I Love Carbon Fiber, & I Think Willis Judd Knew That About Me
First, I want to acknowledge a reader for connecting Willis Judd and I. That was very cool, Mike, and I appreciate you sharing WYCA with the world.
Willis Judd has packed their inaugural creation with a lot of value: a Swiss-made Ronda 763 quartz movement powers timekeeping, sapphire is used for the raised and bevelled crystal, and each watch comes with two straps that feature a quick-release springbar (changing straps is as easy as it gets).
What a looker this watch is, too. The carbon fiber is well done and looks fantastic, but you know me… let’s let the photos do the talking!
Willis Judd’s Carbon Fiber Dial
One of the hardest things to capture in photography is how light plays with materials. Carbon fiber has a really great effect when lit with the right kind of lighting and I really wanted to capture that with this photo shoot.
As the angle of the watch in relation to the light source changes, so too does the dial. The textures are rich, and if you’re familiar with carbon fiber, you’ll appreciate the quality of the inlay on the dial. Suffice to say that it looks excellent, even under zoom- especially under zoom.
Willis Judd is Shipping Two Straps With Each Watch
With a lot of watches, the inclusion of a second strap is less of a draw than it sounds since most people don’t actually know how to change straps on their watches. However, Willis Judd has smartly chosen to use quick-release straps; a quick-release springbar in the strap makes swapping it out the strap for a new one a job that takes seconds and requires no tools.
Also, the straps look and feel great. The black on red carbon fiber strap that came attached to this carbon fiber beauty is comfortable and matches the aesthetic perfectly; the second included strap, a black cow-grain leather with a deep tan underside, feels luxurious and comfortable to wear.
What’s It Like On the Wrist? In a Word: Bulletproof
The PVD coating (AAA quality, by the way) and sapphire crystal make the watch quite durable. This is a good thing, as the crystal is bevelled and raised by about 1mm compared to the rest of the case. Were it mineral, I’d be worried.
It’s got good weight to it, but it doesn’t feel heavy. Despite its 45mm size, the extensive use of black and carbon fiber makes the Willis Judd wear smaller than it is. It will fit most men pretty well.
More About this New Watch from Willis Judd
Kickstarter & Where to Buy
A project brought to life by two brothers, this carbon fiber watch is really something unique. The retail price is around $150 USD, though you can get them on kickstarter (until end of day tomorrow, anyway) for as low as $60 right now. That’s a killer price for a watch with a Swiss movement, a sapphire crystal, and two straps.
Kickstarter Campaign
Company Website
http://www.willisjuddwatches.com
Technical Specifications
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Crystal Material: Sapphire
- Movement: Ronda 763 quartz
- Water Resistance: 50 m / 165 ft
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Warranty: 1 year
I’m very happy that I was able to connect you with Willis-Judd, Cameron. Since discovering WYCA a few months ago this has become my favorite watch site- the reviews are concise and thoughtful, the photography is excellent, and the focus is on lovely watches that are actually ATTAINABLE (I can only spend so long looking at watches that cost well in excess of my car before I start getting disconsolate…)
And those reasons are precisely why I thought this would be right in your wheelhouse. The value the WJ looks to be giving is amazing, from the sapphire crystal to the Swiss movement, down to the straps and case. And all in in a watch well under $100 US. The styling, for my part, is also very appealing- it hits a sweet spot of being clean without going for the Minimalist thing that is being done so much these days (over-done in some cases, IMHO.) That carbon fiber face really does pop, too.
One of the main reasons I wanted to make this connection happen is that I felt your photographic skill could show this watch off to great effect, and you have not disappointed in the slightest; before I saw this I had my heart set on the rose gold model, mostly because I already have a few black-on-black watches. I have to say though, you’ve made the black model look dead sexy, so now I’m torn. I guess this is the sort of problem you want to have.
Thanks again for all the great work you do!
Well, from my experience with the WJ the quality isn’t perfect but it’s pretty good. I found some dust inside the crystal. Of course, I only found it when using my 90mm lens. I didn’t see it on my 40mm macro. Doesn’t bother me at all, especially considering the price.
The sapphire crystal is bang on. First, it’s super price competitive, and second, the size/shape of the crystal warrants it. It was a wise choice. The PVD coating is also good- hasn’t scratched yet and I’ve dinged it a few times by accident.
My favorite part about WYCA is being able to take photos of all the cool watches. The carbon fiber dial on this one was definitely up there on the cool factor. If I had my pick, I’d get the rose gold only because I bet that combination would be a lot of fun to shoot.
The survey popped up today; I ended up opting for rose gold. I have too many black on black watches anyway. WJ is shooting for delivery before Christmas- when it comes I’ll get a few pics to pass on.