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The kickstarter adventures of Sólás - solaswatches.com

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭Fitz II


    Jesus some of these guys are so flippin fussy, its a 350 euro microrotar from a brand new microbrand....why are they trying to bust your balls with these little details. This is what you get for romancing the WIS crowd thirdfox, I personally could not stick the faux outrage from these pedagogue's


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,301 ✭✭✭John Hutton


    I would question the sincerity of a watch enthusiast who backed a 350 quid kickstarter, supposedly without watching a single review or looking at any other picture aside from one or two.

    An obvious attention seeking flounce imo, with an addition of trying to wind up a lawyer by accusing him of fraud. Attention seeking, you answered well, now ignore.


  • Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭hammerdub


    Personally I think you have described everything about the watch and it has been gone into depth by reviewers, but some people just want to complain. I don't think you need to explain anything anymore , but if it keeps your mind at ease by all means do so. But the majority of people who backed you I think don't believe you need to do anymore.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    This is it wrote: »
    Maybe it's me not paying enough attention but I think adding the blue screws and different strap complicated thing's somewhat. Now with the rotor, I don't even know the difference to be honest, I'm not sure what the watch is coming with, what screws, strap, etc.

    I will definitely be letting people know what the final piece will be - it is very likely to be what you have seen in all the recent reviews - with the addition of blued screws. The salmon straps will be 41.25 euro add ons if people prefer to add on a salmon strap in black in addition to the Horween strap (and that's pretty much at cost too) - some people have been asking about purchasing individually without backing the campaign and the price then would be 58 euro (without VAT currently).

    I've taken a few snaps of the movement so people can see absolutely clearly what is being made for them (apart from blued screws):

    c1hoy59l.jpg

    ECiOiR7l.jpg

    dW8gv9Hl.jpg

    Not touching the photoshop in case people take issue with any "touching up" - they have been cropped however!

    For a 339-389 euro full package (including shipping and depending on when backed) I genuinely think it is pretty good what you are getting (and even better if the blued screws get slotted in).

    Of course things can always be better though - Pierre may not have seen the reviews as he is a French native so that is something I should have considered too - while most are English speakers there may be some people who just didn't bother checking out English reviews etc. and relied solely on the studio photos (which again was down to circumstances - we just didn't have a signed rotor to give to the photographer - it was either circular or no logo at all). That's on me though for not planning the timing correctly on the photos.

    The really big push will come at 48 hours before the end of the campaign - every follower of the campaign (700+) will get an email from Kickstarter reminding them that the Sólás campaign is about to finish. While I obviously can't control the narrative of what people are saying on the comments I understand that prospective backers will often be checking out the comments and updates to see how the campaign is going...

    As such - it would be good if things like "fraud" isn't at the top of the comments pile - so I would love it if people could post some generally positive comments to the KS page too (if you feel like the campaign warrants positive comments) - keeping in mind that prospective backers probably won't enjoy seeing fighting/angry posts on comments either - it's why I hope I've been seen to answer any backers' questions calmly, thoroughly and helpfully :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    For any backers of the Starlight - just an FYI that I've put up the last official update before the end of the campaign:
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solaswatches/solas-starlight-an-irish-affordable-micro-rotor-watch/posts/2999023

    (apparently there is research that shows putting up updates too close to the end apparently results in people dropping off too) - but wanted to put the rotor issue to bed absolutely - addressed in FAQs, main campaign page, comments and now an update too.

    Oh and another review has come out - heh still time to sneak a few more in - the reviewer will be doing a Spanish version too - so our first non-English video review :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    WOgrU73h.jpg



    After all the talk of fraud, sleight of hand and so on (which has affected me more than I thought it would and seeing 2k of backers withdraw over the last few days) I'll take this minor win...

    It may be the bottom of page 1 but darn it Sólás Watches has made it onto page 1 of Google's search results for microrotor watches (funny that the worn & wound news article is placed ahead).

    Made sure to use private mode so google shouldn't be able to identify it as me.

    Oh and even further up the page in Bing search...but no-one uses Bing anyway :P

    RPptt1Ih.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,148 ✭✭✭893bet


    People use bing all the time.










    To search for google.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭Fitz II


    Thirdfox wrote: »
    which has affected me more than I thought it would and seeing 2k of backers withdraw over the last few days) I'll take this minor win...

    Are you kidding me, people actually dropped out....their loss, but goes to show how mental people are. Its a good thing you are actually so honest about things, and interactive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,683 ✭✭✭This is it


    Did they definitely drop out due to that? I'd imagine you'll have the odd one drop out close to the end when they check their funding again the closer we get to actually paying.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    This is it wrote: »
    Did they definitely drop out due to that? I'd imagine you'll have the odd one drop out close to the end when they check their funding again the closer we get to actually paying.

    Yeah I had gotten in touch to see why they decided to leave. In a sense it was good because if someone told me after receiving the watch that they had never looked at any picture of the Starlight except for the studio shots (lesson definitely learnt there!) and don't like the rotor design (superior rotor design btw in my honest opinion as it allows for laser engraving over pad printing) - I would have given them a full refund. At least it's super, absolutely, extremely clear now what people are getting :) - I just wanted to stem the negative mood asap on the comments page before we got to that 48 hour email.

    And definitely - there will be others who decide that ultimately the watch isn't for them or funds would be spent better elsewhere, or expected funds didn't materialise (had some good conversations with people who unfortunately had to back out due to circumstances largely out of their control). It was very touching that one backer had backed for a watch but decided they really couldn't afford such an outlay at the moment but then donated $50 for no reward just because they really supported the idea behind Sólás - left me a very supportive message too :)

    (edit) As for changes - I've tried to minimise the potential for people to not get what they were expecting because no-one wants that, though it is exactly that risk people do take with Kickstarter when you're not buying a finished product and have it ready to ship a day later. I've seen first hand the horror stories of a movement(!) being changed and announced to backers a month before delivery - but quite a few campaigns changes small things as they go. With the Starlight I was trying to prevent changes occurring and making it as much as "click and (pre)order" as possible but womp womp - nothing will go perfectly smoothly - it's how to deal with it that is important.

    I'll say it publicly here on boards.ie - Hangzhou has told me that the screws will be thermally blued... I am NOT saying that on the KS page as I can imagine all hell will break loose if it turns out that isn't the case - I am proceeding on the basis that they will be chemically blued - until I can get the screws in hand for testing. I really don't like the fact that this perk is being offered without me being able to inspect the product in hand but I think the potential benefit is great enough to take this risk (I suggest imagining asking a lawyer to "just take a chance" on something ha :pac: )

    ^ due to the above discussion with Hangzhou I am quite confident that the screws won't be "painted" blue at the very least. They couldn't possibly(?) confuse thermally blued with painted blue - chemically though is possible (perhaps?) - under promise and over deliver is the aim here.

    Hopefully people can see the heart is definitely in the right place with what I'm trying to add on here (but then I do realise I probably have a more sympathetic audience on boards).

    edit: changed


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,310 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    When dealing with large amounts of the public, you'll soon realise that about 5% of people are just arseholes. When you have so many in your kickstarter, law of averages say you'll have a few dickheads.
    893bet wrote: »
    People use bing all the time.

    To search for google.

    Hold on, bing videos is the best pórn search engine out there!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    ^ this would be a weird post to leave as a the last one before we finish up the campaign :p so for people who haven't seen it up on Instagram here are some new photos my factory partner sent me of everything that is lined up and ready to go:

    eDw0kzFh.jpg

    fjIEYM3h.jpg




    I've never seen so much aventurine in one location.





    yz3509oh.jpg

    39RMPFKh.jpg

    0z9EyWoh.jpg

    LG9sjR0h.jpg


    The blue material on the crown is there to protect the engravings from my understanding. MsThirdfox thought I was going for blued crowns too :pac: - but hey who knows - a cabochon might not be crazy a la Cartier...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,683 ✭✭✭This is it


    Great to see a few jumping in towards the end :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,257 ✭✭✭✭Eoin


    Congrats ThirdFox! 200 backers, and a successful campaign - delighted for you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭Wisesmurf


    Pledge paid. Looking forward to this watch.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,967 ✭✭✭Nigzcurran


    Zero funds to invest but have been following this thread for a while now and absolutely love the spirit of it, thirdfox, congrats and best of luck in everything you do, your watch is deadly looking, you da man!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,148 ✭✭✭893bet


    Well done Diyu.

    Putting Irish micro brands on the map (in a positive way).


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,585 ✭✭✭✭antodeco


    Kickstarter really waste no time taking the money anyway 😂😂


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,932 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    antodeco wrote: »
    Kickstarter really waste no time taking the money anyway 😂😂

    Good thing I remembered to top up my payment card yesterday!
    Also, sweet cashback at least means that my postage is free.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,148 ✭✭✭893bet


    As a suggestion Diyu, for the boards backers you could hand deliver via a boards meet. Keep it small as such, on an in invite only basis to backers? Just meet in a hotel bar or lobby or similar, or book a small function room.

    Delivery is a long way off so restrictions may allow something like this by then.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭Fitz II


    893bet wrote: »
    As a suggestion Diyu, for the boards backers you could hand deliver via a boards meet. Keep it small as such, on an in invite only basis to backers? Just meet in a hotel bar or lobby or similar, or book a small function room.

    Delivery is a long way off so restrictions may allow something like this by then.

    Excellent idea.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    I was planning on hand delivering in Dublin - but you're right that fingers crossed by May of next year things will have gotten significantly better - it would be great to get a boardsies meet up and deliver all of them together.

    I'd be happy to pool the boardsies' postage fee into hiring a room or at least finger food in a hotel or something similar in a location that suits most people and deliver the watches then.

    That will have to be played by ear of course - "2021 super spreader event with Sólás" :pac:


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,162 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    antodeco wrote: »
    Kickstarter really waste no time taking the money anyway ����

    Revolut flagged my payment as suspicous and froze my card! Anyway, think it's gone through now but do let me know if there's any issue TF :cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    You're not on the "list of shame" :p

    From reading into this apparently you can expect around 3% of backers to drop off at this stage too. Currently speaking to the 7% whose payments didn't go through (could be funds, could be change of card details, suspicious transaction flag etc. - looking back, a transaction on the stroke of midnight on Halloween should probably be flagged as suspicious ha!)


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,162 ✭✭✭wanderer 22


    Hey Diyu,

    great to see that message re the salmon straps - I assume there's no colour options with these? Also, just curious whether you got any pics of the 'standard' Solas with the purple salmon strap? I assume it wouldn't work as well as it does with the eagrán bradán feasa edition but would be interested to find out..


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,929 ✭✭✭fat bloke


    Is there a time limit on the strap upgrade?
    Also, is the salmon strap in addition to or instead of the tan horween one?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,450 ✭✭✭Batesy


    Another quick one on the strap option, will backers still receive the standard strap and the salmon ones as an extra or does the upgrade basically replace the standard?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    colm18 wrote: »
    Hey Diyu,

    great to see that message re the salmon straps - I assume there's no colour options with these? Also, just curious whether you got any pics of the 'standard' Solas with the purple salmon strap? I assume it wouldn't work as well as it does with the eagrán bradán feasa edition but would be interested to find out..

    Hey Colm - at the moment we'll only be offering the standard black - my understanding is that the cost is such that ordering multiple skins from Iceland for Turas wouldn't be great financial sense for one-two straps etc (Iceland being non-EU incurs custom duties/VAT on import).

    I would be pretty hesitant to offer the purple with opened scales in any case as it is something that requires a bit more care to look after - it played a large role in deciding to go with closed scales salmon for the extra durability. The open scales requires pretty careful treatment to avoid tearing of the leather (salmon leather is very thin - relatively tough for its thinness - but I think from a "mass consumer" product point of view it's just much safer to offer closed scales to avoid potential negative customer feedback).

    As for the purple with the silver - you're right in that it might be a little too overwhelming for the standard silver indice.
    fat bloke wrote: »
    Is there a time limit on the strap upgrade?
    Also, is the salmon strap in addition to or instead of the tan horween one?
    Batesy wrote: »
    Another quick one on the strap option, will backers still receive the standard strap and the salmon ones as an extra or does the upgrade basically replace the standard?

    Yeah - it would be in addition to the Horween strap - so you'll get both (though I'll mount it on the salmon by default if you get the two).

    There'll only be one clasp though (to avoid confusion) - so to switch between the two you'd need to unmount the clasp from one strap and attach to the other (or get a second unmarked clasp) - Aliexpress/ebay have cost effective options :)

    I'm going to leave the first salmon leather order numbers till after this weekend when hopefully most people will have looked and decided. It will be possible for additional backers to add on salmon straps later too I imagine - it will take around 1-2 months for Robin to get all the straps finished for this round (around 300 Horween and 30 salmon) - so after he is done anyone on the fence can take a look and see if they want it - we have 29 salmon straps ordered so far so it's definitely going ahead and more photos will be provided once completed.

    Effectively I plan to have two batch of orders - one at the start of next week - and one final one to pick up anyone who wants it at the end of February (to give Robin ample time to make the straps).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Not perfect by any means - but as a non-photoshop pro this was my attempt to correct the rotor on the professional shots (by retaking shots of the rotor and merging it into the existing pro photo). The lighting doesn't replicate exactly the angles the pro used but I think it does a good enough job of giving people an idea of what the watch looks like (in no way do I find it "ugly" as somebody has stated :) )

    I think anyone else who wants to really inspect the rotor up close will be able to see it in the numerous reviews (which all use the correct rotor) - some of which include macro shots too.

    Iap8h8Yl.jpg

    vt4A4ODl.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    njburke wrote: »
    Thirdfox.
    Best overall for me would be a bungee strap, only thing that really works with a drysuit.
    I tried to get maratec nitrox nato straps, 330 mm nato's, sold out no longer available.
    My orange monster or citizen are fine in warm water on the bracelet/put strap. I usually roll back the wetsuit sleeve.
    The spring bars are the single failure point. For my suunto computer, I use a bungee fed through both sides of the strap, if the strap goes, the bungee keeps both together and you've a chance to recover.

    I also thought that stainless end links should be available with just say 3 off 4 mm holes in them. Run three bungee chords through the endlinks, works for wet and dry suits, forearm.

    I also thought of epoxying a PU strap to make a divers extension, works best with two of the same strap, one normal, the other glued to act as an extender, bungee through the lot.

    The pelagos solution is nice, but maybe over engineered. Ideal for desk diving when the air con shrinks your wrist.

    Just wanted to thank you again for giving me this idea - it's something I really think will be appreciated by any divers who buy the watch - or at least give people an idea of the utility of bungee cords for their own dive computer/watch.

    I really, really love the simplistic idea of bungee cords - it really ties into what I've designed for the Equinox - solid endlink with three 4mm holes drilled in - simplistic and effective instead of faffing about with Pelagos springs (their system is definitely "over-engineered" - but we watch collectors usually love that ha!)

    One thing I can reveal about the Equinox now - the caseback screw in design will be using the Vostok system - it's the simplest, most effective system I've encountered that preserves WR rating. It even allows for easy caseback changes (if you don't want to buy a new watch ;) ) - solid or sapphire can all be easily done. I've loved the Vostok system but just wished it wasn't in such a "brutalist" soviet/russian watch - I think it would be nice to have it in a watch that could be compared to a Seamaster in terms of refinedness.

    I am speaking to my factory partner about the solid endlink with triple bungee now (they're going to hate me by the end of this - always asking for things that no-one has ever asked them to do).

    And as you rightly say - springbars are the biggest failure point - so drilled lugs and non-quick release for the bungee "strap" whereas the metal bracelet could(?) come with QR springbars (in two minds about that).

    I better start practising my fisherman knots:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on8llx3z59g

    Hopefully the bungee strap will be recognised as something being built specifically to cater to them (I wonder if it should be offered as an option just to cut down on wastage - I expect 90%+ of people won't be using the watch to dive with - maybe even to just offer the solid endlinks with holes and the divers will already have their 3mm/4mm bungee cords to make their own straps?)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭njburke


    Hi Diyu,
    Your welcome to it.
    I was involved in the design of underwater lights where I mixed two passions, diving and engineering.
    Some photos of the product and myself in a drysuit that looks a tad too tight, the studio shots at the end.

    https://www.flickriver.com/photos/cathxocean/


    One thing I learned in selling to divers, if it looks and feels like it was designed by a diver and addresses fundamental problems,it'll move. Who pays a €1000 for a torch, that has no way of mounting it, or the mount was an afterthought.

    A couple of hours on a cnc will get you a couple of samples to match your case.
    Routing the loop through both end links, a couple of knots, and a picture guide to get it right. Supply the bungee, one colour, so it's ready to go out of the box.

    I like the vostok caseback, I think dive watches should be either automatic or solar, to keep the tested seal intact for as long as possible. Those torches were sealed for life.

    Niall


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭Irishphotodesk


    For what it’s worth, I used a surfboard bungee cord to keep my underwater camera housing linked to me while diving.

    Granted not watch related, but underwater simplicity at its best, bungee cords keep things attached underwater.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    My understanding is that for dive watches with an internal rotating bezel you have two options with the crown that operates it:
    1: not a screw down one and bezel is unidirectional (IWCs use this style); or
    2. is screw down and is bi-directional (Longines, Ball etc. use this style).

    Do people/divers have a preference?

    I can imagine that a unidirectional crown is more "fun" for people who like to fidget with rotating bezels but that's hardly a diver concern. It would be quicker to set - so a convenience factor instead of taking time to unscrew/potentially dethreading the crown too.

    For divers - do you prefer to have a screw down bi-directional or non screw down uni-directional internal bezel?

    As a very amateur AOW occasional diver I would have thought that unidirectional and non-screw down would be my preference - the ease and quickness of access to rotating bezel trumps the bi-directional usefulness.

    Appreciate your thoughts!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,932 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    I've never dived with an internal bezel :(
    I can totally see the advantage to it, it makes knocks and nudges far less likely to screw up your timings.

    As another PADI AOW/Rescue Diver I've been really intrigued by the bungee strap idea.
    Sheer genius from NJ, simple robust and effective.
    Like most great ideas, one of those "I can't believe I never thought of that!" ones.

    On the bezel, yes some sort of captive/lock is the ideal but having only ever used rotating bezels.
    I'll be following the developments here with interest.

    Unidirectional on a dive watch is IMO a safety feature that shouldn't be overlooked, tho.
    It prevents accidentally going over your time and gives a degree of security I've bi-.

    Edit: NVM, just realized you mean crown action and not bezel.
    My bad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭njburke


    I'ld go with an external unidirectional bezel. The internal is over complex,additional seal, fiddly to operate with wet or gloved hands. It also takes up dial space under the crystal, space better used by hands and markers.
    A domed crystal is the way to go for better reading angle with TIR, so distortion might by an issue round the dial edge.

    If you want a style of a second crown, put it in as an option for manual helium release.

    In my experience, the bezel doesn't get nudged forward.

    I'ld mark the bezel, with a few no deco stop limits, at the PADI OW and AOW depth limits, just a reminder that the diver may have stepped over the line.

    Bear in mind the early divers managed with a good watch, a bourdon tube depth gauge, and common sense.

    If you can appeal to the common sense of wearing a watch as well as a computer. I notice lots of the older divers wearing a watch in dive centres.
    The issue with two computers, is that if the algorithms and sensor precision don't match, you can get conflicting information. So generally one gets set in what's known as gauge mode, now if the fault occurs in unit calculating deco obligation you are left with the gauge mode, current depth, max depth and current depth. A watch and depth gauge will provide that, once you are disciplined enough to set the bezel and reset the max needle on the depth gauge.

    There's a book out there called blueprint for survival, by a guy called Sheck Exely, a maths teacher.He did the first work on deaths on large numbers of american divers in the early 70s.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    banie01 wrote: »
    I've never dived with an internal bezel :(
    I can totally see the advantage to it, it makes knocks and nudges far less likely to screw up your timings.

    As another PADI AOW/Rescue Diver I've been really intrigued by the bungee strap idea.
    Sheer genius from NJ, simple robust and effective.
    Like most great ideas, one of those "I can't believe I never thought of that!" ones.

    On the bezel, yes some sort of captive/lock is the ideal but having only ever used rotating bezels.
    I'll be following the developments here with interest.

    Unidirectional on a dive watch is IMO a safety feature that shouldn't be overlooked, tho.
    It prevents accidentally going over your time and gives a degree of security I've bi-.

    Edit: NVM, just realized you mean crown action and not bezel.
    My bad.

    No it's actually interconnected - since a unidirectional crown would be a unidirectional bezel too and vice versa.

    I'm leaning towards unidirectional for the diver use/office diver split - since people can still "fiddle" with the internal bezel without needing to unscrew the crown while it maintains the safety feature for actual divers. I know most people will be using the bezel for timing pizzas in all likelihood and in that case I think people would prefer not needing to unscrew crowns to get to the bezel action.
    njburke wrote: »
    I'ld go with an external unidirectional bezel. The internal is over complex,additional seal, fiddly to operate with wet or gloved hands. It also takes up dial space under the crystal, space better used by hands and markers.
    A domed crystal is the way to go for better reading angle with TIR, so distortion might by an issue round the dial edge.

    If you want a style of a second crown, put it in as an option for manual helium release.

    In my experience, the bezel doesn't get nudged forward.

    I'ld mark the bezel, with a few no deco stop limits, at the PADI OW and AOW depth limits, just a reminder that the diver may have stepped over the line.

    There are several design reasons why we moved to internal bezel:
    1: tungsten carbide won't be something that takes to bezel scallops - it is an extremely hard material that for practical purposes won't scratch (it's roughly the same hardness as sapphire) - conversely because it is so extremely hard making small etchings needed for bezels isn't possible (or may be very cost intensive):
    2: we are using tritium as the illumination source - as such I'd (and my factory partners especially) like to put as much distance between the tritium and the wearer and having the tritium pip under the crystal makes my factory a lot happier than having it on a bezel pip:
    3. It allows for greater design flexibility with bezel colour/design - since we know that the bezel won't be scratched it allows greater design choices for what we can put on the bezel.


    From what I've found is that a flat crystal is more readable underwater except for that one angle where it reflects the water's surface - for domed you get greater distortion except when looking straight on?
    See the comparison here:
    https://watchlords.com/viewtopic.php?t=30654

    Very interesting about the no deco limits - I'll have to think about how to incorporate this - makes good sense to incorporate it (18m = 20min) (30m = 56 (I can use 55min) - make do it with tritium markers in place of 20min/55min markings for better visibility underwater.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    @Niall (or other divers)

    I was wondering do (or perhaps did) you use the bezel as a count down or count up device NJ? I had used it as count down - i.e. set the pip to no deco limit based on planned dive depth and ensure I start ascending before this time is reached - it seemed logical for that as then you're timing your safety stops using the red/coloured portion of the "pepsi" bezel - where there are individual minute markings as otherwise you have individual minute markings for the first 15-20 minutes of a dive which aren't key...it's the last few minutes of an ascent when you need precise timing for stops.

    Did you use it to time bottom time elapsed or bottom time remaining?

    I'll be setting the no deco tritium markers for 18m/30m on basis of time elapsed (even though I think time remaining makes more sense) - it's easier to tell people to set pip to time minute hand rather than reading tables on what countdown time they should plan for (in which case they aren't novices and don't need the no-deco reminder in all likelihood).


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    I dunno how useful this is T, or how accurate, NJ will know, but a few years back I was chatting with a diver about watches and I showed him a few of mine and one thing he pointed out was hands design. That apparently the minute and seconds hands are the most important by far. The hour hand could be almost an afterthought. He noted that with a lot of the divers out there the hour hand is the fancy one, often with a mercedes hand/pointer. EG

    OMEGA%2BSeamaster%2B300%2B60th%2BAnniversary%2BLE%2BMASTER%2BCHRONOMETER%2B39MM%2B02.jpg

    And note when military divers were issued the Rolex Sub, the first thing they did was insist on getting rid of the Rolex mercedes hands in favour of the Omega of the time.

    nwm13186586377626_1_t5.jpg

    Apparently this type of design was much better:

    hqdefault.jpg

    and this:

    omega-seamaster-ploprof-automatic-mens-stainless-steel-mesh-watch-227.90.55.21.01.001.jpg

    The dial being as much of a contrast as possible compared to the hands another one because as you go deeper the colours wash out, or disappear. The orange in the originals of the above was properly fluorescent which keeps colour and contrast for longer. If was "ordinary" orange paint against a black dial it's going to be hard to read. IIRC red and yellows tap out very quickly and blue and green last the longest?

    And lots of lume. Those old divers when new would have glowed like torches. Free x ray time in the days of radium. When the Blancpain 50 fathoms was bought in by the US military(and 'rebranded" tornek rayville) when they were decommissioned they were buried in a deep hole on some military base. Just to be sure like. :D

    When we look back at the evolution of divers watches particularly in the late 60's and into the 70's when actual divers added their input into design the above was very much in play and older designs started to look, well old hat.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    You're absolutely right (and I'm not just saying that because I've already incorporated those points into my design :D ) - I'm not quite ready to make it public yet - mainly because some people may take it badly if they think I'm not concentrating on delivering the Starlight (when actually right now it's out of my hands during the manufacturing phase and I *should* be working on the next model(s))...

    But yes the Equinox design already:

    1. incorporates a "main" minute hand and the hour hand is less emphasised;
    2. has second hand that, though it has to be a sub-dial due to the HZ5000A movement, incorporates an element that tells you at a glance if the watch is running or not; and
    3. colours chosen are the two last colours to disappear at depth ;) - so better than orange in my opinion - in fact the last two colours you mentioned there are the ones chosen for the tritium (and using T100 tritium for the extra brightness and longevity compared to T25 for most tubes) - I'd expect 25-37.5 years of service from T100 tubes compared to 15 for T25. Doesn't hurt that Irish green-ness (not on the Weirs/Patek level ha) is a thing too.

    Btw - that Doxa image you put up - they actually put the no deco table on the outside bezel there in red (you can see you get around 11 minutes if you go to -130 feet/40m) and around 50 minutes at -70 feet/21m. I think that the full graph may be a bit overkill for the majority of desk divers but to put in the 18m/30m (20min/55min) markings might be useful for novice divers (or some more tritium at least for the desk divers).

    No lume paint will be used at all - it'll all be tritium based illumination.

    And something for Niall - I'll definitely be testing the prototype out underwater (and also with gloves on) to ensure that it can be operated properly as a dive watch even with the internal bezel setup.

    Some of the other things we'll have include:
    1. No date option;
    2. 2nd "fancy" dial option (less for actual divers perhaps but in keeping with our cool material use - it'll incorporate the green and black motif of the watch. Not that the black dial won't be fancy either - it'll just be more legible than the other "fancier" one :D


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,696 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Sorry TF, but you lost me at sub second dial. I don't know what it is about them, perhaps it's because my Grandad had one on his watch. But there is one brand that I think do them really well and that's Nomos, IMHO.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    No worries - it's something dictated by the movement choice - I want it to be the first affordable micro-rotor diver too. You're right that sub second dials doesn't generally work well with "clean and visible" needed for divers...buuuut - I think you might be pleasantly surprised by my interpretation.

    It won't be your Granddad's thin sub-dial seconds hand - blued hands and tritium don't really mix (even I have taste standards, in spite of what people may think as a result of the logo font :P )

    Similarly - no date version will have to be a ghost date version sadly - I enquired with Hangzhou and actually getting a new movement made is outside of our financial ability right now (i.e. you might need to put in a minimum order of 3000-4000 movements a year).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,932 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    As you well know and have laid out clearly TF, running seconds are a vital component of a good dive watch IMO.
    I think a well lumed subdial could offer a quicker visual check than a centre seconds hand.
    I don't know about others, but when the watch is running at 28800, I sometimes find it takes me a few seconds to be sure its moved.

    Your test plan with gloves, in particular, will pay off in allowing you to judge the functionality.
    The Bezel plan for NDC limits to 18mtrs is a good one. I know I'd floated the idea of cribbing from Citizen and their printing of the table on this rubber strap.
    If the watch is used for diving, it's likely to be recreational in the main so that strikes me as a good idea.

    My bezel use has always been countdown, but I've not really learned to use the time elapsed rather than time remaining method. Always willing to try :)
    The 18 and 30 NDC limits are IMO a good idea particularly for recreational divers.

    I'm wearing a domed diver at the moment ;) but TBH after diving a couple of times with similar crystals flat is IMO far superior.
    Flat double sided AR is as good as it gets for a diver IMO.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭njburke


    Thirdfox wrote: »
    @Niall (or other divers)

    I was wondering do (or perhaps did) you use the bezel as a count down or count up device NJ? I had used it as count down - i.e. set the pip to no deco limit based on planned dive depth and ensure I start ascending before this time is reached - it seemed logical for that as then you're timing your safety stops using the red/coloured portion of the "pepsi" bezel - where there are individual minute markings as otherwise you have individual minute markings for the first 15-20 minutes of a dive which aren't key...it's the last few minutes of an ascent when you need precise timing for stops.

    Did you use it to time bottom time elapsed or bottom time remaining?

    I'll be setting the no deco tritium markers for 18m/30m on basis of time elapsed (even though I think time remaining makes more sense) - it's easier to tell people to set pip to time minute hand rather than reading tables on what countdown time they should plan for (in which case they aren't novices and don't need the no-deco reminder in all likelihood).

    Diyu,
    I set the pip to minute hand and read elapsed or runtime from there.
    Two key times for a diver are a turnaround time and back at surface time.
    Say your diving a wall like St Johns Point, you'll drop down and go along the wall for say no more than 15 minutes before turning to come back. I dive in a club, we agree a maximum dive time with the boat coxswain, to be back on the surface after 30 minutes, woe betide anyone who breaks that rule. If I'm on the boat , when divers go in, I'll set the bezel on my watch for their dive. We'ld expect to see surface marker buoys a few minutes before the expected surface time.

    On the shallow stop timing, you can always reset the bezel once you reach stop depth, I always assumed that was the intended use of the graduations within the 15 minute zone.

    I'm with Wibbs and Doxa on the minute hand, one of the features that I most like on my Doxa. One question on the Tritium tubes, will they take a charge to the luminescence from a dive dive torch ?


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,170 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    In my experience anyway NJ T100 Trit tubes glow like torches. Like read by them after your eyes have become more dark adjusted bright. Definitely brighter than the T25 ones. They should get an extra belt of energy from a dive torch if required as the phosphors are pretty much identical to those in light charged lume.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,918 ✭✭✭hitemfrank


    Scrolling through r/watches this morning and this popped up

    Screenshot-20201205-103620.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    I put some more details and pics up on the KS site's update:
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solaswatches/solas-starlight-an-irish-affordable-micro-rotor-watch/posts/3040706

    A month ago an enterprising 17 year old artist from France contacted me expressing an interest in the Starlight and asked if I would like to commission him to create a drawing of the watch. Checking his previous works I was quite impressed by what I saw and so while the December update was originally intended to be rather short and sweet as no new information besides "everything is proceeding smoothly" was to be reported to everyone - I'm happy to share with you the artist's rendition of the Starlight - now with the added blued screws!

    The creativity and entrepreneurship of this young gent quite astounds me - you can find more of his drawings on the website he has set up where he also sells his prints: https://www.horoart.com/products

    I can say for certain, back when I was 17 I certainly wasn't setting up online stores or doing anything half as creative. Just to clarify too - I'm not being paid to promote Sylvain's work - I'm just genuinely impressed that someone still in school has the wherewithal to set up his own website and reach out to brands for business opportunities. I certainly wish him the very best.

    I hope everyone has a fantastic December - in January I should be able to provide some more progress updates on the movements and straps.


    You can see his step by step photos of the drawing coming to life here:
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIYssVrL2sG/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,301 ✭✭✭John Hutton


    With all the glum news in the last 48 hours I'm thinking ahead for positives for next year, looking forward to this watch


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Thought it was better to respond here rather than the watch pics thread :D
    Don't want start an argument but are the public (customers) clamouring for a tourbillon? It always struck me as a solution to a problem that no longer exists and as such is an interesting but utterly useless complication in this day and age.
    I'm probably missing the point but to me it's like all those people who want to climb Mount Everest even though it's been done numerous times already and is now just an item on certain people's bucket list.

    The public weren’t clamouring for a micro-rotor either :) - nor really a more diver orientated diver watch either.

    I think one reason why people enjoy tourbillons nowadays when you have things like the calibre 9100 with far superior accuracy (besides the price issue) is that it looks visually interesting. It’s why there are still watches with open hearts that show the escapement mechanism - a tourbillon is a more interactive open heart and has some “technical” reasons for existing too.

    On the watch timer it is interesting because I can see the movement sway from +2 s/d when the carriage is in one position to -1 s/d in another - seems like my sample movement is a “good” example of the advantages a tourbillon can give you in timekeeping accuracy.

    And yes - tourbillons from China have been done many times already - you range from 300ish euro to 2000 euro for standard ones and then you can reach silly money levels of tourbillon too with things like gyrotourbillons, double tourbillons, minute repeater ones etc.

    Eclipse won’t “just” be a tourbillon though - there’ll be a very interesting concept behind the watch - something like I said - will be a foundation stone for the Lir repeater model too.

    Oh and you’d be right to point out a repeater is also a nonsensical complication in an age of lume/torches on phones and...well mobile phones - but the watch is something that can appeal to the heart more than the head I guess! :)

    As I’ve been quoted elsewhere as saying - I’m not interested in doing what has been done before - so rest assured the tourbillon model won’t “just” be a tourbillon (you can even look up Hangzhou tourbillon models on aliexpress to see what’s out there now :) )
    redlead wrote: »
    I think that releasing your own Tourbillon with the Solas S incorporated into the co axial cage would quite possibly be the biggest horological F you to all the "comic sans" naysayers out there!

    On a side note, when are we going to get to see the dive watch thats number 2 or is that on hold until delivery of the starlight?

    Ha yes - putting it front and centre (but not really too - this is the twist I’m going for) - a tourbillon that somehow can be understated (there’s a hint in the name of Eclipse too after all). My requirements on the tourbillon model gives both my factory partner and Hangzhou kittens in terms of my asks of them - on the other hand the factory partner has said that my request to get the bungee cord “strap” version of the Equinox diver strap shows them that I’m serious about putting consumer/backer/buyer experience first.

    As for when the Equinox is getting some public unveiling - this will be after the Starlight has been delivered - this isn’t even purely down to “doing one thing at a time” - but tungsten moulds apparently need a 5 month lead time to get done. I’d only be happy to reveal designs that I know can work and have been prototyped properly. CAD is great in principle but I’m old school in wanting physical examination of products - you just don’t know how that bezel action will feel until you’re wearing diving gloves twisting the crown etc.

    I think right now it could be like describing an elephant to someone who’s never seen one before - I’ve already revealed it’s:
    A tungsten carbide case/bracelet (clasp will have to be stainless steel - though we may pvd coat it for hardness)
    Tritium lume
    Micro-rotor movement
    Vostok-like caseback
    Internal bezel
    Dial material will be “special” again - in this case onyx or malachite - two whole dial options!

    So you can let your imagination run wild with those parameters... the design is pretty much finalised - I’m fighting with the tungsten factory on what level of finishing we can put on the bracelet - I want round bevelled edge links which they say they’ve never done before (it’s harder to do in tungsten too) - but currently I don’t want to compromise and go with straight edges - round bevelling really makes a difference in comfort in my experience.

    ^ as almost everything in that list above is being custom made - you can see where the Starlight profits/extra funds have been spent :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Finally got my backer spreadsheet fully updated with warnings, notes, etc. etc. sorted out...

    Afterwards after updating all the information I ran a backer/customer country based search and it was an interesting result - the top five countries where backers/customers are based are:
    1. Ireland - 69
    2. US - 65
    3. France - 16
    4. UK - 11
    5. Germany - 7

    And 28 territories/countries in total.

    Will Ireland have the highest micro-rotor watch ownership per capita in the world by June? It's not inconceivable that it will actually :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,932 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    Thirdfox wrote: »
    1. Ireland - 69

    Obligatory ;)
    giphy.gif?cid=82a1493bo8niuo5nh3jrp3sich4h5txbuk4uxf1yu8nnv3l6&rid=giphy.gif


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