From Shakespeare to Horology

In 2005, while touring with the Bell Shakespeare theatre company on Wars of the Roses, I asked a fellow performer if he had a book I could borrow. He handed me Longitude by Dava Sobel.

That book changed everything.

What began as curiosity about the history of navigation turned into a deep fascination with science, engineering, and timekeeping. I kept reading. Kept researching. Years passed. The interest didn’t fade — it deepened.

Eventually, I enrolled in a watchmaking course based out of London, studying horology through correspondence and practical exercises. I invested in tools. I invested in tuition. I invested thousands of hours.

And I fell in love with mechanical watches — not as luxury items, but as miniature works of kinetic art.

Generations of craftspeople solving complex problems with gears, springs, and ingenuity.

Now I’m ready to take the next step.

The Watch

For the past six months — and in truth, for several years in concept — I’ve been designing my first watch.

It’s a mechanical automatic tool watch, designed in Australia, built around everyday usefulness:

GMT function to track a second time zone while travelling

200m water resistance for active lifestyles

Timing bezel for elapsed time measurement

A locking bezel mechanism, operated by a pusher at 10 o’clock, allowing one-handed use and preventing accidental movement

The philosophy is simple:

Easy to read. Easy to use. Genuinely useful.

Not decorative complexity — functional clarity.

I want this watch to serve travellers, enthusiasts, professionals, and everyday wearers alike. Something subtle enough for business, capable enough for adventure, and thoughtful enough for collectors.

And proudly marked: Designed in Australia.

Why I’m Raising $6,000

I’ve taken this as far as I can alone.

My desk is covered in paper drafts. My computer is full of digital concepts. I’ve enrolled in an ongoing graphics and CAD design course to improve my technical ability.

But to move from concept to reality, I need professional-grade 3D CAD files and production-ready technical documentation.

I have found an experienced industrial designer who specialises in precision modelling for watches. Their expertise will allow my design to become:

Fully engineered 3D CAD models

Manufacturing-ready technical drawings

Component specifications

High-quality 3D render files for presentation and marketing

These files are essential to communicate accurately with manufacturers and to prepare for a future Kickstarter campaign.

The total cost to commission this professional work is $6,000.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

Professional CAD modelling

Engineering refinement

Technical production documentation

Photorealistic renders

This is the bridge between dream and production.

I have personally funded my education, tools, and early development, and I am continuing to invest my own savings into this project.

The Personal Investment & Risk

I’m not approaching this casually.

I’ve reduced my weekly working hours — taking a pay cut — so I can dedicate proper time to study, design, and development. I’ve invested thousands in watchmaking education and tools.

In addition to that, I am committing any spare personal savings I can toward this project. Every extra dollar I have available is being directed into learning, design development, and preparing this watch for production.

Pursuing this during a time of high living costs is a genuine personal risk.

But I believe in this enough to invest in it myself first.

This campaign isn’t about replacing my commitment — it’s about partnering with others who believe in the vision and want to help take it to the next professional stage.

For me, this is about proving I can see a complex project through from start to finish. It’s about contributing something meaningful to the watch community that has been so generous with its time and knowledge.

And it’s about laying the foundation for a future Australian watch brand — one built on craft, learning, and respect for those who came before.

What Happens Next

If this campaign is successful:

1. I will commission the professional CAD and render package.

2. I will approach manufacturers for production quotes.

3. I will launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund manufacturing.

This campaign funds the critical first professional step.

Support & Rewards

I will be offering supporter rewards, including:

More details will be added as the campaign progresses.

A Final Note

The watchmaking community has shown me generosity, patience, and encouragement.

If you choose to support this project — financially or simply by sharing it — you become part of this first chapter.

This isn’t just about making a watch.

It’s about building something lasting.

Its about telling your story, one chapter at a time.

Thank you for being part of the journey.