Why a Watch: The Seed of the Soul
The idea to build a watch was born back in 2015, when Parivas CEO, Mickey, was a graduate researcher in a lab focused on advancing 5-axis CNC machining. Each associate was encouraged to develop a creative project that could demonstrate the precision and capabilities of these machines. While others crafted detailed miniatures (e.g. racecars, motorcycles, the Eiffel Tower), Mickey was drawn in a different direction. He wanted something more than a desk ornament. He wanted function and significance.
In Mickey's family, watches have long held symbolic meaning, gifted from father to son as tokens of accomplishment. So when it came time to choose a project, the idea of building a watch felt both technically appropriate and deeply personal. It fulfills the requirement of the creative project that showcases precision machining while also serving as a symbol of his own achievement.
Although the watch did not come to fruition during graduate school, the idea always remained. Mickey went on to work as an aerospace mechanical engineer, specializing in lightweight 3D-printed hardware and frequently attending industry conferences across the country to stay on the cutting edge. Over time, the watch idea reemerged. This time, not just as a side project, but as the ultimate culmination of his original vision and accumulated skills and expertise. And this was just the beginning.
Why 3D Printing?
Choosing 3D printing isn't just about using new technology, it's about fully maximizing it. Our background in design and manufacturing gives us a unique advantage: we know how to design specifically for 3D printing, not just with it, enabling us to push boundaries that others might not know exist.
More importantly, we saw an opportunity to create something that cannot be made any other way. If the watch can be made through conventional means, it risks becoming just another dial in a crowded industry, lost to the abyss of forgotten watches. But if it can only exist because of 3D printing, if the design demands it, then we have the chance to make something too unique to ignore.
Our convictions grew after attending international watch events and speaking with brands across the spectrum. The takeaway was clear: most companies are not seriously exploring additive manufacturing. They were sticking to processes that have worked for decades. We didn't just see the gap, we found our calling.
Ultimately, we are designing for ourselves. For the challenge. For the reward of creating something extraordinary. Something we, as enthusiasts, collectors, and designers are searching for.
Where 3D Printing Was in 2020–and What it Unlocked
When we began developing the first concepts, we ran headfirst into a core limitation of the technology: 3D printing was either suited for large parts with low feature resolution that would be refined after through CNC machining, or for micro parts with great detail but very limited volume. Our watch, however, falls in between: a macro object with micro features.
Instead of simplifying and compromising the design to fit the current capabilities, we pushed in a different direction. While the technology progressed, we would build ahead of it.
We invested in foundational infrastructure, everything from brand development to industry partnerships, so that when the technology matured enough to produce our design, we'd be ready. Our goal wasn't to simply build a watch, but to share it with those who align with our vision.
Engineering Meets Expression: The Design Inspiration
In aerospace, every gram matters. Parts are carefully designed to be as light as possible without sacrificing strength or integrity. This ethos (optimize without compromise) was foundational to how we approached the watch.
Rather than enclose the movement in a traditional case, we developed a lattice structure: an intricate framework to protect it. A balance of symmetry and efficiency, strength and elegance: an external compliment to its internal mechanical soul.
The result is more than a watch. It's a convergence of disciplines and ideologies: engineering, heritage and innovation. A reflection not of where we've come from, but a mere glimpse of where we're going. What others call the edge of what's possible, we call the starting point.