As a child growing up in the United Kingdom I always fantasised about visiting far-flung destinations. At that stage of my life travelling to New Zealand seemed absolutely improbable. However, a few years we saved up and went on a cruise to visit both the North (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Islands (Te Waipounamu). Certainly, this sovereign island country is very diverse and has many very interesting place including to visit including Auckland. This major city comprises two harbours and has a very cosmopolitan vibe about it. It also is the home of brothers Amin and Amyn Tharini who own Bern Watch Co.
As I have mentioned before telling a great story is always a motivator for me. It is clear that Amin and Amyn Tharini have a great relationship because they have worked together for two decades. The philosophy behind their latest project (Bern Watch Co) is to deliver Swiss quality timepieces at affordable prices. This has involved several years of research to find reliable suppliers and money to develop prototypes. Finally, they have released their first model called the Milford Diver on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.
When delivering a new timepiece to market it’s always good to have a catchy name to entice buyers. The Milford Diver is named after the beautiful ‘Milford Sound’ which is fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. Out of all the models my personal favourite is the distinctive solid bronze version with a contrasting green dial. However, the 316L steel variations also have a cool aesthetic. Features like raised indexes, unidirectional aluminium bezel (120 clicks), sapphire crystal and diamond-cut hour/minute hands (with Swiss X1-Grade GL-C3 Superluminova) give the watch an expensive feel.
Beneath the 42mm x 12mm angular case lies a self-winding Japanese movement made by Seiko. The Calibre NH 35 comprises 24-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Functionally the Milford Diver features hours, minutes, seconds and date indication (located at 3 o’clock). The watch also has a power reserve 41-hours and is water-resistant to 300 metres, which means it really is suitable for diving.
The Milford Diver is presented on a high-quality oiled calf leather strap and comes with a 2-year warranty. To purchase this fantastic watch on Kickstarter follow this link
