Armogan was founded in 2014 by two associates, Amaury Deckers and Charles-Louis de Potesta, to create vintage-inspired watches that are not only stylish and easy-to-wear but affordable too. Wanting to combine the look and feel of navigational tools of the past with present-day technology, they set about designing elegant watches that are ideal for everyday wear and come at accessible prices.
“We wanted to be able to give people the opportunity to buy timeless watches without breaking the bank,” says Amaury, the Belgian half of the Luxembourg-Belgium duo. “We also love the look of vintage airplanes, racing cars, and motorbikes. The dials in the cockpit, on the dashboard, the rivets, the leather – all of that has such a classic aesthetic that we really wanted to encapsulate in our watches. We set out to create a product with a retro vibe, but it had to be practical and resilient too,” explains Charles-Louis.
Currently, Armogan offers two collections with a third in the pipeline. The Spirit of St. Louis pays tribute to the iconic custom-built, single engine monoplane that was famously flown solo by Charles Lindbergh in 1927. Risking his life, Lindbergh completed the first ever non-stop flight from New York to Paris in just 33 hours. “We want our watches to celebrate daring and extraordinary feats,” says Amaury. “Through our timepieces, we want in some small way to transmit part of the courage and determination that the explorers of yesteryear displayed. People like Lindbergh and Cousteau, the master of the ocean, or the racing ace Bonnier are our heroes, as are present-day pioneers like Bertrand Piccard and Ranulph Fiennes. They inspire us to always aim further and higher.”
The Spirit of St Louis is a 3-register chronograph featuring a domed mineral crystal and a Miyota OS00 chronograph movement. The slim 44mm stainless steel case comes in shiny silver or matte black. Its cockpit inspired sub-dials register seconds, minutes, and hours, while a window display shows the day and date. The Arabic numerals in a vintage font give the collection its unmistakable character, and the watch dial and hands come in a number of colors, allowing for a large number of style variations.
The Le Mans collection is a limited edition model that will only be available until the end of 2017. Inspired by automobile drivers of the 20th century, its design is evocative of classic cars and sporty road trips. A 2-register chronograph, it features a domed mineral crystal, a Citizen Miyota OS21 chronograph movement, and a slim 42mm stainless steel case. “It has a 24 hour indicator, a stopwatch, and a window display for the date. The back of the case is etched with a vintage wheel rim, all features that evoke the heady days of those very first racing cars. Even the contrast-stitched suede strap has been perforated to echo the leather interior of antique racing cars,” explains Charles-Louis. “Again, the collection comes in a number of color variations, with the blue dial, silver sub-dials, and orange hands proving particularly popular, as they give an original touch to what is a very sporty-looking watch.”
For Amaury and Charles-Louis, quality and reliability are key. “We enjoy taking our watches apart, cleaning, fixing, and repairing them. It gives us a sense of achievement to know that our watches can be worn year after year, adventure after adventure,” says Charles-Louis. To reinforce the durability of their products, they provide a dedicated after-sales service at the Brussels HQ, complete with a master watchmaker who deals with any problems customers send their way. Armogan offers a two-year warranty on all quartz movements.
Prices vary from €199 to €209 and a wide range of straps are available in leather and suede. Watches can be purchased from Armogan’s official website. Shipping is free worldwide for all orders over €50. armogan.com
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