This special edition is a collaboration we did with the New Zealand chapter of the watch collectors group known as Redbar. Featuring a unique anodized aluminium chapter ring and an engraved case back, the Redbar edition has all the makings of a truely collectable piece.
Aoraki represents a milestone for Draken as a watch brand. This is the first watch that will be assembled locally in New Zealand and as such, we thought it appropriate to give it a Kiwi name. Aoraki (Mt Cook) is the tallest mountain in New Zealand and the proving ground for Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Mount Everest. Since starting the brand, we have never outsourced our QC or shipping ensuring that customers get the highest quality timepiece at an affordable price. Assembling the watches locally means that we’ll have more control over the SKUs, improved sustainability and contribute to the local watchmaking community.
The Aoraki is a first in a few other ways too. It’s the first watch with an antimagnetic case (20,000A/m), our first watch with a flat crystal, and our first watch with a brush-finished case. While the latter might not seem like a big deal, there was a bit of thinking that went into designing a case that still adheres to the Draken design language. For this model, we also designed 4 completely different dial/handset combinations. Each design tells a different story and has its own character. Lume application is excellent as you would expect from Draken, and we’ve also upped the ante with the AR coating on the crystal.
As with our other models, Viton™️ gaskets come standard and the watch will come with both a leather bund single pass strap, and a military-style nylon strap more suitable for water. The watch will come packaged in our new MOLLE pouch with a custom patch of Aoraki mountain (Mt Cook).
