Recently I travelled to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to spend News Years with a couple of good friends. I was amazed at the number of skyscrapers and luxurious malls within close proximity. There was even a theme park with a double corkscrew in one of the main shopping complexes. On my visit, I had the chance to meet Leong Wong, who was formerly the editor of Esquire Magazine (Singapore/Malaysia). Even though have worked for Leong I had previously never met him, person. That is why it was great to share lunch and discuss watches and the general state of the industry. One of the topics was the emergence of small microbrands who now release new models on crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter. A good example is Von Doren who have just launched an exciting watch called the URÆD.
In the past I have featured Von Doren’s Grandmaster Mark II Open Heart and Runde watches on my website. I am a huge admirer of the talents of owner and self-proclaimed Chief Amazement Officer Øyvind VonDoren. In a short space of time, he has grown a sustainable company and has got many devoted followers. His latest offering called the URÆD has just been launched on Kickstarter and was fully funded within 50-seconds.
The URÆD took Øyvind VonDoren 18-months to design. This watch is inspired by the Norwegian hero Ole Brude who sailed from West Norway towards New York in an egg-shaped vessel called the URÆD. It’s a nice story and the timepiece certainly doesn’t disappoint either. With a stainless case measuring 40mm, this stylish diver watch should appeal to a broad demographic of discerning buyers.
Aesthetically the URÆD has a high quality understated appearance. I love the minimalistic dial, which is three distinctive variations (Green Sea, Atlantic Blue and Lava). Other fine details include raised silver indexes, slimline hour/minute hands, bi-directional bezel, black silicone strap and double dome crystal with anti-reflective coating. At the heart of the watch is a 26-jewel Swiss made STP 4-13 self-winding movement, which is visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Functionally the URÆD features hours, minutes, seconds and date indication. The watch is also water-resistant to a depth of 100-metres and has a power reserve of 44-hours.
To purchase the URÆD on Kickstarter follow this link
