There seems to be a run on watch brands looking for input from their customers. It is a benefit of this new watch economy that allows the smaller indie brands to reach out directly to the consumer. We saw it before with both Prometheus and Janis Trading, and now we’re seeing it from Uhuru Watches. There was an update that came out earlier this week on their new Ukhozi Pilot watch that also served as a method for asking for that input. Before we get to that, let’s see what the Uhuru Ukhozi has on offer.
First off, let’s address the name. Ukhozi, as it turns out, is Zulu word for eagle. And Uhuru, if you’re not familiar with, has been around for a little bit. Matt covered their initial outing, the Impi in his 2014 crowdfunding wrapup. Calling South Africa home, this second model is (obviously) in the works. The eagle inspiration is there, but thankfully it’s not beat-you-over-the-head obvious. The caseback is where it’s truly obvious, with a stylized eagle face. On the front side of the dial, the eagle is present as well.
For the Uhuru Ukhozi, that takes the form of the indices, which look like eagle talons. This is a subtle cue, but I like it. Then again, I have a tendency to like sandwich dials, and this is precisely what we have here. On the whole, the 42mm watch will be showing up in four major color schemes, with two different case finishes (either steel or black). While I rather like what I see in the renders of the brown dial with orange lume (especially in that dark case), I can see that the fully-lumed dial should grab plenty of eyes as well.
At the moment, the movement that will be getting tucked into the Uhuru Ukhozi is a bit up for grabs as well. If it ends up being the Miyota 9015, pricing should be in the $300-$350 range; if they opt for the Seiko NH35A, pricing would be about $50 lower. There is a chance that both movements could be available to chose from when the project launches (it’s still very much in the prototyping phases now), I would be surprised if they did not just settle on one to simplify things.
As this project comes along, I have a feeling we will bring you more news on the Uhuru Ukhozi. In the mean time, you can give the brand your input via this survey, and you can let us know what you think of this watch in the comments below. Whatever crowdfunding platform this hits, it will definitely standout from the minimalistic quartz two-handers flooding the market. uhuruwatches.com
Tech Specs from Uhuru Watches
- Case: 42mm x 48mm
- Strap: 22mm
- Crown: 8.5mm
- Movement: Miyota 9015 / Seiko NH35A
- WR: 10 ATM / 100m
- Price: $250-$300 (NH35A), $300-$350 (9015)
