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What does it take to leave the security of global luxury giants like Omega and TAG Heuer to build an independent watch empire from your own kitchen table? In this episode, David sits down with Susan Galvin, the founder of the Galvin Watch Company and a rare female voice in the world of high end watchmaking. Susan shares her journey from the prestigious Finnish School of Watchmaking to the shores of Australia, where she launched a micro-brand that reached its funding goal on Kickstarter in just six minutes. From the challenges of assembling every single timepiece by hand to her mission of bringing more vibrant colors and "Northern Lights" inspiration to the wrist, Susan proves that the most successful watches are often the ones with the most personal stories behind them.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:46 – From Finland to the Bench

• Susan discusses her training at the renowned Finnish School of Watchmaking, which produced legends like Kare Voutilainen.

• The transition from her home country to working for LVMH in the United Kingdom repairing TAG Heuer watches.

05:17 – The Pandemic Pivot

• How a maternity leave during the global pandemic and a workshop relocation sparked the idea for her own company.

• The role of her husband in encouraging her to move from repairing luxury pieces to designing her own unique collection.

07:05 – The Power of Crowdfunding

• Susan explains the strategy behind her Kickstarter campaign that achieved full funding in only six minutes.

• How a viral press release highlighting her status as a female watchmaker helped gain international brand awareness.

12:15 – The Purest Form of Micro-Brand

• A behind the scenes look at Susan's in-house assembly process where she handles every dial, hand, and case personally.

• The rigorous quality control protocols she brought with her from her years at Swatch Group and Omega to ensure excellence.

18:38 – Inspiration from the Arctic Circle

• How Susan's Finnish heritage and memories of the Northern Lights influence her bold dial colors and "loimo" patterns.

• A shared campaign with David to bring more purple watches into the world of horology to break the mold of traditional colors.

20:15 – Breaking the Gender Barrier

• Susan's philosophy on why watches and watchmaking should not be gender specific but open to everyone.

• How she uses her husband as a test subject to ensure her designs work for both men and women.

Your watch is more than just gears and dials; it is a piece of art assembled with a master watchmaker's personal touch.

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