Jan 10, 2018 | By David
As fashion and technology trends evolve and grow, there’s still something distinguished and elegant about a quality, well-built wristwatch, and a timepiece that was personally designed is one of the most luxury products that a person can own. Bespoke watches could soon be a more accessible item, however, as a result of a new project recently launched on Kickstarter by Schaffen Watches. With its new Reference 65 collection, the Singapore-based watch manufacturer is offering customers the chance to get a piece made with a customized rotor, produced using 3D printing technology.
Founded in 2015 by two brothers, Nicholas and Jonathan Han, Schaffen Watches has rapidly established a significant reputation for itself in the watchmaking industry. The company’s biggest success story so far is probably the commission it received from the Republic of Singapore’s Air Force, to create a personalized watch as a gift for a retiring general. But why should regular civilians miss out on the bespoke timekeeping fun? That’s presumably the thought that inspired the brothers to launch this latest project, the Reference 65 collection.
Identifying the growing trend for customized items, in which the growth of 3D printing technology has played a major role, Schaffen wants customers to see themselves as co-creators for the Reference 65 range. They will be able to design their own rotor, and then send this design off to the company to get it 3D printed, to as high a standard of quality as the rest of the watch.
The 3D printing job will be carried out by manufacturers in Leuven, Belgium, while the watch will be inspected for accurate movement by a team in the world’s capital of precision, Switzerland. The mechanism was developed in collaboration with Swiss company Sellita Watch SA, using their SW200-1 movement. This is a clone of the ETA 2824 mecahnism used in Tag Heuer products, and it’s a trustworthy caliber with 26 jewels as well as heated blue screws. Assembly of the watch is finalized closer to home, in the company’s headquarters in Singapore.
The 3D printed rotor for your one-of-a-kind watch will be made from 316L stainless steel, with the option to upgrade to 18K gold-plating in either red, yellow, or white. Customers can decide if they want a solid structure or a transparent ‘skeletonized’ design for the rotor, as well as choosing the shape of the hands and the type of numerals on the dial. You can even add your signature or a personal motif to the face.
Your customized rotor will be supported by the finest quality in every other part of the watch. In both the A65 dress version of the watch and the S65 sports version, the case is mostly made from sapphire crystal glass. The straps on the 1950s and 60s-style dress watch are made from genuine full-grain leather, while the straps on the sports version are stainless steel.
Each Reference 65 timepiece will come in a wooden box, with black PVC leather cushioning the watch. The box comes complete with a personalised warranty card & certificate of authenticity. The company is confident in the quality of its watches, and provides a 2 year warranty on every piece.
The dress watch is available for a Kickstarter pledge of $585 or more, with the sports version starting at $715. The gold-plating is available from $735, for the dress watch. There are 28 days left to go of the crowdfunding campaign, and the target of $30,000 has already been reached, with over 70 backers getting on board with this pioneering new watchmaking concept. Production and shipping will start in February.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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