Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
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- t20569cald
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Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Some delays have further put back the release date as well as many other things over the last couple of years. Has it been that long? yes it has!
The prototype thread was unfortunately interrupted by Basel, then relocating to sunny Australia, which has delayed the watch going saturation diving as well.
So that thread will come later, but for now some news.
The standard edition watch using the Soprod A10 was delayed until June, due to me scraping the dials for a print alignment issue. In fact it was 0.07mm off, which was actually my fault as I missed it on the original drawings, but on the photo of the dial it stood out. I had them all redone straight away, and while we were doing that made new printing tools and changed the font, to something a little more "tough"
I say scrap the dials, but it was more of a case of washing them, making new printing tools. Still time consuming.
When I actually received the dial, I could not see it anymore, as it was the photo that showed it.
The other delay was the Soprod A10's. They have many orders from Basel, so things got pushed back, and while I might be waiting when I should be inline, I understand the issues and they were very good about it in communications, so accept it I had to.
Made the decision to go with the the triangle filled with lume coated with resin, rather than the lume pip.
We tried a bezel with the lume pip and I though it took too much away from the design. It was one of Fidel's extra additions to the design and I liked it from the start, so it had to stay. It fact he had all markers filled with lume, which I really wanted to do after seeing it, as that set off the whole design in my opinion, but I am looking into other solutions of making that work for the future.
So the movements are due for June as are the new dials, everything else is finished and waiting assembly. Fingers crossed July shipping.
The LE watch is another matter. Those Mhvj cal 2005 movements are delayed until September. After seeing the movements final finish at Basel, I thought it worth the wait. There was a period of thinking about using something else, but after emailing all the customers who have one reserved, it was unanimous to wait for this
The prototype thread was unfortunately interrupted by Basel, then relocating to sunny Australia, which has delayed the watch going saturation diving as well.
So that thread will come later, but for now some news.
The standard edition watch using the Soprod A10 was delayed until June, due to me scraping the dials for a print alignment issue. In fact it was 0.07mm off, which was actually my fault as I missed it on the original drawings, but on the photo of the dial it stood out. I had them all redone straight away, and while we were doing that made new printing tools and changed the font, to something a little more "tough"
I say scrap the dials, but it was more of a case of washing them, making new printing tools. Still time consuming.
When I actually received the dial, I could not see it anymore, as it was the photo that showed it.
The other delay was the Soprod A10's. They have many orders from Basel, so things got pushed back, and while I might be waiting when I should be inline, I understand the issues and they were very good about it in communications, so accept it I had to.
Made the decision to go with the the triangle filled with lume coated with resin, rather than the lume pip.
We tried a bezel with the lume pip and I though it took too much away from the design. It was one of Fidel's extra additions to the design and I liked it from the start, so it had to stay. It fact he had all markers filled with lume, which I really wanted to do after seeing it, as that set off the whole design in my opinion, but I am looking into other solutions of making that work for the future.
So the movements are due for June as are the new dials, everything else is finished and waiting assembly. Fingers crossed July shipping.
The LE watch is another matter. Those Mhvj cal 2005 movements are delayed until September. After seeing the movements final finish at Basel, I thought it worth the wait. There was a period of thinking about using something else, but after emailing all the customers who have one reserved, it was unanimous to wait for this
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Very envious of the guys on the LE list...
- toxicavenger
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Todd, hey bro so are the standard CD-2 all sold out? I know the LE's are.
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- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Not at all, I have not marketed those ones.toxicavenger wrote:Todd, hey bro so are the standard CD-2 all sold out? I know the LE's are.
Think from the 35, there is about 7 or 8 on the list
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
giosdad wrote:The Mhvj cal 2005 movement is a work of art.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
That movt is beautiful. Congrats Todd on getting this far.
Pasquale
NSC
NSC
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
This is one of the best looking watches I've seen in a long, long time. One day....
Some people just have a way with words, and other people … oh … not have way.
Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
I agree with all the above comments.
So, will all these be individually pressure tested?
Lol, just kidding around Todd.
Can't wait for more updates. They look great on your wrist.
I'm sure as it all nears the completion phase, many more like myself will be wanting one of these bad boys.
So, will all these be individually pressure tested?
Lol, just kidding around Todd.
Can't wait for more updates. They look great on your wrist.
I'm sure as it all nears the completion phase, many more like myself will be wanting one of these bad boys.
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Looks great, Todd!
Whats the next?
Whats the next?
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Actually, from the very beginning the plan was to do just that.sharkfin wrote:I agree with all the above comments.
So, will all these be individually pressure tested?
Rather than buy a Roxer tester, I chose instead to support another guy from the forums in building a tester. Very nice initial design, different and maybe something for a small business for him. A busy guy, so has not really come about and I kind of got sidetracked.
After all the investment (only me) in Aegir Watches, I had a while ago stopped the cash flow,as costs are a run away.
So there is no longer money in the company for purchases until some money comes back in. There is money for warranty only now and some small details like the booklets etc.
However, having said that, there is money for testing, and Fricker has been asked to have that done.
They use a 3rd party and have said they will quote me to test every watch. They most likely dont understand why, as their cases dont leak, but no matter, I always wanted it this way.
By the time the second production has been produced, Aegir Watches will own its own tester, the one mentioned above or a Roxer 120 Bar tester. Either way, every single watch that goes out, will always be inspected by myself and in the future when I have the machine, will be tested by myself. Never will a watch leave Aegir that has not been examined under a loup by myself while the company is small enough to do so. Of course there might come a point when that is simply not possible, but even then I will try and have one other directly responsible for such things.
My aim (and yes I know it is implausible ) to have zero returns, ever.
I will try to meet this aim by being responsible for this, as bottom line is first pride in the product, then financial bottom line, is if a watch comes back, the margin in that watch is gone ( production costs are huge) and that defeats the purpose of selling them.
It comes down to, the Aegir CD-2 is a commercial divers watch and a serious one at that. Being a piece of diving equipment, it does need to be tested and certified as such. The companies I chose to use reflects the commitment to this end and in the future when money permits, there will be R&D with people in the industry who have track records, to further that commitment.
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
+1giosdad wrote:The Mhvj cal 2005 movement is a work of art.
don't know if you answered this but will you be doing any DLC versions?
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Looking into it, but more than likely it will go to the same company as Sinn for hardening rather than DLC.hks3sgte wrote:+1giosdad wrote:The Mhvj cal 2005 movement is a work of art.
don't know if you answered this but will you be doing any DLC versions?
Sinn does not do it, it is a Dutch company.
I hope to get one case of each at try them against each other, but same as everything else, it takes time and continued investment, so when money comes back in and watches are selling, I will then pour more personal funds into Aegir for these things.
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
fastward wrote:Looks great, Todd!
Whats the next?
Actually, quite a bit!
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
t20569cald wrote:Actually, from the very beginning the plan was to do just that.sharkfin wrote:I agree with all the above comments.
So, will all these be individually pressure tested?
Rather than buy a Roxer tester, I chose instead to support another guy from the forums in building a tester. Very nice initial design, different and maybe something for a small business for him. A busy guy, so has not really come about and I kind of got sidetracked.
After all the investment (only me) in Aegir Watches, I had a while ago stopped the cash flow,as costs are a run away.
So there is no longer money in the company for purchases until some money comes back in. There is money for warranty only now and some small details like the booklets etc.
However, having said that, there is money for testing, and Fricker has been asked to have that done.
They use a 3rd party and have said they will quote me to test every watch. They most likely dont understand why, as their cases dont leak, but no matter, I always wanted it this way.
By the time the second production has been produced, Aegir Watches will own its own tester, the one mentioned above or a Roxer 120 Bar tester. Either way, every single watch that goes out, will always be inspected by myself and in the future when I have the machine, will be tested by myself. Never will a watch leave Aegir that has not been examined under a loup by myself while the company is small enough to do so. Of course there might come a point when that is simply not possible, but even then I will try and have one other directly responsible for such things.
My aim (and yes I know it is implausible ) to have zero returns, ever.
I will try to meet this aim by being responsible for this, as bottom line is first pride in the product, then financial bottom line, is if a watch comes back, the margin in that watch is gone ( production costs are huge) and that defeats the purpose of selling them.
It comes down to, the Aegir CD-2 is a commercial divers watch and a serious one at that. Being a piece of diving equipment, it does need to be tested and certified as such. The companies I chose to use reflects the commitment to this end and in the future when money permits, there will be R&D with people in the industry who have track records, to further that commitment.
Clearly Todd, you ROCK...
So impressed by being able to follow you throughout most of this journey via updates, pics, and your commitment to transparency in the whole process. Can't wait to have the opportunity to strap a CD-1 to my wrist.
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Great post! I think people need to know how much money it really cost to get something built to you spec in germany/swiss. Have you thought of other avenues to sell yr watches other than online? I think Aegir will do well in retail. You should get try specialist stores like Jurawatches in UK or Gnomon in Asia, ones that are willing to give smaller brands a chance and have actual retail presence.
- Jamie
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
And come on Todd you know what it is........t20569cald wrote:fastward wrote:Looks great, Todd!
Whats the next?
Actually, quite a bit!
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Techart wrote:Great post! I think people need to know how much money it really cost to get something built to you spec in germany/swiss. Have you thought of other avenues to sell yr watches other than online? I think Aegir will do well in retail. You should get try specialist stores like Jurawatches in UK or Gnomon in Asia, ones that are willing to give smaller brands a chance and have actual retail presence.
Yes I have, and I have been working on a plan to do it, but need much more money than I have to do it the way I see right.
I am making a new business plan to go and beg some companies. Online will be ok to start and I plan to focus my personal efforts online for many years to come, but yes, retail is the only way to actually make some money.
One big hurdle, I do not make much in each watch, that is actually true as production costs are just huge, so a retailer would not be excited at all. Plus the two year warranty bit, so the watches need to be + 50% to make it work.
That is a problem now isn't it!
So while a few small rises will be inevitable, production costs need to drop, dramatically.
And no, don't worry guys, not taking production somewhere else but rather pitching the idea of bringing the production to me. My machines with some German/Swiss watch elves, on 2 year working visa's to impart their knowledge and skills on local watch makers to make our own cases at least. Bit of a big idea at this point, but if don't ask you wont wont get.
Bulk buying other things like movements will see cost reductions as companies give us discounts.
Approaching a company who arranges such things, as well as the Australian Government which does have a system in place to help small business with grants. The are several avenues for that here.
It is the only way to retail, cut costs keeping the same quality to be able to bring the watch to the customers at a similar price to what it is now.
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
The 444mm CD-2 just for you?Jamie wrote:And come on Todd you know what it is........t20569cald wrote:fastward wrote:Looks great, Todd!
Whats the next?
Actually, quite a bit!
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Me too please.t20569cald wrote:The 444mm CD-2 just for you?Jamie wrote:And come on Todd you know what it is........t20569cald wrote:fastward wrote:Looks great, Todd!
Whats the next?
Actually, quite a bit!
"It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever."
David St. Hubbins
David St. Hubbins
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Hey Todd, I heard that you are looking for testers... to pilot the new model... I guess I am first on line....
- t20569cald
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Yeah, I cant test them anymore, a little bit broken these days.carlodwc wrote:Hey Todd, I heard that you are looking for testers... to pilot the new model... I guess I am first on line....
But I have a few chaps willing to test their own watches and send me the photo's and video.
And here was me thinking I had no mates!
Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Plenty of willing "testers" here I'm suret20569cald wrote:Yeah, I cant test them anymore, a little bit broken these days.carlodwc wrote:Hey Todd, I heard that you are looking for testers... to pilot the new model... I guess I am first on line....
But I have a few chaps willing to test their own watches and send me the photo's and video.
And here was me thinking I had no mates!
How about sending one down south to the frigid Dunedin Winter. I'll "test" it for you all over town and you can pick it up next time you come for a family visit.
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Re: Aegir CD-2 nears completion.
Very nice, anxious to see the new font.
Can't wait to photo Adam's when he gets his.
Can't wait to photo Adam's when he gets his.
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