ROLEX EXPLORER WANNABE? TREK?

Honestly, I hadn’t even thought about the connection until someone pointed it out after the first images of TREK were shared online. TREK started off as a GADA, or Go Anywhere Do Anything, style watch but over time it naturally shifted into more of a field watch. I’ve actually got another idea in the works for a true GADA watch if we ever get to that point.

I think the comparison came up because the Rolex Explorer also blends both of those styles. And to be honest, I don’t really mind that loose connection. Our design approach is completely different from what you’d typically see in luxury watches, including anything from Rolex.

But I did come across a comment suggesting we were trying to copy Rolex design elements, and I don’t think that’s quite accurate.

Every UBIQ watch so far, both of them, has been imagined and built entirely from scratch on my MacBook. For me, legibility always comes first when choosing fonts. After that, it’s about finding something that fits the overall feel of the brand. I went with Noto Sans as our main typeface and use Eurostile Extended in some parts of the design because it’s wide and works well in smaller spaces. I’ve customized it a bit by rounding the edges and adjusting the stroke lengths to make it easier to read.

I can see how it might remind some people of the fonts Rolex uses, like the numerals on the Explorer at 3, 6, and 9 or even the bezel of the GMT-Master II. But that’s just a coincidence. Every choice I made was about clarity and character, not imitation.

In fact, TREK is really a continuation of the design language we first explored with DUAL. The now-signature squircle shape, derived from our logo, the arrow motif, the lines extending from minute markers to indices, the font choices, and of course our love for vibrant color combinations all come together in a way that feels uniquely UBIQ.

I’m genuinely grateful to everyone who has noticed and appreciated these details as we grow the brand. It shows that the cohesion and vision I’ve had in my mind from the beginning is starting to take shape in the eyes of our community.

While DUAL was well received and got some great feedback, it didn’t quite reach the level of success we had hoped for. That’s one of the reasons we’re using Kickstarter again to launch TREK. It gives the wider watch-loving community a chance to support what we’re building and help shape the future of UBIQ.

The campaign will run from June 21 to June 30, with an early backer discount of 20 percent off the future retail price. We also have a few stretch goals planned to make supporting us even more worthwhile.

Launch page at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ubiqwatches/ubiq-trek-vibrant-titanium-field-watch

Find out more about TREK at: https://ubiqwatches.com/collections/trek