DEFAKTO a young German brand with deep roots

September 25, 2014

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DEFAKTO Modular Akkord

Graduate of University of the Arts Bremen, Raphael Ickler moved to Berlin to work for a music company, but he did not stayed there for more than a year because there was this plan, to make DEFAKTO, a student project into a business.

The philosophy of DEFAKTO is based on the teaching of the Bauhaus school of design that Raphael is approaching from a contemporary perspective.

In 2009, the first model was launched; DEFAKTO EINS, a single handed watch with a minimalist dial, motivating the user to accept telling time in larger intervals and at a slower pace. It was followed by the two handed AKKORD, released in 2011 and the DETAIL in 2012, an ultra-flat 6.6 mm single hand watch.

DEFAKTO Struktur

This week, DEFAKTO announced the launch of STRUKTUR, a 40 mm ultra-flat piece powered by the Swiss Ronda 715 quartz movement. It comes in two versions, black PVD coated case with back dial and stainless steel with white dial.

My personal favourite is another of its novelties, the DEFAKTO MODULAR. 42 mm bronze or stainless steel with PVD coated top ring and crown, offering the choice of one-hand or two-hand versions, with ETA 2824-2 or Miyota 9015 movements.

The single handed DEFAKTO Modular Eins

For anyone familiar with the German watch scene, the Ickler name should ring a bell. That’s right; Raphael is the son of Thomas Ickler, the famous case maker from Pforzheim and the man behind Archimede and Limes watches. Naturally, DEFAKTO cases are crafted in Pforzheim at the family workshop.

In his email, Raphael wrote about his pleasure in running DEFAKTO; he really enjoys the entire process from taking an abstract idea and making it into an object, talking to the customers, shipping it out and taking care of the after sales service. If you happen to go to Berlin, Raphael would be happy to meet you at his new office at Brückenmeisterei, just call in advance to make sure that the watch you like to see is in stock.

To learn more about DEFAKTO and see their entire collection head over to www.defakto-uhren.de/en/watches/.