In the last few years I have been very privileged to work with some highly professional publishers and editors. They have given me enormous creative autonomy and allowed me to develop unique book concepts. Recently I have finished a book about independent watchmakers featuring 60 exclusive brands. The foreword is exceptionally detailed and includes my personal experience creating unique watches like the Polaris and Pure Carbon. I wanted to share these insights with readers to illustrate the many challenges involved. Certainly without the enormous generosity of craftsmen like Frank Heydrich, Ben Birkett, Thomas Mond and Ingomar Gaksch my project would never have materialized.
Just as I was in the final stages of completing my independent watchmakers book I discovered a new brand called Tockr. I was pretty blown away by their original designs and instantly got in touch with the owner Austin Ivey (who incidentally is also based in Austin, Texas). During our conversation he explained the inspiration behind the brand, who is Austin’s Grandfather, Eugene Xerxes Martin, Jr. Fascinatingly this brave Army Air Transport lieutenant successfully flew 52 missions for his country and received the prestigious China War Memorial Medal for his efforts. Certainly this heartwarming back story adds a lovely personal dimension to the company.
As I have highlighted it is really difficult to establish a watch brand especially if you want to create something a bit different. However, Austin Ivey has managed to achieve this with a lot of hard work and capital investment. He also worked with industry specialists like Sophy Rindler and Serge Aebischer, which has certainly paid off. The results are an astonishing collective of original timepieces including (my personal favourite) the marvellous C-47 Wing.
Far too many watches on the market are generic and that is why the C-47 Wing is a refreshing change. I also love the bold dimensions of the curvaceous (wing shape) 316L sandblasted 53mm x 42mm steel case, which sat perfectly on my wrist. These epic proportions also perfectly frame the three dimensional dial. This eye catching feature is inspired by the radial engine from vintage aircraft. Other characteristics include a second hand with airplane detailing and really cool decorative crown. Overall the aesthetic is refined and sets it apart from many other timepieces available on the market.
At the heart of the watch is a customized movement which has been created by Swiss manufacturer LESCHOT. The Caliber 726/A08 comprises 25-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Functionally the C-47 Wing features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch also has a power reserve of 40-42 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
As a finishing touch the C-47 Wing has a high quality tan colour hand-stitched calf leather strap with matching brushed 316L steel buckle. Priced competitively at: $2,400.
For more information about Tockr follow this link
