The first H batch of 25 watches is here.
I have been writing this announcement in my head for the past 12 months -
from the moment our small team first realised that one day we will be
able to machine and manufacture crucial watch components in
Australia, in our own humble workshop. Yet today, after assembling
H00/25, the very first watch proudly signed "
Manufactured in Australia"
I simply feel tired, struggling to even pull myself together to make
the announcement. There is no adrenaline, no euphoria, no celebration;
no self-congratulation.
As they say: the reward is not the destination but the journey itself.
And while we have reached an important milestone, our journey has really
just begun.
Make no mistake: while claiming the right to this prestigious title, we
recognise that there are probably dozens or more well-equipped machining
workshops in Australia which could have the capabilities of making a
wrist watch. Cochlear, Resmed, Rhode, ANCA, scientists from CSIRO - they
could all have done it. But they didn't think a watch project was worth
the trouble, the investment in time and money. And - above all - unlike
us, they didn't have a point to make or a race to run.
Is every component in H made in Australia? Of course not. That was
simply not our goal. The main objective of the project was to answer
just three questions: What does it take to understand, clone and then
genetically modify the watch 'DNA'? Could that be done in total
insulation, on a remote island, with limited watchmaking expertise and
no watchmaking tradition? And would such a watch be affordable to
Australian watch enthusiasts? The answer to the first two crucial
questions is ticking quietly on my workbench. The third question will be
answered in coming weeks.
In essence, the H is all about engineering, manufacturing and
integration. We proved that our in-house design main plates and bridges,
winding stems to dial fasteners, can be perfectly '
synchronised'
with Swiss-made components - creating a complex, robust, reliable and
accurate timepiece. And I am not just throwing in that adjective '
perfectly'
lightly, casually and disrespectfully: on the contrary; reaching
sub-micron precision is only something a fellow engineer would
understand and appreciate.
To sum it up: H is an engineer's watch, designed for an engineer looking for a timepiece with a unique story and origin.
I bow down to Josh who, in just 12 months, mastered both Kern and R04
and who spent countless nights designing and machining tools, fixtures
and finally our parts; and to Andrew, who was a reliable team member
responsible for design, drawings and measuring while mastering Makino
EDM. Without the two of them I would have no role to play.
And the price is ...?
Impossible to calculate. We tried to base it on investment costs, on the
cost of tooling and material, on the cost of labour ranging from an
engineer’s hourly rate down to humble workshop labourer's minimum wages -
and any price we came up with simply didn't made sense. For the lack of
better judgement, my guess is that $5,000 + GST for a priceless watch
may not be an accurate reflection of our commitment to you - but at
least fair and reasonable, taking into account that our time is yet to
come.
Where do we go from here?
Right now, the first H number 00 is ready for your inspection. All
components – including dials and hands – are in stock, and we are
awaiting gold plating on about half of the bridges. The gold plating is
still our biggest nightmare, but the decision has been made to accept
whatever result we can get right now, complete the assembly, and make
the watch available to the public. We are also developing our own ‘
in house’
gold-plating capabilities which will allow us to re-plate (if needed)
all components when the watch is due for its first service.
Yes, we are taking your orders now. However, there is no time for fake
modesty: to call yourself a proud owner of the first ever ‘
Manufactured in Australia’
wristwatch is a privilege. We are looking for partners who appreciate
our efforts, supporters who clearly understand the importance of this
project, and ambassadors who are proud to be associated with us. If this
is you, you are welcome to contact us promptly to secure your watch.
Priority will be given to existing orders, and we are also opening the
waitlist for the next batch of 25 pieces to be available in July/August.
The H manufactured in Australia mechanism is fitted in Titanium 45mm
case with Australian hand-made leather strap. The photos provided are
just quick shots taken with mobile phone camera, with no intention to
impress you. The only way to appreciate the workmanship will be once
you inspect the watch in person. You are welcome to make an
appointment.
