Launching on Kickstarter in March, The 220 Watch Company’s R.J Mitchell pilot watch is a step up in the British brand’s offering and looking certain to fly the business forward.
Each one of the watches so far has been inspired by a historical event, the first and second by William Walker, a diver made famous for shoring up the south and east sides of Winchester Cathedral in the early 20th century.
From the narrative discovery in Winchester, the William Walker and Diver Bill watches were born and allowed the 220 Watch Company and its owner Jared Steadman, a watch enthusiast from young, to gain traction in a busy, British market.
Now, in keeping with the historical theme, the R.J Mitchell pays homage to the designer of the world-famous Spitfire, a key weapon in the armoury and result in an allied victory in World War II.
In terms of a step-up for the brand, the previous two timepieces have been priced in the sub-£400 category meaning the £795 price point of the R.J Mitchell not only keeps the loyal customer base interested, but also opens the door to a news mass audience of watch lovers around the world.
An upgrade to an ETA 7750 auto-chronograph movement with day and date functionality, the watch is 43.5mm in diameter, 22mm in lug width and 15.6mm deep.
In a titanium case, the brass bezel nods to the history with the brass in the spitfire cockpit which contained brass buttons and triggers and in conversation with WatchPro, Steadman says he likes mixing materials and looks forward to seeing the contrasts when the brass patinas get darker.
With sapphire crystals, super-luminova, a custom rotor wheel and custom screw down crown, the watch is water resistant to 100m. It also features custom piston pushers and a custom buckle.
Going live on Kickstarter on March 5, The 220 Watch Company also has the Diver bill and William Walker watches on offer.
