area equivalent to 4 tennis courts

100 watches sold = demining an area equivalent to 20 football pitches

Goldgena - It's About the Watches, Man!

With another announcement about Goldgena's plan and an update it is becoming clearer and clearer that their attempt to "Kick the watch making anthill" is not entirely dissimilar to:

SEVENFRIDAY, Dietrich and countless other former Swiss insiders who decided to hang out their own shingle, offered different designs, and less expensive (Miyota or other) movements.

For those just tuning in, the thesis is this -

1.  Apparently Swiss watchmaking companies are evil and look to stick it to "Chinamen" because they work for peanuts to provide the Swiss with cases, dials, hands, etc. everything except the movement and the magical hand of the master Swiss watch maker.  Then, because the self-same "Chinamen" are so stupid, they then buy the same watch back at inflated prices.  This is illustrated in a wonderfully racist and ethnocentric cartoon that you can hop in the "way-back" machine and go back in time 50 years when it was just good old fashioned fun to be a racist asshole -



2.  Apparently - and I know that this will knock you over with a feather - Swiss watch companies over produce and have to dump product into the grey market.  And that's not all, they also (brace yourself) screw over retail partners with strong-arm distribution tactics.

3.  Did I mention that they are really sincere?  It's about the watches, man!

4.  BUT - they're different, man!  It's about the watches, man.  Therefore they don't need any distribution, at least not the traditional type.  They do, however, need you (John and Jane Q Public) to become "Sheriffs" and rustle up a posse of your own!

"I'd like to tell you about a special club that I belong to.  No, it's not Amway..."

5.  And because they are different, and not suckling on the corporate teet of evil Swiss mega conglomerates, they need YOUR help.  Because, see, it's about the watches, man!  Stay tuned for a Kickstarter project so you can help fund the vision!

6.  Because they are going about it a different way, because, it's about the watches, man!  They don't have any money to throw around on useless, frivolous things that traditional watch brands do.

Which I guess explains why it now appears that a press agency has been engaged?

And if I am wrong or have misunderstood that highlighted last point, I sincerely welcome the (soon to be named) folks at Goldgena to set me straight.

Otherwise, I'm calling bullshit.

The New Offerings from Dietrich

With a year now under their belt, Dietrich had a broader spectrum on offer this year at BaselWorld -

Courtesy of Dietrich

 A new rage and selection of strap options.

Courtesy of Dietrich

It seems that Dietrich have now established their "grammar" so the question now becomes what will the rest of this year and next have to offer.

Courtesy of Dietrich

Another challenge that Dietrich face is a decidedly "similarness" to sevenfriday.

Courtesy of Dietrich

I am no fan of sevenfriday, but their are enough similarities that folks will do the inevitable comparisons - whether they are fair or not.

Courtesy of Dietrich

For me they look decidedly different.  The uphill task for Dietrich will be for them to establish the beachhead and gain doors.

Courtesy of Dietrich

As with any brand, nothing happens overnight.  So let's hope that we see some great things for Dietrich.  They have our attention, now let's see if they can keep it.

Why Can't Every Day be Friday...

I guess it can!

Courtesy of Seven Friday

This is the P1 from SEVENFRIDAY.  I have to give full marks to Frank Geelen and his crew at Monochrome for turning me onto these guys.  The model pictured above is the P1.  And the outfit putting out these "groovalicious" timekeepers is called SEVENFRIDAY - and I have to say that their's is a manifesto that I can get behind - every day should be as awesome as Friday.

The P1 is constructed of stainless steel and amply sized at 47 x 47.6 mm.  The engine driving the P1 is Miyota's 8257 which allows for an open balance wheel to be displayed.  SEVENFRIDAY refers to the inspiration behind the P1 as "Industrial Essence" - and that is evident in the design and the materials used.

So where are these folks based?  Well Switzerland, of course ; )
Yes, it is a bit unexpected, but that is another thing in SEVENFRIDAY's favor - to swim against the stream and try something different!

Available for direct purchase from the company via their website, and quite reasonably priced at $891.46 US!

www.sevenfriday.com