Wolfgang Heinrich is the founder of HEINRICH Watches, a German microbrand inspired by the bold watch design of the 1970s while developing a distinctive identity of its own.
In this episode, Wolfgang shares how he got into watches and eventually built HEINRICH around a simple philosophy: create watches with enough character to make you look twice, while still being something you can wear every day.
We talk about launching his first watch through Kickstarter, why he later moved away from crowdfunding, and what that taught him about building a direct relationship with customers. We also dive into the evolution of the HEINRICH collection, his design process, unusual materials including stone and American football leather, and how he balances vintage inspiration with creating something original.
Wolfgang also explains the importance of German watchmaking to the brand, why he invested in bringing a full-time master watchmaker into the business, and his decision to open a showroom in Stuttgart while remaining focused on a direct-to-consumer model.
If you enjoy the episode, subscribe for more conversations with the founders and operators behind today’s microbrand and independent watch companies.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Wolfgang’s Journey Into Watches 03:56 Lessons From His First Watch Brand 08:23 Creating a Distinctive Design Language 11:29 Launching the First Watch on Kickstarter 14:04 Moving Beyond Kickstarter 21:27 Inside the HEINRICH Collection 27:34 Evolving the Design Process 32:44 German Watchmaking & Bringing a Watchmaker In-House 38:17 Opening a Showroom & Staying Direct-to-Consumer 41:55 Closing
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Justin Dorfman. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Justin Dorfman och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
