The last few weeks have been a very sad time in the watch industry mainly due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Baselword and Watch & Wonders (formerly SIHH) announced they were cancelling their shows. This epidemic has had serious consequences for brands and RJ Romain Jerome has fallen the first victim to the virus. Even Hublot (LVMH) had announced a 70% decline in retail sales. However, it isn’t all bad news because there are many smaller labels like Iconic Timepieces that are making their mark on Kickstarter. Certainly, their distinctive Halocline Dive Watch has caught the interest of buyers, because the campaign is already funded.
Initially, the Halocline was called Hampton Bay but has recently been changed. Halocline is a vertical zone in the oceanic water column in which salinity changes rapidly with depth, located below the well-mixed, uniformly saline surface water layer (brands own words). Certainly, it is a great name for a watch and a very clever marketing strategy. In my experience, consumers love a good story to illustrate what inspired the design of the timepiece in the first place.
The brainchild behind Iconic Timepiece is a gentleman called Ivan Hampton Ennis. From recent conversations with Ivan, I can see how genuinely passionate about watches. It all started when his father gifted him a Casio G-Shock Giez stainless steel chronograph. For years he has been involved in various Facebook forums and SOMA Horology Marketplace. Ivan also has a YouTube video channel called WatchMe Unboxing, which enabled him to get access to a broad range of timepieces. This research inspired Ivan to create the Halocline which, immediately resonated with the Kickstarter community. As I mentioned this watch was fully funded within one day of the campaign launch. Certainly, that is a very impressive accomplishment and well deserved.
Personally, I love the simplicity of the design, which has a very traditional aesthetic. Ivan hasn’t tried to be too clever with the Halocline Dive Watch. Instead, he has stuck to basic principles by creating a timeless watch. However, he has used the finest materials in production like for the (43mm x 13mm) 316L stainless steel case and sapphire crystal for the lens. Within the range, there are numerous dials colours available like green, orange, navy and silver. These have a refined graded appearance that compliments the bold (luminous markers). Other features include a uni-directional bezel, minimalistic hour/minute hands, solid engraved case back and date window (located 4 o’clock).
To power the watch Ivan Hampton Ennis has opted for a Swiss automatic movement from Selita. The Calibre SW200-1 comprises 26-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. This mechanism has become a preferred alternative for microbrands because of the availability of ETA movements (notably the 2824-2). Functionally the Halocline features hours, minutes, seconds and date indication. The watch also has a power reserve of approximately 40-hours and is water-resistant to a depth of 200-metres. Essentially that means it is suitable for diving and rigorous water activities.
As a perfect finishing touch the Halocline is presented on a high-quality 316L steel bracelet with engraved folding clasp. To purchase this amazing timepiece on Kickstarter follow this link
