At the start of 2022, a chronograph watch was the biggest missing piece in the Vaer lineup. It’s something that we always intended to make, it was just a matter of when, and what kind? In 2021, we learned a lot through the release of the D4 Solar Diver and the G7 GMT. While both projects were a success - we found that the accessible price point and everyday accuracy of a non-conventional quartz was a winning combination. Swiss mechanical chronographs, like GMTs, are very expensive movements, which would translate into a $1100+ retail price point and a smaller initial batch. In our view, the hybrid meca-quartz of the R1 was a superior option for a first release because we could keep the price around $400, order far more pieces (in more sizes), and ultimately deliver a watch that still made sense for everyday ocean-use, which is the core ethos for our brand.