The kickstarter adventures of Sólás - solaswatches.com

dakar

Will you give us a heads up what time on Monday we can expect the launch?

893bet

Interesting article on Chinese watch making.

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/watches/article/chinese-watch-brands

FFVII

Yea...I've zero interest in owning a watch, I'll read about some of them....but I'm sort of tempted to buy this. Weird one.

I read the whole thread in one go a few days back so did the "journey" in an hour.

Dunno what to do (search is not good)....I know it was mentioned but what's the expected life span again?

Maintenance cycle?

Eoin

Thirdfox wrote: »

I think I'm going to have to align my campaign with the publication of that review.

Great idea IMO, I think it'd be a real shame to lose that momentum

Thirdfox

Thirdfox wrote: »

Wow... I just got some feedback that leads me to think that well - I'm likely to be launching this kickstarter next Monday then... (something to put in your diaries for those who want the worm).

I was actually blushing with pride at the end of it - the reviewer really got what the watch was "about" - and luckily it's the largest channel one too.

When the biggest negative of the watch is "the price is too good to be believed" - I think I'm going to have to align my campaign with the publication of that review.

Oh and of course there are actual negatives to the review too - because it's an actual review and not an ad - but I just felt it was funny that the biggest/main one that was focused on was caveat emptor due to the great price :P

dakar wrote: »

Will you give us a heads up what time on Monday we can expect the launch?

Hmm - well...9:19am has a special meaning for Sólás watches so... I think I'll let people know about it by model 3.

FFVII wrote: »

Yea...I've zero interest in owning a watch, I'll read about some of them....but I'm sort of tempted to buy this. Weird one.

I read the whole thread in one go a few days back so did the "journey" in an hour.

Dunno what to do (search is not good)....I know it was mentioned but what's the expected life span again?

Maintenance cycle?

With these Chinese movements it is expected to perform just as well as say a Seiko NH35 - as in if you treat it badly without a service it'll probably still last you 20 years or more.

The thing with servicing - are you willing to pay €200 to service a €399 piece? A lot of people aren't - which is the nature for these cheaper microbrands/affordable watches. That would be I think cost servicing in Ireland (and actually something I would look setting up for watch servicers as something else that is helping the local Irish watch industry).

But if people wish to have say a 5 year service interval - I have something in mind for that - caveat emptor though - with a microbrand looking 5 years in advance might not be something you can rely on - Omega will be there in 5 years time, will Hamtun (or Sólás?) Touch wood nothing happens to me - but for a one person brand things can change and that is a genuine factor to consider.

micks_address

Can I ask a dumb question? What are the benefits of a micro rotar?
Thanks,
Mick

Thirdfox

Not a dumb question - here's a good article I linked to on my site:
https://www.horobox.com/en/news-detail/the-history-and-function-of-the-micro-rotor

Essentially 2 main benefits:

1) can be thinner than other movements (ETA 2824 is 4.65mm and HZ5000A is 3.95mm - I'm asking the factory to redo the watch to try and get an extra 0.2mm in height reduction for the Starlight so it's easier to have a thinner watch when you have a thinner movement). Now 3.95mm isn't super thin for modern micro-rotor standards - the Piaget 1200p movement has a 2.35mm thickness - but the rotor in that movement probably costs more than the Starlight.

2) shows off the movement decoration without blocking half the view - that's important too - some earlier Swiss microrotors look downright ugly (they probably were competing against quartz on thinness) - but nowadays modern ones allow more space on the back to show off your decorations - that's something "normal" automatics have a hard time competing against (though some use skeletonised large rotors etc). A micro-rotor has it tucked away in one corner and the rest of the movement can be constantly seen without interruption.

3) 3rd benefit is - it's different and cool :P - that's why I was trying to get a micro-rotor watch in the beginning

Thirdfox

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/s%C3%B3l%C3%A1s-starlight-worlds-first-affordable-micro-rotor-microbrand-watch-ks-campaign-launches-6-july-2020.5213113/

This thread on WUS should be moderator approved soon(ish) - it's the official Sólás Starlight thread on WUS - everything's coming together now

micks_address

Thirdfox wrote: »

https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/s%C3%B3l%C3%A1s-starlight-worlds-first-affordable-micro-rotor-microbrand-watch-ks-campaign-launches-6-july-2020.5213113/

This thread on WUS should be moderator approved soon(ish) - it's the official Sólás Starlight thread on WUS - everything's coming together now

Is wus US based? Just wondering if you should list the USD price with euro?

This is it

That was a brilliant read, nicely out together!

blue5000

micks_address wrote: »

Is wus US based? Just wondering if you should list the USD price with euro?

I think they'll be less the VAT on the price too? Unless you ship direct to USA from China.

Thirdfox

micks_address wrote: »

Is wus US based? Just wondering if you should list the USD price with euro?

The USD is listed beside the Euro price on the picture - I think it's probably fine to leave it as 349-399 in the text - makes it nice round numbers instead of weird USD figures.

blue5000 wrote: »

I think they'll be less the VAT on the price too? Unless you ship direct to USA from China.

I've elected not to register for VAT (so I can't claim VAT back on purchases but I don't charge VAT on sales either) - next time though I'll be setting up a company and opting to charge VAT so it'll mean (sadly) that EU based buyers will have a higher cost than foreign ones (lol could always send to the UK friend/family member for a holiday though I guess :P )

micks_address

cool - did you check how the post looks on a phone/ipad and desktop? i read on my phone and looked fine.. although i missed the price in the picture

Thirdfox wrote: »

The USD is listed beside the Euro price on the picture - I think it's probably fine to leave it as 349-399 in the text - makes it nice round numbers instead of weird USD figures.



I've elected not to register for VAT (so I can't claim VAT back on purchases but I don't charge VAT on sales either) - next time though I'll be setting up a company and opting to charge VAT so it'll mean (sadly) that EU based buyers will have a higher cost than foreign ones (lol could always send to the UK friend/family member for a holiday though I guess :P )

Thirdfox

Interesting thing about that - I started using google analytics and the vast vast majority of people are looking at the pages on mobiles (65/35) - so I'll be focusing on making all posts "mobile friendly".

As for not necessarily putting that USD price in there on the thread - I think that might be an area of engagement too - if people write on the thread that's good for me too.

micks_address

Thirdfox wrote: »

Interesting thing about that - I started using google analytics and the vast vast majority of people are looking at the pages on mobiles (65/35) - so I'll be focusing on making all posts "mobile friendly".

As for not necessarily putting that USD price in there on the thread - I think that might be an area of engagement too - if people write on the thread that's good for me too.

yeah to be honest when im not 'working' most of my browsing is via my phone... mostly so my wife doesnt see me browsing potential watch purchases

antodeco

micks_address wrote: »

mostly so my wife doesnt see me browsing potential watch purchases

"Watch purchases"

Thirdfox

Again some background info (and a request for help) - I've been picking out one quote from each review that's been published but I'm in a pickle with one review - it's been hard to pick just one quote to use (a great problem to have I think!)

Now the quotes below read like an advertisement I admit - but I guarantee you not one penny was paid (or benefit in kind ha for you lawyers out there) and these are the reviewer's genuine thoughts.

Which quote would people vote for as the "blurb"?

1 – “…this is damn near 'too good to be true' sorta levels of bargain…”
2– “…but more than anything I’m very impressed, this is a piece with not just one source of wow…”
3– “…if the final product that ships is just like this, this is going to be amazing…”
4 – “…it highlights there are microbrands out there doing something unique…”
5 – “…Sólás look…make it happen, make this happen and then make more stuff happen…”

1-5 - happy to hear people's suggestions of which one to go with - and hopefully people can understand why I'm launching 2 weeks in advance...

wanderer 22

Thirdfox wrote: »

Again some background info (and a request for help) - I've been picking out one quote from each review that's been published but I'm in a pickle with one review - it's been hard to pick just one quote to use (a great problem to have I think!)

Now the quotes below read like an advertisement I admit - but I guarantee you not one penny was paid (or benefit in kind ha for you lawyers out there) and these are the reviewer's genuine thoughts.

Which quote would people vote for as the "blurb"?



1-5 - happy to hear people's suggestions of which one to go with - and hopefully people can understand why I'm launching 2 weeks in advance...

I'd go for 5, making people excited about future products at this stage is pretty cool

blue5000

Thirdfox wrote: »

Again some background info (and a request for help) - I've been picking out one quote from each review that's been published but I'm in a pickle with one review - it's been hard to pick just one quote to use (a great problem to have I think!)

Now the quotes below read like an advertisement I admit - but I guarantee you not one penny was paid (or benefit in kind ha for you lawyers out there) and these are the reviewer's genuine thoughts.

Which quote would people vote for as the "blurb"?



1-5 - happy to hear people's suggestions of which one to go with - and hopefully people can understand why I'm launching 2 weeks in advance...

Sounds like Nick, no 5 is a good one, when is the review up?

Thirdfox

blue5000 wrote: »

Sounds like Nick, no 5 is a good one, when is the review up?

The reviews (multiple - I think around 3) will be coming out next week - in around the launch date.

redlead

I really like number four because so many microbrands just go down the generic diver route (probably for good reason to be fair). What you are offering is something that is totally unique. Other reviewers might cover the value for money point which is important. Some of those quotes are so good, you could forgive yourself for a using a few of them. I'd go, 4, 1, 2, 5, 3 in order of preference.

This is it

I definitely wouldn't go for three. It might put it in people's minds that maybe the final piece won't be as good as this

Edit: 4, 2, 1

I don't like 5 or 3

MAJJ

Initially 2 but then thought it may cast doubt on delivery.
So I would then go with 3.

Great to see the feedback and acknowledgement of your hard work to date.

banie01

micks_address wrote: »

yeah to be honest when im not 'working' most of my browsing is via my phone... mostly so my wife doesnt see me browsing potential watch purchases

Incognito tabs Mick
Incognito! Tis better they think we have crippling porn addictions, than an addiction to man jewellery :pac:

dakar

Great to have a selection of positive takes to use.

2,4,5 in that order.

The others can be read positively, but can also be interpreted negatively. I don’t like 1, because usually when I see something described as ‘too good to be true’, it is, and I don’t like the element of doubt no. 3 introduces.

tobdom

I'd go with 2 (2nd preference would be 5)

Eoin

tobdom wrote: »

I'd go with 2 (2nd preference would be 5)

+1

antodeco

2 stood out straight away to me!

FFVII

No 5 for me then 2

Thirdfox

Thanks for all the feedback guys - I think personally I was looking at 5 but can understand how this actually might be something that works better in audio (when you can really hear the hope/excitement in the reviewer's voice - plus these quotes are in chronological order - so after hearing 1-4 and then 5 - it was just "wham - yeah he really gets what I'm trying to do".

After hearing the wide variety of opinions - I think I'll go with no.2 then - with just one modification:

"...more than anything I’m very impressed, this is a piece with not just one source of wow…" - I don't think removing the "but" changes the context as I recall he was mentioning something else positive before that. Plus but(t)s belong in the back not the front :pac:


edit: or maybe even:

"...I’m very impressed, this is a piece with not just one source of wow…" - again spirit and context kept intact and might read snappier?