Kickstarter has become a fairly controversial platform over the last few years. For every runaway success, like the Pebble watch, there have been epic failures, parody campaigns and projects which could never be completed. While some people have thrown a lot of money away on Kickstarter, others have picked up great products at bargain basement prices by backing successful projects.
One project has been catching the eye recently, a luxury watch produced in Italy. So we have to ask the question: can Kickstarter fund great luxury watches?
Can Luxury Watches Be Funded on Kickstarter?
There’s no doubt that a well funded project on Kickstarter could produce the budget required for a great watch, but is that enough? Perhaps not! For most watch lovers, it really does take more than an just expensively produced watch to create the experience of owning true luxury watches. A true luxury watch is not just exquisitely made – it also has a story behind it. Whether that is the story of the master craftsman behind the brand, being designed by a world famous designer like Max Bill or even the back story of the manufacturer themselves.
The problem with Kickstarter is that most project creators are unknowns looking to fund something for the mass market – which is not the best back story for great luxury watch manufacturer! Watches funded on Kickstarter in the past have not been of the luxury variety – the Pebble watch gives a great idea of the kind of project the platform is perfect for. It was one of the first mass market smartwatches using very interesting technology which hadn’t quite been tried anywhere else.
But can luxury watches from Filippo Loreti become the first luxury watches funded on Kickstarter? The answer appears to be – kind of.
Filippo Loret watches do appear to be luxurious and they are produced in a much-loved area of Italy. The watches feature the kind of Swiss movements you can find in many different luxury watches which doesn’t really set it apart from other devices by more recognisable names. But, what is exciting is the materials the watch is crafted from – especially the Italian leather strap you can find on these watches. This may be enough for you to decide you want to add one to your collection right away! Especially as all of the watches cost less than £400 – with the automatic mechanical versions coming in at the most expensive. The most affordable Filippo Loreti luxury watches watches even cost you less than £150!
However, these watches don’t have the prestige of the true luxury watchmakers on the market. This kind of prestige is built up over years and years of making great watches. This is something Filippo Loreti have not yet had the opportunity to do. They also don’t have the backstory that the likes of Junghans, Dreyfuss and Hamilton have. Even if these luxury watches turn out to be some of the best watches ever made, they may not yet feel like true luxury watches just yet.
There is also the biggest problem with Kickstarter to worry about. Even though this collection of watches has reached its funding goal, there is still a chance backers may never receive what they have ordered. Backing the project is always a bit of a risk – there may be issues in production such as extra costs that the creators did not consider. Many Kickstarter backers in the past have been stung by projects which were never completed despite reaching funding goals. However, if you are willing to take this risk and you only care about the quality of the watch – not the prestige, this project may be worth backing. You can check out the campaign right here and decide for yourself if you think luxury watches can be funded on Kickstarter.
Images: Kickstarter
