Launching on Kickstarter – The NAM Watch Company Mahameru Project

While the main focus of Monochrome-Watches will clearly remain high-end watches, we also know that some of you, readers, can’t afford these superb yet pricy timepieces. This is why, from time to time, we also take a look at the other side of the range, with affordable options. Kickstarter, the crowdfunding tool, is full of watchmaking projects. Now launching is a new watch by Jakarta-based NAM Watch Company, with their classic-inspired Mahameru Automatic.

About the Company

The NAM Watch Company is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. They launched their very first watch on Kickstarter back in August 2015, which then went on to become a huge success story. Through that Kickstarter campaign, NAM managed to get 100% funded and then went on to sell hundreds of timepieces off the back of the campaign.

What makes NAM so personal is that they have huge values and the company will always aim to show the world, through their watch ranges, where they have come from. NAM will continue to show this within their timepieces, by carrying their Indonesian values within both the company itself and their watches.

NAM’s source of inspiration for creating timepieces that carry the classic aesthetic while still offering reliable performance, are the timepieces from previous eras that have carried craftsmanship values. NAM believe that watches should be designed, built and produced to be valuable and long lasting.

The Mahameru Project

NAM Watch Company are just launching their brand-new project that is called Mahameru – the Kickstarter campaign can be seen here. This project has been named Mahameru after one of the largest and highest mountains in Indonesia, which continues to keep the company’s history prominent within the brand, which is one of their main values to keep hold of. This new Mahameru watch that NAM have created is a dress watch and it has been inspired from the watches of 1950s.

The brands states that the 1950s-classic inspiration comes from the belief that watches made in that era carry more value (design and craftsmanship) than many of the timepieces created today: “The purpose of this design revival is to allow those who previously owned similar timepieces to finally relive the history and story behind the watch itself”.

What makes their new watch able to be categorized as a “dress watch” is that their new Mahameru watches have a simple design that features one sub-dial, time only, with a clean and polished appearance and finishing.

The NAM Mahameru Automatic

This Mahameru automatic has been designed to feature a mechanical movement from Miyota, as its name suggests with automatic winding. This Mahameru automatic also features a see through caseback and has been built with 316L stainless steel, as well as protected with sapphire crystal glass. This classical timepiece measures a very reasonable 38mm diameter and has a 18mm lug width – classic and slightly vintage proportions.

NAM’s main source of inspiration for this Mahameru Automatic has come from the classic watches from brands such as Rolex and Omega, who have been creating some classic dress timepieces that are nowadays sought-after and well appreciated. All of these watches have been a source of inspiration for the company when it came to starting the Mahameru project.

NAM also advises that they aim at affordable pricing and good value opting for a direct distribution, watches are sold first-hand from the manufacturer to the customer with no distributor, retailer or other middle-men. Also, the project is born in Indonesia which allows to hold the price at a competitive level.

Conclusion

Although NAM’s new watches look the part, we at Monochrome believe there is a plethora of variety to choose from in this price range. If you feel the basic but reliable Miyota movement combined with the above average build quality is something you would like to invest in or hand down then head over to their website here for the possibility to fund the project – check the campaign here.

This article is written by Matthew Catellier, who covers “Value Propositions” for Monochrome, and also publishes affordable timepieces on his own website Watch Review Blog.