Chris Vail of Lew & Huey has announced the watchmaker’s plans for its upcoming product line. The Riccardo, reviewed here, will go out of production while the forthcoming Acionna and Spectre will be joined by a new model priced between the two.
Chris is retiring the Riccardo with its Sea-Gull ST19, and says he has no plans for another chronograph, either mechanical or quartz. Instead, he will focus on high quality and easily sourced automatic movements from Miyota or Seiko, like the high-beat Miyota 9xxx series and the new Seiko 4r36 (NH) series. High-beat models like the Acionna will be at the top of the brand’s price range while the more affordable Seiko-based models like the Spectre will anchor it.
He is currently working on ideas for the next models. He has ruled out suggestions of a Monaco homage or a dive watch, and is instead considering a more versatile design with a conservative case along the lines of a Rolex Explorer or Omega Aqua Terra. This watch is likely to have the high beat Miyota, but the concept is still in its infancy.
The last of the blue dial Riccardos are available for sale on the Lew & Huey web site for $550. Only 19 remain as of this writing. Acionnas are available for pre-order on Kickstarter, starting at $450, with delivery expected in February 2014. A $300 Kickstarter deal for the Spectre will be unlocked as a stretch goal if the Acionna reaches 200% funding. Delivery is expected March 2014.
Stay tuned next week when The Time Bum previews the Acionna prototype.
