About Us
Tool watches have been in my DNA since I can remember. My grandparents emigrated to Indonesia from Iran in the 1960’s to provide medical care in rural areas, and the Rolex Oyster Precision my paternal grandfather passed down to me with true tropical patina bears witness to its use as a tool.
My father and my maternal uncle are also watch guys; my father has been a Seiko 5 collector for life, and my maternal uncle gave me my first Swiss watch – a Tissot quartz Chronograph. But my biggest watch inspiration has always been my mother, a true adventurer and watch enthusiast.
Whether she’s catching waves on the beaches of Indonesia, riding motorcycles in India, hiking the Cascade mountains, or even at a formal event dressed to the nines, she’s always got a tool watch on her wrist. My first ever watch “project” was doing some minor modifications to her trusty SKX with my then 6 year old son (his hands were much better with the gaskets than mine.)
It was after doing that mod for her that I realized if a watch I wanted didn’t exist, I could make it. At the time, a used version the coveted Chronosport Sea Quartz 30 worn by the orignal Magnum PI in the first few seasons cost thousands on ebay. I got to work on perhaps making a facsimile.
During that journey, I met a lot of cool people in the industry, all of whom gave me invaluable advice, and connections. I realized I could make a run of 100 watches and basically recoup my costs in the process by selling them on eBay. I had planned on that being the end of things, but the response was so great, I knew that couldn’t be the end. I had more things I wanted in a watch, and I would make them.
That brought me to the second run, and turning SeaQuartz Watch Co. into a proper business. I’ve never been happier in my life, especially when my customers send me photos of them enjoying their watches on Instagram. I hope watches bring you and your family as much joy as they bring to ours.
There is something about being part of a watch family, by blood or just through internet watch groups or meetups, that’s absolutely irreplaceable. I hope to meet many of you all on this road of happy destiny. Until then, be well my watch family.
With Love, Jakarta Stevie Hu
