Kickstarter Watch: Ianos – Avyssos

Another diver on Kickstarter, thankfully no bronze cases this time. The Ianos – Avyssos is a watch inspired by Greek diving and the whole underwater Greek mythology genre. I feel like this is just a way to help sell the watch. I mean a watch brand is always cooler when there is a story behind it right? Take Daniel Wellington for example, the founder met “Daniel Wellington” a British Gentleman who wore vintage watches on NATO which inspired him to launch the brand. I don’t believe a Daniel Wellington ever existed.

So in this promo video Ianos posted on their Kickstarter campaign page it features a man who looks like a weathered old Greek god diving deep down into the ocean. For most promo videos I expect to see more of the watch and maybe the founder speaking on what inspired the design.

Summary:

• Manual wind Diver in steel with brown, blue, black dials Kickstarter $730,
• • RETAIL $1,550
• Manual wind Diver in black PVD with brown, blue, black dials Kickstarter $760
• • RETAIL $1,620
• Sandwich cut dial
• 44 mm diameter, 54 mm lug to lug
• Chris Ward C65 Trident Diver Manual wind with blue, black, khaki dials on BraceletRETAIL $865 which makes it a more attractive deal
• Conclusion: Don’t buy

Movement:

Beating at 21,600 and 17 jewels ETA 7001, not decorated and nothing to write home about, the movement is often used in “Junkers 6030-2” which is a dress watch priced at $900, I found one NOS movement on ebay for around $200.

With this watch the seconds is a little spinning circle instead of an actual seconds hand. For a watch of this price I would have preferred an actual seconds hand and this just adds on to my point that this is more of a fun and occasional use watch rather than a daily driver.  

Photo creds: IANOS WATCHES

With a 42 hour power reserve it is definitely in the average but with handwinding mechanical movements power reserve isn’t really an issue. 

Dial:

Ok a textured dial definitely beats the sunburst dial that is available on most Seikos and Orients now, but a textured sandwich dial is NOT enough to get me to purchase this watch. Ianos explains the dial as “SANDPAPER” BUT HOW MANY GRIT!?!?! Ugh bad joke, if you don’t get it take a visit to home depot.

Case:

So the case is interesting, 44 mm diameter, and 54 mm lug to lug and the crater/channel on the caseback is for a 20 mm strap. On paper it seems oddly sized, you would expect a 22 mm strap. This is something to seriously consider. Look at all the Seiko turtles with a 44 mm case size and 48 mm lug to lug that use 22 mm strap and look absolutely amazing.

Photo creds: Hodinkee

Hodinkee:

Hodinkee wrote an article on this watch that mentioned how it is difficult to be original in the dive watch genre and IANOS is being a nonconformist. Hodinkee slow down, IANOS is doing nothing new and I bet if given a few more months Spinnaker watches would have created something similar except for the movement. A diver with a sandwich dial and massive case size of 44 mm and 54 mm lug to lug is something straight out Spinnaker’s playbook.

I do have to give IANOS credit though, the caseback features a deep channel so a NATO strap can pass through it. Nothing groundbreaking but should get an honorable mention.

Competition:

With the Kickstarter price of around $800 we are in the higher end of the affordable watch spectrum. One watch that can go toe to toe with the Ianos Avyssos is the Christopher Ward C65 Trident.

Chris Ward C65 Trident which is manual winding and on bracelet is more practical for daily use. Priced at $865 with the occasional 15% trident discount code the watch comes out to $735 which is currently the price of the Ianos on Kickstarter. I think it is ridiculous for the retail of the IANOs to be $1,550.

Who is this watch for?

Those who are die hard dive watch fans and those fascinated by Greek diving and possibly Greek mythology. I do not see this blending in at the office so I am sorry desk divers this watch is not for you.

Timeline and Delivery:

March 2019: Launch of Kickstarter Campaign
April 2019: End of Kickstarter Campaign and ordering of components
May-July 2019: Production of components
August 2019: Quality control and testing of all watch components, Assembly and secondary quality control and testing of watches
September 2019: Delivery of watches

What’s included?

Italian leather NATO strap
Italian rubber NATO strap
Two-watch roll

“MICROBRANDS PLEASE STOP WITH THE WATCH ROLLS”

Dan Henry, EMG watches, and a few other Kickstarters include a tube and put the watch inside the watch roll and into the tube and ship it. Less packaging and lower costs for the brand, but it is starting to seem like a lazy way out for most brands.

Conclusion:

This watch gets a pass from me, “A DO NOT BUY RATING”  i just think for the price I can do better. I have a small wrist and it would look ridiculous on me and for the current price this is not an impulse buy that I can only use once a month. The money can be better allocated to a watch that will get more wrist time.

Ianos Avyssos Kickstarter HERE

The friends at Fratello Watches did a really good write up on this watch that delves more into the actual Greek diving aspect of the watch. HERE 

Ianos Avyssos Company Website HERE