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The kickstarter adventures of Sólás - solaswatches.com
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Not a shock really tbh. The Chinese have created some of the finest metalwork in human history and some of the earliest too. The "Made from the finest Chinesium" cheap tat expectation is only about 40-50 years old as they started to export cheap goods to the West in the 1970's.
Well fine porcelain was so fine that it was just called china
- the history of Chinese watches however isn't so resplendent seeing as the main factories were set up in the communist era - so the Tongyi Jixin (unified/standard) movement was built to be a workhorse in line with ideology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_standard_movement - it's actually the same movement you find in those $20-30 aliexpress watches nowadays - there's nothing wrong with the movement btw - it functions great and I'm sure you can probably get it to COSC specs too but the factories building it for $20 watches don't care about exact QC etc.I honestly prefer the internals in silver, is the gold colour standard now? The front face is looking sweet.
No no - the gold one is 1 of 2 being built - one for charity, one for myself.
The KS version is the one you saw in those professional photos (though the rotor probably changes back to the straight line version and laser engraving rather than pad printing - like in the video reviews seen).
This gold version is more a "statement of intent" - of what Sólás wants to do in the future if we can establish ourselves as a brand and get more funding to do so - that's why I'm calling it a "halo piece".
It's not necessarily gold colour that Sólás wants to go with - but that I want the brand to be offering great value compared to great Swiss movements/watches - not competing against great/affordable Japanese watches/movements. Heated blued screws, anglage and chatons (perhaps) - in the next model is what I'm thinking of - ambitious yes, especially since Starlight at its current price didn't rocket away this time round. There's a clear idea for how I want the brand to progress though. Like I said previously - one day I would love for a (relatively) affordable Sólás repeater or perpetual calendar to be made available to the public - that's the market I want to target (it might be too niche however - let's see!) Is an "affordable repeater" an oxymoron :pac:?
Interesting point about marketing it as a Chinese watch or Irish watch - I truly feel Irish and want to bring business into Ireland - I'm not trying to hide the vast majority of manufacturing is taking place in China though - the brand itself is Irish, with the story of Yu Ming etc. - I want to promote Irish too (Gaelige that is) - so there's a core brand reason for it being a very Irish (made in China) watch. I honestly don't feel it to be a "Chinese watch" which is why it isn't marketed as such.0 -
Interesting point about marketing it as a Chinese watch or Irish watch - I truly feel Irish and want to bring business into Ireland - I'm not trying to hide the vast majority of manufacturing is taking place in China though - the brand itself is Irish, with the story of Yu Ming etc. - I want to promote Irish too (Gaelige that is) - so there's a core brand reason for it being a very Irish (made in China) watch. I honestly don't feel it to be a "Chinese watch" which is why it isn't marketed as such.
You are Irish and possibly 'more Irish than the Irish themselves'.
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Cyclingtourist wrote: »You are Irish and possibly 'more Irish than the Irish themselves'.
Agreed.
Hes very open on whats done in ireland and what not. Most things manufactured here in ireland are made up from chinese pieces and just a few screws put into them here in ireland.0 -
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Results of the draw are out - Bryan (Banie) you came close! 3rd on the list there so it's not impossible that the first two people are unreachable/don't want the watch :pac:
A lovely €2484.30 raised for Alone in the end - will provide an update/confirmation from Alone once the funds are received by them.
I'm sure James, the winner might be along on this forum too... it was slightly awkward that the winner was a reviewer of the previous prototype version (I was thinking at the time - huh no.21 - James...not that James of Honest Watch Reviews right?)
But it's genuinely what came up (random.org uses atmospheric noise for its randomness so I trust it to be truly random). It would have been more awkward if a family member or close friend won it
Oh and in some interesting news - here is Sólás Watches being mentioned on a podcast from Scottish Watches live conference - the reception was generally very positive - it seems that taking the break was a very good idea as various larger publications have now spotted Sólás on their radars.
See 44:40 - or if that first link isn't working then you can find the full podcast here (lots of interesting topics being discussed but Sólás comes up at 44:40
In fact 2FM even mentioned Sólás a while back (thanks to Devo Watches texting them in - another Irish watch brand). Interesting to hear that they've heard of the brand!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDTnrGLnWMR/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet0 -
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I'm not gonna say fingers crossed the other 2 don't want a watch...
But!
Fingers crossed
:pac:
You may be out of luck there :P
Big release today - ABlogToWatch published their micro-monthly feature a while ago - we're last (but certainly not least) on that page (they had to go by alphabetical order...next time it's aardvark watches for me):
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ablogtowatch-micro-monthly-august-2020-astronic-stl-117-tourbillon-herve-alvia-solas-starlight/
Great that they fact-checked and were happy to go with "first in the world" and I think the article reads very well as written (by ABTW not myself).
Would appreciate if people might leave a comment on their article about the Starlight - they are *whispers* currently considering running a review on the Starlight :eek: - I'm not sure if metrics/responses on this article here will play any part in their decision but it surely shouldn't harm it.
For people who may not have heard of ABTW before - they are probably the biggest/2nd (definitely top 5) watch publications online so a review from them would be exposure that I wouldn't have dreamed about before
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You may be out of luck there :P
Big release today - ABlogToWatch published their micro-monthly feature a while ago - we're last (but certainly not least) on that page (they had to go by alphabetical order...next time it's aardvark watches for me):
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ablogtowatch-micro-monthly-august-2020-astronic-stl-117-tourbillon-herve-alvia-solas-starlight/
Look like the Starlight has been bumped to the top of the the page TF 0 -
What approach to take with posts like this could people suggest? (I'm sure it won't be the last time similar things pop up about Sólás - so even people's opinions on how to generally deal with things you feel (or are absolutely objectively) untrue - it'd be whack-a-mole if you respond to everyone but his particular claim of fake accounts cuts deep into Sólás' reputation/good name)
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/s%C3%B3l%C3%A1s-starlight-worlds-first-affordable-micro-rotor-microbrand-watch-ks-campaign-re-launches-sept-oct-2020.5213113/page-2#post-52192961
Responding may give it life (especially to the quite clearly untrue allegation that I set up fake accounts to comment and promote myself on the ABTW post). I've reported the post on WUS - are any of the commenters on the ABTW post a longstanding WUS member and even if just one of yous could confirm that yes indeed you are a real person who is supporting the Starlight and not a fake puppet of mine?
I would have (hand on heart) said that an ad still features on a website - I'll have to check with Banie if that passes his smell-o-meter test - I wouldn't have called that feature a review in any case like the poster was claiming. And yes - even getting an ad placed of my watch on ABTW is something that excited me too (maybe I'm too naive and they would have taken anyone with cash )
As I mentioned above - the feature/post/ad whatever you prefer to call it - was written by ABTW not myself after I provided them with the reviewer's info pack that I provide all reviewers (provided because it summarises the points of the Starlight in a concise manner not that I was asking them to write a review in a sponsored post).
Interestingly I was approached by ABTW too about the micro monthly bit not me going to them...
Finally I'll definitely clear up the cancellation/postponement point (not sure if it was mentioned on the WUS site very explicitly but that decision was only taken after full consultation and input with the backers of the July launch as you guys well know).
I've loved answering questions from people about watches (not even necessarily the Starlight) - this is definitely the less fun but necessary bit of running a brand - hence me asking what do people think is the best response to posts like this? Wait for others to independently defend you? Contact other reputable people (who know the background) to independently defend you? Ignore?0 -
Look like the Starlight has been bumped to the top of the the page TF
Maybe it was reverse alphabetical order? Woo (with a surname like Wu you can imagine how often I was called first for anything :pac: ) - those sweet sweet times when the teacher went in reverse alphabetical order...often turned out to be for turning in homework (though I was always a swot in school ha). 0 -
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What approach to take with posts like this could people suggest? (I'm sure it won't be the last time similar things pop up about Sólás - so even people's opinions on how to generally deal with things you feel (or are absolutely objectively) untrue - it'd be whack-a-mole if you respond to everyone but his particular claim of fake accounts cuts deep into Sólás' reputation/good name)
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/s%C3%B3l%C3%A1s-starlight-worlds-first-affordable-micro-rotor-microbrand-watch-ks-campaign-re-launches-sept-oct-2020.5213113/page-2#post-52192961
Responding may give it life (especially to the quite clearly untrue allegation that I set up fake accounts to comment and promote myself on the ABTW post). I've reported the post on WUS - are any of the commenters on the ABTW post a longstanding WUS member and even if just one of yous could confirm that yes indeed you are a real person who is supporting the Starlight and not a fake puppet of mine?
I would have (hand on heart) said that an ad still features on a website - I'll have to check with Banie if that passes his smell-o-meter test - I wouldn't have called that feature a review in any case like the poster was claiming. And yes - even getting an ad placed of my watch on ABTW is something that excited me too (maybe I'm too naive and they would have taken anyone with cash )
As I mentioned above - the feature/post/ad whatever you prefer to call it - was written by ABTW not myself after I provided them with the reviewer's info pack that I provide all reviewers (provided because it summarises the points of the Starlight in a concise manner not that I was asking them to write a review in a sponsored post).
Interestingly I was approached by ABTW too about the micro monthly bit not me going to them...
Finally I'll definitely clear up the cancellation/postponement point (not sure if it was mentioned on the WUS site very explicitly but that decision was only taken after full consultation and input with the backers of the July launch as you guys well know).
I've loved answering questions from people about watches (not even necessarily the Starlight) - this is definitely the less fun but necessary bit of running a brand - hence me asking what do people think is the best response to posts like this? Wait for others to independently defend you? Contact other reputable people (who know the background) to independently defend you? Ignore?
Not sure what others would think (re. ignore or respond), but having followed and read through your journey, I’d be happy to add my voice to any replies to that post on your behalf. I’m perfectly happy that you are a genuine person who created an awesome watch with a lot of hard work and care and transparency (and a watch which I would really love to get my hands on!).0 -
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John Hutton wrote: »You seem determined to take any perceived slight as an opportunity to provoke.
There are no sly little digs, except in your own mind.
I'm not the one who went back quite a bit in what was water under the bridge.
And as for a dig being in my own mind?
Really??I'll have to check with Banie if that passes his smell-o-meter test -0 -
It's clearly a joke.I'm not the one who went back quite a bit in what was water under the bridge.
And as for a dig being in my own mind?
Really??
This is boring, it will follow the same pattern before. thirdfox will apologise and say it was meant as a light hearted joke (hence the), you will huff and puff again in a precious manner at the mortal offense you have suffered due to thirdfoxx's alleged imprecision, or in this instance perceived comedic failings. You will be sated until the next opportunity to take issue with something and dive in with two feet again in an over the top, provocative manner. It's boring.
Anyway, I've said my bit, if you feel the need to respond to me feel free to do it via PM if you want, I won't engage further with you on the thread should you reply there, let's leave it to discussion of the watch, I've no desire to clog things further.0 -
I'm just one x away from being 18's only! (I was going to say "unsuitable for children" but that sounded much more dodgy).John Hutton wrote: »...thirdfoxx's alleged imprecision,...or in this instance perceived comedic failings.
Agreed! I will stick to the day job and the hobby and I won't be here all week folks
Though it may have been mentioned already as something I might say - I do chalk these things up to "comedic failings" than any conscious intention to annoy. Moving forward I will stick mainly to the facts just so we all minimise these misunderstandings (just a normal friendly genuine smilie - it's hard to convey tone through words on the internet sometimes - but I would ask that, if possible, if there is ambiguity about my intentions that one would take the positive interpretation of what I've said as that's most likely what I intended). 0 -
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I'm just one x away from being 18's only! (I was going to say "unsuitable for children" but that sounded much more dodgy).See that...
That's funny, (ish)
Raking over closed and contentious topics, not so much.
But thanks for the cliff note
Also, in view of your explanation above (Thanks Btw)
Please, at least excuse my unwarranted tetchiness.
Clearly I inferred an offence where none was offered and I do apologize.
Clearly it's my own issue and not yours TF.
Apologies again.0 -
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