Meet the watch that keeps ticking, come rain, heat, or gloom of night.
Watch microbrand VAER introduced the C5 Postmaster, a new timepiece created in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service. Ryan Torres, cofounder of Vaer, said in an interview with USA TODAY that the ubiquity of the Postal Service made the company "immediately very, very excited" when the collaboration was proposed.
"(The) USPS is one of the few American institutions that touches pretty much everyone's lives in America," Torres said. "I mean, you receive your mail on a daily basis."
Vaer's cofounder, Reagan Cook, wrote in an email announcing the launch that the Postal Service was a key partner in getting the company off the ground.
"What started as a handful of packages eventually
grew into thousands of watches shipped across the country, the majority delivered by USPS," Cook wrote.
The Postal Service said in a statement to USA TODAY that it was "proud" to partake in the collaboration.
"The elevated design celebrates American craftsmanship and the rich heritage of service, reliability, and innovation of the United States Postal Service," the service said.
Mail carrier responsibilities contribute to USPS watch design
While the watch is not an official piece of the USPS uniform, Torres said that potential use by mail carriers was "top of mind" through the design process. He added that the company wanted the watch to be "accessible, affordable and durable," following in the spirit of the Postal Service.
"We believe we met all those features," Torres said.
Torres pointed to the watch’s water resistance and crown guards, a first for the company, as design elements intended to provide durability for postal workers making deliveries.
"We already stand behind and lean into durability, and continuing that forward for this watch was super important that it could take any beating over the years," Torres said.
The watch has a 40-millimeter case diameter, is assembled in the United States, and is powered by a Swiss Ronda 517 quartz movement. The dial features a vintage USPS logo printed on a blue field with a light blue outer ring and a day-date window at 3 o'clock.
Torres said that keeping the watch's price, $399, affordable while offering details that would satisfy watch enthusiasts was important.
He pointed to the watch's engraved case back, which features the USPS logo used from 1837 to 1970. He said that the detail adds "depth" without significantly increasing the watch's cost.
"It's something that watch brands can offer to their consumers, but it takes extra time, care and resources," Torres said.
The watch sold out during its pre-order window, but a restock is expected in early December, according to VAER's website.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet the watch that delivers, rain or shine: the C5 Postmaster
