SWISS manufacturer Victorinox has introduced a new, female-centric addition to its INOX collection, the INOX V. Made with the same avant-garde Inox steel to which the Original Swiss Army Knife manufacturer is legendarily known for, it precisely reflects women’s intrinsic decision-making powers related to how to spend and measure their time.
“We introduced the INOX line in 2014 with the vision of introducing the highest-quality standard for a watch. But a Swiss watch, by definition, is known for quality and functionality, so it puts us in a situation where we have to go beyond the limits,” said Alexander Bennouna, the CEO of the Victorinox Watch Division, to BusinessMirror during a preview of the INOX V collection in Bonifacio Global City on June 15.
Four different models make up the INOX V range, issuing an open invitation for individuality. All the timepieces have a 37-millimeter stainless steel case with a consciously curved, sculptural shape. They are also scratch-resistant with a triple-coated antireflective sapphire crystal and are water-resistant to 200 meter. The Super-LumiNova hands and markers stamped on the dial echo the same belief in constitutional femininity.
“The INOX watches are like your Swiss Army knife. Ninety percent of the time, you won’t use it but when the moment comes that you need it, it will meet your expectations. Now, with the INOX V, we want to offer the same value proposition to the other half of the humanity, precisely women. But we try to approach it in a point of view that is a little bit anti-cliché, thus the collection’s tagline: Strong is the new pretty,” Bennouna said
A total of 130 stringent durability tests preceded the birth of the INOX V. And for additional protection in precarious lifestyle moments, the watches can also be cleverly accessorized with a matching shield, supplied with each piece.
“We believe contemporary women have very active lifestyles, and we want to offer them not just a watch. We want them to have a watch that can accompany them in any occasion in their lives, and that’s really the inspiration behind the INOX V—the V stands for visionary, vitality and versatility,” Bennouna added.
A version with a black dial and matching rubber strap acts as the Little Black Dress of the collection. The crisp white shirt girl will enjoy keeping track of time in the office or after hours with a predominantly white interpretation, elegantly enhanced with rose-gold details. Two pieces have an audacious Naimakka paracord attachment, geared to the female who appreciates the look and feel of textile. “A paracord is a very interesting material, it’s a cord that has seven little strings inside, and it acts as a survival tool, a rescue tool on your wrist,” Bennouna explained.
“Also, in addition to this function of the paracord, it allows us to give a special touch in terms of design. It also comes with special rubber bumpers, making it crash-proof and scratch-proof. We have different designs and colors for ladies to choose from,” Bennouna said.
A dark-blue design, with subtle red accents, ranks up there with that favorite pair of jeans that feels equally comfortable mixing with heels or loafers. And for a sporty look with an out-there twist, there is a soft gray option, hosting hot-pink accents, which can hold its own with the hippest sneakers.
“We believe that Victorinox’s INOX is appealing to confident people, those who value quality, who give value to the substance of the product that they consume,” Bennouna said.
As for the namesake of the INOX V, Bennouna narrated how in 1884 Victorinox founder Karl Elsener named the company Victoria in honor of his mother, and in the 1920s the suffix “inox” was added—for “acier inoxydable”, French for “stainless steel”.
Asked why the company ventured into making watches—along with travel gear, cutlery, apparel and even fragrance—this despite being a mono-product company for more than a century, Bennouna shared: “Victorinox has been diversified since a few decades back, with the intention to ensure the sustainability of our brand. Before, we depended only on a single product and it put us in a vulnerable position from a business standpoint. The diversification was then managed to set up a more solid foundation to our business model, especially after the company suffered the aftermaths the 9/11 attack.”
In 2001 Victorinox teamed with Swiss Army Brands Inc. to create an international watch company Victorinox Swiss Army Watch AG.
The INOX line and its other timepiece collections, like Infantry, Divemaster and Airboss, are manufactured at the Victorinox watchmaking competence center in Delémont in the Swiss Jura.