LIV watches is back on Kickstarter with their second watch, a three hand automatic, the LIV Genesis X1 A. Their first watch was a Swiss made quartz chronograph. The new watch has a strong visual tie to the first, with a very similar looking sandwich dial, red ringed crown and oversized bezel. LIV did a great job on marketing the watch before it was released, catapulting them beyond the initial funding threshold immediately on launch (they are sitting on nearly $250K in pledges as of this writing). For all you future watch builders out there, take note of how important thus pre-release advertising is.
As for the watch itself, the LIV Genesis X1 A is an attractive and bold sports product. On element I really like when it is done well is the sandwich dial. The campaign page identified lumed indexes, so I wonder if there is any lume in the underlying dial layer. I hope there is, since I really like that look and it adds a lot to the low light readability, but I am not sure. My other question with the watch is the oversized bezel.
The knurled IP coated black bezel takes up a fair bit of real estate on the 42mm case diameter, so I am hoping the dial itself is well proportioned. The images look nice, but I do wonder how it looks in person. The oversized crown with the red ring is a final nice touch, adding a bit of color to that is rarely made a point of attention.
The watch is designated as Swiss Made, and it houses a Selitta SW200 automatic movement, a nice alternative to the base ETA which is harder and harder to source. The movement is viewable through the exhibition caseback, with sapphire crystals front and back. The LIV Genesis X1 A campaign page has six color and case options (the orange and blue versions on the leather straps are my favorites), so you have your pick of bold to bold and loud.
The earliest of the discounted pledges are gone, but watches are still available for $429 to $459, depending on how long you wait. I will put in my standard disclaimer, that this is a project, not a product, so what you end up with on your wrist may be different from what you see on the campaign, and shipping dates can slip, sometimes significantly. But this is not LIV Watch’s first rodeo (with a lot of positive comments on the 1st watch), so hopefully they have most of the bugs worked out. livwatches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: LIV Genesis X1 A
- Price: $429 and up, depending on timing
- Who we think it might be for: You want a bold looking auto at a decent price.
- Would I wear one myself based on what I’ve seen?: I would want to see it is person, I am not sold on the large, non-functional bezel..
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Do something functional with the bezel.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The sandwich dial
Tech Specs from LIV
- Movement: Selitta SW200
- Functions: Three hand with date
- Case: 316L Stainless Steel
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Lug width: 22 mm
- Straps: Leather, NATO, silicon and canvass options
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 11.6 mm
