Tektora founder Alex I. began with a specific design goal: a watch combining a genuine meteorite dial, a compact case, and a visible open-heart mechanical movement. The first episode of Microbrand Watch World’s series follows his path from that idea through sketches, CAD, movement selection, and an early prototype. It is a founder’s case study—not a verified formula for launching a watch company, and not a finished-product specification sheet.
Start with a design problem, not a claim of market demand
Alex says he wanted a watch that brought together a meteorite dial, a compact unisex case, and an open-heart movement, and that he believed the combination was missing from the market. He describes researching both microbrands and established watchmakers before sketching. That is the founder’s account of how he identified an opportunity; it does not establish that no other watch offered those features.
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The concept’s dial was divided into three visual zones: a meteorite center, a guilloche chapter ring, and a matte-black outer ring and rehaut. The reported concept dimensions were 38 mm in diameter, 11.10 mm in height, and 45 mm lug-to-lug, with the open-heart aperture at six o’clock. These are design details reported in the episode, not confirmed specifications for a production watch. Microbrand Watch World’s episode account gives the fuller development story.
Choose a movement that serves the design
The episode says Tektora chose the Miyota 90S5 because it offered an open-heart display and a slim profile. The caliber is a useful example of matching a movement choice to a particular visual and case-design goal; the episode does not establish it as the right choice for every new watch project.
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MIYOTA’s official 90S5 specifications identify it as an automatic, hand-windable, three-hand open-heart movement. MIYOTA lists a height of 3.90 mm, frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, approximately 42 hours of running time, 24 jewels, and an accuracy specification of −10 to +30 seconds per day. That accuracy figure describes the movement specification, not the performance of a completed Tektora watch. MIYOTA calls it an “Ultra-thin premium mechanical movement” and says, “The distinctive motions of the mechanical movement can be enjoyed through a small window on the dial.”
For a different concept, a founder would need to assess movement visibility, height, fit with the case and dial, and the intended design. Episode one mentions other calibers in passing but supplies no comparable technical or price information for them, so it does not support a meaningful movement-versus-movement recommendation.
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Move from sketches to CAD and test the physical result
According to the episode, Alex developed pencil sketches into CAD and iterated the design through prototypes. The first sample reportedly missed the mark on dial proportions, the open-heart placement, and quality; he rejected it rather than treating a sample as proof the design was ready.
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This part of the account illustrates the difference between a drawing and a watch that works as a coherent object. The aperture, dial layers, movement, and case dimensions all have to come together in a physical sample. The episode describes iteration, but it does not provide a production-ready specification, supplier documentation, or independent assessment of the sample.
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Understand the meteorite-dial production risk cautiously
The episode article describes cutting meteorite into thin dial pieces and making an open-heart aperture as processes that can create engineering and breakage challenges. It reports an estimated defect rate of about 20% and suggests ordering 30% more dials. No supplier, dataset, or study is cited for those estimates, so they should be read as figures reported by Microbrand Watch World—not as established industry-wide yields or procurement rules.
The same caution applies to the episode article’s discussion of minimum order quantities: it says a 100-piece run can be difficult because manufacturers often prefer 500 or more, and that exotic materials raise per-unit costs. It provides no supplier terms or detailed episode-one budget to verify those claims as universal current conditions. The article says a detailed cost breakdown is deferred to a later installment, so episode one does not answer how much it costs to start a microbrand.
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What this episode establishes—and what it does not
- It documents a founder’s early process: a specific design intention, research before drawing, CAD development, and prototype iteration.
- It identifies a design-led movement choice: the 90S5’s open-heart layout and 3.90 mm height suited the concept as described by the founder.
- It reports a rejected first sample: Alex reportedly found problems with proportions, aperture placement, and quality.
- It does not confirm a final product: the September 4, 2026 episode article said a later prototype was expected in September. That was a forecast, and the account here does not confirm whether it arrived or whether production followed.
- It does not provide a validated launch budget or universal supplier benchmarks: the cost question and the reported yield and minimum-order estimates remain limited by the information in this episode.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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