Over 1000’s of years, the quantity seven has developed a strong status for being a logo of fortune, because of a various vary of spiritual, cultural, historic and even mathematical causes – it was chosen because the world’s favorite quantity in a worldwide on-line ballot The Guardian carried out over a decade in the past, forward of three and eight.
This preamble could seem utterly unrelated, however seven additionally occurs to be the variety of years it took for Feynman Timekeepers to earn its first award nomination because the Singapore-based microbrand was co-founded in 2018 by Lim Yong Keong, its model proprietor and designer. Not the results of mere luck or a fluke, however an consequence of years of striving, Feynman Timekeepers’ Coalesce – Dragon metiers d’artwork watch was shortlisted for the Jewelry & Creative Crafts class at this 12 months’s Timepiece World Awards, held in Toronto in September.
“It means the world to us that our efforts have been recognised by the worldwide jury,” Lim remarked. “To us, that is already a win, and I’m proud to signify Singapore and showcase our native expertise on the worldwide stage.”
The inaugural piece of Feynman Timekeepers’ Coalesce Zodiac collection from 2024, impressed by the Yr of the Dragon on the Chinese language lunar calendar, the Coalesce – Dragon was the fruits of the abilities of a lot of artisans from Singapore and their craft: the cloisonné enamel dial by enamellist Charlotte Hoe of Royal Insignia; the handmade leather-based strap by Ng Shu Yi of YI Leather-based and the bespoke show field by Gene Khoo of Ten10 Horowerkz, with each objects painted by Aries Liew of Hui Artwork; and a watch assembled and perfected by watchmaker Alvin Sim. “We’re [making metiers d’art watches] as a result of we actually need to showcase what we will do, other than our regular manufacturing,” Lim added. “We need to promote what we will do in Singapore itself, as a result of lots of [these artisans] are literally fairly good at what they’re doing.”
Feynman Timekeepers has been on a roll currently. Its most up-to-date assortment, the Feynman Q, has been properly acquired because it was launched in July – again orders will take till subsequent February to satisfy, Lim elaborates – and represents a turning level of kinds for the model. “I attempted to maneuver just a little away from a mechanical watch viewpoint, and I’m attempting to do quartz watches to see how the market will reply,” he provides. “So it was like a big gamble for us.” Christened the Feynman Q for the quirky case, an homage to the Roger Dubuis Sympathie, and in addition for it being a quartz motion, the primary for Feynman Timekeepers, the 34mm watch options an on-trend dial of decorative arduous stone (malachite, turquoise, tiger’s eye or lapis lazuli) along with the lizard-tail small-seconds hand, a Feynman Timekeepers signature, and crimped hour and minute arms that intersect as soon as each hour to type a rhombus. The Feynman Q follows the model’s August 2024 launch, the Feynman VI. Additionally named with wordplay in thoughts, the Feynman VI references classic TV circumstances, in addition to the sixth 12 months of Feynman Timekeepers. The 40.8mm by 38mm watch encompasses a sloping rehaut, with the Feynman brand tucked away discreetly close to 6 o’clock; a custom-designed skeleton handset; and a dial with (for the sooner iterations) a scratched sample achieved by positive vertical brushing, and rendered in darkish blue, silver, or inexperienced, with the final designated the Founder’s Version, a Feynman Timekeepers custom.
The reception of the Coalesce – Dragon, the Feynman Q and the Feynman VI, taken collectively, would possibly seem to counsel that establishing a watch model is straightforward, however that will be glossing over the wrestle of making a model from scratch, enriching it, and increasing its catalogue and clientele.
For starters, Lim designed the timepieces from the attitude of a watch collector as an alternative of knowledgeable designer, by drawing inspiration from options he admires – be it a case form, lug design, dial sample, color, or buckle – and selected particulars that gave the Feynman One, the model’s inaugural assortment, a novel aesthetic. However watch watchers took a while to heat as much as it, and that taught Lim about tastes and developments, in addition to being agency in his personal beliefs. “For our first product video that we launched, about 75 to 80 % of the feedback have been destructive, after which we had an enormous stock left on our first design after one to 2 years,” Lim recounted. “Then after we launched the second, third and fourth designs, individuals began in search of the primary design, and your entire opinion appeared to alter in a single day. Individuals have been saying that the primary design may be very good, so why don’t we produce it once more?”
“So I’m additionally pondering, Yeah, perhaps typically we simply must insist on what we need to do, and maybe individuals will realise what we’re attempting to do and recognize it.”
Alongside the way in which, Lim co-founded, with Sugiharto Kusumadi of Purple Military Watches, the Spring Sprang Sprung honest for unbiased watch manufacturers in 2022, and the annual occasion’s fourth version, in November, gathered greater than 50 exhibiting manufacturers in Singapore. “The previous few years have seen a surge in occasions like Spring Sprang Sprung, permitting manufacturers to attach with collectors and showcase our work intimately,” Lim mentioned. “We discover these occasions far more practical – they let individuals expertise the nuances of a watch firsthand, one thing a photograph simply can’t seize.”
In accordance with Lim, the largest hurdle for a model like his is establishing a picture that may compete with mainstream giants who’ve been round for generations, and to persuade customers to provide it an opportunity, by staying true to its convictions: to ship high quality merchandise with robust after-sales help, his focus for Feynman Timekeepers since 2018. “Immediately, we nonetheless have components for the very first mannequin that we developed seven years in the past … We do have fairly excessive stock price as a result of we hold all of the spare components which can be required,” he mentioned. “That’s how we need to uphold customer support.”
Constructing and sustaining a watch model took years of investing on his half, when it comes to time, assets, and in addition religion: 4 years of labor went into demonstrating encouraging progress, and the fifth 12 months lastly introduced Feynman Timekeepers to a spot of stability and monetary well being. Requested how he managed to remain the course for such an extended period, Lim revealed: “I truthfully haven’t informed anybody, however as a result of once we first designed the watch, I used my son’s title, so in a manner, I really feel a powerful sense of accountability. … If I fail, it’s not very good. How am I going to inform him sooner or later, proper? That was one of many the reason why I labored very, very arduous to attempt to hold the model going for the primary 5 years and make it possible for by then we must always have the ability to a minimum of break even.”
From the beginning, Feynman Timekeepers had been established by Lim with the aim of changing into a present he may share along with his older son. The ten-year-old wears a dependable Casio for now, however that might change sometime quickly. “He’ll spot a brand new prototype and instantly ask if it’s a Feynman timepiece,” Lim shared. “I heard from my spouse that he goes round telling all his buddies [that he has] a watch model; it was so humorous that he got here again and requested me, ‘Papa, what’s our web site? I need to inform my buddies about our web site.’” Now, Lim’s youthful son has entered the Feynman Timekeepers universe because the namesake of Fahren Ideas, its line of watch equipment reminiscent of storage circumstances and leather-based pouches. “I attempt to work it out as a partnership, in order that hopefully sooner or later, the brothers can work collectively, as a result of it’s nonetheless associated,” he added.
Via all of it, Lim has by no means overpassed his admiration for watchmaking – “The truth that so many intricate components come collectively in such a tiny area to maintain time is pure engineering magic,” he opined – or of his cherished color that set in movement the Founder’s Version mannequin for almost each one in every of Feynman Timekeepers’ collections. The collector, who goes by the deal with @greenhorology on Instagram, attributes this affinity for inexperienced to his first luxurious watch buy, the Rolex Submariner nicknamed Kermit for its bright-green aluminum bezel insert. “The vendor insisted I test it out, and wow, it stole my coronary heart. I had no concept I’d fall for inexperienced, however that watch was a game-changer. I ended up carrying it every day for years, and coincidentally, my profession took off,” the previous IT guide defined. “I began associating inexperienced with luck. So once we designed our first watch, it needed to be inexperienced. I spent hours on Pantone, mixing and matching till I received ‘my’ shade of inexperienced, a mix of 51 % inexperienced and 49 % blue. I’m obsessive about the way it turned out, and now it’s a staple in our Founder’s Editions.”
Effort, religion, and a putting fortunate color, simmered over seven years – that’s the recipe for making one’s personal fortune.
This story was first seen as a part of the WOW #82 Festive 2025 Problem
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