Written by Menswear Style in Brands on the 11th October 2021

The Arctic is a robust, technical timepiece designed for accuracy and legibility, drawing inspiration from the adventurous spirit of the early polar pioneers. The Arctic launches through Kickstarter on 2 November 2021. The Arctic is a refined 38mm titanium, field-style watch for men and women and will be available in 3 versions: the Signature Series blue meteorite dial, the Limited-Edition black meteorite dial, and the One of Ten white/grey meteorite dial. The Arctic One of Ten is limited to ten units worldwide, and owners of this exclusive timepiece will have the option to work with Tool Watch Co’s design team to personalise their case back engraving.

Inspiration 

Tool Watch Co. takes inspiration seriously in its design process. Every aspect of their watches, from colour choice to their components is thoughtfully considered. The choice of the natural meteorite dial represents Greenlands Hiawatha Glacier - the first meteorite impact crater ever discovered under Earth's ice sheets. Cutting and finishing a meteorite dial requires time and skill. Each Arctic dial is made from a solid slice of the Muonionalusta meteorite (found north of the Arctic circle) and treated to bring out its natural crystalline pattern. 

Swiss Super-Luminova Grade-A BGW9 lume is used on the signature hour and minute hands, Arctic hunting-tool seconds hand, and dial indices for exceptional low light legibility. They have developed a specific dial text methodology that will carry through to further models. The model designation sits at the top of the dial, and the subtext below acts as a summarised spec sheet of the core attributes of the watch in line with their tool watch aesthetic and the DNA of tool watches in general.

Movement 

Tool Watch Co. has chosen Sellita's SW200 to power the Arctic, a premium Swiss movement known for its precision, accuracy, and reliability. Tool Watch Co’s choice in using Sellita's Swiss movements is influenced by using watch movements that resonate with the region of inspiration, in this case, northern Europe. Luxury brands that use Sellita movements include IWC, Tag, Hublot, and Breitling. 

Caseback 

The case back features an original engraving of a polar bear on Tool Watch Co’s signature pattern, symbolic of the harsh environment and enduring spirit of the Arctic. 

Straps 

Each Arctic watch will include a Saffiano strap, drawing on the heritage of using leather straps in cold conditions, and a signature in-house designed titanium h-link bracelet. Watches and h-link bracelets use HV1200 scratch-resistant coating. A half-link will be included with each bracelet so customers can size it perfectly.

Packaging

They have engineered their packaging using environmentally friendly foam. It is non-toxic, lightweight, impact-resistant and, 100% recyclable. Its core purpose is to offset the CO2 generated by shipping heavier items of the same size and reducing non-recyclable waste. 

Sustainability 

Tool Watch Co. believes in a world where taking small incremental steps to sustainability will make a difference, especially in a marketplace saturated with greenwashing. Sustainability forms the basis of their watches, and they are committed to setting an ethical example in the watch industry by producing premium and sustainable items. 

They are committed to finding sustainable solutions to wasteful production by incorporating overstock leather in their straps and recyclable materials to emphasize durability and an extended lifespan. The brand actively works with their manufacturing partners across their supply chain to improve consumption while reducing emissions and waste.

Standing by reliability and precision, they oversee their entire manufacturing process from design to craftsmanship and use innovative materials and ethical manufacturing practices to merge their passion for design with sustainability. They strive to infuse each stage of their design and production process with a positive influence. 

toolwatchco.com

We take a first look at the Purpose-Driven Technical Timepieces by Arctic Tool Watch Co. who are Inspired by Lesser-Known Adventurers and use Sellita's SW200 Swiss Movement.