Kickstarter Alert: Hudson River Watch Co – $225 (one watch reward)
Thanks to Greg S. for sending in the style tip on this project.
Another (potential) watch company, looking to crowdfund their way to production.
Sometimes these watch projects work. Sometimes they really don’t. And with a goal to raise $50,000, the husband and wife team behind Hudson River Watch Co. seem to be swinging for the fences. They’re not looking to produce one watch, but nine. NINE. Two of which will be the same basic design, with different colored dials (Front Street). Here’s their video:
What we think we know and/or don’t know:
- $225 gets you one of the nine watches with the band indicated in italics under each model’s 4-picture set.
- Movements are Swiss Quartz, crystals are sapphire, cases are stainless steel and water resistance is 150 feet.
- Case sizes seem to lean more vintage/smaller. 36mm – 41mm depending on the model.
- 7 of the 9 come with a leather strap, one comes with a rubber strap, the other a stainless steel band.
- The designs are inspired by individual streets in New York City.
- The video appears to show fully functioning prototypes.
- Production quality for the kickstarter project presentation (photos, video) sure appears to be top notch.
- They’re more than half way to their goal with a little under a month to go.
- No word on where these are manufactured.
- Rewards are estimated to deliver in August of 2013, but as they understandably note: “There are always challenges involved in the manufacturing process that have the potential to delay delivery, especially when dealing with more than one product, but we have built strong relationships with our partners and we’re confident we can meet our August 2013 timeline.”
Thoughts? Nine designs is a lot right out of the gates. But the Cranberry Street, Berry Street, and both Front Street options nail the updated vintage look. They say one of the two founders has a degree in studio art, and the aesthetics of these things are going to be seen as spectacular to some.
But have you grown tired of the risks and wait associated with Kickstarter projects? Or is this precisely the type of thing that you’d lay some hard earned cash down on, and then wait months for? Go ahead and vote, and leave any further observations/explanation of your view in the comments below…
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Cranberry Street and Berry Street. Both 40mm in diameter with 20mm wide straps.
Doubt I’d pay it, but a few of those are pretty nice, simple looking watches.
$50 tops…
I love their move toward more minimalistic watches with classic appeal over busier and sportier watches. There’s a niche in the market for cheaper classic watches. That being said, they’re too pricey. Quartz movements are cheap, and this couple doesn’t have the notoriety to charge designer prices for mass-market watches. They also have no storefront overhead. Around $100 sounds right.
Price is reasonable but can they really handle 9 models for a start up operation?? Can’t help but wonder about quality…
They’re nice, but you can get similar looking automatic watches that have actual noriety for that price. With good companies offering quartz models at half the price. I’d pay $100 tops. In any case, great watch posts lately and best of luck to these ppl.
FYI: The kickstarter “work” and “dont work” links are the same.
As me the Sutton Place is very tempting due to the smaller case and uber clean design!!
Must stick to budget!!!
Bottom line: Love the look (though, the Macintosh font from the ’80s is a very odd choice on those couple dials), but not the size. Too small for me to bite.
Nice looking watches… but “can’t find quality men’s watches under $500?” really? I have Seiko and Orient automatics that are well below $500 each… and they are the imported Japanese models too… and their movements are quartz? I wouldn’t pay more than $50 bucks per watch.
Ah. Fixed. It was a link to the Anstead Oceanis: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/612992795/anstead-watches-the-oceanis
My quartz limit is $100. At that point I can get nice mechanical watches.
They look great, I really dig the vintage, simple designs, but $225? No thanks…$100? Now your talking.
If there was an in-between option from the 0 and 150, it would have been the winner hands down. They look good but I don’t think I’d even pay $150 for one, but I’m not completely over kickstarter projects either…
Quartz is a deal breaker for me. For the same price I just ordered the Seiko SNZJ5! You mentioned it in January http://dappered.com/2013/01/the-suggestion-seiko-bring-back-the-snzj5/
I also have 2 Orient Automatics, the Masquerade and the Galant, that were less than $225 when I bought them.
http://orientwatchusa.com/mens/modern-watches/ferap001b
http://orientwatchusa.com/cetac004b