In Depth ATOWAK, as usual, ventures beyond the ordinary and introduces the Spaceship watch

Here at Waqt, we take pride in introducing unique and special watches from vintage to intricate watches. Our articles encompass not only Swiss and European-manufactured watches only, but also timepieces from around the globe, and in the heart of Hong Kong, a horological journey awaits with ATOWAK Watches.

Born from a passion for craftsmanship and innovation, ATOWAK has redefined the landscape of watchmaking. let's delve into the story behind this exceptional brand. ATOWAK is a Chinese watchmaker that was established in 2010. With its knack for the unconventional, the brand has carved a niche for itself with designs that are as imaginative as they are futuristic. The complexity of mechanisms and whimsical display styles are the hallmarks of ATOWAK, making it a brand for those in pursuit of the unique. Fun fact, the term "Atowak" employs a letter transposition technique, inspired by Julius Caesar, and if you apply a six-step backward shift to each letter in "Atowak," it transforms into "Unique". Despite their distinctiveness, ATOWAK watches come with a friendly price tag, welcoming collectors from all around the world. 

ATOWAK emerged as a watch manufacturer assisting microbrands in creating mechanical watches. Over a decade, the brand honed its craft and embarked on a journey of developing watches, and introduced its first 4-arm wandering hour watch, the ETTORE series. This new series quickly caught the eye of watch lovers from all corners of the globe. The ETTORE LITE is a stellar choice for aficionados of wandering style time reading, taking its design inspiration from automobiles speedometer, with the dial and hands crafted from 3D-printed copper and aviation-grade aluminum, ensuring a harmonious fit and enduring consistency courtesy of the 3D printing process. All ETTORE timepieces feature top-tier Italian leather straps which speaks to the brand’s commitment to quality and comfort. 

Inspired by a nostalgic reverence for bygone days and the classic allure of retro FM radios, the brand later unveiled the WINDOWS PRO. This innovative timepiece reimagines time display, evoking cherished memories from the 1970s with every glance. The hour hand is perfectly embedded in a straight groove, while the minute and second hands are located on the lower part of the dial. 

In 2022, the brand launched the Cobra, a watch that features a wandering hour display. This centuries-old technique, once limited to high-end watches, is now presented with exceptional design at an affordable price point. The watch design resembles a cobra's head, making it look unique and stylish. Instead of a regular dial, there's an octagonal shape on the front that resembles a cobra’s mouth, which you can see the inventive way this watch tells time. Eschewing traditional hands, the Cobra employs a carousel system, where three pointers are mounted. As one pointer gracefully exits the 60-minute mark, the other seamlessly glides onto the 1-minute mark, maintaining a rhythmic dance of time. Accompanying each pointer is a rectangular block, adorned with arabic numbers on its facets. As the carousel pirouettes, these blocks rotate in harmony, revealing numbers ranging from 1 to 12 that indicate the current hour, thus melding precision with aesthetic ingenuity.

In July 2023, ATOWAK unveiled the TARANTULA, a creation aesthetically inspired by the tarantula spider. This timepiece embodies the ingenious mechanism initially seen in the Cobra model, yet presents it with a renewed charm, as the mechanism now reveals itself entirely at a single glance. This exposition not only showcases its captivating engineering but also infuses a layer of intrigue into its design. At the heart of the Tarantula is the central satellite wandering hour wheel, gracefully seated on top of the honeycomb dial. On each of the three satellite arms features four Arabic numeral hours harmoniously synchronize to indicate the current hour, aligning with the curved minute track at 6 o'clock. 

With challenges mastered and designs enhanced, October 2023 saw the brand unveiling a new addition to its collections, the limited edition SPACESHIP series. This collection draws its inspiration from spacecraft, embodying a fusion of artistic finesse and technical prowess. Housed in a brushed and polished stainless steel case measuring 42.5mm in diameter and 16mm in thickness, it features a sapphire crystal on top and caseback, complementing the futuristic design. The case's teardrop shape with facets undergoes a 60-step finishing process, showcasing the brand commitment to precise finishing. Positioned at 12 o'clock are the crown and its protective crown guard, with four stylized case screws embellishing this surface. This model epitomizes a significant leap forward in both conceptual and practical terms when compared to other collections from ATOWAK.

ATOWAK completes the Spaceship’s dial with a rippled matte black base surface, offering a subtle backdrop for the intricate assemblies above. Retaining the wandering satellite hours concept, the Spaceship replaces the revolving hour barrels of previous models with a Starwheel-style rotating hours disks on a central assembly. Unlike its predecessors, the Spaceship features a running seconds hand in a polished three-armed wheel design, while the lower part of the dial still showcases the minute markings. The hour is displayed as the disk crosses the scale, marked with Arabic numerals. Each segment around the wheel's edge at 6 o'clock marks a five-minute interval. The hour discs and minute track are filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova, ensuring crisp time readability in low-light scenarios.

The watch is powered by the Modified Miyota 9039 automatic movement, with the inhouse wandering hours module, elevating its horological stature. Moreover, the 12 o’clock crown employs a bespoke 13-component mechanism, inclusive of a miniature three-piece gear train, interfacing seamlessly with the movement within. The movement offers 38-hours power reserve and operates at 28,800 vph (4Hz). 

Depending on the model selected, each timepiece will be accompanied by two quick-release FKM rubber straps, with colors that match the dial, and secured by a deployant clasp. The ATOWAK Spaceship is limited to 300 pieces, and available in a variety of color schemes, each priced at USD 1,937, equivalent to AED 7,114. Additionally, two versions with diamonds around the bezel are set to be shipped on November 24th when pre-ordered, the ATOWAK SPACESHIP Diamond Red and Diamond Black, both limited to 99 pieces and priced at USD 2,600, which is equivalent to AED 9,300.

To order any watch mentioned, please visit WAQT E-shop, the official agent of ATOWAK in the Middle East., and For more information please visit  ATOWAK’s official website.