3D Case Drawings

The 3D CAD drawings with the latest revisions are now done. These latest changes will be reflected in another stainless steel prototype (which should be a production ready example).

A few renders from the CAD system:

Hands are firming up

The dimensions of the hands (including the second "hand" disk) are just about finalized. To accommodate production realities, a few dimensions were  tweaked but otherwise the hands are on track. The hands and the marker on the disk will be produced in at least 3 colors and perhaps more.

Ka La Watch Dimensions

A question that sometimes comes up is, "how big will the watch be?"

The answer for the Ka La watch is:

• 43 mm wide (46 mm including the crown)
• 56 mm long (including the lug rings)
• 12.5 mm thick
• 7 mm diameter winding/setting crown

Speaking of crowns, one of my pet peeves are watches where it is virtually impossible to move the crown outward to set the time. Some watches have a crown without a contour on the case end of the crown making it really hard to get your thumbnail in there to pop the crown outward. Needless to say, the Ka La watch features a crown with a tapered inner end. It also has the "id" (Individual Design) initials engraved on the end of the crown.

With the lug rings angled downward from the main body of the case, the watch does not "wear as large" as its dimensions suggest. It is not a small watch by any means, but it is not massive looking or clunky to wear compared to some of the really large watches on the market these days. Substantial looking, but not massive to my eye. The curved lug rings actually allow the watch to slide under a long sleeve shirt cuff much easier than you would think.

The Ka La watches use a 20 mm band. Most of the straps I plan to offer will taper and will feature 18 mm deployment buckles in a finish that matches the watch case (stainless steel, PVD black and PVD rose gold).

IP Blue sample on its way

A dial manufacturer under consideration will be sending me a sample dial with IP (Ion Plating) Blue on a silver background. If this finish looks good, then it will be used for one of my dials and also for the hour and minute hands for some of my models. The challenge will be to determine a PMS (Pantone Matching System) color for the marker on the second hand disk that best matches the IP Blue.

What I'm aiming for is:

Design meets production

Where design meets production, compromise reigns. Some things look good on paper but the reality of production feasibility wins in the end. So tweaks, more then compromise, might be a better description of the latest modifications for the dial designs.

The round hour markers (on the "Classic" dials) which will have lume (glow in the dark coating) can be created with IP plating, but not with enameled colors. So the original design with red hour makers with lume centers have become silver applied markers with lume in the center. The marker at 12 o'clock will still be red. Actually this change will give the black face a bit more flash with the silver circular markers at 1 to 11. The red maker at 12 will coordinate with the red hands.

Tomorrow I will show another dial with the latest revisions.

Details, details

Today I'm showing a crocodile band I bought for evaluation and which turned out to miss my expectations by a wide margin

The grain/pattern on this authentic crocodile watch strap is gorgeous. And the leather has that wonderful aroma of freshly tanned leather. So much for the good news.

I was hopeful as the country of origin is known for their crocodiles (and their skins). However, the workmanship is really third world and the strap is actually far too long (or could have had more holes punched in it) for the average wrist. The fixed loop is not even straight!

The stitching is uneven and on the back the cut and sewing of the crocodile facing to the backing is a joke. So as much as I love the skin itself, this vendor won't be supplying wrist straps for my watches.

 

Beautiful grain, wonderful aroma

 Poor execution

Uneven stitching

Cat Breading

I saw something funny on the Colbert Report tonight - the latest craze - Cat Breading. Nothing to do with watches, but what the heck. So here are photos of 6 of our 7 indoor cats.

Because we care about their health, we only used whole wheat bread. If you laugh half as much looking at these as we did while shooting them, it will still be a lot. Additional cat wrangling by Tammy and Tristin. 

Mia - our deaf kitten - not too happy

 Ginger - Mia thinks it is funnier on her

 Ginger trying to look regal with a slice of whole wheat

 Max looking shocked - the golden devil eyes are a bonus

 Max trying to look like the Easter Bunny

 OK, now Max has had enough of this breading nonsense

 Fluffy thinks this is camouflage of some sort

 Sabrina, the nervous cat, being unusually calm

 Yeah - stick that face of yours out there Sabrina!

 Now Sabrina is tired of this too

Bootsie wearing the bread like a frenchman with a beret and a beard