Ocean Diver Watch Blog

As you may have already read on my blog, last summer the manufacturing of my Ocean Diver watch design was stopped because the quality of the watch samples that we received from the original manufacturer partner were just not up to our expectations.  It was extremely disappointing and frustrating for myself, Carlos the Prometheus Watch brand owner, and all of the avid watch collectors out there that had placed pre-orders with us.  As tough as it was to make that decision, it was the right one. Swiss Made Deliciousness... The original Ocean Diver watch line was going to be Chinese made and use the very best Chinese movements we could source, but it just didn't work out that way despite the vast improvements in the quality and reputation of Chinese watch manufacturing in the last several years. Now, almost a year since we had hoped to be in full production, we are back on track with a new Swiss manufacturer with the goal of being in full production by later this summer. Below a...

Those of you who follow my blog will know that as well as being passionate about everything to do with hiking and backpacking, I am a huge watch geek. I have been into watches for as long as I can remember and my personal collection is pretty significant :)  I'm also an art major specializing in usability and have for the longest time wanted to see my own watch designs put into production. That almost happened last year with my winning watch design going through the engineering process and being turned into a prototype with the intention of going into full production late last year.  Unfortunately it never worked out, for various reasons that I won't go into the original plan of having the watch manufactured in China using Chinese movements didn't work. We were so close... Fast forward to today, and the announcement that the Prometheus Watch Company will be releasing not one but three of my watch designs into full production and they will all be Swiss Made using Swiss move...

So, late last night I drove to my local UPS depot to pick up the Ocean Diver watch prototype that had been expressed shipped to me from the manufacturer. UPS tried to deliver it in the morning but no one was home and rather than wait for Friday (Thursday is Thanksgiving for all you non US folks) I decided to go pick it up. I waited until after the kids were tucked up in bed before opening the package and was so excited I could barley stand it. The watch looks so amazing in person it's hard to describe - seeing my design in the flesh and holding it in my hands was exhilarating and unbelievable at the same time. It's so cool. The pictures don't really do it justice, but here's a bunch I took today just because I could :)

Amos, the watch manufacturer, has just sent me and the Prometheus brand owner a series of pictures of the fully assembled Ocean Diver prototype. He's also express shipped us both one of the prototypes shown in these pictures which should arrive Thursday or Friday - not sure because Thanksgiving holiday is Thursday. I'm told I'll be getting the prototype with the polished case back, which was finished that way by mistake - the final versions will all have brushed case backs to match the finish of the rest of the watch body.  There are some other small details that are being adjusted before production so these pictures should not be considered final - there just to show how the assembled watch will look. I love it! Of course I'm biased as I designed the watch, but it's hard not to get excited about seeing your own design put into production and be so incredibly well accepted and desired by serious watch collectors. We just received our first request from a watch deal...

Front and back views of the complete watch :)

Here is the first picture of the fully assembled (but unfinished) Ocean Diver prototype. There's quite a bit of work remaining to be done and all of the parts have to be carefully finished/polished and cleans before final assembly - but this at least shows all the pieces put together :)

It's still going to be another couple of weeks before a full prototype of my Ocean Diver will be ready, but below is an early picture of the main components assembled to show how it will look. I know I'm bias but I don't mind saying it's a nice looking watch :) Excuse the poor picture quality...