I ran across this brand at another forum and thought that they were pretty interesting looking! The owner is a watch enthusiast that comes from a watchmaking background with a swiss watch brand. In 2007, he sought to register a trademark under which he would release alternative mechanical timepieces and adornments designed for collectors like himself -- The result is Techne
Link to website -
http://www.technewatches.com/The first model is called the
Sparrow Hawk . Here are some photos from the company website:
Specs from company website:Luminosity NewLite by Tritec
Case width (inluding stem) 43.3 mm
Case water resistance 5 BAR
Case thickness 12.2 mm
Case length (from lug tip) 47.0 mm
Case diameter 40 mm
Case material 316L stainless steel
Case crystal sapphire-coated silica
Calibre Seagull ST-1901, a hand-wound mechanical chronograph using the column-wheel, a command gear design sought by vintage watch collectors.
Calibre running frequency 21,600 A/h
Calibre power reserve 50 h
Calibre jewel count 22
Band width 20 mm
Price:
$400 - $520Description of watch from company website:
A watch designed for adventure
The founder came up with the idea for the Sparrow Hawk on an expedition to Mount Blanc, 4,810 m (15,781 ft). While suffering from physical strain and altitude sickness, he was trying to keep track of his teammates and his own heart pace. He noticed that a simple chronograph with central second hand might have come in handy.
He was able to source a supplier of the Seagull ST1901, a hand-wound mechanical chronograph using the column-wheel, a command gear design sought by vintage watch collectors. Even though mechanical watches are only accurate within ± 5 seconds per day, they are better fit for cold temperatures than quartz watches, which offer an accuracy of ± 0.5 seconds per day but have an unpredictable life span and can stop running below -10 °C (14 °F).
The ST-1901 is built by the Tianjin Sea-Gull Corporation in Tianjin, China, but both the design and the tooling originate from Switzerland, where it was known as the Venus 175. Designed by André Frey and produced between 1940 and 1964 at the Fabrique d'Ébauches Vénus S.A. in Moutier, Switzerland, the Venus 175 is found in many Swiss chronographs of the post-WWII decade.
The Chinese engineers decided to raise the frequency from 18,000 alternances per hour (2.5 Hz) to 21,600 A/h (3Hz) to improve stability and accuracy.
Roped parties often depart before dawn, so an extremely readable timepiece is a must in early half-light. The Sparrow Hawk is the first Techné watch featuring the Altitude dial, a design based on the principles of ergonomics and avionics to allow reading under all cirumstances. Indexes and hands are coated with NewLite, a non-radioactive and non-toxic strontium aluminate-based photo-luminescent compound from industry leader Tritec.
Mountain gear must be sturdy enough to undergo ascensions and sufficiently waterproof to withstand fog, snow and frost, so it was decided to house the ST-1901 caliber in a stainless steel case waterproof to 5 BAR. All gear must allow manipulation with or without gloves, and any form of attachment must allow for quick adjustment; this is why half of the Sparrow Hawk catalogue features extendable wristbands inspired by military straps, such as the riveted Overcoat or the G10 NATO.
Subject: Techne Watch Company 
Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:09 am
