Black and Rose Gold PVD prototype cases

The prototype cases with Black and Rose Gold PVD finishes have arrived. I took them to my watchmaker today and he is encasing movements, etc.

When he is done, I will have nearly production compliant examples of Ref. 10111 (silver sunray dial, blue hands & stainless steel case), Ref. 10222 (black dial, red hands & black PVD case) and Ref. 10363 (black dial, PVD rose gold markers and case).

I will post photos when I get them back. Meanwhile, here are renders of what they will look like:

Working Prototype!

The first fully functioning prototype Ka La watch was completed today.

Prototype Dials and Hands have arrived

The sample hands and dials just arrived today. Here are shots of some of the dials with their second hand disks placed loosely upon them. I will unpack the hour and minute hands tomorrow. Now I have to decide which set to use with the latest prototype case to create the first functioning Ka La prototype watch. I'm leaning towards the  black dial with rose gold colored roman numeral hour markers (and gold hands of course).

PVD Black and Rose Gold Prototype Cases

The production ready (except for one detail) prototype cases with Black and Rose Gold PVD plating are on their way to Hawaii.

Here is a sneak peek, enjoy!

Milton and George, are you getting wood?

Prototype Dials and Hands are coming

A set of prototype dials and hands for the Ka La watch are shipping tomorrow. They should arrive within a week. After receiving them, a full prototype (case, movement, dial and hands) can be assembled and wear tested while production of cases, dials and hands is underway.

Here are the roman numeral hour marker dials and the second "hand" disk prototypes.

Trademark

I finally got around to having "Individual Design" filed as a U.S. Registered Trademark. The application & registration process takes a long time but is on its way now.

Black Date Disks are Ordered

For a more integrated look, black date disks have been ordered for watches which will have black dials. My present stock of movements all have white date disks, so this additional parts order will take care of a visual detail that some people less than desirable (white date background on a black dial).

Hang Tags are Ordered

Tags, which will be attached to watches, have been ordered. They will have the stylized version of the company name (individual design) within a rectangle. Letters and frame will be in gold on the black plastic tag. The thread/line will also be gold.

The purpose of the tag is two fold: Product identification/verification and to prevent returns of watches which have been worn (and have had their tag removed).

I will post a photo when the sample is ready for my review.

Watch Cases are a "GO"

My watchmaker gave a thumbs up to the latest prototype case as being production ready. A movement was test fit into the case and it all looks good. The case manufacturer has been authorized for full production, so in about 8 weeks they should be ready to ship.

Production Ready Prototype Case

The production ready prototype case arrived on Friday and I have test fit a movement into it. Tomorrow I will have my watchmaker check things out. I think longer posts for the hands will be required. Other than that, I expect few surprises.

The areas of concern with the previous prototypes can been corrected, so we are on track for authorizing full production of the cases very soon. Then after 8 weeks of production, the cases will be on their way to Hawaii.

The case and movement weighs 82 grams. This is with a plastic dial laid on top of a metal dial but no hands, so over all this is about right for the watch head and maybe even a bit high. Bands with deployment clasps add around another 21 to 25 grams depending on the band material. So, on the wrist, the weight will run about 103 to 107 grams total (which makes it less than a quarter pounder - all beef patty weight before cooking).

Dials with Round Hour Markers

I just received photos of the Ka La prototype dials which will have round hour markers. I will have them in hand in about 10 days and they can be test fitted into the prototype cases which will arrive 2 days from now.

The revision to these latest dials are the non-lume hour markers at 12 o'clock. A new  mold was created for them so they are the same height as the 11 lume coated hour markers.

Yet another composite

Here is hopefully one last composite image before the actual items can be assembled and a real prototype is photographed.