Next we meet Ivan Chua, founder of Vario watches. His watch design journey began when he couldn’t find a watch strap that shouted out his personality and thus Vario was born in 2016. Armed with his decade of experience in design as an award-winning graphic designer running his own studio along with Judy, he brings the same dedication to the watches he designs and produces.
We hear his fascinating views on the watch industry and future plans for the Vario brand.
MWM: How is business?
IC: I’m positive about the micro-brand segment for the next few years. We offer watches with different designs you wouldn’t find with mainstream brands and micro-brands usually offers better value as well. So, business is brisk for us in general. The inflation might have softened the spending but hopefully we will bounce back soon.
MWM: What are you currently working on?
IC: I’m currently working on next year’s launch plan. For the first phase, we’ve launched one watch per year and maybe only developed our Empire series. We’ve transitioned to a second phase this year to pick up the pace and we’re planning to launch a new collection and 3-4 updates/re-stocks for existing collections to freshen up the designs. I’m also on the look out for a space to operate Vario. We’ve been working from home since we started but it’s time to get a space and maybe an extra pair of hands.
MWM: Tell us something we don’t know about Vario Watches?
IC: Prior to Vario, I ran my small design studio serving broadcast stations like MTV, Discovery, HBO to name a few. Netflix and YouTube took away a lot of business from them and I had less to do. At the same time I had phone fatigue and wanted to wear my watches and the straps disintegrated, so I designed a few and crowdfunded them and that’s how Vario started.
MWM: Which watch do you wear?
IC: When I’m not wearing a Vario, I wear vintages from Hamilton to Seiko. I got into the vintage ‘rabbit hole’ early in the hobby and many of these vintage designs inform my work at Vario. Ever since I started Vario with Judy, I’ve made friends with other micro-brand owners and we traded watches and it reminds me of the friendship formed with them.
MWM: Which watch would you like to own?
IC: I just went to Japan thinking I’ll come back with my 1st luxury watch and at the back of my mind, I was thinking a Grand Seiko would embody the craftsmanship and finish that would serve as my inspiration and goal for Vario. I came across a Citizen AQ4100 featuring the famous washi paper dial and it captured my heart. It looked so much more beautiful in person and the dial is absolutely stunning. Not to mention Citizen is at the top of the game with their quartz even though this watch is not using the latest calibre 100. However, I exercised too much self-control and didn’t bring it back in the end.
MWM: What do you like best about the Watch business?
IC: Chatting with enthusiasts. Whenever I go to a get together, we can talk about watches forever. Even with the emails from some of my regulars, they would send me nice vintage watches and I would store it in my folder for future reference. The communication between brand owner and customers make this business thoroughly enjoyable.
MWM: What don’t you like about the Watch business?
IC: I don’t like to manage people and we’re at the stage where we are growing so how to push the brand forward might be interesting for Judy and I to figure out.
MWM: What is next on the horizon for you?
IC: In Vario’s first phase, we’ve kept our watches below the US$500 segment. Now that we’re on our second phase, we will start offering watches in the US$500-1k segment using more premium movements and more artisanal components. We are working on an Empire with hand engraved dial with Ukrainian craftsmen and we will launching a True GMT Empire using Miyota’s 9075 calibre. We are thinking of fitting a handwound Sellita on our 1918 collection for next year.
Ivan Chua is a Friend of MrWatchMaster