American watch brand Tockr has taken its classic Air Defender Chronograph and given it a bold new graphic treatment using the art of hydrographic image transfer: Tockr Hydro Dipped Air Defender. To date, hydrographic printing has been most broadly applied in the worlds of motorsport and industrial design. Tockr is the first watch brand in its price segment and one of few watch brands in the world to produce hydro dipped watches. 
The new Hydro Dipped Air Defender feature cases wrapped in daring designs including Tie-Dye, Magma, black or blue Carbon, and black or Hulk (green) Camo. Collectors can also commission a custom Hydro Dipped case from a library of colorful graphic themes, textures, and designs like pink camo, wood effect, fire, animal prints, and more. Custom models or backordered Tockr Hydro Dipped models can be delivered as soon as four weeks.
Artful, Industrial Inspired Finish
Since the beginning, the American watch brand has always embraced alternative materials and manufacturing methods to produce its aviation-inspired watches. “We have created movements inspired by engines and incorporated aircraft material into watch dials. With hydrographic technology, now Tockr is taking inspiration from industrial design in a daring and colorful new way,” said Tockr Founder Austin Ivey.
Each Hydro Dipped Air Defender stainless steel case is first primed then passed through a patterned, water-soluble film that is suspended on a liquid water surface. The film substrate dissolves into ink that is applied to the case by immersion printing. The seamless and highly durable graphic application entirely encloses the finished watch case. This process requires the steady hand of a trained technician to ensure that the pattern is evenly applied to the case sides from all angles. Each case is then coated in a highly durable, scratch resistant sealant finish. The hand applied nature of the graphic design ensures that no two Hydro Dipped Air Defender models look the same.
Exclusive Detailing and Rugged Functionality
The Air Defender chronograph watches epitomize the active-lifestyle and aviation inspiration that underline each of Tockr’s watch designs. The series takes cues from 1970s wristwatches designed specifically for military pilots while adhering to rigid NATO specifications.
Now the Air Defender’s 45 mm cushion shaped stainless steel case comes wrapped with eye catching hydro dipped designs, while still offering water resistance up to 100 meters and a max 42-hour power reserve. Enclosed beneath a sapphire crystal, the chronograph’s 60 second, 30-minute, and 12-hour counters and day-date window at 3 o’clock offer crisp legibility thanks to the ultra-luminescent markers and reflector ring. The rotating inner bezel is easily manipulated by pushing the crown at the 10 o’clock position. Second and sub-second hands have been custom painted in orange, red, or green to complement each dial. On the reverse side, a sapphire crystal case back reveals a look at the Air Defender’s premium Valjoux 7750 Swiss-made automatic movement and the custom Tockr skeletonized rotor.
The Hydro Dipped Air Defender series comes with exclusive coordinated strap options including hand-stitched calfskin, alligator, or toad leather straps, and each dial colorway can also be purchased with a custom “Stealth” strap produced by Tockr for the Air Defender series in partnership with the HIX Design studio out of Oklahoma City. The hand-cut and stitched custom “Stealth” straps are flared at the lugs, tapered at the buckle, and feature a raised and perforated section near the lugs with leather colors custom coordinated to each dial.
Each Hydro Dipped Air Defender Tockr model comes with a 2-year international warranty, and the collection retails for $2,850, available at tockr.com.
About Tockr™: Tockr™ is an American watch brand with a Swiss-made heart, founded in Austin, Texas in 2017. Inspired by his own experience as a pilot and the legacy of his grandfather, a U.S. Army pilot who flew C-47 aircraft during World War II, Founder Austin Ivey set out to combine his lifelong passions of watches and aviation in an accessible collection of aviation-inspired watches. In a short time, Tockr’s iconic C47 and Air Defender watch collections have already captured the imagination of watch enthusiasts around the world. Discover the universe of Tockr at tockr.com.
Tockr Hydro Dipped Air Defender technical Specifications
- 42 HOUR PW RESERVE
- 100M WATER RESISTANT
- SWISS MADE
- 2 YEAR GUARANTEE
MOVEMENT AND FUNCTIONS
MOVEMENT
Top grade Valjoux 7750 with perlage finish 25 jewels, 28’800 A/h,4Hz Day-date windows at 3:00
POWER RESERVE
42 hours
WATER RESISTANCE
10ATM (100M)
FUNCTIONS
Chronograph with 3 counters: 60 seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours
CASE
CASE
Cushion-shaped in Stainless Steel 316L with Sapphire crystal on front and back
FINISH
Brushed/Polished
CASE BACK
Sapphire crystal with custom Tockr skeletonized rotor
DIAL
Available in Tie-Dye with HIX strap or aqua toad skin strap, Black Camo HIX or Black calfskin strap, Hulk Camo HIX or black calfskin, Black Carbon HIX or Black Carbon grey calfskin, Blue Carbon HIX or Blue Carbon alligator, Magma HIX or Magma black calfskin, with Superluminova C3 ultra-luminescent markers and a reflector ring
DIAMETER
45mm
Lug to Lug
48mm
BEZEL
Rotating inner bezel controlled by crown at 10 o’clock position.
STRAPS & BRACELETS
STOCK STRAP
Stock Interchangeable hand-stitched calf leather, toad leather (Tie-dye only), or alligator (blue carbon only).
HIX Design Straps
Tockr partnered with HIX Design out of Oklahoma City in 2018 to develop a custom strap that would complement the unique look of the Air-Defender. Nicknamed the “Stealth” strap, each strap is hand cut and stitched at the HIX studio in Oklahoma City. The straps are flared at the lugs and tapered at the buckle and feature a raised and perforated section near the lugs with leather color matched to the accompanying watch features.
CLASP
Pin buckle clasp in brushed Stainless Steel 316L
BRACELET
Integrated stainless steel (or PVD) bracelet with brushed and polished end links
