Italian Watch Co. TEMPUS EST PRETIUM

Italian Watch Co. TEMPUS EST PRETIUM

THE JOURNEY

The journey started in 2012, when Nicolò and Omar, friends as well as watch enthusiasts, founded 2DStraps, an Italian brand that makes leather watches straps for luxury watches with top quality Tuscany leather. Their dream to build an authentic Italian timepiece comes true in 2017, when they founded VIQUERIA and launched, on Kickstarter, their first watch: Viqueria Roma. VIQUERIA is a start-up based in Voghera, Italy, a city close to Milano and hometown of the two founders Nicolò and Omar, with the mission to deliver to Customers affordable but quality and appealing watches, which does not cost an arm and delivers everyday pleasure to wear.

ITALIAN ROOTS

The name of the Italian-rooted brand takes its origins from the ancient Italian history because we want to give to our products a strong footprint that rise from our origins. Viqueria is the ancient roman name given during Middle Age to the city of Voghera, located in the north of Italy far approximately 40 km from Milano. Our hometown was founded by Augustus, a Roman politician and general considered the first Roman emperor, controlling the Roman Empire from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. Known in ancient times as Iria, it took its name from the river on which it was situated. During Middle Age it was destroyed by the Rugii, a tribe who migrated from southwest Norway. After several lordships, it was acquired by the House of Savoy in 1743 with the Concordat of Worms. Five years later it became provincial capital and received the city status. During World War II, owing to its strategic position on the roads Milan-Genoa and Turin- Bologna, it was heavily bombed by the Allies.

VIQUERIA LEVANTE

We wanted to create a timepiece with a foot in both the traditional and the contemporary with a unique racing design. A watch a load of character. For VIQUERIA LEVANTE we kept some elements of our earlier designs, like sunray dials, whilst developing a timepiece that stands apart, not just within our own range but also within the microbrand market it exists. This is a complex mechanical timepiece, offering both accurate timekeeping and time measurement, therefore the design needed to reflect the need for additional information, whilst remaining true to our core belief of essentials only, clutter free design. This mechanical watch is powered by a manual wound ST19, a Swiss designed and tooled, old fashioned, traditionally laid out chronograph movement produced by Seagull and encased in a 42mm 316L stainless steel case with a domed Hardlex crystal. Furthermore the watch is equipped with an Italian leather racing strap and a stainless steel bracelet. VIQUERIA LEVANTE is a limited edition watch with a production of 100 pieces.

HANDMADE LEATHER STRAPS

All VIQUERIA timepieces are fitted with handmade leather straps made by the 2DStraps. For a great wear, we only use fine Italian leathers, which are renowned for their quality. Special cares go into making Italian leather pieces than any other leather product in the world. We only use natural vegetable and plant extracts to turn hides into leather. It s not mass produced and the process takes longer than it would to produce cheaper alternative. Furthermore, leather from Italy is also traditionally "full grain" leather, which is made from the very best raw hides, so that they do not need to be sanded to get rid of imperfections. Full-grain leather is tougher and more durable than other types of leather, and as it ages, it gains a beautiful sheen. Italian leather it is unique. At VIQUERIA, we have chosen 2DStraps and their italian leather as the choice of material. We want to provide affordable timepieces without compromising quality.

SEAGULL ST19

In 1960s Switzerland there were three competing chronograph movement manufacturers: Lemania, Valijoux and Venus. Venus made the popular Calibre 175 column wheel chronograph movement that was used in several watches in the 1940s and 50s. In 1961, the Chinese Government assigned the task of developing and producing an air force chronograph for the Army to the Tianjin-Seagull Watch Factory. Seagull bought everything from the Venus company, the machines, blueprints etc. that was used to produce the Venus 175 and then upgraded the original 17-jewel movement to their own 19- jewel ST19 movement. By 1965 these watches had met all the requirements and passed all the Ministry s tests so an order was placed. In 1966 Tianjin-Seagull delivered 1,400 of these watches to the air force.

Inside a mechanical chronograph, you ll usually find one of two types of movement; a column wheel movement or a cam-actuated variety. Seagull ST19 is based on a column-wheel system, like Patek Philippe CH-29-535 movement and Zenith El Primero watch. When you push the start button you act on the column wheel operating lever which moves the wheel. That then moves the clutch rocker away from its detent. The rocker then engages with the oscillating pinion with the chronograph wheel and the hand starts moving. Click to stop and the column wheel turns the other way. A cam and lever has near enough the same number of parts as a column wheel set-up, but it costs rather less to produce as the tolerance of the parts doesn t need to be quite so precise. Camactuated system is used on ETA/Valijoux 7750 movement. When you push the start button you act on a level and an oscillating pinion that moves on the chrono whell. We choose ST19 because of its elegance, history and smoothness of operation.

316L STAINLESS STEEL CASE

Stainless steel is among the most protective shields around. All VIQUERIA timepieces are manufactured in 316L stainless steel, the same steel used to make surgical and diving equipments, that has extra-low carbon content and is extremely resistant to corrosion such as seawater or acidic liquids. Our steel is also magnetic resistant, unlike the general-use stainless steel grade of 201or 304L. With Molybdenum added, it gives 316L a better overall corrosion-resistant property than 304L.Plus, our stainless steel s low carbon content makes it particularly resistant to corrosion from acids typically found in the ocean and in perspiration. Corrosion resistance of austenitic Stainless Steels, such as 316L and 904L (used by some swiss brands), are very similar for all practical purposes in a watch. At VIQUERIA, we have chosen 316L as the choice of material. We want to provide affordable timepieces without compromising quality.

Hand-applied polished luminescent markers; Polished hands with lume; Yellow or Orange seconds hands; Embossed VIQUERIA logo at 12 o clock; Embossed subdial rings. Seagull ST19 hand-wound movement; Manual Calibre wih Chronograph function; Power Reserve: Approx. 40 hours; 19 jewels with 21.600 vibrations per hr; Column-whell chrono system. Case diameter: 42mm; Case thickness: 13.60mm; Blue or Black fixed tachymeter bezel; Polished crown with VIQUERIA logo; Water Resistance: 100 meters; Polished 316L Stainless Steel Case; Push-down crown with Gasket; Weight: Approx 130gr. Racing handmade leather straps by 2DStraps; Stainless Steel bracelet; Handmade in Italy DESIGNED AND ASSEMBLED IN ITALY 24 MONTHS WARRANTY

Italian Watch Co. www.viqueriawatches.com TEMPUS EST PRETIUM