ALATO TIMESCOPE AUTOMATIC 39.8MM SELITTA SW200-1B SWEDISH MICROBRAND

A

ALATO

Tyme Watcher
Joined
May 23, 2024
Messages
19
ALATO Timescope Collection Telescope.webp
Something different is coming!

Following last year success with the launch of ALATO Arvet, I am launching the second watch of ALATO on Kickstarter the 1st of July. Let's see if I have what it takes to continue building on this microbrand :)

So far we got over 150 collectors from 24 countries around the world supporting. It's such a fun journey, one that I wish more watch enthusiasts would get the chance to experience! I meet a lot of interesting and kind people, from all over the world. And the best part is designing something and seeing it come to life. Such a rewarding and fantastic feeling!

Here's my short presentation of whats next:

Introducing the ALATO Timescope
Collection on book.webp

A design inspired by the telescope. Swiss made automatic movement(Sellita SW200-1b). Featuring a completely original case design. Built with clarity, depth, and my usual obsession with proportion och details.

Crystal.webp

SPECIFICATIONS:
Movement: Sellita SW200-1b automatic (Swiss made)
Material: 316L Stainless steel
Caseback: Exhibition
Crystal: Sapphire crystal 1.6mm flat, 5 inner AR coatings
Hands: Faceted baton hands with Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 lume
Dial: Dual layers, applied indices with Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 lume and printed markers. Inner fluted chapter ring.
Crown: Screw-down crown
WR: 100M/10ATM/330ft
Strap: Top-grain Leather, tapering
Add-on: Mesh bracelet 3mm thick, deployant clasp

MEASUREMENTS
Case diameter: 39.8mm
Thickness: 10.95mm
Lug-to-lug: 45.5mm

Like last time I will offer these at a 30% discount off future retail during the first 48 hours.
Prices are as follows:

• Sand dial: $549 (retail $785)

• Aventurine dial: $599 (retail $849)

• Meteorite dial: $699 (retail $999)

Aventurine handheld brighter.webp
Meteorite on jacket.webp

Yes, you’ll need to wait a few months for delivery. That’s the tradeoff for a serious discount, and for helping a small independent microbrand actually bring this to life.

Sand on jacket.webp

About ALATO

ALATO is a Swedish microbrand doing all design in-house. The watches are produced in Hong Kong in order to be able to keep prices affordable. We don't use shelf-parts or take any shortcuts, we do everything from scratch. This is true microbrand horology, and without early backers, it simply won’t happen.

If you’re new to us: Alato is a word with 35 years of meaning behind it; a made-up expression of affection that became a watch company in 2022 when I lost my job due to the economic downturn. At ALATO we build watches that feel personal, purposeful, and lasting. No hype. Just thoughtful design for those who care about what they wear, and why.

📦 Prices include worldwide shipping.

📝 Read more about the watch here: https://www.alato.se/en/products/timescope

📬 Sign-up on Kickstarter to get notified when it launches: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alatoarvet/alato-timescope-an-automatic-watch-for-trailblazers


Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to back the project, or if you’ve got questions about specs, dimensions, or dials. I am listening.

Best regards,

Pierre Strömbäck
 
Good luck on the campaign. The prices seem reasonable.

Kudos for keeping a short lug width while adding the adapter to allow strap/bracelet options. I'm curious on the thought process of proprietary lugs, but with the 18mm adapter instead of something like universal hidden lugs. Was it just a design concept? I'm not knocking it. I've seen Straum do something similar offering strap adapters (add-on $100.00) allowing them to keep the look of the design with the ability to use universal 20mm straps. The Straum adapters actually add to the lug to lug span when being used.
 
I just watched the video you posted. He mentioned the lug to lug is 50.2 mm with the added lugs extension, but your specs show 45.5 mm.
 
roadwarrior said:
Good luck on the campaign. The prices seem reasonable.

Kudos for keeping a short lug width while adding the adapter to allow strap/bracelet options. I'm curious on the thought process of proprietary lugs, but with the 18mm adapter instead of something like universal hidden lugs. Was it just a design concept? I'm not knocking it. I've seen Straum do something similar offering strap adapters (add-on $100.00) allowing them to keep the look of the design with the ability to use universal 20mm straps. The Straum adapters actually add to the lug to lug span when being used.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. Its mainly a design concept to allow for the case shape as is. I wanted to make it pronounced round enought to 1. stick to the telescope theme and 2. differentiate the shape enough to make it unique. The strap adapters is a part of the design giving it more character and industrial feel. The 18mm width could be worked on. But all watches have 20mm nowadays, I find it a bit boring (yet useful for your strap collection of course).

If enough people backing the project ask for a 20mm strap width I will remold the case lugs to fit a bit wider strap adapter.

Thanks for your msg :)
 
roadwarrior said:
I just watched the video you posted. He mentioned the lug to lug is 50.2 mm with the added lugs extension, but your specs show 45.5 mm.
Click to expand...
Yes, including the strap adapters, but I dont agree on measuring lug to lug like Robert does. Its wrong in my world. The important thing here is to have enough angle on the strap adapter fit so that small wrists around 6 inch can wear it. Timescope don't need more articulation on the strap adapters to do that now. They are pointed downwards enough to fit very well. The angles are quite steep.
Please disagree if you will, I am all open to discuss this :)
 
ALATO said:
Yes, including the strap adapters, but I dont agree on measuring lug to lug like Robert does. Its wrong in my world. The important thing here is to have enough angle on the strap adapter fit so that small wrists around 6 inch can wear it. Timescope don't need more articulation on the strap adapters to do that now. They are pointed downwards enough to fit very well. The angles are quite steep.
Please disagree if you will, I am all open to discuss this :)
Click to expand...

I think in general that should be mentioned in the specs just for transparency to avoid being accused of inaccurate specs. People can be very touchy, especially on crowdsourcing projects. I've seen toward the end of a campaign people drop out for one reason or another.

Just for an example I've seen reviewers complain about the height specs because they did not add the height of the crystal.
 
roadwarrior said:
I think in general that should be mentioned in the specs just for transparency to avoid being accused of inaccurate specs. People can be very touchy, especially on crowdsourcing projects. I've seen toward the end of a campaign people drop out for one reason or another.

Just for an example I've seen reviewers complain about the height specs because they did not add the height of the crystal.
Click to expand...
Thats a very good suggestion. Thank you for that. I just updated the specs on Kickstarter story page and the pre-launch page. I will also do it on the website. You are right indeed
 
I'm curios as to why you didn't stick with a Miyota 9039 this time around? In my experience it's a much more reliable movement compared to some of the newer SW200 movements I've had to deal with because of a bad gear in the winding mechanism. I know some swear by the SW200 and many, many brands use it like Christopher Ward, but CW was one that developed the "helicopter effect" only a month old on one of mine as well as Ocean Crawler and Zelos. Elshan hasn't used the SW200 for at least five years now. He told me of all the movements it was the most problematic.

On every instance where they were bad for me they all were new only weeks old and barely wound.
 
roadwarrior said:
I'm curios as to why you didn't stick with a Miyota 9039 this time around? In my experience it's a much more reliable movement compared to some of the newer SW200 movements I've had to deal with because of a bad gear in the winding mechanism. I know some swear by the SW200 and many, many brands use it like Christopher Ward, but CW was one that developed the "helicopter effect" only a month old on one of mine as well as Ocean Crawler and Zelos. Elshan hasn't used the SW200 for at least five years now. He told me of all the movements it was the most problematic.

On every instance where they were bad for me they all were new only weeks old and barely wound.
Click to expand...
Due to the telescope theme of the design, I thought going for a swiss movement would be more fitting the theme. The telescope has been developed in European engineering for centuries. So its just more in line with the design concept than a Japanese Miyota movement would be. At least thats my own view :)

I am sure you can find people who say the same about Miyota 9039. I would say Miyota 9039 and SW200 are equal in many ways. Just as reliable and robust. I guess it comes down to experience.

Either way, there will be a 1 year warranty on the watch. And I am very keen on having happy customers, so it will not be a problem really. I had 4-5 customers who had problems with the Arvet watch. It was either a dead-on-arrival problem, a hard screwing crown or a running too quick problem - they had. I had all of them helped out with new watches, fixed crowns (new tubes) or demagnitized movements. So, if you're worried about any issues - dont worry :)
 
Thanks for the answer.

DOA movements happen. I've seen it with the NH35. Still, I can find people saying stuff about anything, but it doesn't make it true or factual. I've never seen a negative video, article or anything concerning the 9015 comparable to information from brands, repair service centers, collectors about the Sellita SW200. The only knock about the Miyota that generally comes up is rotor noise from the unidirectional rotors same as the Valjoux 7750. Where as the Sellita uses a bidirectional rotor.

Right now I have at least 115 Miyota 9000 in assorted brands I own and have never had an issue with one. On the other hand, I have about 41 ETA 2824-2 models and 29 using the Sellita SW200. Five out of those 29 Sellita has gone bad with a winding helicopter issue in a few weeks to a month.


 

Alato Timescope - Why should you add this to your watch collection?​

Esbjorn Wristwatch Reviews
Jun 25, 2025 TASMANIA

Is this the model that will really see Alato take off? I sincerely hope so since Pierre is a lovely guy that is now proven to not be a one hit wonder but very, and pun intended, focused on both the surprise and delight in his watch designs.


https://www.alato.se/en

0:00 Hejsan!
1:42 Packaging
2:04 Sizes
2:36 Dial
4:02 Case & Bezel
4:54 Case back & Movement
5:34 Strap
5:54 Lume
 
Back
Top Bottom