Startup watch geeks take on old giants

New York

FOR budding entrepreneurs, the watch industry would seem a strange place to start.

It is the definition of a mature industry, built on centuries-old technology such as balance springs and pinions, and it is dominated by centuries-old brands. (Blancpain, for example, dates from 1735.) But that did not deter Zack Sears, 28, a digital product designer and watch aficionado in New York. Two years ago, Mr Sears and three partners raised US$49,000 on Kickstarter (where he happens to work in product development) to start Throne, which makes vintage-chic watches, complete with straps whose leather comes from Horween Leather Co.