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Duzu F-35

Generally, I am not a huge fan of rugby per-se even though many of my Yorkshire born relatives are fanatics. However, after England triumphed over the ‘All Blacks’ (New Zealand) in the world cup semi-finals, I felt they had a good shot at the title. As it transpired they were thrashed by a dominant South African team 32-12. I am sure this victory would have delighted Wayne McCay who grew up in Durban and now resides in Perth, Western Australia. Recently, Wayne contacted me to inform me of his new micro brand called Duzu and the launch of their distinctive F-35 watch.

When I asked Wayne about the company name he informed me that it’s an abbreviation of the Zulu word for White Rhinoceros “Umduzu”. This pays homage to his South African roots, which are obviously very important to him. Originally Wayne trained as an architect and these influences are visible in his new F-35 watch. Certainly, the design of this timepiece is far from generic and therefore should appeal to a broad demographic of discerning buyers. I feel in this day and age creating a unique identity is integral to the overall success of a brand.

Aesthetically the F-35 has a really cool Military appearance with a clever modern twist. Features like the matte black dial with contrasting luminous bold markers (white, orange) engraved case back, screw-down crown and dome sapphire give this piece a touch of class. The sculpted Grade 2 titanium 42mm x 12.5mm (excluding the crown) case is well proportioned without being too oversized. Personally I like much larger watches but concede that these dimensions will suit most people’s requirements. I also feel this timepiece would sit perfectly on the wrist and is perfect for everyday usage.

Powering the watch is a high-quality Miyota 9122 self-winding movement. This calibre comprises 26-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,000 vibrations per hour. Generally, I prefer Swiss-made mechanisms but the Japanese are a decent alternative that is accessible and more competitively priced. For that reason, they appeal to microbrands who want to offer consumers good value for money. Functionally the F-35 features hours, minutes, seconds, day, date and month indications. The watch also has a power reserve of 40-hours and is water-resistant to a depth of 100-metres.

The F-35 is presented on a Cordura strap with leather internal lining and custom titanium buckle. To purchase this cool watch on Kickstarter follow this link

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