Another excellent microbrand watch company featured at the Baselworld Palace was The Chinese Timekeeper (thechinesetimekeeper.com). Their watches are works of art inspired by Su Song’s ancient Chinese clocktower.

Each watch is made of four stainless steel rings secured together by four screws from the bezel to the case back. These timekeepers measure 44mm in diameter and feature a sapphire crystal with screw down backs.

CTK watches are powered by automatic movements with 25 jewels and a 36 hour power reserve. One of the most impressive features of the Chinese Timekeeper is the design of the deployment buckle (see the gallery of pics below).

New models:

• CTK01: Limited Edition (18 pieces), black pvd case, black dial, gunpowder Arabic markers- $2,750
• CTK02: Limited Edition (18 pieces), black pvd case, blue dial, silver Arabic markers – $2,750
• CTK04: Limited Edition (28 pieces), steel case with one blue ring, blue dial, silver Arabic markers – $2,490
• CTK06: Limited Edition (38 pieces), steel case, silver dial, silver Arabic markers – $2,360
• CTK07: Limited Edition (50 pieces), black pvd steel with two steel rings, white dial, black Arabic markers – $2,620
• CTK08 – Limited Edition (50 pieces), black pvd  with two steel rings, black dial, silver Arabic markers –   $2,620
• CTK09 – Limited Edition (28 pieces), steel case, blue dial, silver Arabic markers – $2,490
• CTK10 – Limited Edition (50 pieces), black pvd steel case, black dial, gunpowder markers with red hands – $2,360
• CTK11: Limited Edition (50 pieces), steel case, silver dial, silver Arabic markers – $2,100
• CTK12: Special Edition (18 pieces), polished steel case, black dial with golden dragon, gold Chinese hands – $8,330
• CTK13: Limited Edition (38 pieces), black pvd case, black dial, green jade markers – $3,820
• CTK14: Limited Edition (38 pieces), steel case, silver dial, green jade markers – $3,820
• CTK15: Limited Edition (28 pieces), steel case with one blue ring, blue dial, silver Chinese Zodiac markers – $3,020
• CTK16: Limited Edition (28 pieces), black pvd case, white dial, black Chinese Zodiac markers – $3,160

See something you like? Send The Chinese Timekeeper a message and tell them you want to buy your watch from KeepTheTime.

Editor’s Thoughts: KeepTheTime is among the few that go to the show equipped with cameras for editorials and videos, the folks at this booth (like many of the others) were looking at us like we’re crazy for wanting to capture so many pics of their pieces. The watch industry is so slow to embrace the internet and new ways of marketing themselves. KeepTheTime never wanted to be started as just a “watch shop”, in fact our tagline for a while was literally: Not Just a Watch Shop. It’s a shame that other small businesses, such as the ones propped up in “The Palace” are so slow to embrace the new wave of tech that is about the sweep them up or knock them over. A brand like The Chinese Timekeeper should have enthusiastically welcomed us and asked about being featured on the site as well as sold in the store. In the watch industry, as with luxury goods in general, it’s all about the aura of exclusivity – which boils down to smoke and mirrors and being as closed as possible. This is going to work against many of these non-conglomerate brands, and there is going to be a big wake up call in the watch industry. KeepTheTime is ahead of its time. Let’s see if this blog post outlasts this brand.