HORAGE is one of the most intriguing microbrand watch manufacturers, and if you allow us, also one of the most impressive companies. Typically, when we think of the term “microbrand,” we imagine small watch manufacturers that utilize third-party movements. These companies offer watches with a lower price tag and often have a particularly romantic story behind them. However, HORAGE thinks big from the very beginning. Ever since its foundation, the company, originally known as ACCURAT SWISS, a movement manufacturer (the movements of ACCURAT SWISS are found in HORAGE watches), focused on Swiss movement production – the K1, which would serve as the basis for various configurations. This allowed for large-scale component production, reducing manufacturing costs and enabling mass production while maintaining high quality. The company’s newest watch, the HORAGE Lensman 2, draws great inspiration from the world of photography, as its name suggests. We invite you to get to know this exciting timepiece together with us.
Horage Lensman 2 – Case and Dial
The Lensman 2 comes in a square case with an inner round case with a fluted bezel ,taking inspiration from vintage cameras. The outer square frame is constructed from Grade 5 titanium, while the inner part is made of anodized aluminum. The bezel bi-directional and it has an interesting function, which we will reveal soon. The case is 39mm in diameter, with a 45.8mm lug-to-lug.
This watch is a GMT timepiece, featuring a slightly crowded dial with some unusual scales. HORAGE offers the watch in three variations: a black dial with touches of white and yellow, a white dial with touches of black and yellow, and a yellow dial with touches of black and white.
The inner part of the watch dial includes a 24-hour display for the GMT function. The GMT hand has a lolipop design, and in models with the black and white dials, it comes in yellow, while in the watch with the yellow dial, it comes in white.
Remember when we mentioned that the watch draws inspiration from the world of photography? Well, that inspiration is reflected in those unusual scales we told you about. The hour ring is surrounded by an additional ring, the exposure ring. And that ring is encircled by another ring, the ISO ring.
If you’re a photography enthusiasts, these terms are probably familiar to you since these rings serve as an exposure calculator, helping photographers easily calculate the parameters that will assist them in capturing the perfect image.
HORAGE explains that the idea behind the new watch was to create a completely new complication for the world of watches, and the result is the integration of an exposure calculator within the watch itself –
For new enthusiasts and photographic veterans alike, understanding the settings required to arrive at a well-exposed image is paramount. Lensman 2 Exposure is a timepiece that reinvigorates the fascination one has with light in photography as it breaks down barriers by simplifying the process of calculating a scene’s exposure. Function aside, it’s a timepiece that transitions genres and lifestyles of eras that have brought us to today.
The Lensman 2 Exposure excites us all and enables us to understand more deeply the fascination of watchmaking with a nod to the innovations of photography.
HORAGE
Brian Griffin Special Edition
Brian Griffin is a celebrated photographer known for his unique vision and ability to capture the essence of his subjects. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of working with notable individuals such as Mick Jagger, Margaret Thatcher, and Paul McCartney. His photographs reflect a raw authenticity and artistic sensibility, showcasing his unparalleled talent and passion for the craft.
One of the Lensman 2 editions is a Special Edition, made in collaboration with Brian Griffin. The Brian Griffin special edition comes with the white dial, and the buyers of the Brian Griffin special edition will get an extra bonus, found on Horage website –
Purchasers of the Brian Griffin Limited Edtion will be able to choose from one of four limited edition photo box categories designated as; Music, Film, Portrait and Artist Selection.
Each photo box includes four images curated from Griffin’s archive, signed and numbered by the artist himself. Horage will involve the watch community in curating the images by vote prior to the first pre-order taking place.
HORAGE
The Brian Griffin special edition will be a limited edition of 100 pieces.
Horage Lensman 2 – Movement
Inside the watch we find the Horage K2 Calbre. the K2 is a beautiful caliber, which you can adore through the transparent back case of the watch. The calibre is beating at 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5Hz) and comes with a 72 hour power reserve.
The calibre comes with a silicon escapement and hairspring, with central hours, minutes and seconds, and true GMT function. the K2 is a COSC-Certified chronometer, equipped with a rhodium-platted tungsten micro-rotor. the Brian Griffin special edition will be equipped with a PT950 platinum rotor. The K2 is blacked out, with hand finishes including Côtes de Genève, anglage edging and Horage’s familiar grid pattern.
Pricing and Availability
The Lensman 2 will be available by Q4 2023, but Horage has started 2 pre-order phases for these watches.
The VIP BIRD is a pre-order, available from the 9th of May, 14:00 CET until the 12th of May, 14:00 CET. During the VIP BIRD, the standard edition Lensman 2 will be available for 4,900 CHF, while the Brian Griffin Special Edition will be available for 5,900 CHF.
The EARLY BIRD will be available from the 6th of June, 14:00 CET until the 9th of June, 14:00 CET. During the EARLY BIRD, the standard edition Lensman 2 will cost 5,450 CHF, while the Brian Griffin Special Edition will cost 6,450 CHF.
Horage already announces the ON-STOCK orders, which will start by November 2023. If you will wait until November to purchase the watch, you will need to pay 5,900 CHF for the standard edition, while the Brian Griffin Special Edition will cost 6,900 CHF. If all the 100 pieces of the Brian Griffin edition will be sold out, Horage announces that it might create a second limited edition of 100 pieces.
The watches will arrive with a black rubber strap. Horage will offer a yellow rubber strap, for 265 CHF.
The Bottom Line
How many times you’ve seen an announcement of a new watch and you were thinking – “What’s so special about it? it simply looks like many other watches I’ve seen before …”?
The Horage lensman 2 is the total opposite to a watch we’ve seen before. it’s a unique watch, both in style and function, with a new complication that we haven’t seen yet in the world of watchmaking. It combines a 24 hour GMT complication with a COSC certified chronometer.
If that’s not enough for you, Horage offers the Brian Griffin specia edition, collaboration with a world-renowned photographer, who worked with some of the biggest music icons, and you will also enjoy a photo box including four images curated from Griffin’s archive, signed and numbered by the artist himself.
It’s not a cheap watch, but it’s one of the most unique timepieces we’ve seen recently and it’s a watch that any watchmaker in the world will be pleased to have in its collection.
For more information and pre-order of the Lensman 2.
