PRAMZIUS
Cold War Watch
I
“
“MR GORBACHEV, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!”
– PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN AT THE BRANDENBURG
GATE, WEST BERLIN GERMANY, JUNE 12, 1987.
f you were alive two years later, you for sure remember when on the wall today at the East Side Gallery, the world’s largest open-air
that challenge was met by the people of East and West Germany. museum rebuilt in 1992 and painted by more than 100 artists from
Pramzius, a young micro-brand based in the US is releasing a around the world.
watch this fall just in time for the 30th anniversary of the fall of the
The watch is driven by either the NH35 from Seiko or a 2824
Berlin Wall. Pramzius successfully funded the watch through pre-orders Swiss ETA depending upon the package and there is a bracelet and
and Kickstarter. two strap options available. There is a full-color version of the graffiti
Every element of the watch ties back to the story of the wall
and one where the word Berlin is etched on the dial. The 8 and 9 are
coming down. Actual pieces of the wall are visible in the crown and are reversed and enlarged on the dial. The lume is 15 silk-screen layers of
provided by John Gaps, the photographer on the ground when the wall Swiss Superluminova including the 89. The watch is a limited edition of
came down. He also signed a certificate of authenticity. Craig Hester, only 1989 pieces.
co-owner of Pramzius (and an editor at About Time) has been friends
with Gaps for more than 20 years.
The dial is made of genuine marble in honor of the statuary on
The watches will be out in September and will be available at
pramzius.com and R2Awatches.com. Pramzius is also represented
in the UK by Watch Base and will be on Ideal World TV there. Retail
the top of the Brandenburg Gate and the gate is also etched on the is $699 for the bracelet version and $649 for one with a leather and
case back. The image on the dial is from the actual graffiti that is still nylon strap.
124 | AboutTime Magazine