Defiant Rebel
...The story behind our most defiant collection.
The Launch
By late 2016, we were feeling the swell of support from our fans and relishing in the disruption of the watch world. Our microbrand had captured the attention and love of folk all over the world and the attention and somewhat different sentiments of mainstream brands. Realizing that is what a rebel does, we decided to model our third Kickstarter project to reflect the rebellion we’d started, in name and design.
So, on February 29, 2017, we launched the Rebel on Kickstarter. Within 40 hours, we raised over half a million dollars. And, by the end, the total was over 1.7 million dollars. As with our two previous campaigns, our design and approach captured the fancy, and support of a growing legion of fans.
"We have a winner on our hands, the people have spoken, and they agree, we need a new kind of Swiss watch."
-Team LIV, Update #1 on Rebel Kickstarter Project
The Design
It's clear that the design of the watch contributed significantly to its appeal with the people in the watch-i-verse who appreciated the unique, daring design. It wasn’t just different than our other watches, for many, it was different than any other timepiece they've ever seen. To put it succinctly, it wasn’t just another round watch. For those who must put a label on the case shape, think tonneau modified in the unique LIV style.
The Swiss craftsmanship, abundance of features offered, and panache of a limited edition don't hurt either. Think of it like this; 7.6 billion people are living on the Earth. If even half are in the watch market, a limited run of a handcrafted Swiss timepiece with a rebellious design means the Rebel will adorn the wrists of a tiny minority!
"This is one hell of a Swiss watch for that price."
-Neal Goodacre, Wrist Watch Review
Watch Features
Our mission is to provide amazing Swiss-made watches at a price that makes them accessible to nearly everyone with a pulse. Especially those watch fans and collectors who haven’t been able to crack the price barriers of major brands before now. The Rebel delivers, offering four different versions in multiple colorways or executions. While specific features vary by version, each Rebel has:
- 100 m water resistance
- Screwed down case backs
- Push in crown
- Genuine sapphire crystals – scratch resistant & anti-reflective coating
- 3-dimensional, multi-layered dials with BGW9 luminescence and large indexes
- Solid 316L stainless steel cases with black or gray IP coating
That is a pretty substantial set of specifications and would have been a value with a single version and some color choices. But rebels don’t stop at half measures, and neither did we.
The Options
Fine Swiss-made watches must, at their heart, have a premium Swiss movement. The movement powers the functions of the timepiece and sets the basis for the precision of the watch in keeping accurate time. The Rebel delivers again in the Swiss movement category, using a different movement in each version:
- The LIV Rebel-AC (Sellita SW500 Swiss Automatic Chronograph)
- The LIV Rebel-A (Sellita SW200-1 Swiss Automatic)
- The LIV Rebel-DDC (Ronda Z60 Swiss Quartz Chronograph)
- The LIV Rebel-GMT (Ronda PowerTech Cal.515.24H Swiss Quartz 24 Hours / GMT + Dual Time
Watch geeks will recognize some familiar names and calibers in this list. Each movement is a work of the horological art and delivers amazing functionality, precision, accuracy, and reliability. The true gear-heads have two mechanical automatic choices, and those with a no-wind preference have two options as well.
Let’s dig into the specifics of each version. Remember, each version includes all the features previously listed plus a few unique to each movement.
The LIV Rebel-AC
- The powerhouse Sellita SW500 automatic movement
- A power reserve of 48 hours
- 25 jewels at critical wear points
- 12H Chronograph Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
- A quick set date displayed in a window at 3 o’clock
- An exhibition case back with a genuine sapphire crystal
The LIV Rebel-A
Next up is the LIV Rebel-A Swiss Automatic 3-Hand version that is also limited to 500 per execution. Its additional features include:
- The excellent Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement
- A power reserve of 38 hours
- 26 jewels at critical wear points
- A quick set date displayed in a window at 3 o’clock
- An exhibition case back with a genuine sapphire crystal
The LIV Rebel-DDC
Batting third is the LIV Rebel-DDC Day-Date Swiss Chronograph which is limited to 1500 per execution. Its features include:
- A rock-solid Ronda Z60 Swiss quartz chronograph movement
- 3 Eye Chronograph with a day of the week indicator between the 9 and 10 o’clock position
- A quick set date displayed in a window at 4 o’clock
The Straps
We admit it is hard to tie down a Rebel, but we gave it our best effort with a broad range of options with something to appeal to the rebel in each of our backers. We offer:
- Solid, multi-link 316L stainless steel bracelets
- Double injected, soft silicone
- A selection of fine curated leathers crafted into rebellious straps
- Ballistic nylons for exceptional durability in the most rugged adventures
The Stats
All-in-all, the Rebel is a fantastic success. By the time the campaign funded fully, 2,909 backers had pledged $1,703,914 to help bring this Kickstarter project to life. Here are some stats on these remarkable people:
Where do Rebels go?
Rebels have a habit of continuing to stir the pot and keeping things interesting. LIV Watches is determined to bring a steady string of rugged, reliable, accurate, quality, and edgy design watches to all those who want an opportunity to try a Swiss-made timepiece, without taking out a second mortgage for the privilege. Join us in our adventure and take our timepieces on yours.
