6↑B - The story so far
If you’re a watch geek then at some point you have probably wanted to start your own watch brand. For me, this came to fruition in 2013 when I took the plunge and designed and produced the MK1. Being ex military, and being around kit designed for function rather than visual appeal I have always preferred that stripped back look of military designs. This is the same with watches. In my humble opinion, mil watches should have the least amount of fuss within the design. So you wont find some common markings on the back of my watches such as depth rating or that its made from stainless steel etc. You simply dont need that superfluous blurb on a watch, especially a mil style. You also wont find a date window, which I detest :-)
So the MK1. The watch ran a ETA 7750 housed in a German made case. The watch was presented in a leather wallet and came with two leather straps, a Phoenix NATO and a Bergeon tool for strap changing. Limited to just 20, this first model quickly sold out. In fact, faster than I thought it would !
The success of the MK1 gave me the confidence ( and some cash! ) to go for a MK2, this time with a run of 50 watches. Again, this watch ran the ETA7750 which was housed in a German made case. This watch came in a wooden box, designed and machined at GGB HQ. It also came with a nylon strap with engraved buckle as well as a soft leather NATO style. These naturally took a little longer sell but eventually they all found new homes and thoughts turned to a third watch.
The MK3 ‘Scramble’ came along with a gorgeous dial and hand set. Smaller than the previous 2 watches @ 38mm. This time I designed and manufactured an ‘ammo’ box for it to be presented in. The watch box when opened had the watch head come through an aperture in the engraved Spitfire cockpit design which I thought was rather cool. Scramble came with a Nylon 6B/GGB, a Phoenix G10 and a leather wallet depicting the firing order of a Merlin engine.
In late 2020 thoughts turned to a 4th watch. I wanted to do a hand crank three hander and after a bit of head scratching UPKEEP was created. This is presented in a representation of the famous ‘bouncing bomb’ . Machined from solid aluminium billet this turned out to be an expensive idea ! However, I hope you will agree that it suits the watch and the theme of all the previous 6B watches in that its certainly a unique way in which to offer the watch !
6↑B Ethos
Simple really. To produce great quality watches that are very good value for money and present them in a fun, unique and attractive way. You will not find glossy ‘promo’ pictures of me here staring wistfully into middle distance or climbing some unchartered mountain. You will also not find 6↑B setting the watch world on fire with new technical innovations. You will however, find a chap with a passion for creating things and making good quality products, down the bottom of the garden, in a large shed. Or, if the Sun is out, whizzing around in.
‘The Captain’
Notes to watch bloggers and magazines.
From time to time I get contacted via email or Instagram if I want to have any of my watches or GGB straps featured in an article or review. I don’t. Or should I say I’m not going to pay you to do it. I will not pay anyone to write an ‘unbiased’ review of either my watches or my watch straps.
By all means, if you operate one of the watch blogs or whatever and you feel the need and genuinely have an interest in the 6B watches or the GasGasBones brand and want to write about it then please feel free. However, don’t ask me for cash or goods, cos it aint gong to happen ;-)