Applications Open · September 2026

Cohort 1:

2027

Ten independent watchmakers. Twelve months. Group purchasing power, press access, and a community built for the craft.

Applications Open

1 Sep 2026

Applications Close

31 Oct 2026

Program Start

Feb 2027

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The Program

What's Included

Four pillars that transform independent makers into enduring brands.

⚙

Group Purchasing Power

Negotiate supplier contracts collectively. Access premium movements, cases, straps, and dials at prices only major brands achieve.

Straps, cases, movements, packaging, and dials — aggregated orders across all 10 cohort members to meet or exceed supplier MOQs.

◈

Marketing & Brand Building

Professional photography, editorial storytelling, and strategic positioning tailored to your brand's identity.

Quarterly content packages, newsletter features, joint social campaigns, and presence on the Escapement platform with dedicated maker profiles.

◆

Press & Collector Access

Direct introductions to watch editors and vetted collectors. One guaranteed lead press placement per year.

Relationships with Hodinkee, Revolution Watch, Rescapement, WatchPro, Europa Star, A Collected Man, and SJX — opened directly for your brand.

◉

Maker Community

A curated network of 10 watchmakers navigating the same challenges. Monthly cohort sessions, peer critique, and mentorship.

Private cohort Slack, monthly group calls, quarterly in-person meetups (Geneva/London/New York), and two dedicated mentors per maker.

Membership

Transparent Pricing

We earn when you save — incentives aligned with your success.

Hybrid Model

Annual membership fee€3,500

GPO commission (on verified savings)15%

Estimated annual member savings€5K–€15K

Estimated total member cost€5K–€6.5K/yr

The ROI

Most members recover their fees in supplier savings alone.

A typical cohort member saves €5,000–€15,000 annually on straps, cases, movements, and packaging — all before counting the press introductions, marketing support, and community access.

ComponentIndividual CostGPO Savings

Leather straps (custom)€25–€40/unit30–40%

Watch boxes (bespoke)€60–€120/unit40–50%

Steel / titanium cases€120–€280/unit10–20%

Movement (Sellita SW200)€85–€110/unit10–15%

Movement customizationInaccessible below 300 MOQUnlocked

Eligibility

Who Should Apply

Built for makers with proven craft and organic demand who need infrastructure to scale.

◈

Independent, Founder-Led

No majority ownership by a watch group (Swatch, Richemont, LVMH, Kering, Rolex, or equivalent). Your brand, your craft.

⚙

At Least One Watch Produced

At least one watch model fully designed, manufactured, and delivered to paying customers. Pre-revenue applicants are not eligible.

◉

€200K–€3M Revenue

Annual watch sales in this range demonstrate product-market fit and the operational maturity to benefit from the program.

◆

50–500 Pieces Per Year

Production at this scale means GPO aggregation delivers real savings — and you have the capacity to absorb supplier relationships.

▲

2–7 Years in Business

Established enough to have learned from the market, early enough that the program infrastructure can compound into lasting growth.

○

Geographic Eligibility

Cohort 1: UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia. Must conduct program in English.

All criteria are hard gates. Applicants who do not meet every eligibility requirement will not advance to the scored evaluation. Founder-led brands only — no majority ownership by Swatch Group, Richemont, LVMH, Kering, or equivalent.

Selection

How We Choose

Applications are scored on five equal dimensions. The strongest cohort wins — not just the strongest individual applications.

Craft & Product Quality

Movement finishing, case quality, dial execution, and overall horological ambition. Assessed from photography, spec sheets, and press coverage.

20 pts

Design Identity

A distinct visual and conceptual identity that photographs well and attracts collector differentiation. Red flag: derivative aesthetics.

20 pts

III

Business Traction

Revenue trajectory, sell-through rate, collector waitlist size. Looking for organic demand exceeding supply — brands that need infrastructure, not an audience.

20 pts

Coachability & Fit

Assessed via a 30-minute founder interview. Openness to feedback, willingness to collaborate, self-awareness about gaps.

20 pts

Cohort Diversity

Does this maker add variety — geography, price point, aesthetic, movement type? The cohort as a whole is curated, not just individual members.

20 pts

85+

Direct Offer

Accepted immediately upon final review.

70–84

Waitlist

Offered a place if a slot opens from declines.

<70

Declined

With written feedback on each scored dimension.

Cohort 1 Calendar

Timeline

Every step from application to program launch.

1 September 2026

Applications Open

The application form goes live. Waitlist members are notified first. Full application takes 30–45 minutes.

31 October 2026

Applications Close

All applications must be submitted. Late submissions are not accepted. 50+ applications expected.

21 November 2026

Shortlist Notifications

Top 30–40 applications advance to the interview round. Shortlisted applicants receive a confidential financial disclosure request.

1–15 December 2026

Founder Interviews

30-minute video calls with the Escapement founding team and one advisory board member. Three standard questions plus free-form conversation.

5 January 2027

Offers Sent

10 offers sent simultaneously. Two-week acceptance window. Application fee credited against first-year membership for accepted makers.

1 February 2027

Program Starts

Cohort 1 kicks off. Virtual onboarding, component needs survey, and first group call. Group purchasing orders placed by March 2027.

Join the Waitlist

Ready to Apply?

Cohort 1 — 10 places. February 2027.

Applications open September 2026. Join the waitlist to receive the application form the moment it's live — and to be considered for early review.

Applications reviewed individually. No spam, ever.