Ivan Jeff Soberano and Gregory Yu didn't plan out their journey looking to start and build their own watch brand in the country, but that's exactly what happened.
It started out as a crazy idea between Ivan and Greg during the height of the pandemic when the two deepened their fondness for watches. Much like a cosmic irony, as they stop and watch the world take its pause, their grand journey in the watch industry starts ticking.
But how does one turn their love of watches into a brand? Join us as we go into a conversation with the founders of ARGOS watches and find out why this Filipino-made watch deserves to be on everyone's wrist.
Make It Your Time with Argos
It was Ivan and Greg, along with other friends – Nikki Columna, Stephen Cruz, and Trish Delacruz – who started the Argos brand that we know today.
"It was a Eureka moment between us. It was sort of taking our love for watches to a different level. We wanted to create our own watch that is something unique from the familiar brands, yet at par in terms of quality, reliability, and aesthetic."
They are defined by two mantras, much like Argos’ production philosophy – to dare boldly and execute greatly.
“From our side, it was a bold move to create a brand from scratch, with only the idea and dedication to see the watch come to life as our main driving force. It’s a road less traveled, a business that has many uncertainties. When we saw the watch in the metal, we knew that we were on the right track”, Ivan shared.
The Argos Odyssey
Much like its namesake in Greek mythology, Argos sought to mimic the long-lasting fellowship of Argos and Odysseus in Homer's classical text "The Odyssey" through their very own watches. The brand believes that a watch should be a lifelong companion, a piece that you can bring anywhere with you as you make it your time.
"We wanted to create something that is made by people who share the same character and values of going after a milestone, whatever it takes," Ivan said. "A watch that is under a brand name that pushes the wearer to make it their time," he added.
Staying true to its roots and vision of bringing reliable, durable, and versatile timepieces, Argos offers its first timepiece, The Odyssey.
The Odyssey is a time-date watch that comes in two colors, blue and cream. The face is protected by a sapphire crystal, and its exterior bracelet is made out of high-quality stainless steel, which guarantees that there will be no need to swap out parts in the many years you'll spend with your Argos watch.
The watch uses the Japanese NH35 mechanical movement with a 41-hour power reserve, developed by Seiko Instruments. Instead of being powered by a battery, the watch ticks through the simple movement of one’s wrist. The NH35 also has a hacking and hand-winding feature protected by a Diashock protection system and provides a date display function.
Argos is also working with a packaging company that promotes sustainability as its core, Encotech Inc.
"The Odyssey is only the first of many collections we're planning to release," Ivan and Greg shared. "We're excited to explore more intricate dials and other movements for our watches. We are also collaborating with other local artisans for the creation of watch accessories at the moment while we're still building our next collection."
Interested customers may inquire to Argos online through their Instagram, Facebook, or website, or by visiting their store at The Cabean Cafe, 131 D. Tuazon, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City.
