Split Watches enters the U.S. market with new GMT model, creating watches with a purpose
Andrew O'Connor- Split Watches announces official distribution in the United States and its new GMT model.
- With four different colours and 40mm Ceramod+ cases, the Delta, Rea, Westbourne, and Hudson pay tribute to the different places of origin of pivotal Rock music pioneers.
- The Split GMT is available now, and is priced at US$895. Split donates an hour of mental health therapy in partnership with Musicares with every watch purchased.
The latest release from young independent Split brings with it a smaller case size and distribution to the US. The Split GMT continues the use of Ceramod+ for its case material, and most importantly, it still sticks to the brand’s strategy of donating an hour of therapy in partnership with Musicares. This new release, paired with the expansion of its distribution, marks the growth and evolution of this brand as it continues to raise money for good causes. And by tapping into the biggest watch market in the world, they are surly set to help even more people. There is a strong musical connection with these watches, and their colour schemes have been very purposefully chosen by the team at Split to reflect their deep love of music.
The Split GMT is available as the Delta (all blue), the Rea (black with beige accents), the Westbourne (green with pink accents), and the Hudson (tan with green accents). The Delta pays tribute to the Mississippi Delta, which was the birthplace of iconic blues artists Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and Son House. The Rea gets its name from a small river in Birmingham, the birthplace of heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. The Hudson is named after the river that runs through New York City, where the CBGB era of punk in the 1970’s gave rise to bands such as The Ramones, Television, and Blondie. Finally, The Westbourne was named after the river running beneath the shops around King’s Road and Notting Hill, where iconic British punk bands the Sex Pistols and The Clash got their start. Each reference has a 40mm-wide case made from Ceramod+, 100 meters of water resistance, and a screw-down crown. The case measures 12.9mm thick, has a colour-matched integrated FKM rubber strap that attaches to a 19mm lug width and comes with a steel pin-buckle. Covering the dial is a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
The dial for each model matches the case colour, with contrasting accents that enhance legibility. The hour indices are applied, and there are lume dots for each hour marker, along with luminescent treatment on the hands. There is also a date window at 3 o’clock, with a white date wheel and black printing.
Powering the Split GMT is the Miyota 9075. Split mentions that they could’ve utilised a Swiss movement, but with an appreciation for Japanese culture and craftsmanship, along with the value that the Miyota 9075 provides, this movement allows for a true GMT watch with an independent local hour hand, making it ideal for travel across time zones. The Miyota 9075 operates at 28,800 bph, has 24-jewels, and a 48-hour power reserve. Split gives customers the option to personalise the rotor of the movement with a custom message.
In the press release, Ed Margulies, the brand’s co-founder, explains a bit about his background in the Swiss watch industry and also about his struggles with his personal life. Despite being third-generation in the watch business and having great success on paper, he was struggling mentally and stepped away from a successful career with some of the biggest brands in the industry to focus on taking care of his family and himself. After some time away and from a position of more solid footing, he set out to create a brand that encouraged connecting with watch enthusiasts on a personal level and to encourage people to have a more open conversation about their mental health.
Dara Amjadi’s, Split’s other co-founder, background in performing music and working in brand and people consultancy led Dara to a similar priority: that the most cherished aspects of his career were about connecting with people and bringing people together. As such, the brand has taken influence from the history of rock music, with the goal of bringing people together. With every watch sold, Split provides one hour of therapy through its partnership with Musicares, an organisation that supports young people’s access to mental health care.
Watches for me have been a lifelong passion, and I was asked recently why I was into watches. I recall my parents gifting a Timex before starting kindergarten, and teaching me to tell time; I have been intrigued with watches and have almost always worn one ever since. Upon further reflection, I also remembered that I was a very anxious child, and having that watch on my wrist helped me anticipate what was going to happen next in the day. As an adult reflecting on that core memory, I realised that my attachment to watches likely has more to do with my parents helping me manage my anxiety than it does with any sort of concept of celebrating success in life or portraying anything about myself. I have faced my own struggles with mental health, and I always champion anyone willing to speak about mental health positively and openly.
Reading about Marguilies and Amjadi’s mission with Split watches, and adding in their connection to music, they have succeeded in their goal in connecting with me, and definitely gained a new fan and supporter of their work. Not all watches are for everyone, but I encourage any watch enthusiast, especially if they have been involved with the watch world for some time, to seek and support watches and brands that they connect with. Those connections will likely lead to the most meaningful watches, and quite possibly friendships, that one will have in this challenging world.
Split GMT pricing and availability
The new Split GMT is available now through the Split website. Price: US$895/£795
| Brand | Split |
| Model | GMT |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 12.9 mm (T) |
| Case Material | Ceramod+ Case |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front with anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Black (Rea), Green (Westbourne), Blue (Delta) or Tan (Hudson) |
| Lug Width | 19mm (integrated rubber strap design) |
| Bracelet | FKM Rubber, pin buckle |
| Movement | Miyota 9075, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT function |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$895/£795 |