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CANCELED: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

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CANCELED: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by TheJohnP »

Kickstarter is LIVE


Reward Tiers:

1 Wayfarer - SUPER EARLY BIRD - £399 ($494 USD) or 33% off MSRP
Optional FREE Genuine Leather Strap
Limited to 150 backers. ABOUT 50 SLOTS LEFT!

1 Wayfarer - EARLY BIRD - £419 ($519 USD) or 30% off MSRP
Add +£20 to your pledge to include the leather strap. ($24 USD)
Limited to 150 backers.

1 Wayfarer - CAMPAIGN PRICING - £439 ($543 USD) or 27% off MSRP
Add +£20 to your pledge to include the leather strap. ($24 USD)


Estimated delivery is January 2020


Akura Timepieces out of Scotland will launch their debut model the Wayfarer, a mountaineering inspired toolwatch

The Kickstarter launch is now on schedule for 7/31.
Early bird pricing will start at £399, or about $500

To sign up for their newsletter or to get more information about the Wayfarer, visit - https://akuratime.com/


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Specs:
CASE DIMENSIONS: 41mm
CASE FEATURES: An internal 120 click turning bezel. Forged and machined from 316L Stainless Steel
LUG WIDTH: 22mm
LUG TO LUG: 48.5mm
THICKNESS: 10mm
WATER RESISTANCE: 100m = 300ft
MOVEMENT: Self-winding Miyota 9015 (custom rotor)
FRONT CRYSTAL: Sapphire, Anti-Reflective Coating (front)
BACK CRYSTAL: Sapphire (exhibition caseback)
DIAL: Multilayered with Superluminova on indices, hands, bezel
LUME: Superluminova BGW9 + Custom Mix
DATE WHEEL: Custom colour matched (Stretch Goals: vertical stacked)
Designed in Scotland, Assembly in Hong Kong
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by Alchimus »

Looks good but for the spec maybe a bit much money- kickstarters normally offer a Swiss movement for similar prices....!?
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by TheJohnP »

Alchimus wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:21 am Looks good but for the spec maybe a bit much money- kickstarters normally offer a Swiss movement for similar prices....!?

You can find some Kickstarters that offer Swiss movements for around the same or sometimes less.

But if you compare to another micro like NTH, that also features the Miyota, then the price isn't too far off. And some argue that the 9015 is a better all around movement than the 2824 and clones.

Personally like the looks, but $500 seems a bit steep to me however. But I can see how it is worth the price they're asking.
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by Alchimus »

I hear what you are saying- the Seiko and Miyota mechanisms seem to test up there with the lower end Swiss nowadays! I think this watch looks great, the compass is a good feature- I use the one on my boldr expedition (everyday watch that the missus knows about!!) I’m currently hillwalking in Scotland so should be totally on board with this project/ but the price, in my humble opinion is too high!!
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by TheJohnP »

Agreed the price seems a bit steep.
And that's just the "early bird" pricing!
Yikes.
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by TheJohnP »

Some new "hero" shots were sent out via email today.

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Here's a video of the red dial in action:
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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by TheJohnP »

Some additional information about this upcoming Kickstarter campaign:


The first 150 backers will have an optional free leather strap included with their purchase. All of this at just £399.

After the first 150 backers have pledged, the price will go up to £419 + £20 to include the leather strap.
The bracelet always comes included, at no extra charge.


Time of campaign launch:

Wednesday, 7/31/2019 at 12pm local time, (Scotland, GMT+1).
* USA: 7am (EDT), 4am (PDT)
* Hong Kong: 7pm (HKT)
* Australia: 9pm (AEST)


One thing to note:
As the entire Wayfarer package is already steeply discounted for the campaign, free shipping is not included. We are working together with DHL for local and international shipments.


Reward Tiers:

1 Wayfarer - SUPER EARLY BIRD - £399 ($494 USD) or 33% off MSRP
Optional FREE Genuine Leather Strap
Limited to 150 backers.

1 Wayfarer - EARLY BIRD - £419 ($519 USD) or 30% off MSRP
Add +£20 to your pledge to include the leather strap. ($24 USD)
Limited to 150 backers.

1 Wayfarer - CAMPAIGN PRICING - £439 ($543 USD) or 27% off MSRP
Add +£20 to your pledge to include the leather strap. ($24 USD)



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Re: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer - LAUNCHING JULY 31

Post by TheJohnP »

Preview link for tomorrow's launch of the Akura Kickstarter campaign


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ph ... n=4ba3898a
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Re: PREORDER: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by TheJohnP »

Kickstarter is LIVE and about 50 slots left for the Super Early Bird pricing tier.
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Re: PREORDER: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by Alchimus »

It does like a bit like the Eterna I just got through from a deal posted here.... £399 for the Kontiki....
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Re: PREORDER: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by TheJohnP »

A stretch goal update from Akura:

The Wayfarer's starting lineup consists of the black/red/grey versions + two stretch goal colours, blue & white.

So far the blue was set to unlock first at £70.000. But seeing how the Wayfarer has always been a community focused project, why not make it your choice?

Now, if the campaign raises between £70.000-90.0000, once it has ended you will be able to vote in either the blue/white as the 4th colour choice.

(If it raises £90.000+ both stretch goal colours will automatically go into production: 5 overall colour choices. No vote necessary.)

This vote will be held at the end of the campaign, with a form being sent out to backers.


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Re: CANCELED: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by TheJohnP »

Very surprised by this update, but to follow up, this Kickstarter campaign has been

CANCELED

Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on Aug 20 2019


Email sent out by Philipp from Akura:


This isn’t an easy one to write…

When I first posted the Wayfarer online it was immediately met with an incredible response: Hundreds of comments provided feedback that went on to shape the final version, iteration after iteration. Each step of the way, the Wayfarer became a stronger enthusiast timepiece that reviewers have called better “than a £400 watch has any right to”.

You have helped this campaign raise over £50.000, thank you for the fantastic support! The past week I went over the numbers again - Whilst the current amount raised is enough for an initial production run of 300 watches, along with additional factors, it would not enable long-term operations to go as smoothly as first planned:

- Sourcing the movement has become more difficult over the last month, which would push project completion to March/April.

- The coming months may see an impact to the political/economic climate of the UK, which may influence the pound value further, alongside introducing logistical challenges.

- Therefore, long-term profitability cannot be ensured. This does not only include the delivery of the Wayfarer itself, but a flawless after-sales experience, and upcoming project launches.

It was always of great importance to create not only a standout watch, but make sure the company goes above and beyond in how it approaches its customers and community. As this now hangs in the balance, the project will enter a hiatus for now. All backers will be refunded immediately.

My apologies to everyone who was looking forward to receiving their Wayfarer in January, it has not been an easy decision to make.

Together with you it has been an inspiring journey towards creating a standout watch that truly represents something special. It allowed for a deep dive into a community of enthusiasts with incredible insights, deep knowledge and a passion for watches.

As there is no re-launch on the horizon currently, I hope you consider supporting the fantastic microbrands out there that are currently pushing the envelope in their own right.

Thank you for this great journey, it’s been a rewarding one, and I hope it continues in due course,
Take care,
Philipp Schönfisch
Founder/Director Akura Timepieces Ltd.
Designer in Residency at DJCAD

Kindly email me if you have any questions, I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Please not that every backer has been refunded automatically.
There are no additional steps that you have to complete on your end.

Email for inquiries: philipp@akuratime.com
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Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
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Re: CANCELED: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by watchpalooza »

TheJohnP wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:29 am Very surprised by this update, but to follow up, this Kickstarter campaign has been

CANCELED

Funding for this project was canceled by the project creator on Aug 20 2019


Email sent out by Philipp from Akura:


This isn’t an easy one to write…

When I first posted the Wayfarer online it was immediately met with an incredible response: Hundreds of comments provided feedback that went on to shape the final version, iteration after iteration. Each step of the way, the Wayfarer became a stronger enthusiast timepiece that reviewers have called better “than a £400 watch has any right to”.

You have helped this campaign raise over £50.000, thank you for the fantastic support! The past week I went over the numbers again - Whilst the current amount raised is enough for an initial production run of 300 watches, along with additional factors, it would not enable long-term operations to go as smoothly as first planned:

- Sourcing the movement has become more difficult over the last month, which would push project completion to March/April.

- The coming months may see an impact to the political/economic climate of the UK, which may influence the pound value further, alongside introducing logistical challenges.

- Therefore, long-term profitability cannot be ensured. This does not only include the delivery of the Wayfarer itself, but a flawless after-sales experience, and upcoming project launches.

It was always of great importance to create not only a standout watch, but make sure the company goes above and beyond in how it approaches its customers and community. As this now hangs in the balance, the project will enter a hiatus for now. All backers will be refunded immediately.

My apologies to everyone who was looking forward to receiving their Wayfarer in January, it has not been an easy decision to make.

Together with you it has been an inspiring journey towards creating a standout watch that truly represents something special. It allowed for a deep dive into a community of enthusiasts with incredible insights, deep knowledge and a passion for watches.

As there is no re-launch on the horizon currently, I hope you consider supporting the fantastic microbrands out there that are currently pushing the envelope in their own right.

Thank you for this great journey, it’s been a rewarding one, and I hope it continues in due course,
Take care,
Philipp Schönfisch
Founder/Director Akura Timepieces Ltd.
Designer in Residency at DJCAD

Kindly email me if you have any questions, I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Please not that every backer has been refunded automatically.
There are no additional steps that you have to complete on your end.

Email for inquiries: philipp@akuratime.com
A very classy exit...I hope he will try again in the future.
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Re: CANCELED: Kickstarter: Akura Timepieces - Wayfarer

Post by TheJohnP »

With Brexit and the ETA movement shortage, writing was on the wall.

Shame it had to happen, but at least he refunded everyone and shut things down before delivering and then potentially disappearing on everyone.
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Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
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