Kickstarter is full of watch projects where the creators claim that they are trying to do something new, or they couldn’t find the watch they wanted, so they made their own… To be honest, however, it is rare that these projects are actually really unique. They may be attractive and a good value, but rarely are they unique. Tempest just posted a project that certainly fits the unique bill though. The Tempest One Forged Carbon Watch is not only an attractive watch and a pretty good value, but it is going to be the envy of all your tech-loving friends.
If you didn’t guess from the name or the images, the case of the watch is from forged carbon which is mixed with resin and then molded to form the blank, which is finally machined into the final shape. The process creates a marbled finish where no two watches are identical, and the finished case itself is strong and light. Inside the case is a stainless core to support the movement, and the bezel and caseback are PVD stainless steel. ABTW has had the watch in hand for a few weeks (lucky guys), and they posted a full review of the watch, which is worth a read.
For me, I have to get by with the images and live vicariously through them. In addition to the carbon case, the watch boasts a double domed sapphire crystal, another element sure to attract a fair bit of attention. The 43mm watch is driven by a Miyota 9015 automatic movement, uses BGW9 Swiss-LumiNova for illumination of the hands, markers and logo, and is water resistant to 200m. Overall, I think this is a really attractive tactical watch, and I appreciate that there is no tiny date window in the dial.
Since this is Kickstarter, there is an element of risk associated with backing any project, but in this case, I am pretty confident that you are going to get a really nice product some time close to the promised delivery date (May 2015). Tempest is actually a watch company already, and as Patrick found when he reviewed their Viking dive watch, they make nice watches. The project is looking to raise £30,000, and I would guess that they are going to hit that mark by the time this is published. The planned retail price is $995, so jumping in now get you a watch early and scores a $100 discount. tempestwatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Tempest One Forged Carbon Watch
- Price: $880 – 890 (approximately)
- Who we think it might be for: Anyone wanting a carbon watch for under $1,000.
- Would I buy or recommend it just on the photos?: Oh yes.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Double down and go with a carbon fiber dial.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: Did I mention that the case is made of carbon?
