I interviewed young Modican
watchmaker Gabriele Aprile for this blog in April 2019 and I thought
we should visit him again to see how his EKWATCH project is going and
find out what has happened since the pandemic began:
Hi, Gabriele. The world has changed
since April 2019 so can you tell us what has changed for you?
Despite the pandemic, I've been happy
with the small steps I have been able to take since 2019: I began
with five models for my EKWATCH and now there are seventeen. There
are new straps and I have also launched a women's line, featuring
smaller models.
Has it been difficult to keep your
business going during the pandemic?
Lockdown actually allowed me to take a
break from the frantic rhythm of the traditional working day and
think about new models and ideas for the EKWATCH. I improved the look
of the product and increased my presence on social media with regard
to the watch. I also got organised and, as soon as it became
possible, I participated in trade fairs, where I made new contacts.
This, in turn, helped me to sell my products in other sales points.
Is your inspiration still an
eclipse?
Yes, from the Greek EK = “eclipse /
to eclipse”; the brand will continue to be inspired by this
natural phenomenon which has, through the ages, given rise to
scientific research, as did the 1919 eclipse which supported
Einstein's Theory of Relativity. This was the greatest scientific
discovery of the last century and my first model was called EK –
1919 as a tribute to it. I was able to do this thanks to Eddington's
eclipse photos, which proved the validity of Einstein's theory and
inspired the many studies of it during the twentieth century.
EKWATCH came into being because of a
wish to rediscover the innovative and scientific spirit that has
characterised eclipses since ancient times. Although the 1919 eclipse
is among the most famous ones, eclipses have always been admired as
sensational events. They have provided research opportunities for
scientific, philosophical and religious studies in every culture and
every century.
Coming back to the present day, can
you tell us more about your new models?
Certainly: I have restyled the original
39 mm. EK – 1919 model, reducing the crown thickness to make it
much more comfortable on the wrist. I have also changed the shiny
finish on the hands to opaque, added BGW9 SUPERLUMINOVA luminescence to improve night-time visibility and designed a
leather strap for the model. In response to the many requests I have
received, I have produced a petite version with a 33 mm. case for
smaller wrists. This has a new stylistic configuration and minimalist
design details such as the crown becoming hidden inside the case and
the logo appearing on the dial.
Last
time we met I asked you how you saw your future and I'd like to ask
you the same question again today.
I'm
hoping to increase shop sales in different outlets in addition to the
three we already have, beginning with Southern Italy. With the right
models, I'd like to get people talking about EKWATCH in other
places.The news for 2022 is that I would like to organise a new crowdfunding campign on Kickstarter for a new model with an automatic
mechanism, in order to improve the quality and prestige of the brand.
Are
you able to sell abroad?
Yes,
indeed. Thanks to my new website www.ek-watch.it
I am able to offer a 10% discount to first-time purchasers of the
product with free shipping all over the world. In fact in the next few days, and with great pleasure,
I'll be sending one of my EK-LADY models to the USA.
What
do you think the impact of the pandemic has been on watch retail in general?
It
has been difficult for the entire watch trade because when people
have to concentrate on their health they don't think of watches as
necessary items. People couldn't even leave their houses and all
celebrations were prohibited so it hasn't been easy to cope
with these circumstances during my first year of marketing my
EKWATCH.
Do
you think people will go back to, and continue, buying luxury goods?
Yes,
as an investment and as a safeguard, even when they feel exasperated,
because sometimes people don't buy an item of jewellery to wear it,
but in the hope that its value will increase. They don't enjoy the
item in the same way, though. I've seen from my family's
jewellery business that many people still wish to own a precious
jewel for its intrinsic value or buy it as a gift for a special
occasion so that it becomes a reminder of that event for their whole
lives.
What
do people mainly look for in a watch?
I
think the design is what first attracts them but they also look for
original features. They don't just want an ugly copy of a high-end
item.They want a watch that speaks for itself and tells its own
story, a watch that makes you feel emotional whenever you check the
time.
Is
there anything else you'd like to tell us?
My
passion for watch-making spurs me to participate in all its processes, from
repairing watches in my workshop to the creation of my own
micro-brand. Every second of my day, I feel inspired to think
about what I can do tomorrow which will be better than what I did
today. I believe in my project more than I can say here and I believe
that tomorrow can offer a new emotional experience to those who choose to
wear my timepiece.
Thank
you, Gabriele and good luck with all your future projects.
Thank you.
If
you find yourself in Modica, Gabriele will be very happy to welcome
you to his shop at
Via
Resistenza Partigiana 42, 97015, Modica
(RG)
Tel:
+39 328 7109 579
