FIRST IMAGES OF THE DEVON TREAD 2 WATCH - Available at authorized dealer Watchismo

DEVON ANNOUNCES IMAGES OF THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED FOLLOW-UP TO ITS GROUNDBREAKING TREAD 1, THE DEVON TREAD 2 WATCH

 DEVON TREAD 2A WATCH (STEEL/BLACK)

American timepiece manufacturer DEVON has earned a reputation for turning out dazzling designs that challenge industry conventions and create buzz all around the world.  Their debut watch, the Tread 1 recently made its way to the finals of the highly respected GRAND PRIX D'HORLOGERIE DE GENEVE in the category of Best Design and Concept Watch - a feat never before achieved by an American watch brand.  Since then people the world over have been wondering what might be coming next from this independent and bold newcomer, and now their wait is over.  Today at the Baselworld Exposition, the world's largest watch show, DEVON has unveiled its follow-up timepiece, the Tread 2.

 

DEVON TREAD 2B WATCH (BLACK/STEEL)

"Our products are designed, developed, engineered and manufactured in Southern California with American aerospace engineers and suppliers who are not constrained by tradition or status-quo but are accustomed to pushing the boundaries of what's been done before," said Scott Devon, the company's founder.

Tread 2 continues to use of the Tread 1's patented movement technology employing an innovative system of fiberglass-reinforced nylon Time Belts.  The belts are only 2/1000th's of an inch thick and are a technology appropriated directly out of the cockpits of airliners like the Boeing 747 where they indicated vital measurements such as air speed and fluid levels.  the belts are mounted on a central chassis and driven by two extremely compact microstep motors.  These motors and all other watch functions are controlled by a microcontroller, essentially an extremely compact computer inside the heart of the watch.  Loaded with DEVON's proprietary software, this computer manages all of the timepiece's functions and ensure precision time-keeping, the preliminary testing of which indicates an unusually accurate tolerance of only one half-second per day.

DEVON TREAD 2C (ALL BLACK)

To make the watch practical DEVON has designed the movement to be what it calls a "hybrid" - combining a highly mechanical masterpiece of moving parts with a system that stores extra energy in a lithium-polymer battery pack rather than a mainspring.  This innovation allow the Tread 2 to be offered at a relatively affordable starting price of around $10k while also offering a very generous power reserve estimated at up to fourteen days no  single charge.  As with the Tread 1, when a recharge is necessary, simply placing the watch onto its charging cradle will wirelessly charge the battery through the use of electromagnetic induction in only a few hours.

Other innovations seen on the Tread 2 include a one-of-a-kind clamp system used to secure the bezel to the case, the crown's unmistakably unique articulating arm and jeweled bearings in the movement's pulley system that ensure free and easy movement with no lubrication necessary.

DEVON TREAD 2 WATCH PRODUCT PAGE LINK

Specifications

•       42mm x 38mm x 14.5mm 316L Stainless Steel case

•       1mm thick sapphire crystal

•       Water resistant to 10M

•       Black Rubber Strap

•       .002” thick glass reinforced, Nylon Time Belts©

•       Lithium polymer rechargeable battery lasts up to 2 weeks

•       Inductive wireless charging system

About Devon Works, LLC

Led by founder Scott Devon and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Devon Works, LLC is a design lab dedicated to creating innovative luxury products that exemplify the American spirit. Devon Works began with the design of the exclusive Devon GTX supercar and continued with the revolutionary Tread 1 timepiece.

The Devon Works Tread 2, As Explained By Chief Engineer Jeff Stephenson

The follow-up to the successful Tread One, the new Tread Two was just introduced at Baselworld 2012. Here is a video of the incredible machine as explained by Devon Works chief engineer Jeff Stephenson.  -video and copy thanks to HODINKEE

California company Devon Works is following up on their popular Devon Tread 1 watch with a second generation, the Tread 2, this year at Baselworld.  Both issues have been addressed with the Tread 2 without compromising any of the original charm. While in Basel last week, we sat down with Devon engineer Jeff Stephenson for an explanation of some of the new features.

The first thing you'll notice about the Tread 2 are its far more manageable dimensions. Further helping in the practicality department is the new crown system which uses an articulating arm to access many of the watches features. The arm adds a nice visual touch to the new case design as well, which is constructed of multiple pieces varying in texture. Another big change is the removal of the seconds belt. However, this does remove the most animated element of the watch; but if you're missing that bit you can put the minutes belt into a seconds mode.

The Tread 2 also has the capacity to enter "chronograph" mode, which zeros the minute belt and sets the hour at 12. From there you can time events as you would any chronograph. Watch above as Jeff explains.

It's important to note here that the Tread 2 is not yet in final form. Some of the functions are still being hammered out, as are a variety of possible color combinations. Look for a final Tread 2 to hit the market later this year, and we're told pricing will be around $10,000 - $7,000 less than the Tread 1.

Preorder your Devon Tread 2 Watch here: Devon Works Tread 2

 

photos of Tread 2 prototypes courtesy of ablogtoread.com

Hands on with the Tread 2 via ablogtoread.com

The DEVON Tread 1 was nominated for the GRAND PRIX D’HORLOGERIE DE GENÈVE in 2010 for Best Design and Concept Watch among a field of very storied and esteemed brands, the first time an American watch company had ever been included in the competition.  Now DEVON is building upon the success of the Tread 1 with another groundbreaking design called Tread 2.  The Tread 2 will deliver DEVON’s patent-pending Time Belt technology in a package that’s more sophisticated than the avante-garde Tread 1.

“As with the Tread 1, the DEVON Tread 2 will continue to be developed within the United States Aerospace industry's network of suppliers and engineers.  We’ve become known for pushing the envelope of acceptability, and The Tread 2 incorporates many innovative features that have never before been seen in the world of haute horlogerie,” said Scott Devon, the company’s founder. 

A few of the most obvious innovations are a one-of-a-kind clamp system that is used to secure the bezel to the case, the four distinctive lugs which help to define the shape of the watch as well as the crown’s unmistakably unique articulating arm.   All of these features give the Tread 2 a unique depth of character.

The movement, similar to the Tread 1, relies heavily on aerospace technology.  For instance, the glass-reinforced Nylon Time Belts used to display the current time were adapted directly from aircraft instrumentation.  The belt assemblies remain mounted on a central chassis, which allows for the perfect clearance of the moving parts while creating the illusion that the parts are floating within the case.  Two extremely compact micro-step motors drive the movement of the hour and minute belts with efficiency, exacting power, and steadfast accuracy.  The lubricant-free pulley system moves freely thanks to the integration of jeweled bearings.

A temperature-compensating and calibrated quartz crystal provides an extremely accurate time-keeping signal to the onboard microprocessor that controls the movement’s two micro-step motors.  Power for this “Visual Symphony” is provided by a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.  When a recharge is necessary, simply placing the watch onto its charging cradle will wirelessly charge the battery through the use of electromagnetic induction.

DEVON will be debuting the watch at March’s Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show in private showings to retailers and press.  Production will begin shortly thereafter and deliveries are scheduled to commence in June, 2012.  

Preorder your Devon Tread 2 Watch here; Devon Works Tread 2