While watches in general have been a popular crowdfunded product on Kickstarter, the dive watch is a deeper niche product with many success stories.
Dive watches are specifically designed for underwater diving. They are water-resistant and have unique features specifically tailored for divers, so it’s no surprise that Kickstarter has become a haven for dive watch enthusiasts and collectors searching for the latest and greatest.
For makers of dive watches, Kickstarter has become a place where they can showcase their creativity and craftsmanship to an eager audience of supporters and offer limited-edition timepieces designed specifically for diving.
This article will explore why Kickstarter is the ideal platform for crowdfunding dive watch projects, how to create a successful dive watch Kickstarter campaign, and share our picks for the best Kickstarter diver watch campaigns of all time.
Contents
Key Takeaways:
- Dive watches are a perfect fit for crowdfunding on Kickstarter because they appeal to a niche yet passionate audience, have a visual nature that lends itself well to multimedia presentation, and often carry a story of exploration and adventure.
- Kickstarter requires watchmakers to showcase a functional and representative prototype of their dive watch to demonstrate the project’s feasibility, enhancing transparency and assuring backers that they are supporting a high-quality product.
- Launchboom is a crowdfunding marketing agency that can help dive watch creators with every step of the crowdfunding process, from ideation to campaign launch to post-campaign fulfillment.
What makes dive watches perfect for crowdfunding on Kickstarter?
Dive watches are exceptionally well-suited for crowdfunding on Kickstarter due to their inherent appeal to passionate backers looking for special features. These timepieces blend utilitarian functionality with aesthetic allure, captivating divers, watch enthusiasts, and collectors. Kickstarter’s platform allows dive watch creators to tap into this specific market, connecting directly with individuals genuinely interested in these specialized timepieces.
The visual nature of dive watches, with their distinctive designs, robust features, and often intricate details, aligns perfectly with Kickstarter’s emphasis on multimedia presentation. Creators can leverage high-resolution images, videos, and detailed descriptions to effectively communicate the unique selling points of their watches, enticing potential backers.
Moreover, dive watches often carry a story of exploration, adventure, and technical prowess.
Kickstarter enables creators to narrate these stories, fostering a personal connection between backers and the brand. This connection goes beyond transactional support, transforming backers into emotionally invested advocates for the success of the project.
Kickstarter’s all-or-nothing approach ensures that dive watch creators secure adequate funds before production, mitigating financial risks and guaranteeing demand. That aligns with the typically higher cost of producing quality dive watches, reassuring both creators and backers.
In essence, dive watches uniquely blend visual appeal, storytelling potential, and niche market enthusiasm that aligns seamlessly with Kickstarter’s crowdfunding platform. This alignment creates an environment where dive watch creators can secure funding and cultivate a dedicated community of supporters who share their passion for exploration and horology.
How crowdfunding a dive watch product works on Kickstarter
Crowdfunding a dive watch product on Kickstarter involves several key steps that ensure the project’s viability and appeal to backers. Firstly, the watchmaker must create a comprehensive project page that outlines the dive watch’s features, design, and intended impact. This page should include compelling images, videos, and detailed descriptions to captivate potential backers.
One crucial requirement for Kickstarter approval is the provision of a prototype. Watchmakers must showcase a functional and representative prototype of their dive watch to demonstrate the project’s feasibility, enhancing transparency and assuring backers that the creator is committed to delivering a high-quality product.
Once Kickstarter approves the project, the creator sets a funding goal and campaign duration. Backers can then pledge various amounts to support the project, with corresponding rewards based on their contribution levels. These rewards often include early-bird access, exclusive designs, or limited editions of the dive watch.
The platform’s all-or-nothing model dictates that if the funding goal is not reached within the specified timeframe, no funds are collected, and the project doesn’t proceed. However, if the goal is met, the watchmaker receives the funds required for production.
Throughout the campaign, creators engage with backers through comments, updates, and interactive content, fostering a sense of community. Successful campaigns culminate in the production and delivery of the dive watches to backers, solidifying the trust and enthusiasm that Kickstarter’s platform can generate.
Many successful dive watches on Kickstarter have used Kickbooster, a crowdfunding tool that lets creators manage their affiliate, referral, and influencer network all in one place.
Our picks for the best Kickstarter dive watches
YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze
YEMA is a French watchmaker with a long history of producing high-quality dive watches.
The Superman Heritage Bronze is a reissue of the iconic YEMA Superman reference 53.00.16, first released in 1970. The watch features a 42mm bronze case, a black dial with luminous hands and markers, and a unidirectional rotating bezel. It is water resistant to 300 meters.
The Superman Heritage Bronze is limited to 1,948 pieces, a nod to YEMA’s year of foundation. The watches are produced in France and come with a two-year warranty.
The Kickstarter campaign for the Superman Heritage Bronze was funded within 40 minutes and far surpassed its original funding goal.
YEMA Superman Heritage Bronze by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: €938,968
- Backers: 1,222
- Goal: €200,000
Jacques Bianchi JB 200
The Jacques Bianchi JB 200 is a re-edition of a diving watch that the French Navy once used.
Created in the 1980s by the master craftsman Jacques Bianchi, it is a watch that is recognizable by its unique dial, featuring the silhouette of a diver in action.
The JB 200 features a 42mm stainless steel case, a black Tropic-type rubber strap, a black dial with Super-LumiNova indexes, and a unidirectional rotating bezel. It is water resistant to 300 meters. A Seiko NH35 automatic movement powers the watch.
Featuring a limited edition of 1393 watches sold on Kickstarter, the Jacques Bianchi JB 200 was 527% funded by backers.
Jacques Bianchi JB 200 by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: €791,406
- Backers: 1,116
- Goal: €150,000
Nereide GMT Dive Watch by Meccaniche Veneziane
The Nereide GMT is a luxury dive watch from Meccaniche Veneziane, a young watch brand based in Venice, Italy.
This Kickstarter dive watch is powered by an ETA 2893-2 automatic movement, decorated and visible through the transparent case back. It has a 42-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and dual time-zone functionality.
The Nereide GMT is water-resistant to 300 meters and has a unidirectional rotating bezel. It comes in various styles and colors with a range of strap options.
Nereide GMT by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: €497,988
- Backers: 805
- Goal: €15,000
Kraken H2
The Kraken H2 is a Kickstarter diver watch from established creator Ross Davis that raised £100,000, five times its original funding goal, in less than four minutes.
This high-end, scratch-resistant line of automatic dive watches is meant to impress and built to last. It was designed to cope with the rigors of everyday wear while looking as new as the day it was purchased, longer than any other luxury watch on the market.
When it was funded in 2019, the Kraken H2 was the first major addition to Hamtun’s dive watch collection in two years. It represents the most advanced watch that the company has made to date.
Kraken H2 by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: £417,580
- Backers: 1312
- Goal: £20,000
Maen Hudson 38 Automatic
The Maen Hudson 38 Automatic is a vintage-inspired dive watch from Maen, a Swedish watch brand.
The watch is powered by a high-quality Swiss-made ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, visible through a transparent case back. However, a closed case back is also available. It has a 38-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and a choice of date window. The Hudson 38 Automatic is water-resistant to 200 meters and has a unidirectional rotating bezel.
Maen believes that when it comes to dial design, it is all about proportions and finding the right balance. That’s why the Hudson 38 dial was carefully designed to create a captivating yet readable look.
Choose from four different dial colors, each with its own captivating appeal. A limited edition version was also made available to backers of the Kickstarter campaign.
Maen Hudson 38 Automatic by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: €272,844
- Backers: 713
- Goal: €40,000
SHIRAHAMA by NAMICA
SHIRAHAMA by NAMICA offers a modern take on the classic automatic dive watch.
Laid back yet tough, the Shirahama is engineered and built to last using modern-day machining technology and premium-grade materials. It is one of the most contemporary dive watches today, with a robust, 200m water-resistant form.
It features a clean design with a classically versatile and readable look encased in a modern aesthetic inspired by Japanese sci-fi mecha concepts and hard-wearing textures from EDC gear. The semi-angular case is crafted using sandblasted marine grade 316L stainless steel. It offers a modern tone while being smooth to the touch and comfortably conforming to your wrist.
It is paired with a matte finish dial for the ultimate utilitarian look, complimented by bursts of color.
SHIRAHAMA by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: ¥31,664,609
- Backers: 613
- Goal: ¥6,000,000
Axios Ironclad
The Axios Ironclad is an iconic stainless-steel dive watch featuring a 500m depth rating. It was designed to offer superb value with great specifications. It reached its Kickstarter funding goal in less than three minutes.
It is a modern reinvention of an iconic classic. It maintains the definitive dive watch silhouette while infusing new, innovative design ideas, making it reminiscent of the past but with its own unique character.
The collection, featuring five stunning color variants, was named after the Ironclad battleships, which first arrived in 1859 and quickly rose to become the dominant warship of that era. Like its namesake, the Axios Ironclad also started a new period for the brand. It provides a good introduction for future collections at a reasonable price point.
Axios Ironclad by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: S$ 301,573
- Backers: 429
- Goal: S$ 30,000
The Limited Edition TORSK-DIVER
The Limited Edition TORSK-DIVER is a high-quality automatic dive watch launched on Kickstarter after a year of prototyping, redesigning, and making necessary changes to ensure that the timepiece exceeded the maker’s quality standards.
Produced by Tsao, a watch brand based in Baltimore, Maryland, the TORSK-DIVER was named after the USS Torsk (SS-423) submarine, currently located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. With a limited quantity of 846 pieces in a brushed 316L stainless steel case (423 pieces) or a marine grade CuSn8 bronze case (423 pieces), each timepiece is individually numbered.
The Marine Grade Bronze TORSK is corrosion-resistant and forms a natural oxide layer over time. This extra patina layer protects the metal and gives a unique design. Initially, the timepiece will have a rose gold tint that will darken to an artisan brown. The Steel TORSK uses surgical-grade brushed steel resistant to pitting and corrosion.
The TORSK-DIVER was offered in two case materials, each with four color combinations and two bezel options, making it a truly customizable Kickstarter dive watch.
TORSK-DIVER by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: $200,155
- Backers: 448
- Goal: $75,000
AKRONE K-02
The AKRONE K-02 is a well-designed, French-made Kickstarter dive watch built for quality and value.
Featuring a nice brushed, polished titanium or black DLC case, knurled matte black ceramic bezel with lume, and three-dimensional markers and numbers, the AKRONE K-02 is truly eye-catching. Truly inspired by the sea, it features “marker buoy” inspired hands, light waves engraved on the dial, and a “valve unit” crown with the maker’s logo engraved in the center.
The AKRONE K-02 also features a unique water resistance of 267m, a Swiss-made ETA 2892-2 automatic movement, and titanium bracelet, leather, and nylon strap options.
AKRONE K-02 by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: €170,600
- Backers: 248
- Goal: €50,000
Hamtun H1
Hamtun Ltd. is a small Southampton, UK-based company that offers high-specification watches at a price anyone can afford, and the Hamtun H1 Kickstarter dive watch is no exception.
Featuring a titanium case, ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal, and automatic movement, the H1 reached its $20,000 funding goal in just 20 minutes when unveiled in 2016.
The Hamtun H1 resulted from over a year of design, iteration, and prototyping, redefining what an affordable, crowdfunded dive watch could be. Featuring a custom design, high-quality parts, and a genuinely affordable price point, the H1 was Hamtun’s vision of a modern dive watch.
It helped set Hamtun Ltd. on a path to becoming a major player among Kickstarter dive watchmakers.
Hamtun H1 by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: £146,757
- Backers: 610
- Goal: £20,000
Ventus: Northstar 300m Heritage
The Ventus Northstar 300m Heritage automatic dive watch is a tribute to the first generation of dive watches.
This Kickstarter dive watch features a slim and highly wearable cushion case to keep it from snagging on your dive equipment or shirt sleeve. Its compact lug-to-lug length of only 45mm and 40mm diameter pays tribute to the divers of the 1960s who were at the forefront of sea exploration.
Offered in brass and stainless steel cases rated for 300m of water resistance, the Northstar features a double-domed sapphire crystal shielding the watch against any scrapes encountered during dives. An anti-reflective coating prevents unwanted glare, and ceramic inserts offer added protection to ensure that the watch remains pristine no matter the abuse.
The dial features a sunburst pattern and applied indices filled with Swiss Superluminova C3 lume to offer the best glow. Inside, the automatic Seiko Nh35 movement ensures years of fuss-free operation.
Northstar by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: S$ 238,398
- Backers: 685
- Goal: S$ 30,000
UW Watches: AEQUOREA
The Aequorea is a Kickstarter dive watch inspired by jellyfish to be the perfect tool for every situation all year round. From its luminous crown and three-dimensional dial texture to its bezel shape and unique curved case back, the Aequorea almost resembles a jellyfish.
The Seiko NH35A movement powers the Aequorea. This dependable workhorse movement provides a good balance between budget, performance, and reliability. The watch also features a ratchet buckle clasp, an ideal Wetsuit watch band buckle. The ratchet theory extension mechanism strikes a perfect balance of convenience and safety.
This Kickstarter dive watch’s best features include a durable 316L stainless steel material construction, a strong and scratch-resistant high-quality sapphire crystal, and the use of Superluminova in various parts, making the watch easy to read in the dark.
AEQUOREA by the Numbers
- Funds Raised: HK$ 1,363,162
- Backers: 587
- Goal: HK$ 70,000
Where can you buy Kickstarter dive watches
Kickstarter dive watches can be purchased directly on the Kickstarter platform during the campaign. Many of these dive watches are presented as limited edition models, available exclusively as part of the crowdfunding initiative.
These limited edition Kickstarter dive watches showcase distinctive designs and cutting-edge features, often incorporating backers’ and supporters’ insights. The exclusivity stems from these watches being typically produced in smaller quantities, making them prized collectibles for diving aficionados and watch enthusiasts.
Once the campaign successfully reaches its funding goal and concludes, the dive watch makers proceed with production and distribution to the backers. It’s important to note that once the campaign ends, the opportunity to acquire these limited edition Kickstarter dive watches at the campaign price might be limited, as post-campaign prices could be higher.
Not all dive watches launched through Kickstarter are limited editions. Some go on to mass production and are made available on the open market through the watchmaker’s website and from major retailers.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward a successful Kickstarter dive watch project, contact Launchboom today and get funded in less than 24 hours using the system behind the most successful crowdfunding campaigns!
