It’s been a while since we had a Kickstarter watches roundup so here are some of the crowdfunded projects that have caught our eye recently.
Kickstarter Watches Roundup – May 2022
A mixed bag this month, from a smartwatch that claims not to be a smartwatch to a wooden chronograph. Let’s dive in…
Norm 1 Smartwatch
Norm is a Danish brand that has produced what they describe as a “revolutionary new smartwatch” – the Norm 1 – which is hidden within a very traditional minimalist analogue watch body. The specs look acceptable: 316L steel case with sapphire glass, a Japanese movement and 7 days of battery life.
At £175 it’s a comparable price to many of the better know low-end smartwatches but we’re not convinced that a Jack of All Trades can be a master of any of them… We like the looks, though – its clean lines are reminiscent of Nordgreeen watches.
Check out the Norm 1 Kickstarter campaign here.
Pendulum Chrono
The latest wooden watch to hit Kickstarter is the Pendulum Chrono. It certainly looks the part in the renders but – as is so often the case – any shots of the actual prototypes are hidden within “lifestyle images”. This would be enough to put us off, as wooden watches are ten-a-plenty on Aliexpress and a lot cheaper than the £213 asking price for this one.
It’s always worth exercising caution with Kickstarter campaigns – we’d recommend checking that there are photos of a real-world prototype – and reviews of it in blogs like this one or on Youtube from well-known reviewers. ANd always head over to Aliexpress or DHGate and search for keywords like “Wooden Watch”
Click here to back the Pendulum Chrono on Kickstarter.
Buying a Watch on Kickstarter
Remember that Kickstarter is not a shop, it’s a place where you can back new businesses, That means you will have a wait before the watch you preorder arrives, and there is always a risk of losing your money. Don’t let that scare you off – read our guide to buying a watch on Kickstarter to find out more.
