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Meet Riskers, A New Value Proposition Brand Inspired by Trench Watches

A new French brand inspired by trench military watches and created by ex-Richemont executives.

| By Xavier Markl | 4 min read |
Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

The watch industry is undergoing a transformation. Multiple young microbrands have popped up on the scene, relying on crowdfunding to launch their (interesting or not) projects. New on the scene is a brand named Riskers, a French venture with models inspired by trench military watches, modernized for the occasion. But what’s special about Riskers, apart from the watches, is the people behind the project – and that says a lot about the current state of the industry. Let’s have a look at the Riskers Prolog I and Chapter I.

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

Behind this new French brand are people with quite some background. In fact, it is the result of former Richemont Group (owner of Cartier, JLC, IWC, Lange and many more) executives teaming up to launch a watch brand… on Kickstarter! Clearly unconventional. Going by the name of Riskers, the company was co-founded by Pierre Guerrier, who worked as part of Richemont’s marketing services for Piaget, and serial entrepreneur, Thomas Noël. Several other ex-Richemont employees have also been involved, at different stages of the project. 

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Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

Riskers wants to offer accessible watches and presents itself as a people-focused brand. Each watch is associated with an ambassador. Not a high-profile personality, but a risker – an ordinary person doing extraordinary things to protect or help others. Each of these ‘riskers’ is associated with a dedicated cause to which part of the proceeds from the sales of the corresponding watch is donated. 

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

For instance, the risker linked to the Prolog I model is a fictional character, Albert Roche, an anonymous World War One trench soldier who had to face terrible danger. The watch, in turn, supports L’Oeuvre Nationale du Bleuet de France, an association that assists veterans, war widows, wards of the State, soldiers wounded in peacekeeping operations and victims of terrorism. The other model, Chapter I, is released in association with Guillaume d’Aboville, General Manager of Enfants du Mékong (Children of Mekong), a charity that works to improve access and quality of education in Southeast Asia. But let’s now look at these new Riskers watches.

THE WATCHES – PROLOG I AND CHAPTER I

For its inaugural collection, Riskers launches four watches, all based on the same concept. And because you’re reading MONOCHROME, we are taking a look at the two automatic watches named Prolog I and Chapter I; the two other watches, Chapter II and Chapter III, are powered by a quartz movement.

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

The main concept of Riskers was designed by Malo Le Bot, who worked for several Richemont brands and who was trained at the Group’s Creative Academy. The idea behind Prolog I and Chapter I was to revisit World War One trench watches, proposing a modern interpretation of these pieces, rather than a nostalgic commemoration or reproduction. Just like the first wristwatches of yesteryear, the case features gentle curves and a pebble shape – as if it was a converted pocket watch. The slightly domed sapphire crystal further accentuates the watch’s modern-retro styling. The distinctive crown shield and the lugs are inspired by a pocket watch bow. The 43mm diameter x 12.35mm height case of the Riskers Prolog I and Chapter I is made of brushed stainless steel, with polished accents on the bezel and the side of the case. The caseback is closed. 

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

The large, domed sector dial, another tribute to antique military watches, features Arabic even numerals with an oversized 12. It comes in taupe (Prolog I) or grey with a light sunburst finish in both models. The hands are blued and open-worked. The tip of the second hands is slightly bent to match the dial, which is a nice touch.

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

The Riskers Prolog I and Chapter I are powered by a Swiss automatic movement, the STP1-11. Manufactured by Swiss Technology Production, this clone of the ETA-2824 (just like the Sellita SW-200) should prove to be a robust, reliable ally. Running at 28,800 vibrations per hour, it stores 44 hours of power reserve when fully wound. It displays the hours, minutes, seconds and the date – as always, the presence of the date is debatable. 

Riskers Watches Prolog I and Chapter I - Value Proposition Kickstarter

The watch is worn on a brown or black calf leather strap with contrasting beige or mustard stitching and secured by a steel pin buckle.

Price and availability

Riskers launches now on Kickstarter. The price of the automatic Prolog I and Chapter I watches is set at EUR 1,190 excl. taxes. There are also quartz variants available at EUR 490 excl. taxes. For more information, please visit the brand website www.riskers-watches.com or their Kickstarter page.

https://monochrome-watches.com/meet-riskers-a-new-value-proposition-brand-inspired-by-trench-watches/

11 responses

  1. STP1-11. De verdad me duele sujetar la corona sin seguro. quiero y no me lo puedo creer.
    barra libre para los futuros creadores, salut.

  2. What exactly is a Swiss eta clone ? Is it made in Switzerland ? The Chinese clone movements for lot less.I do wish a Chinese case cloner and movement cloner would get in the white market with “homages” to some of the more balanced and cool looking watches of the past so you could buy from a trusted above board seller and show that the Swiss for the exploitative pricing practices I see everyday.Did you know that the Chinese make many Panerai replicas that are so easy to copy and make that they can fool a dealer? They cost a few hundred dollars. They are not legal but shows how inexpensive a panerai is to manufacture.This must be true for most Swiss watches that are not high complications.The swiss make a lot of expensive so so looking watches in order to have a tire system of pricing. Explotive..
    My 2 cents.

  3. I often see comments in watch reviews suggesting that having a date on a watch is a negative complication. I do not understand that; I consider date (and day) to be value added. A watch is a tool before it is an art piece.

  4. That’s actually a nice watch.

    Describing someone as a ‘risker’ puts me right off though.

  5. Seems like a nice watch, the jury seems to still be out on the stp movement but everything I have read seems to suggest it could well be a good long term prospect. As for the date , if this was an original trench watch it wouldn’t have the date but it’s not and as the movement has it as standard it would be a bit silly not to have the benefit of it. I have some watches without a date but they tend not to be the most worn ones.

  6. Expect to see more and more of these STP movements. Supply is said to be tight with ETA and Sellita so more and more brands are turning to STP that seems to be a worthy alternative.

  7. Sigh.
    This is all wrong, from the size to the stupid stupid crown thing, to the ridiculous need to invent some pathetic marketing junk. THIS IS NOT A TRENCH WATCH!!
    What’s next? “The Patriot Watch?
    Oh, we already have that. Hamilton.
    The Trump Watch: for ‘plainspeaking’ freedom-lovers.
    It will have the legend on the caseback: “No Latinos were involved in this fine American timepiece: Swiss Made”

  8. JAGOTW: “What’s next?”

    A smaller ladies version that comes with free membership for The Order of The White Feather.

  9. The new Riskers “Tipperary”, with second time zone. “So you always know just long the way is!”
    The new Riskers “Bully Beef” model: a fantastic, aged brown dial with piccalilli markers.
    “Trench Feet are no problem with the new Riskers Diving Watch! (WR 2m)”
    “What did YOU do in The War daddy?”
    “I bought a new Riskers Trench Watch!” (now only 2 guineas!)

  10. it’s nice, but too big and WAAAAY too expensive for what it offers. hard pass

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