What do you do after 20 years in the watch industry, when you’ve funneled a career of ingenuity and innovation into other brands? Brandon Little decided the only thing to do was to start his own brand and was resolute in his determination to create a watch that offered both style and durability. The result is Detroit-based Artefkt Watches, and it’s first model is the Versa XC, a dynamic sports watch tailored for active lifestyles and unexpected adventures. Now live on Kickstarter, the five debut variants of the Artefkt Versa XC offer the perfect watch for those seeking something different.
Designing a watch from the ground up is no simple task. With a career spanning clothing, watch, and eyewear design for brands including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Zodiac, and Shinola, founder Brandon Little could have simply fallen back on a predictable, played-out design. It would have been all too easy to design another diver, another chronograph, another dress watch. But Little wanted something that not only reflected his love for the outdoors and exploration, but that could also stand on its own without overreliance on established watch design tropes. The result, after two years of intensive development, is the Artefkt Versa XC.
Every visible component of the Artefkt Versa XC was designed in-house by Little, starting with the grade 5 titanium case. Upon first sight, the 36mm case design telegraphs a robust reliability that instills confidence in the Versa XC. Picking it up and strapping it on, the lightweight titanium and easy-wearing dimensions — 47.5mm lug-to-lug and 10.5mm thick — reinforce the watch’s versatility and eliminate any doubt as to the quality of the build. The watch features a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a titanium screw-down crown, and 200m of water resistance, plus a 12 o’clock luminous reference pip mounted on the midcase.
The Artefkt Versa XC is offered in five different cases, including the foundational Baseline One that exudes a neo-retro vibe that underpins the entire line, with a bead blasted finish throughout and black ink-filled numerals on the fixed bezel, with a polished chamfer that traces the case and bezel edges. The Blue Hour takes the same case and fills the bezel markings in with Super-LumiNova BGW9, while the dial is swapped for a radiant blue and the polished chamfer is forgone in favor of a full bead blasted treatment. For more personality, the Canyonlands has a matte khaki gold and DLC-coated case and a graphite DCL-coated bezel, a colorway inspired by the stunning landscapes of the American Southwest and the opportunities for discovery they hold. The Rogue One offers an edgier, stealthy look with a full graphite DLC case in a matte bead-blasted finish and a black dial. The La Pointe completes the lineup with a hand-distressed graphite DLC case and a deep moss green dial that evokes the warm and wild tones of the Acadiana region of Little’s native Louisiana.
Each model is paired with one of Artefkt’s proprietary TrueFlex straps, carefully chosen to complement each case. The TrueFlex strap system includes a custom-crafted vulcanized rubber strap, a rugged titanium buckle, and a push-button quick-release mechanism. Balancing comfort and dependability without compromising either, the straps complete the Versa XC’s look and make for a watch that demands to be taken outside and used.
For the Artefkt Versa XC’s dials, Little focused on legibility. This is, after all, a watch meant to be used anywhere, regardless of the circumstances. Utilizing large baton and circle hour plots, the dial is always easy to read. The crisply demarcated minutes offer a more precise reading of the time and allow for setting the watch to the exact second, while the bezel markings offer further clarity. A custom handset has been designed for visibility, reflectivity, and recognition, with a broad body culminating in a dagger tip. And low-light legibility will never be an issue: The models with graphite DLC bezels utilize C3 Super-LumiNova while the others use BGW9, ensuring a bright even glow every time you find yourself in a darker environment, including a seconds hand that is almost entirely painted with lume. The La Pointe, though, offers contrasting lume, with BGW9 fill for the hands and bezel and C3 on the hour markers.
Powering each watch is the reliable Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1. Renowned for its durability and serviceability, the SW200-1 provides a minimum power reserve of 38 hours at 28,800 vph, though its average power reserve is quoted at 41 hours. Artefkt has gone a step further and opted to have the movements in the top grade, ensuring an accuracy of +4/-6 seconds per day — chronometer accuracy, without the price. So sure is Artefkt of both its watch and the movement inside that the brand offers a 5-year warranty.
With an unapologetically unique design that inspires its wearer toward outdoor adventures, the Artefkt Versa XC is a demonstration of its designer’s experience and originality. Not quite like anything else out there, the Versa XC presents itself as a watch that is always ready for your next excursion, whether it be a weekend hike, a leisurely bike ride, or an off-trail wilderness excursion. Retail pricing for the Artefkt Versa XC will be $1,450 USD, except for the La Pointe, which will be priced at $1,650 USD. During the Kickstarter campaign, all models are available for as low as $1,015 USD. For more information and to preorder through the Kickstarter campaign, please visit the Artefkt Versa XC campaign page.
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