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UNSUCCESSFUL : Kickstarter: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 2:56 pm
by TheJohnP
Ardor & Forge is now live on Kickstarter with their Rothrock collection.


Early bird pricing is $300
Kickstarter pricing is $350
Regular price will be $550

Estimated delivery is August 2020

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Here's the information from their previous brand direct campaign:


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Preorder pricing for each of the models within the collection will start at $350.
Limited qty at tiered price points, ultimately ending in retail price of $550

There is also the option to add on a Horween leather strap: standard ($48) or NATO ($68)

Estimated delivery is May 2020

The collection is named for the location that has inspired the design of each of the watches, Rothrock State Forest (RSF) in PA.

From their blog:
We’ve spent an incredible amount of time in RSF over the years, enjoying all of it’s twisting trails and incredible vistas. The rocky terrain of the trails inspired the unique sand-cast texture on the 42mm case of the Rothrock. Oak accents, matte finishes and an earth tone palette create a bold design aesthetic that echoes the natural wonder of the forest. Whether you are headed to the office on Monday morning, or to the backcountry for the weekend, the workhorse NH35 automatic movement, lumed dial, screw-down crown and sapphire crystal make it the perfect companion for all your adventures.

They do the thing that irks me, when they give a name to each variant in the collection. So here are the four colorways:

Rothrock | Thickhead is inspired by the Thickhead Mountain Wild Area within Rothrock State Forest

https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothrock-thickhead/

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Specs & Features:
• 42mm matte black DLC case
• Proprietary sand-cast texture
• Sapphire crystal and display caseback
• 10 ATM water resistance rating
• NH35 Japanese automatic movement
• Screw-down, offset crown
• Super-LumiNova
• Drilled lugs
• Double lug holes for thicker straps
• 22mm leather lined canvas strap
• Oak accents, rehaut, crown and rotor plate



Rothrock | Detweiler is inspired by the Detweiler Run Natural Area within Rothrock State Forest

https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothrock-detweiler/

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Specs & Features:
• 42mm vintage gold PVD case
• Proprietary sand-cast texture
• Sapphire crystal and display caseback
• 10 ATM water resistance rating
• NH35 Japanese automatic movement
• Screw-down, offset crown
• Super-LumiNova
• Drilled lugs
• Double lug holes for thicker straps
• 22mm leather lined canvas strap
• Oak accents, rehaut, crown and rotor plate


Rothrock | Juniata is inspired by the Little Juniata Natural Area within Rothrock State Forest

https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothrock-juniata/

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Specs & Features:
• 42mm stainless steel case
• Proprietary sand-cast texture
• Sapphire crystal and display caseback
• 10 ATM water resistance rating
• NH35 Japanese automatic movement
• Screw-down, offset crown
• Super-LumiNova, full lumed dial
• Drilled lugs
• Double lug holes for thicker straps
• 22mm leather lined canvas strap
• Oak accents, rehaut, crown and rotor plate


Rothrock | Seeger is inspired by the Alan Seeger Natural Area within Rothrock State Forest

https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothrock-seeger/

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Specs & Features:
• 42mm stainless steel case
• Proprietary sand-cast texture
• Sapphire crystal and display caseback
• 10 ATM water resistance rating
• NH35 Japanese automatic movement
• Screw-down, offset crown
• Super-LumiNova
• Drilled lugs
• Double lug holes for thicker straps
• 22mm leather lined canvas strap
• Oak accents, rehaut, crown and rotor plate

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 2:58 pm
by TheJohnP
Here's an interview with brand founder Zack in the latest video from Doc Vail's "Doc's House Call" series.



Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 2:58 pm
by watchpalooza
Liking this design

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:00 pm
by TheJohnP
Kind of Bertucci/Boldr-esque.

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:55 pm
by watchpalooza
TheJohnP wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:00 pm Kind of Bertucci/Boldr-esque.
Definitely...and double lug holes are interesting. But would have preferred applied indices at this price point.

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 8:44 am
by Sporkboy
I am also digging this design. The bezel reminds me of a Timex Expedition rugged field.
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I love the red lume.

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 9:16 am
by TheJohnP
From watching the video, that's a fixed bezel. Keep that in mind if that is a make/break for someone.

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection **Preorders open on 11/19**

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:55 am
by Sporkboy
TheJohnP wrote:From watching the video, that's a fixed bezel. Keep that in mind if that is a make/break for someone.
Good point. I assumed it was fixed, but why put the scallops on there if it is fixed? Just a style thing I guess.

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:24 pm
by TheJohnP
The Detweiler can still be had for $350.

However, the Thickhead, Juniata, and Seeger are now priced at $375

Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 10:29 am
by TheJohnP
All models are now priced at $375.

They've also introduced an variant option featuring no use of Oak on the accents, rehaut, crown and rotor plate.

The oak accents of the Rothrock have been polarizing. Many have praised the design, but there is another camp who just don’t like wood on, in, or anywhere near their watch. So, we now have 4 new variations to offer.

The No-Oak alternatives are exactly the same in every way to the original variations, with the exception that steel components have replaced the oak accents in the rehaut, crown end, and rotor. The steel is treated with the same sand-cast texture finish and matched to the case, in either raw stainless, vintage gold PVD, or black DLC.

No-Oak Detweiler
https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothr ... er-no-oak/

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No-Oak Juniata
https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothr ... ta-no-oak/

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No-Oak Seeger
https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothr ... er-no-oak/

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No-Oak Thickhead
https://ardorandforge.com/product/rothr ... ad-no-oak/

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Re: PREORDER: Brand Direct: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 10:00 am
by TheJohnP
It appears you can no longer preorder the Rothrock collection directly from Ardor & Forge.

However, there is messaging that the collection will move to Kickstarter on March 24.

Here's a preview link to the campaign -


Re: PREORDER: Kickstarter: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:33 am
by TheJohnP
Ardor & Forge have moved their Rothrock collection over to Kickstarter.

See above for the link to the campaign.

Re: UNSUCCESSFUL : Kickstarter: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:11 pm
by TheJohnP
To follow up, this Kickstarter campaign was:

UNSUCCESSFUL

The project's funding goal was not reached on Thu, April 23 2020 9:26 AM EDT

Re: UNSUCCESSFUL : Kickstarter: Ardor & Forge - Rothrock Collection

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:13 pm
by TheJohnP
Update from project creator following the unsuccessful campaign:

So, unfortunately, the project did not get funded. I've received an overwhelming amount of support throughout this process however, and wanted to thank every one of you who pledged or shared the campaign to help get to the level of success that we did achieve.

I say success, because I can't look at this project as a total failure. There was a lot of excitement about the innovation we were trying to bring to the market and the watches were featured on every blog and review site I had set out to get them on (which is no easy task). Between the pre-order on the Ardor & Forge website, and this Kickstarter campaign, we had a total of 135 watches spoken for, and got to about 70% funded. Possibly, if timing had been different, we would have made it across the finish line.

All that is to say that, in spite of this campaign being a failure, I believe there is a lot to build off from here, and I don't plan on giving up on this dream. If you aren't already, I would invite you to please sign up on the website for email updates if you'd like to stay in the loop about new developments and where we'll go from here: https://ardorandforge.com/subscribe/

Thanks again everyone!

Zack