Industrial accessorising at it’s best with Welder Watches
Welder Watches
No accessory says action man quite like a Welder watch. Tough, mean-looking and chunky to boot, a Welder wristwatch is an imposing piece of kit. It’s also pretty darn impressive too, for, behind the mean exterior is the finest Italian craftsmanship.
Welder was launched in 2007 by Italo Fontana of the Fontana family, who were famed for making watches for the Italian Navy’s U-boat Officers during the Second World War. Fontana’s watch-making heritage combined with the use of the very best Italian materials and his aggressive approach to design, has made this brand really stand out in today’s saturated market. The price tag is high, but affordable enough to make a Welder watch an aspirational yet entirely achievable purchase.
The brand name Welder was adopted to symbolise the union of metals (to weld) and also to represent the mesh of innovative ideas that have gone towards creating the watches. It could be said the Welder collection follows an alchemic / material formula. The USP for Welder is their placement of the crown. In all other brands the crown (the stud you turn to change the time) is situated on the right of the watch face, however Welder place it on the left of all their wristpieces. The reason for this, they say is comfort – but it’s also a crucial step in the differentiation process.
Welder watches are attracting a big following in celeb-land. Particularly among sports stars. A number of Scottish and Welsh rugby players have been spotted wearing a Welder watch and the design suits their large masculine frames perfectly.
Although they may look like big boys watches (and they are really), Welder also produce watches for women. Clearly the archetypal very feminine types would baulk at wearing such a big piece around their wrist, however there’s certainly a market for chunky wristwear for women and these industrial welder watches look damn cool!
The Rugby Players Rocking their Welder Watches
Ben Foden Wears his K31 Welder Watch
Welder watches are the perfect choice for men who like to opt for bold and aggressive in style watches that also boast an elite and sleek finish. Designed by iconic Italian watchmaker Italo Fontana, Welder watches incorporate some of the most innovative and sophisticated technical features in the watch industry.
The Welder brand has recently introduced some amazingly impressive styles to its watch collection and the celebrities can’t get enough of the Welder action – particularly the rugby players! The watch brand has always been favourite among men who like to assert their masculinity through their style and accessories and rugby player Ben Foden, who also dates Una Healy from The Saturdays, is one of the latest sportsmen to be seen rocking the Welder watch look with his red and black K31 model.
Rugby union player John Barclay has been frequently named Man of the Match whilst playing for Scotland and has also been spotted wearing the ultra statement K31 Welder watch. This model perfectly fuses aggressive styling with a sleek finish and has an impressive case width of 50mm.
Continuing on with the rugby theme Scottish rugby union player Max Evans is a fan of Welder watches as is Welsh international union rugby player Adam Rhys Jones who plays for the Ospreys. Adams was recently snapped showing off his Welder watch, a style from the recently launched K27 series.
So what is it that separates Welder watches from other watch brands? Firstly, all Welder watches feature a comfortable and easy to handle left-hand positioned crown and are much larger than most watches in the industry with sizes beginning with the 45mm K25 collection to the larger than life 53mm K29 Welder watch range. The dials also incorporate a distinctive three-dimensional effect finish with each Welder watch using ultra reliable and accurate Japanese movement.
Ultimately, Welder watches are an ideal investment for those who appreciate a superb quality and intricately detailed watch and are looking for one that makes an impactful style statement. The brand is a rising favourite among a number of celebrities and sporting professionals and we’re incredibly excited to soon be stocking the new Welder collections. We’ll let you know as soon as the latest Welder watch masterpieces hit the Shade Station shelves!
Get Elite Masculine Style with Welder Watches!
Get Elite, Masculine Style with Welder Watches!
Welder watches are the product of highly respected watchmaker Italo Fontana who established himself in the watch industry following his success of the bold and incredible range of U-Boat watches.
Welder watches can perhaps be described as the next generation of the U-Boats and are designed specifically for the guys, rated as incredibly stylish in the fashion industry and boasting strong, robust and aggressive looks. If you like your watch to make a statement then Welder watches are definitely an ideal choice and also make for a lifetime investment.
So what makes Welder watches, which are also placed within our Elite watch section, so unique and special? Firstly, you will immediately notice that Welder watches are larger than most in size – and vary from the moderate 48 mm in diameter K24 Welder watches to the incredible 53mm K29 watches. Secondly, Welder watches also feat
ure left positioned crowns which are easy to access and with many people saying that they have found the left-hand crown to be more comfortable than the conventional right-handed crowns.
With ultra contemporary styling, Welder watches remain simple in tone with the exceptionally high quality and durable materials used (including high grade brushed stainless steel cases and rubber and leather straps), staying neutral in black, gold or silver tones. Pops of colour such as white, red or orange are incorporated into the dial which works to enhance the 3D layered effect and adds extra depth to the watch whilst keeping the aesthetic masculine, bold and strong.
With square and circular dials and chronograph and traditional time displays Welder watches perfectly combine the essence of the old meeting the modern; with the brand taking inspiration from historical watch making methods and fusing these with contemporary styling. Welder watches have a distinct sense of exclusivity as they represent the next progress
ion from the unique design of the iconic U-boat watches and are immediately recognisable as Welder – an objective which is extremely difficult for modern watch brands to achieve due to the vast array on the market. If you are a wearer of a Welder watch, this conveys dynamic style status and an appreciation for only the finest quality!
Make sure you take a look at the whole collection of Welder watches as we have a wide range of models in each size category, ensuring that you find the perfect size and design. Welder watches are big news in both the fashion and tech industry and make the perfect watches for any guy who loves a masculine style with that elite and sought after finish!
U-Boat Watches arrive at Shade Station
U-Boat Watches
We are excited to announce that here at Shade Station, we are now stocking the fantastic collection of U-Boat watches – the iconic watch brand that is famous for its bold looks and high quality.
The idea behind the iconic U-Boat was simply a design concept in 1942 when the Officine Fontana watch making laboratory was asked to produce a professional watch for the officers of its navy’s U-Boats. However, the new range of proposed watches were never made but luckily the original sketches, colour samples and designs were well preserved and kept for over 60 years. It wasn’t until in the year 2000 when Italo Fontana, a cousin of one of the Offine Fontana founders decided to proceed with the original idea and finally launched the collection of U-Boat watches.
U-Boat watches have become one of the notorious in the industry as what is immediately striking about U-Boat watches from an aesthetic perspective is that they are bold and oversized with prominent dial markers and somewhat aggressive in style – perfect for those who like their watches overstated!
What is also unique about U-Boa
t watches is that the crown on each model is positioned on the left side of the case which is highly unusual in watches but actually tends to be more comfortable. In terms of quality, the U-Boat collections use only the most durable and reliable materials such as precious metals, rubber, steel and crystals and are manufactured in a unique way and often combine a variety of these materials together which ultimately makes the watches original, intense and brimming with character. U-Boat watches also incorporate mechanical Swiss ETA movements.
U-Boat watches are definitely what could be considered as investment watches that always make a statement and are designed to reflect a unique character and personality in addition to confidence and charisma. The actual design of the watches takes inspiration from 18th century watch making and each and model is intricately detailed with a rare 
quality that has made the brand as iconic and highly respected as it is. Celebrities who love the U-Boat style include action men Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger which gives you an idea of the strength, bold and robust style behind the designs!
U-Boat Watches now in stock ready to ship.
Make Way For Welder
Welder is the most recent watch brand to be launched from Italian designer Italo Fontana who is most famous for designing the range of U-Boat watches. These new Welder watches ooze strength and personality, and have undergone intrinsic attention to design detail. Each watch features the highest quality industrial styling combined with the latest and greatest functionality.
These watches are indeed pricey as Fontana is typically renowned for his expensive price tags! With the price however, comes the range of absolute must have watches that are crafted to the highest measures, distinctive and really make a style statement about the wearer. The Welder watch range is similar to the U-Boat range in the sense that they feature the same oversized cases, and trademark left position crown and contrasting colours, but what makes Welder different is that they use Japanese Quartz movement. This is partly what makes them so sought after by the fashion conscious and of course, fashion experts.
What injects the extra pzazz to this brand is the use of sharp dimensions and fluorescent colours which create contrast to the watches themselves. One of the most popular with the Welder watches collection is the K25 Data range which encompasses everything you will need in a watch including chronograph movement, a stainless steel IPB treatment case, and a superimposed black dial.
If you are looking for something really special, this is definitely the brand to go for. Sophisticated, sharp and the best quality you will find in a timepiece. Let’s hope a dedicated female range is next to come!