I am always open and curious about watches of all types and kinds. Whether it's high horology or a new microbrand, a good watch is a good watch. So, when Ignite Watches caught my eye, I wasn't deterred by the fact that the company is mostly a one-man show. If anything, I was intrigued.
Ignite Watches is the brainchild of Nathan Verduyn, a young Belgian entrepreneur and watch enthusiast who previously ran several e-commerce stores. Taking lessons learned from these unsuccessful ventures, he embarked on designing watches. They are truly very good watches, although, to my taste, their design is a bit too 'common'.
Verduyn writes a lot about how he designed his watches using 3D CAD software. This is a great way to create a prototype, but not an ideal way to create a finished product. Simply put, even the best models can miss real-world flaws. But this is his first design, and first designs are often imperfect.
What Verduyn's company came up with - the Ignite watch - is a graceful concept, but in many ways, it could have been more unique.
Skeletonized Design
Ignite's marketing material talks a lot about the skeletonized design of the watch, calling it 'unique'. But skeletonized watches are hardly a new concept. Sure, it's unusual enough to draw attention. But watchmakers have been producing skeletonized watch cases since the 1760s. This design is far from unique; it predates wristwatches by a hundred years. This isn't the main critique, but it relates to a broader issue: too often, Ignite relies on marketing buzz rather than quality. Sometimes it seems like they are trying to sell automatic watches to people who have never owned one before, which very well may be the case, and in some ways, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The open design excellently showcases the Seiko NH71 movement. I will write more about the features of this movement in a moment. But first, let's acknowledge that it's a great aesthetic choice. Almost all parts of the movement are gold-toned, and it looks very impressive when fully exposed. The exhibition case back further enhances the effect, allowing you to see all aspects of the movement.
However, Ignite chose gold hands, which are hard to distinguish against the dial's background. Silver hands or any other contrasting color would have been a better choice and would have matched well with the bright elements of the movement.
The outer third of the dial has a matte black surface with gold Roman numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. The remaining hour markers are indicated by gold hashes. At the '12 o'clock' position, there is also the Ignite logo.
Mid-Size Two-Tone Case
What I liked most about the Ignite watch was not the dial, but the case itself. It's made of stainless steel, but its bezel and sides are gold-toned. This complements the dial, adding a touch of gold both outside the black area and inside. Meanwhile, a simple stainless steel case back surrounds the display crystal and provides a sharp contrast with the predominantly gold movement.
The case diameter is 42mm, giving it a decidedly mid-size presence on the wrist. It is fairly thin, with a slim, angular bezel allowing for a fairly wide dial. The crown has a low profile but is rounded on the sides for a secure grip. The water resistance is 50 meters, suitable for showering or casual swimming. Divers and serious swimmers should keep this watch away from water.
The crystals, both front and back, are scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-reflective coating. The lugs are square-shaped, making them appear longer than they are. The narrow 22mm lug width also helps to accentuate their length.
Seiko NH71 Movement
I've already mentioned how good the Seiko NH71 movement looks. But let's be honest, Ignite makes a lot of hype over a movement that is at best mediocre. All marketing materials emphasize the presence of an automatic movement, which is a basic feature of any modern mechanical watch.
With a 41-hour power reserve, this movement will run without issues over the weekend. However, the accuracy is only -20/+40 seconds per day. No one wears an automatic watch because they need second-perfect accuracy, but these watches will noticeably lag in less than a week.
Pros
The Ignite watch is an attractive timepiece from a new manufacturer. Verduyn deserves praise for the elegant aesthetics and well-designed case. However, the movement is mediocre, and the dial color is hard to read. If you like the look, buy them for the aesthetics. At 249 euros, these watches are unlikely to break the bank. But realize that you're paying more for hype than for the watch itself.