Hey guys, it’s Matt Graham, and I thought I’d put some information out regarding my new watch company, ARES Watch Co., in an effort to answer some of the questions I have been getting.
I started a watch company here in Seattle, WA called ARES Watch Company. The goal of ARES is the design, manufacture, distribution, and service of in-house designed hard-use mission timers. I spent the last 12 years of my professional life at the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and am now building the mission timers I always wished I’d had.
I am building a watch company, not just a watch. This is a very important distinction for me, as I am putting all of the pieces in place to build a company that has both longevity and growth. I am fortunate enough to be in the Pacific Northwest, which is a hotbed for tech and fabrication, and I am taking advantage of that fully. It is my goal to —eventually — produce all of the components of our watches in house. I can facilitate this goal because I have the two things critical for success: watch makers and machinists. Early on in the development of ARES as a company I was able to partner with North Seattle College’s Watch Technology Institute. WTI was originally created by Rolex USA as a two year technical certification school for watch makers. Nick, the owner of Orion, is a recent graduate of the program. The program produces some of the finest skilled watchmakers in the world. I have hired directly from that program and have also committed to a portion of our proceeds of each ARES sale to a scholarship program to the Institute. In addition I have sourced machinists from both the aerospace and defense industry. These two factors will set a foundation for our future success. With watchmakers and machinists I can build anything.
In order to bring ARES on line I am introducing the DIVER-1. The DIVER-1 represents everything I have wanted in an operational dive watch. The specifications are mine and meet my needs for an operational diver. DIVER-1 was designed by me - drawn and sketched by hand in books and journals - over the years. To meet the manufacturing requirements DIVER-1 will be manufactured in Hong Kong - at the same design and fulfillment house numerous successful micro brands currently use - as well as here in the US and Switzerland. As we grow over time it is my intention and plan to bring more and more components in house for manufacturing fulfillment. The biggest problem is: Americans have lost the art of watch machining and watch making. And those that have the art aren’t too open to sourcing. The biggest reality is: if you want professional watches made to professional standards you’d be hard pressed to find finer craftsmanship and quality than some of the Asian manufacturing houses. I am not ashamed to let the best people do the best job, but I am striving to build that process here at home. All DIVER-1 watches will be hand finished, assembled, quality assured, and serviced here in Seattle. We build them and then we send them out the door.
The ARES DIVER-1 specifications are as follows:
- 41.0mm case/42.0mm bezel
- case size 49.5mm 2-piece construction
- 12.5mm thickness
- 22mm drilled lugs w/ 1.8mm shoulderless springbar
- 316L stainless case, crown & bezel
- Ronda 715Li, Gold 5-jewel, movement
- 10 year lithium-ion battery with EOL indicator
- flat sapphire crystal, inner AR coating
- solid caseback, screw down, with Viton seal
- 7.1mm Fat Head crown, screw down, double Viton seal
- C3 Super-LumiNova
- 22mm LASH nylon 3-buckle strap
- individually serialized
- bead blasted finish
I am going to open up ARES, in the next few days and begin accepting pre-orders for the DIVER-1. The DIVER-1 is a Limited Edition watch for ARES. The price is $695 and includes free FEDEX delivery (CONUS) and a Lifetime Warranty. I have established ARES policy as such:
“I guarantee everything we make. Ares watches are covered to the original owner against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. The Lifetime Warranty does not include misuse or normal wear and tear.
If you are not satisfied with the purchase of your watch at the time you receive it, return it to Ares in new, unworn and unused condition in original packaging, within 7 days of purchase, for a full refund. Watches returned worn, used, or returned with damage, wear, or any sign of use will be subject to a 25% restocking fee.”
I will be officially launching ARES Watch Company this weekend in NYC at Worn & Wounds Wind Up Watch Fair
[ed. Nov 2-4]. I have been talking with Ariel Adams at A Blog To Watch over the past few months and we will have some more company and product information coming out through ABTW over the next few weeks. I will be launching our site, areswatches.com, in the next few days and I have already been promoting through our IG @areswatchco.
I am building ARES as a watch making company. We will produce multiple hard-use mission timer styles, in both Li-on quartz and mechanical movements. I am excited to announce, in addition to DIVER-1, we will be launching two new watches in 2019: the DIVER-1C and the FIELD-1 GMT. The DIVER-1C has been selected as an Official Prize of the 2019 US Army Best Ranger Competition, and will be announced and profiled in spring of next year. In addition FIELD-1, a dated GMT, has been selected with ARES as the Official Timer & Watch of the NFL Alumni Association’s 2019 Super Bowl of Golf. The FIELD-1 will be announced and profiled in fall of 2019. Because we are a watch making company all models of ARES diver and field watches will be available with either Li-on or mechanical movements, starting winter of ‘19.
We’re open for business.