November 6, 2025 • 33 mins
Hey Watch Fans,
Carol and I, sit down with Yuebai of Unison Watches.
A Cool and innovative microbrand from Canada.
check their website out. The Orbital is Gorgeous!
Unison Watches
www.unisonwatches.ca
Like WatchFanatics.ca on Facebook
Follow David @watchfanaticdavid on Instagram
AND
Please check out Carol at
IG: @spassense
Carol and I, sit down with Yuebai of Unison Watches.
A Cool and innovative microbrand from Canada.
check their website out. The Orbital is Gorgeous!
Unison Watches
www.unisonwatches.ca
Like WatchFanatics.ca on Facebook
Follow David @watchfanaticdavid on Instagram
AND
Please check out Carol at
IG: @spassense
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Well, you're listening to watch fanatics podcasts. Here we talk
about watches, either myself or with my two watch collecting friends. Subscribe,
like and give us a five star rating if you
feel appropriate, enjoy the show.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Welcome back today, I have a conversation with Carol and
you buy from Unison. It's always great to have Carol
joining the show. Her insight into luxury is always appreciated.
But she also has a very strong background in project management,
which was great because it added a lot of insight
(00:45):
to starting micro brand like Unison. Now. Unison is a
brand I first stumbled across when I was researching the
twenty twenty five Toronto time Piece Show and I first
saw their name on a sponsor list and as one
of the booths at the time Piece Show, and I
did a quick check into it and I was blown away.
(01:08):
Just gorgeous, beautiful watches. But it's the design of the
orbital watch that really grabs your attention and was one
of the reasons why I intentionally sought him out at
the show, just so I could see these orbital watches
and just to try them on. And I was not
disappointed and in fact pleasantly surprised. He was up for
(01:31):
an interview, so we'll have him on very shortly. But
I want to get the specs first out of the
way for this watch. So the Orbital model comes in
black and gold or blue and silver. It is a
forty millimeter diameter watch, forty five millimeters lug to lug
(01:53):
and a twenty millimeter lugwidth. It uses EMIODA ninety thirty
nine high beatmatic movement which has a forty two hour
power reserve, and it's twenty eight eight hundred bph. It's
water resistant up to one hundred meters or ten ATMs.
(02:14):
It uses anti reflective coating on a sapphire crystal cases
stainless steel three sixteen L stainless steel, and uses Swiss
super Luminova BGW nine. Now, the watch itself when it
sits on your wrist is thirteen millimeters thick, which slides
(02:34):
underneath your cuff fairly well, I do want to say.
The bracelet it comes with is h links stainless steel.
It comes with both five millimeters half links and seven
point five millimeters half links, which gives you adjustability in
the size which makes it sit comfortable. And those little
(02:54):
details separates it from regular standless steel bracelets my opinion,
and solid end link with the Unison logo, which is
a beautiful logo itself. You'll see the logo at the
twelve o'clock position on the dial and you'll see it
on the case back. The case back is solid, not
see through, but it shows off the logo and hints
(03:19):
at the dial design really nicely, in fact, really smartly.
And I gotta say, like wearing this watch at the
show and wearing it again with the conversation I have
with you By and Carol, it is comfortable because the
lugs angled down, it really hugs the wrist. I have
a six and three quarter wrisk. Actually I want to
remeasure it because my watches all are kind of loose
(03:42):
these days, so I imagine my wrist is shrunk over the years,
which brings me the question do you guys like loose
fitting steel bracelets or type fitting steel bracelets? And when
I say loose, just slightly loose, I know there's some
people who like them jang almost, which is cool. I
get that it's got more of a jewelry feel. I
(04:06):
tend to like it with a little play, so with movement,
I guess you could say wobble. But these days I've
been wearing them tight around my wrist. I don't know why.
Oh that's because when you wear i'm tight against the wrist,
it's easier take photos for your Instagram. But you know what,
(04:28):
it really depends on the day. I have different feels
and I wear watches differently, and I'm curious, no judgment.
It doesn't matter if you like them tight or if
you like them loose, or if you like them jangling.
There's no right wrong. I'm just curious. I do want
to say, also, before I play the interview for you,
(04:48):
I want you to keep an eye on this watch
because I feel like it's going to get more and
more popular. And if you own or purchase this watch now.
Number one, you're gonna stand out in the crowd. This
thing is a stunner. Number two, you're gonna be probably
(05:09):
one of the first in your circle to get one
of these watches. And it's always nice to be the
first few in a group. You know. It gives you
a bit of bragging rights that you found their brand first.
But enough about me, let's get onto the interview.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I mean, you buy from Unison watches with this brand,
I want to create something that's original and unique while staying.
There are so many cool watches that we see, but
those are very expensive. It almost like design costs money
to put it in a different world. To have a
unique design cost you a lot of money, and then
(05:50):
with a affordable price stack, you can only buy something
that's common. I mean, I'm not talking about I'm so
ambitious that I'll like reinvent the wheel. But Ikia did
something that a lot of furniture company couldn't do back
in the days. They created something that's affordable and then
has designed to it. During the time when Akia was started,
(06:12):
all the furnitures were free made in the very old
fashioned way. A Kio really changed it. I think the
micro brand community is doing it already in a way.
I think maybe I will, you know, add to it,
do whatever I am good at, you know, adding something
(06:33):
to spice it you buy.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
You mentioned micro brand community, and I gotta say, you
are a handful of people that are recreating the wheel
that you're over the watch. I think you reimagine what
a sandwich dial is m hm. You've redefined what the
number indexes should be and you've got your own little
(06:58):
unique number in disease that are very well polished. They
look like a gem. A lot of people think they're
a gem from a distance, and I agree. One of
the measures of a diamond ring is they call it
the five table. If it patches someone's eyes from five
tables away, it's a good ring. This dial has been
(07:19):
catching my eyes, and well, we're not quite five tables
away from each other, but it's something I don't see
off normal dial. Whether you know it or not, you
are recreating the wheel.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
It is good to hear, which proves that the product
I design is something that is actually unique.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
You mind so fascinated because oftentimes in the watch community
it's all about the design, the utility, and just simply
what the profile brings. What drove you to designing watches
over something else that you could have chosen.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Right, Watches a hobby for me. It started very very
early on. So when I was in middle school, I
used to buy watch magazines, you know, like back in
the days, people actually buy paper magazines. Nowadays they're all
just online. So there were watch magazines and there are
knife magazines. And then from the guy I buy from
(08:24):
watch magazines, I always sell out faster than the knife ones.
For me, watches are so fascinating because it's such a
small piece of machinery that runs on the wrist. It's
something that you can carry on yourself that's so well
organized and then well designed. It is a kind of
a miracle that something so tiny houses hundreds of parts
(08:49):
and then they work together perfectly. It was kind of
a childhood dream came true because when I was in
middle school, high school, I always wanted to design my
own watch, which is like you're a car person designing
your own color. And then after I started college, I
went into the innational design program. And then when you
(09:11):
have the skill set and you have the dream and
passionate about something, they naturally come together into a micro brand.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So you went from liking watches, buying magazines yep, to
designing and starting your own watch company. When you put
the wheels in motion to start your watch company, how
long did it take?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It was a lot of work, and then it did
take a long time for me. So I first got
into the micro brand knowing there are a thing called
micro brand that existed was I think twenty fifteen sixteen.
Back then, there were only a handful of quote unquote
(09:57):
MiGs out there. I think in that time era, they
were designing pieces that are closer to the unaffordable time
pieces that saycho or citizens are not offering. And then
I saw the potential that hey, I can do it,
(10:18):
and probably I can do it better because as a
industrial designer, I have the required skill set, and then
I have the passion for watches. I knew it's going
to be a very big undertaking. Probably takes year to
my first design, Like things will just happen in my brain.
(10:38):
I cannot stop. If I have a passion for something,
I'll keep looking into it. I'll you know, think about
all the details before I actually taking action. After I
evaluated the possibility of doing it in real life time
for me to try. And then after I graduated, I
(11:04):
registered a small business and then spent another two years
designing the first model, sourcing the manufacture, and then running
the first prototype sample and then finally got it on
funding platform. So it was three years at least the
(11:25):
idea to final form of the first model you buy.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
I have a unique question for you because when I
first saw your watches, I saw that your logo reminded
me of something that was of a continuum and I
was reading about quantum time these past three weekends and
came across this idea, and I wanted to understand if
(11:52):
your logo had anything to do with quantum time, and
it was this. People can describe time not as a
singular point in time and space. It only has significance
when there's a relationship between two events. Therefore, time is relative.
It's relative to something that's occurred, or a mass interacting
(12:15):
with another mass. How does that idea and your design
come together if there's any relationship.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
When I was designing the que unquote the brand, the
logo and the name of the what brand, I wasn't
thinking about quantam time per se. For a design to
be successful or be elightd needs to go together with
each other, like the components of the design needs to
(12:46):
be in harmony, be in Unisonison is a word in
music that all the notes are in harmony. I wanted
to create something all the elements are working together nicely.
The shape of the logo, Yeah, I wanted to create
something that's softer, that's continuous, something that's not as shut,
(13:09):
doesn't catch your eye easily.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Love it. I think your name knowing that innocent means harmony.
I think I'm falling in love with the watch even more.
What would you say is your watch? I heard dress watch,
I heard sports watch. When you designed this, what did
you have in mind? Was it more dressed or was
(13:35):
it more sports?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So when I started designing, I didn't want to fall
into any of the set category. Didn't want to do
a new Tiver watch. I didn't want to do a
new Field watch. I wanted to do something that's, you know,
unique in a sense that it is its own category.
I would say it's more on the dresser side in
(14:00):
terms of the application. You wouldn't wear this one to
swim or do like professional sports per se. For this piece,
I think the aesthetic definitely overpowers the functionality. Doesn't have
as much of a tool watch aspect to it. It's
more that when you look down, it's a piece of jewelry.
(14:21):
It's a piece of nicely crafted time piece on your wrist.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Well, having said that, you buy there's something that our
audience cannot see through this podcast right now, and again
it has something to do with the way you've crafted
the indices. You just showed me a demo of what
it can do under UV light. Did you want to
explain how you came up with this idea and what
(14:47):
our audience should be looking out for when looking at
these units and watches.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I think one thing I did differently is the illuminescent,
which instead of having the illuminiscent as part of the indussy,
it actually goes around in the sea using the indusy
to create a negative space. So when I was designing
the watch, I was thinking where should I put the luminescent,
(15:14):
because I do want to create something that's more practical
that when you are charged with stronger light it will
last for a while in the darkness. But then I
run into the issue. If I put the iluminescent in
the indussy, it looks very similar to a submarin it
looks similar to a diver watch again, and then I
(15:36):
had the idea of connecting the dots with a line
of luminescent, and then drawings. After drawings, it evolved into
the luminescent goes around the induscy and also connected to
each other by a larger ring.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
When you design the indices and deciding on the loom,
was there concern how the manufacturing process would go through
or did you say screw it. This is what I want.
I'm going to go for it. Anyways, was the manufacturing
the ever in your mind when you were going through this?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, of course. So because of my profession, I do
consider the manufacturability of the product I design. I wouldn't
be able to design something that cannot be made, right,
So I did the drawing and then I did sign
it to the manufacturer, which I got the feedback of
(16:36):
it cannot be done. But I was more of a
gamble for me. I would say I had forty percent
of screw it, I'll do it, and then sixty percent
of I think I kind of think of a way
that can make it work. So it was a lot
of back and forth with the manufacturer. So I'll draw
some small diagram explaining okay, so can you do this?
(16:59):
And if that doesn't work, I'll draw something else. Can
you do this? And then I'll show them you rendering,
drawing and saying okay, so this is what I want
to achieve. Is there ways that you know that I
don't that can make this happen? Right now? It's a
sandwich dial, meaning there's the base layer the luminescent, and
then the layer the circle in the middle and then
(17:20):
the ring on the outside. They had a proposal of
cutting the luminescent area into a solid piece of peace. However,
we did some testing and then the luminescent will not
sit flush in the groove, so we give that away
(17:41):
and then what we did right now, So it is
still a sandwich dial. But it is very hard to make.
So for every hundred piece they made, seventy pieces are garbage,
so it is a very large waste ratio. But then
(18:03):
I would still say I'm a designer than a business person,
so design for me is always the priority, and I'm
willing to give up something in the strength for a
better design.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Is that incorrect me? Because I'm gonna say it wrong.
Is that what the designers called the terrible triangle?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Oh, the impossible triangle?
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Impossible triangle?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So there's the aesthetic cost and then the functionality. Okay, yeah,
I can relate.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, in project management we call it the triple constraints,
trying to balance scope, budget and timeline. You know, the
artisan behind it is how do you make a balance
across three otherwise almost opposing variables.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
For me, for this piece, it has been very hard
because I am a person with a strong idea. I
think that's what got me to this stage and what
kept me going. So when I was trying to figure
out how to balance the triangle, I mean, of course
it needs to stay in the budget, which is one
of the most important of making any product. But then
(19:19):
as a designer, it's you know, pushing back. I have
to do something that's beautiful that actually tracts people. So
it is really hard. We did a lot of trial
and error. We did at least four or five iterations
of using different technique. I think sometimes there is no
(19:42):
easy answer. Sometimes you just have to try it and
then find out the right solution, just like Addison tested hundreds,
if not thousands of materials to finally get the light bulb.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Right now, we've been talking about the Orbital, Then the
next project you have for watches. I've seen pictures of them.
They have different colors. Do you want to talk about
why he want to do these watches?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Right? So for the next iteration, it'll be the same
platform of the current model Orbital, but we are changing
out the dials and hands, also the movement because we
have added a date window to the dial. The original
Orbital uses the Miyota ninety thirty nine, which doesn't have
the date function. The new one will be using Miyota
(20:36):
ninety fifteen. And then, because I like to play around
with the luminescent on the dial the application of it,
this time we're inversing the alumnscent for the next model.
The model Orbital qu series will have the aluminescent as
the induscy. It will be a piece of casted aluminescent
(20:57):
the minute and our hands will have a casted well
mescent installed on the hands as well. It is still
part of the Orbital family. You can still see the
same design language across the board, but because the original
model Orbital are using the classic gold and black, the
other one is a still ra and blue. This time
(21:18):
we wanted to, you know, add more color to it,
be more fun and cheerful. So the final color decision
hasn't been made yet, but we are playing around with
six color options. Yeah, we'll see how that goes.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I hope you invite us to the unveiling of what
that next iteration looks like, and then we can take
that into a ceremonial event when David and I come
and purchase one of your orbital watches. Oh yeah, certainly
as a woman myself. You know, I look at these
watches and I can't figure out which one to pick
(21:54):
because you have the black and gold series and then
you have the silver and blue. And when I asked
you earlier over dinner, which one would make more sense,
what would look better, and you asked me, well, what
colors do you were at work usually? I thought that
was an interesting question, and I said navy blue, And
so you recommended the blue and silver. For me, tell
(22:15):
me a little bit about how the color inspirations of
your current generation watches are inspired by the workforce or
the corporate apparel and style that you see now since
the pandemic's ended.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Yeah, that's a very good question. When I was in
the design phase, I started with the shape, So the
shape the siload came first to me, and then the
color came in the next. And then when I was
choosing color, because I'm already doing a very bold move
on the dial, I wanted to stay a little bit
(22:48):
conservative on the color options. One thing that we learned
in design is customer acceptance, So don't change too much
at once into one of the elements once. So when
the customers see something fresh, but it is still in
their comfort zone. I didn't want to, you know, go
(23:09):
wild on the color option in the first iteration, because
as a watch, as a accessory, it still needs to
go along with your appearance. It needs to go along
with your clothing, your shoe, your pants, glasses, all that.
So the color needs to be torned down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
We're talking about colors and hues. Your first watch?
Speaker 3 (23:35):
What was it? So? My first watch? It was It
was a pretty interesting one. It was a Nike branded
watch that is not a circular shape. It's got yellow
rubber band. Uh so the upper band bands towards the left,
and then the bottom one bends towards the right, and
(23:56):
then the watch itself is an oval shape, a horizontal oval,
not a vertical oval. So it's a very weird shape.
And then I really liked it. I think it was
my mom that got it for me waterproof ports. I
used to took it to a swimming pool and then
swimmed with it as a kid. It got like it
(24:18):
up by me, and I think that watch was kind
of the starting point of my interest in watching Germany.
And then later on I got a Cassio with a
steel bracelet. I didn't know much about watches back then,
so I couldn't remember the make a model. Yeah, but
(24:38):
both watches I think left a very important influence in
my watch endeavor.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
You mentioned car people designed cards, watch people design watches.
Explain to us what you would like to design next
if you had no constrictions whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Right, So, if all restrictions has been lifted while living
in a perfect imaginary world, my action would be to
design something that's systematic. It's something that's part of a
bigger picture. The answer is kind of vague because I
(25:19):
really enjoy the process of designing, especially seeing something that
came from nothing to something and then something that works
together without the components within the system. So applying it
back to the Unison brand, ideal goal would be to
(25:42):
build my brand. Build the Unison brand as something that
people here and perceive as a unique brand, something that
offers watches that cannot be found anywhere else, something that
offers original instead of taking existing designs.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, everyone I talked to in the watch industry, I
mean a few Americans, a few Canadians, even other influencers
I guess you'd call them. I don't know if I
like that word. We all started with a cheaper watch.
We all start with a watch that was a gift,
either from a friend or a parent. So when people say,
(26:28):
like major brands like Rolex Tech or these are are
the watches that are influential, I have to disagree strongly
because it's all these micro brands are created by people
who've received an unbranded Nike watch, who've received as a
(26:49):
Cassio or a cheap digital time X for example, and
having a watch that you're making now, the Orbital, and
I remember where you had another model, the one with
the fund dials. I can't remember what you.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Call the fun Time series.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
The fun Time series. I see that you're introducing more
watches to more people that can in turn turn into
other micro brands. It's influential, it's very I think meaningful.
Who wanted to make something that's a system of some sort,
maybe a bigger picture, something with impact. I think with
(27:31):
you considering, I'm going to screw it up again. The
terrible triangle, whatever the design constraints or the three constraints
or what Carol said, I can't remember, the impossible triangle,
impossible triangle. By considering that and bringing in a watch
that is a very attractive price point. You are creating impact.
(27:56):
You might be already already influencing a bigger machine, a
bigger system, because so many of these people, so many
watch fanatics, had started off with a gift with a
lower price point watch and it's created an industry of
(28:17):
YouTube reviewers, g reviewers, other micro brands, designers. I think
you're already there.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
You by where would we be able to find these watches?
Are they out in the market yet or would we
contact you directly?
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Yeah? So they are on the website Unison watches dot ca.
So I am based here in Saga Fronto area. Because
we're still so small in the scale, everything is being
sold online. For the next model, most likely it will
be a crowd funding campaign instead of a heavier investment upfront.
(28:59):
I think for crop funding and I know a lot
of people are really against it, but for a small
business like us, it is a very good tool not
only to get funding but also to get market feedback
on if people are actually like the product.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
So you kill like two birds with one stone. Crowd funding?
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, pretty much?
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Which crowd funding platform Kickstarter or Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:27):
So we started the amount of orbital on Kickstarter, but
we're open to other platforms if it fits you.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
My man last question to you, and it refers to
something you talked about during the process of creating these watches.
What advice would you give micro brands today about having
pushedback from a manufacturer saying something like a design isn't possible.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
That's a very good question. I think, first of all,
as a designer of the time piece, have to know
if something is doable and if something is impossible. If
we have a good sense of what is achievable, then
there are different ways of achieving it, and then we
just need to find it, of course within the budget,
(30:17):
which I think is the most difficult part, because as
much as I am a designer, I still need to
make a work, need to make it a sustainable business
so I can keep bringing out these new designs and
then that left us with the trial and errors. We
(30:38):
just need to keep working on finding the solution.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Where can people see your work? What's your socials and
your website? Again if I know you mentioned your website, repeat.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
That, yeah, of course, so you can see the watches
at Unison Watches dot c. Whereas our website and the
online store.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I think it's only going to go up from here.
Oh yeah, yeah, you've got a winner. Here, you got
a winner. It's only going to go up from here.
So to those two for designing something beautiful. When you
design these watches, who do you see wearing these watches?
I mean, even though we say designers shouldn't design for themselves,
(31:26):
but this is my company.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I call the shots. I would say people that are
like me, that are looking for something unique, because I've
had watches that look like any other else and it
was on my journey of finding a affordable, unique watch
I sparked the idea of starting my own watch brand.
(31:53):
I think in this day and age, mass produced items
are so ubiquitous they are everywhere and everyone are using
the same thing, like films are, like everybody's using iPhone
cars that are only like five major car brands. I
think in the future, people are looking for something that's unique,
(32:15):
that speaks to their personality, and I think that's where
Unison Watch will lie in the future.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Thank you for your honesty and thank you for designing
for yourself because it paid off. You broke the rules
and it paid off. I think I think the future
is going to be full of rule breakers, and you
definitely are one of them. So many people want to
design their own watch and you did it, so bravo,
very good.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Yeah, thank you buy for bringing your beautiful time pieces
here today and for sharing your journey so openly about
an inception of an idea to producing something that the
world can connect. To losing the human to human relationship,
You've somehow, through technology, have brought people closer together through
(33:04):
your brand. I'm really stunned by your story and your
intention and what you bring for us in the future.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Thank you, thank you very much.
Well, you're listening to watch fanatics podcasts. Here we talk
about watches, either myself or with my two watch collecting friends. Subscribe,
like and give us a five star rating if you
feel appropriate, enjoy the show.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Welcome back today, I have a conversation with Carol and
you buy from Unison. It's always great to have Carol
joining the show. Her insight into luxury is always appreciated.
But she also has a very strong background in project management,
which was great because it added a lot of insight
(00:45):
to starting micro brand like Unison. Now. Unison is a
brand I first stumbled across when I was researching the
twenty twenty five Toronto time Piece Show and I first
saw their name on a sponsor list and as one
of the booths at the time Piece Show, and I
did a quick check into it and I was blown away.
(01:08):
Just gorgeous, beautiful watches. But it's the design of the
orbital watch that really grabs your attention and was one
of the reasons why I intentionally sought him out at
the show, just so I could see these orbital watches
and just to try them on. And I was not
disappointed and in fact pleasantly surprised. He was up for
(01:31):
an interview, so we'll have him on very shortly. But
I want to get the specs first out of the
way for this watch. So the Orbital model comes in
black and gold or blue and silver. It is a
forty millimeter diameter watch, forty five millimeters lug to lug
(01:53):
and a twenty millimeter lugwidth. It uses EMIODA ninety thirty
nine high beatmatic movement which has a forty two hour
power reserve, and it's twenty eight eight hundred bph. It's
water resistant up to one hundred meters or ten ATMs.
(02:14):
It uses anti reflective coating on a sapphire crystal cases
stainless steel three sixteen L stainless steel, and uses Swiss
super Luminova BGW nine. Now, the watch itself when it
sits on your wrist is thirteen millimeters thick, which slides
(02:34):
underneath your cuff fairly well, I do want to say.
The bracelet it comes with is h links stainless steel.
It comes with both five millimeters half links and seven
point five millimeters half links, which gives you adjustability in
the size which makes it sit comfortable. And those little
(02:54):
details separates it from regular standless steel bracelets my opinion,
and solid end link with the Unison logo, which is
a beautiful logo itself. You'll see the logo at the
twelve o'clock position on the dial and you'll see it
on the case back. The case back is solid, not
see through, but it shows off the logo and hints
(03:19):
at the dial design really nicely, in fact, really smartly.
And I gotta say, like wearing this watch at the
show and wearing it again with the conversation I have
with you By and Carol, it is comfortable because the
lugs angled down, it really hugs the wrist. I have
a six and three quarter wrisk. Actually I want to
remeasure it because my watches all are kind of loose
(03:42):
these days, so I imagine my wrist is shrunk over the years,
which brings me the question do you guys like loose
fitting steel bracelets or type fitting steel bracelets? And when
I say loose, just slightly loose, I know there's some
people who like them jang almost, which is cool. I
get that it's got more of a jewelry feel. I
(04:06):
tend to like it with a little play, so with movement,
I guess you could say wobble. But these days I've
been wearing them tight around my wrist. I don't know why.
Oh that's because when you wear i'm tight against the wrist,
it's easier take photos for your Instagram. But you know what,
(04:28):
it really depends on the day. I have different feels
and I wear watches differently, and I'm curious, no judgment.
It doesn't matter if you like them tight or if
you like them loose, or if you like them jangling.
There's no right wrong. I'm just curious. I do want
to say, also, before I play the interview for you,
(04:48):
I want you to keep an eye on this watch
because I feel like it's going to get more and
more popular. And if you own or purchase this watch now.
Number one, you're gonna stand out in the crowd. This
thing is a stunner. Number two, you're gonna be probably
(05:09):
one of the first in your circle to get one
of these watches. And it's always nice to be the
first few in a group. You know. It gives you
a bit of bragging rights that you found their brand first.
But enough about me, let's get onto the interview.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I mean, you buy from Unison watches with this brand,
I want to create something that's original and unique while staying.
There are so many cool watches that we see, but
those are very expensive. It almost like design costs money
to put it in a different world. To have a
unique design cost you a lot of money, and then
(05:50):
with a affordable price stack, you can only buy something
that's common. I mean, I'm not talking about I'm so
ambitious that I'll like reinvent the wheel. But Ikia did
something that a lot of furniture company couldn't do back
in the days. They created something that's affordable and then
has designed to it. During the time when Akia was started,
(06:12):
all the furnitures were free made in the very old
fashioned way. A Kio really changed it. I think the
micro brand community is doing it already in a way.
I think maybe I will, you know, add to it,
do whatever I am good at, you know, adding something
(06:33):
to spice it you buy.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
You mentioned micro brand community, and I gotta say, you
are a handful of people that are recreating the wheel
that you're over the watch. I think you reimagine what
a sandwich dial is m hm. You've redefined what the
number indexes should be and you've got your own little
(06:58):
unique number in disease that are very well polished. They
look like a gem. A lot of people think they're
a gem from a distance, and I agree. One of
the measures of a diamond ring is they call it
the five table. If it patches someone's eyes from five
tables away, it's a good ring. This dial has been
(07:19):
catching my eyes, and well, we're not quite five tables
away from each other, but it's something I don't see
off normal dial. Whether you know it or not, you
are recreating the wheel.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
It is good to hear, which proves that the product
I design is something that is actually unique.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
You mind so fascinated because oftentimes in the watch community
it's all about the design, the utility, and just simply
what the profile brings. What drove you to designing watches
over something else that you could have chosen.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Right, Watches a hobby for me. It started very very
early on. So when I was in middle school, I
used to buy watch magazines, you know, like back in
the days, people actually buy paper magazines. Nowadays they're all
just online. So there were watch magazines and there are
knife magazines. And then from the guy I buy from
(08:24):
watch magazines, I always sell out faster than the knife ones.
For me, watches are so fascinating because it's such a
small piece of machinery that runs on the wrist. It's
something that you can carry on yourself that's so well
organized and then well designed. It is a kind of
a miracle that something so tiny houses hundreds of parts
(08:49):
and then they work together perfectly. It was kind of
a childhood dream came true because when I was in
middle school, high school, I always wanted to design my
own watch, which is like you're a car person designing
your own color. And then after I started college, I
went into the innational design program. And then when you
(09:11):
have the skill set and you have the dream and
passionate about something, they naturally come together into a micro brand.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
So you went from liking watches, buying magazines yep, to
designing and starting your own watch company. When you put
the wheels in motion to start your watch company, how
long did it take?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It was a lot of work, and then it did
take a long time for me. So I first got
into the micro brand knowing there are a thing called
micro brand that existed was I think twenty fifteen sixteen.
Back then, there were only a handful of quote unquote
(09:57):
MiGs out there. I think in that time era, they
were designing pieces that are closer to the unaffordable time
pieces that saycho or citizens are not offering. And then
I saw the potential that hey, I can do it,
(10:18):
and probably I can do it better because as a
industrial designer, I have the required skill set, and then
I have the passion for watches. I knew it's going
to be a very big undertaking. Probably takes year to
my first design, Like things will just happen in my brain.
(10:38):
I cannot stop. If I have a passion for something,
I'll keep looking into it. I'll you know, think about
all the details before I actually taking action. After I
evaluated the possibility of doing it in real life time
for me to try. And then after I graduated, I
(11:04):
registered a small business and then spent another two years
designing the first model, sourcing the manufacture, and then running
the first prototype sample and then finally got it on
funding platform. So it was three years at least the
(11:25):
idea to final form of the first model you buy.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
I have a unique question for you because when I
first saw your watches, I saw that your logo reminded
me of something that was of a continuum and I
was reading about quantum time these past three weekends and
came across this idea, and I wanted to understand if
(11:52):
your logo had anything to do with quantum time, and
it was this. People can describe time not as a
singular point in time and space. It only has significance
when there's a relationship between two events. Therefore, time is relative.
It's relative to something that's occurred, or a mass interacting
(12:15):
with another mass. How does that idea and your design
come together if there's any relationship.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
When I was designing the que unquote the brand, the
logo and the name of the what brand, I wasn't
thinking about quantam time per se. For a design to
be successful or be elightd needs to go together with
each other, like the components of the design needs to
(12:46):
be in harmony, be in Unisonison is a word in
music that all the notes are in harmony. I wanted
to create something all the elements are working together nicely.
The shape of the logo, Yeah, I wanted to create
something that's softer, that's continuous, something that's not as shut,
(13:09):
doesn't catch your eye easily.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Love it. I think your name knowing that innocent means harmony.
I think I'm falling in love with the watch even more.
What would you say is your watch? I heard dress watch,
I heard sports watch. When you designed this, what did
you have in mind? Was it more dressed or was
(13:35):
it more sports?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So when I started designing, I didn't want to fall
into any of the set category. Didn't want to do
a new Tiver watch. I didn't want to do a
new Field watch. I wanted to do something that's, you know,
unique in a sense that it is its own category.
I would say it's more on the dresser side in
(14:00):
terms of the application. You wouldn't wear this one to
swim or do like professional sports per se. For this piece,
I think the aesthetic definitely overpowers the functionality. Doesn't have
as much of a tool watch aspect to it. It's
more that when you look down, it's a piece of jewelry.
(14:21):
It's a piece of nicely crafted time piece on your wrist.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Well, having said that, you buy there's something that our
audience cannot see through this podcast right now, and again
it has something to do with the way you've crafted
the indices. You just showed me a demo of what
it can do under UV light. Did you want to
explain how you came up with this idea and what
(14:47):
our audience should be looking out for when looking at
these units and watches.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I think one thing I did differently is the illuminescent,
which instead of having the illuminiscent as part of the indussy,
it actually goes around in the sea using the indusy
to create a negative space. So when I was designing
the watch, I was thinking where should I put the luminescent,
(15:14):
because I do want to create something that's more practical
that when you are charged with stronger light it will
last for a while in the darkness. But then I
run into the issue. If I put the iluminescent in
the indussy, it looks very similar to a submarin it
looks similar to a diver watch again, and then I
(15:36):
had the idea of connecting the dots with a line
of luminescent, and then drawings. After drawings, it evolved into
the luminescent goes around the induscy and also connected to
each other by a larger ring.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
When you design the indices and deciding on the loom,
was there concern how the manufacturing process would go through
or did you say screw it. This is what I want.
I'm going to go for it. Anyways, was the manufacturing
the ever in your mind when you were going through this?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, of course. So because of my profession, I do
consider the manufacturability of the product I design. I wouldn't
be able to design something that cannot be made, right,
So I did the drawing and then I did sign
it to the manufacturer, which I got the feedback of
(16:36):
it cannot be done. But I was more of a
gamble for me. I would say I had forty percent
of screw it, I'll do it, and then sixty percent
of I think I kind of think of a way
that can make it work. So it was a lot
of back and forth with the manufacturer. So I'll draw
some small diagram explaining okay, so can you do this?
(16:59):
And if that doesn't work, I'll draw something else. Can
you do this? And then I'll show them you rendering,
drawing and saying okay, so this is what I want
to achieve. Is there ways that you know that I
don't that can make this happen? Right now? It's a
sandwich dial, meaning there's the base layer the luminescent, and
then the layer the circle in the middle and then
(17:20):
the ring on the outside. They had a proposal of
cutting the luminescent area into a solid piece of peace. However,
we did some testing and then the luminescent will not
sit flush in the groove, so we give that away
(17:41):
and then what we did right now, So it is
still a sandwich dial. But it is very hard to make.
So for every hundred piece they made, seventy pieces are garbage,
so it is a very large waste ratio. But then
(18:03):
I would still say I'm a designer than a business person,
so design for me is always the priority, and I'm
willing to give up something in the strength for a
better design.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Is that incorrect me? Because I'm gonna say it wrong.
Is that what the designers called the terrible triangle?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Oh, the impossible triangle?
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Impossible triangle?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
So there's the aesthetic cost and then the functionality. Okay, yeah,
I can relate.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, in project management we call it the triple constraints,
trying to balance scope, budget and timeline. You know, the
artisan behind it is how do you make a balance
across three otherwise almost opposing variables.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
For me, for this piece, it has been very hard
because I am a person with a strong idea. I
think that's what got me to this stage and what
kept me going. So when I was trying to figure
out how to balance the triangle, I mean, of course
it needs to stay in the budget, which is one
of the most important of making any product. But then
(19:19):
as a designer, it's you know, pushing back. I have
to do something that's beautiful that actually tracts people. So
it is really hard. We did a lot of trial
and error. We did at least four or five iterations
of using different technique. I think sometimes there is no
(19:42):
easy answer. Sometimes you just have to try it and
then find out the right solution, just like Addison tested hundreds,
if not thousands of materials to finally get the light bulb.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Right now, we've been talking about the Orbital, Then the
next project you have for watches. I've seen pictures of them.
They have different colors. Do you want to talk about
why he want to do these watches?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Right? So for the next iteration, it'll be the same
platform of the current model Orbital, but we are changing
out the dials and hands, also the movement because we
have added a date window to the dial. The original
Orbital uses the Miyota ninety thirty nine, which doesn't have
the date function. The new one will be using Miyota
(20:36):
ninety fifteen. And then, because I like to play around
with the luminescent on the dial the application of it,
this time we're inversing the alumnscent for the next model.
The model Orbital qu series will have the aluminescent as
the induscy. It will be a piece of casted aluminescent
(20:57):
the minute and our hands will have a casted well
mescent installed on the hands as well. It is still
part of the Orbital family. You can still see the
same design language across the board, but because the original
model Orbital are using the classic gold and black, the
other one is a still ra and blue. This time
(21:18):
we wanted to, you know, add more color to it,
be more fun and cheerful. So the final color decision
hasn't been made yet, but we are playing around with
six color options. Yeah, we'll see how that goes.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I hope you invite us to the unveiling of what
that next iteration looks like, and then we can take
that into a ceremonial event when David and I come
and purchase one of your orbital watches. Oh yeah, certainly
as a woman myself. You know, I look at these
watches and I can't figure out which one to pick
(21:54):
because you have the black and gold series and then
you have the silver and blue. And when I asked
you earlier over dinner, which one would make more sense,
what would look better, and you asked me, well, what
colors do you were at work usually? I thought that
was an interesting question, and I said navy blue, And
so you recommended the blue and silver. For me, tell
(22:15):
me a little bit about how the color inspirations of
your current generation watches are inspired by the workforce or
the corporate apparel and style that you see now since
the pandemic's ended.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Yeah, that's a very good question. When I was in
the design phase, I started with the shape, So the
shape the siload came first to me, and then the
color came in the next. And then when I was
choosing color, because I'm already doing a very bold move
on the dial, I wanted to stay a little bit
(22:48):
conservative on the color options. One thing that we learned
in design is customer acceptance, So don't change too much
at once into one of the elements once. So when
the customers see something fresh, but it is still in
their comfort zone. I didn't want to, you know, go
(23:09):
wild on the color option in the first iteration, because
as a watch, as a accessory, it still needs to
go along with your appearance. It needs to go along
with your clothing, your shoe, your pants, glasses, all that.
So the color needs to be torned down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
We're talking about colors and hues. Your first watch?
Speaker 3 (23:35):
What was it? So? My first watch? It was It
was a pretty interesting one. It was a Nike branded
watch that is not a circular shape. It's got yellow
rubber band. Uh so the upper band bands towards the left,
and then the bottom one bends towards the right, and
(23:56):
then the watch itself is an oval shape, a horizontal oval,
not a vertical oval. So it's a very weird shape.
And then I really liked it. I think it was
my mom that got it for me waterproof ports. I
used to took it to a swimming pool and then
swimmed with it as a kid. It got like it
(24:18):
up by me, and I think that watch was kind
of the starting point of my interest in watching Germany.
And then later on I got a Cassio with a
steel bracelet. I didn't know much about watches back then,
so I couldn't remember the make a model. Yeah, but
(24:38):
both watches I think left a very important influence in
my watch endeavor.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
You mentioned car people designed cards, watch people design watches.
Explain to us what you would like to design next
if you had no constrictions whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Right, So, if all restrictions has been lifted while living
in a perfect imaginary world, my action would be to
design something that's systematic. It's something that's part of a
bigger picture. The answer is kind of vague because I
(25:19):
really enjoy the process of designing, especially seeing something that
came from nothing to something and then something that works
together without the components within the system. So applying it
back to the Unison brand, ideal goal would be to
(25:42):
build my brand. Build the Unison brand as something that
people here and perceive as a unique brand, something that
offers watches that cannot be found anywhere else, something that
offers original instead of taking existing designs.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yeah, everyone I talked to in the watch industry, I
mean a few Americans, a few Canadians, even other influencers
I guess you'd call them. I don't know if I
like that word. We all started with a cheaper watch.
We all start with a watch that was a gift,
either from a friend or a parent. So when people say,
(26:28):
like major brands like Rolex Tech or these are are
the watches that are influential, I have to disagree strongly
because it's all these micro brands are created by people
who've received an unbranded Nike watch, who've received as a
(26:49):
Cassio or a cheap digital time X for example, and
having a watch that you're making now, the Orbital, and
I remember where you had another model, the one with
the fund dials. I can't remember what you.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
Call the fun Time series.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
The fun Time series. I see that you're introducing more
watches to more people that can in turn turn into
other micro brands. It's influential, it's very I think meaningful.
Who wanted to make something that's a system of some sort,
maybe a bigger picture, something with impact. I think with
(27:31):
you considering, I'm going to screw it up again. The
terrible triangle, whatever the design constraints or the three constraints
or what Carol said, I can't remember, the impossible triangle,
impossible triangle. By considering that and bringing in a watch
that is a very attractive price point. You are creating impact.
(27:56):
You might be already already influencing a bigger machine, a
bigger system, because so many of these people, so many
watch fanatics, had started off with a gift with a
lower price point watch and it's created an industry of
(28:17):
YouTube reviewers, g reviewers, other micro brands, designers. I think
you're already there.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
You by where would we be able to find these watches?
Are they out in the market yet or would we
contact you directly?
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Yeah? So they are on the website Unison watches dot ca.
So I am based here in Saga Fronto area. Because
we're still so small in the scale, everything is being
sold online. For the next model, most likely it will
be a crowd funding campaign instead of a heavier investment upfront.
(28:59):
I think for crop funding and I know a lot
of people are really against it, but for a small
business like us, it is a very good tool not
only to get funding but also to get market feedback
on if people are actually like the product.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
So you kill like two birds with one stone. Crowd funding?
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, pretty much?
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Which crowd funding platform Kickstarter or Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:27):
So we started the amount of orbital on Kickstarter, but
we're open to other platforms if it fits you.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
My man last question to you, and it refers to
something you talked about during the process of creating these watches.
What advice would you give micro brands today about having
pushedback from a manufacturer saying something like a design isn't possible.
Speaker 3 (29:54):
That's a very good question. I think, first of all,
as a designer of the time piece, have to know
if something is doable and if something is impossible. If
we have a good sense of what is achievable, then
there are different ways of achieving it, and then we
just need to find it, of course within the budget,
(30:17):
which I think is the most difficult part, because as
much as I am a designer, I still need to
make a work, need to make it a sustainable business
so I can keep bringing out these new designs and
then that left us with the trial and errors. We
(30:38):
just need to keep working on finding the solution.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
Where can people see your work? What's your socials and
your website? Again if I know you mentioned your website, repeat.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
That, yeah, of course, so you can see the watches
at Unison Watches dot c. Whereas our website and the
online store.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
I think it's only going to go up from here.
Oh yeah, yeah, you've got a winner. Here, you got
a winner. It's only going to go up from here.
So to those two for designing something beautiful. When you
design these watches, who do you see wearing these watches?
I mean, even though we say designers shouldn't design for themselves,
(31:26):
but this is my company.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I call the shots. I would say people that are
like me, that are looking for something unique, because I've
had watches that look like any other else and it
was on my journey of finding a affordable, unique watch
I sparked the idea of starting my own watch brand.
(31:53):
I think in this day and age, mass produced items
are so ubiquitous they are everywhere and everyone are using
the same thing, like films are, like everybody's using iPhone
cars that are only like five major car brands. I
think in the future, people are looking for something that's unique,
(32:15):
that speaks to their personality, and I think that's where
Unison Watch will lie in the future.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Thank you for your honesty and thank you for designing
for yourself because it paid off. You broke the rules
and it paid off. I think I think the future
is going to be full of rule breakers, and you
definitely are one of them. So many people want to
design their own watch and you did it, so bravo,
very good.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
Yeah, thank you buy for bringing your beautiful time pieces
here today and for sharing your journey so openly about
an inception of an idea to producing something that the
world can connect. To losing the human to human relationship,
You've somehow, through technology, have brought people closer together through
(33:04):
your brand. I'm really stunned by your story and your
intention and what you bring for us in the future.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Thank you, thank you very much.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.