ZLTD Watches: Independent Watchmaking, In-House Manufacturing & Movement Innovation

In this episode of OverTime: The Podcast, Praka sits down with Kenny and Raf, the founders of ZLTD Watches, to unpack their journey as an independent watch brand operating across Singapore and Canada. Episode SummaryThe trio dive into the origins of ZLTD, from the passion-driven Series 1 through to the refined Series 1.5 and a deep look at the technically ambitious upcoming Series 2. Kenny and Raf share insights into in-house manufacturing, CNC machining, movement innovation, and the realities of maintaining quality while scaling production across time zones. The conversation also touches on design philosophy, pricing strategy, the importance of high-quality straps, and how ZLTD balances complexity with timeless aesthetics, while staying grounded through special projects and charitable initiatives.WristchecksPraka - ZLTD Series 1.5Kenny – ZLTD Series 1 earlier inthe dayRaf – ZLTD Series 2 Prototypeearlier in the dayLinks DiscussedZLTD Series 1 – https://www.zltdwatches.com/series-1ZLTD Series 1.5 – https://www.zltdwatches.com/series-1-5ZLTD Special Project No.1 – https://www.zltdwatches.com/special-project-no-1ZLTD Series 2 – https://www.zltdwatches.com/series-2ZLTD Charity Piece Unique – https://www.instagram.com/p/DSM5h3oD9xu/?img_index=1Niels Pedersen (@nielsmpe) – https://www.instagram.com/p/DOfpy_mCGds/?hl=enTim Mosso on Roger Smith – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfeCY13d8AUArcus Watches – https://www.arcuswatch.com/homeLegacy Watch Co. – https://legacy-watch.com/Atelier Kai – https://atelierkai.co/Something InterestingKenny recommends AP’s History – Watch Stories and Savoir-Faire, available via Rizzoli Bookstore. Raf looks to the future with chronograph inspiration potentially from Chronographs for Collectors, which you can find here. Praka goes slightly off topic with chats about the T20 Big Bash cricket, which somehow spiralled into a conversation about pickleball.Contact UsThanks for tuning in! If you have any feedback or just want to chat, you can find us here:Praka: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kinda.average.watches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OverTime Broadcast Channel (Instagram): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbYuJN0yPDu4UXZk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OverTime The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree – OverTime The Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WatchingJames (Youtube): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WATCHingJames⁠⁠⁠WatchingJames (Instagram): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/watching_james/?hl=en ⁠⁠⁠Support UsIf you’d like to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/overtimethepodcast⁠⁠⁠