We’ve waxed lyrical about British watchmaking many, many times. It makes sense, we’re understandable proponents of all things British. But that doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to other brands across the world, even if they’re about as far away as physically possible. And Australia is that and more.
Unlike the UK, Australia doesn’t have some storied history of watchmaking. And yet despite that, no shortage of cool, exciting brands have come out of the Land Down Under. Case in point, Second Hour who are celebrating their sixth anniversary making some of the best accessible timepieces in Oz. And despite not being a nice, round number, it’s still very much worth celebrating, firstly because it’s never a given in the current climate and secondly because Second Hour had one hell of a start.
Founded by Peter Sargison, Second Hour represented a big life shift. After 45 years working for others, Peter had what many of us might consider a mid-life crisis. Quitting the corporate and government world, he took it upon himself to learn the art of watchmaking. Rather than a little hobby in the garden shed however, he decided to turn it into something much more concrete. Working with his wife Akira, he set about designing a saleable watch, something that was both affordable and exceptional, rugged and beautiful. The end result was the Gin Clear Diver.
To say the Gin Clear was a success if an understatement bordering insult. Launched on Kickstarter for a month from 31st March to 30th April. And yet, it really didn’t need to as the nascent dive watch was funded in just 33 minutes. Even in an era where watch funding was a big game, Second Hour’s offering struck a rock opera’s worth of chords.
The reasons were relatively obvious. The Gin Clear had all the hallmarks of a solid diver, with 200m water resistance, a solidly built 41.55mm stainless steel case complete with a ceramic bezel and a workhorse Sellita movement, all for under £400. However, it was also a bit of a looker. That bezel was streamlined and elegant, the dial colours were eye-catching and unique trapezoid markers at 12, four and eight paired with classic dive watch circles gave the entire dial a personality all its own. Needless to say, it put Second Hour on the map.
From there Peter and Akira doubled down on their success, following up the 2020 launch of the Gin Clear Mk1 with the gorgeous Mandala, with its intricately engraved dial and dual crown Giant Stride model just a year later. In 2022 they launched yet another model in the Sattelberg with a dressier look, handsome bracelet and gorgeous sector dials. The Sattelberg was almost as successful as the Gin Clear, but if you thought that would slow them down, think again. Peter was on a roll and Second Hour had plenty more watches to launch: 2023’s Mandala Burst, the second gen Gin Clear, the second gen Sattelberg and the Art Deco Memoir, all within two years.
Even as recently as October this year, Second Hour launched The Fusion, a watch that, as the name suggests, combined the best of both the Sattelberg (it’s sleek case and bracelet combo) with the Mandala’s unique dial. In many ways, the Fusion is the culmination of what the Aussie brand has been building over the last six years.
The 40mm case is beautifully wearable, that perfect middle ground between hardwearing (its surface has been hardened to 1,200 vickers) and elegant. The dial has a dive watch-style layout for innate readability, complete with Second Hour’s signature trapezoids, yet the lack of a dive bezel and 100m water resistance leans more towards terra firma than the depths. The movement is a Japanese Miyota rather than the Sellita of the original Gin Clear, but it’s nevertheless a solid, reliable and accurate movement that’s slightly more accessible – in large part why you can get a well-finished GADA watch for $850, around £650.
If you want something a little dressier however, Second Hour has also launched a trio of new colours in their Art Deco Memoir in pale blue, silver, and a very pink variety of salmon. If you’re looking to scratch that Cartier Tank itch with a fun, accessible and intricate quartz equivalent, the new Memoir is $599 (£450) well-spent.
It’s been six years since Second Hour first erupted onto the scene with one of the most successful watch Kickstarter’s ever put to the platform. And where far too many of their contemporaries have slowly died out as the hype around their debut launches fizzles out, Peter and Akira show no signs of stopping.
More details at Second Hour.
