As a keen follower of quality, independent microbrands I am always on the lookout for what’s new. I follow a number of microbrand groups across social media and here you often see promoted up and coming new releases from both established and brand new brands, alike.
Galvin Alku - Credit WatchGecko
Over the last few years there has been a sea of new creators jumping on to this very popular yet very few tend to be original, with many electing to go for the safe diver style route. This is of course fine if you love dive watches, yet every once in a while a fresh new brand producing something a bit different and special crops up across the crowd funding platforms... and here’s one of them: enter the Galvin Watch Company, from Australia. Susan Galvin, a TAG and Omega trained watchmaker and Finnish born creator from Sydney, launched her debit model, the Alku (meaning “the beginning”, in Finnish) via Kickstarter in 2020. After an engaging and successful marketing campaign, this was fully funded quickly and the Alku was born.
So what inspired me to back this project and what made it stand out from the crowd?
Galvin Alku - Credit WatchGecko
Well, for me it was originality (centred around a classic designed dress watch) created by, for a change, a female horologist and one who was actually a trained and highly skilled watchmaker who cares and is passionate about her creation.
Like with any such campaign, it needs to be eye catching, punchy, well composed, with lots of back story, good imagery, engaging, a realistic RRP with enticing stretch goals and some heavy marketing tactics (flooding social media with images is often the best and occasionally an almost shameful manner to grab attention if you want to stand out in a sea of competitive alternatives). And Susan did just that. All of the aforementioned boxes were ticked and the Alku was a great success - as has been her second release, the Loimu in 2022. What was especially pleasing, for me at least, was Susan’s often one-to-one engagement with her backers and fans, something that only a microbrand can offer. This for me makes the final end product seem extra special and is almost tailor-made for what the fans wish to see.
So let’s take a look at the Alku.
The original launch comprised of just two 39mm dial colours (white or black) on a choice of two leather strap colour options. Simple, and effective with no overwhelming choices available (which I personally like). The opaline white dial had striking blued leaf hands and blue hour markings whereas the black dial had polished steel batons and hands. The watch utilises a no date, high beat, quality and reliable Miyota 9039 movement that is the perfect and affordable workhorse that many brands are now choosing across the microbrand watch world. As Susan was Omega trained she could have easily preferred a Swiss movement but the cost overall would have been considerably higher and therefore the risk of success would probably have been heightened, especially for her debut launch. Arguably, the Miyota is often rated to be as good and as reliable as the Swiss alternatives anyhow so this was an excellent choice that allowed the finished ‘reward’ to be affordable for the backers. The movement is viewed through an exhibition caseback and is modestly decorated along with a signed rotor, which again is a nice touch, especially for a new microbrand.
Galvin Alku - Credit WatchGecko
The watch shape is a classic dress design: circular, all polished 316L stainless steel, with the added and attractive bonus of having twisted lugs, which you rarely see across microbrands – the spacing of which is an unusual 19mm (vice the usual 18mm or 20mm) that some would argue means alternative strap choices can be limited, but if you are happy with the standard strap (of which there are two supplied as standard anyway) then that’s another winner. (see Watchgecko choice of 19mm alterative strap options). The perfectly sized crown is also signed with the company logo initial and is push/pull, and each of the straps’ buckles are also signed.
All backers could chose the choice of strap length plus colour and buckle/clasp, be it either with a traditional tang buckle or an Omega style fold-over deployant, both of which were signed with the brand logo. Each watch was supplied in a simple but effective and original presentation case along with a warranty card, a microfiber cleaning cloth, spring bar removal tool, a leather watch roll and a hand-written note of thanks, which was a lovely touch. All in all an excellent presentation.
Galvin Alku on WatchGecko Signature Military Nylon Watch Strap - Credit WatchGecko
Unlike so many other brands all of Susan’s watches are individually regulated by herself prior to dispatch which again emphasises her passion in what she has produced. How many other manufacturers, large or small, will do that as part of the overall QC package prior to dispatch? This touch was a clincher, I’m sure, for many, especially too that any ‘early bird’ backers were rewarded with an Alku at half the eventual RRP too.
The Alku was and still is a huge success. In addition to the original black or white dials the customer is now offered shades of peach, green, lilac and blue to chose from.
Galvin Alku on Sestriere Hand Stitched Italian Leather Watch Strap - Credit WatchGecko
So what’s next for Galvin Watch Company?
Well, Susan has promised something new and exciting to follow the Loimu with an announcement to come in late 2023, with prototype images of a tonneau case design for her third release being shared with her online fans and subscribers – I personally can’t wait for Model 3.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Galvin Watch Company
- Model: Alku
- Price: £354
- Material: Stainless steel / leather
- Movement: Miyota 9039 automatic
- Complications: Hours, minutes
- Crystal: Double-domed sapphire
- Dial: Round
- Size: 39mm
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: with a suit or, equally, with jeans and a t shirt
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: anyone, with a good taste in watches
- Best characteristics of the watch: The opaline white dial with blued hands
- The worst characteristics of the watch: Hard to fault. Maybe the choice of 19mm lugs (for limited strap alternatives) but that’s a very minor niggle
