The Wayfarer GMT, from Mercer Watch Co.

For a while, I was under the impression that Kickstarter was cooling down, it seemed like there are less watch projects then before. I was wrong, the stream of new watch projects is not drying up at all, on the contrary there are quite many interesting projects. Today, I’m going to introduce you to two of them: the Wayfarer by Mercer Watch Co and Anéda with their watches designed here in Québec.

The Wayfarer GMT by Mercer Watch Co

The Wayfarer GMT, from Mercer Watch Co.

The first time the New Jersey based Mercer Watch Co came to Kickstarter with the Brigadier, the project did not managed to raise the necessary funds, on a second try after some lessons were learned, the three hands and date Brigadier was an immense success. Now, Mercer is back with a new model, the Wayfarer GMT and there won’t be any second try with this one as the project got fully funded soon after it was launched on Kickstarter.

Now wonder, it is rather rare to see microbrand offering an automatic watch with a GMT complication. The Early Backer price at $229 and the Backer at $249 are all gone like hotcakes, but you can still get your hands on a Wayfarer at $269, which is still an amazing deal on a GMT watch that also happens to look great (especially the blue dial version, if you ask me).

Inside the 41 mm stainless steel case, you will find a Hangzhou 6460 automatic GMT movement, a Chinese clone of the ETA2836-2 with a GMT module.

The project is running till the 28th of July after which it will go into production, with shipping expected to happen in October. To see more pictures and all the details about the Wayfarer, go to http://kck.st/1BJNH10.

Anéda – Watches Designed in Québec

Aneda 3-Hands and Aneda Chronograph

Aneda was founded by two young guys from Montreal, and they are making their debut with a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a three hands watch and a chronograph.

The name they have picked for their brand has an interesting origin. Jacques Cartier, a French explorer who claimed what is now Canada for France, on his first voyage in 1534, had a rather hard time adapting to the harsh environment in the Golf of Saint Lawrence. His crew was weakened by scurvy and the cold weather. The natives brought them a remedy based from a tree, the Anéda, which cured everyone.

Both watches are 44 mm and they are powered by a quartz movement, Ronda for the chronograph and Miyota for the three hands model. Their urban look gives them a freshness that I’m sure many will find appealing. Prices start at $140 for the three hands model and $275 for the chronograph. The project will run till July 30, and you can see it here http://kck.st/1NuQax4