Attempting to make a difference through art, BOLDR Supply Company teams up with the Autistic Thai Foundation. Working with Thailand-based artist, Mr. Ratapat Chantamit, Boldr hopes to support the Autistic Thai Foundation in its efforts to develop skills in autistic children and adults. The foundation’s goal is to help them find and nurture their passions.

This news breaks at the culmination of World Autism Awareness Week, which ran from 29th March–4th April 2021. Depicted on the dial of this very special model, is a Koi fish. The end result is an unusual, collectible, soothingly serene dial design, somewhat at odds with the hyper-functional titanium housing for which the Venture series is best known.

“ART STORY by the Autistic Thai Foundation is a social enterprise that provides a landscape for autistic individuals to exercise their exceptional talents and develop new skills. The foundation believes that autistic individuals are no less creative than neurotypical individuals.” Instead, it believes they have not been given a platform to express themselves in their own unique way.

Artstory Hand Shot

The Autistic Thai Foundation

The Autistic Thai Foundation has raised money in this manner before. Creating small, affordable products that are able to spread the charity’s message to different demographics is a model that has borne much fruit over the years. Additionally, the initiative receives many generous donations from its supporters. This group is led by the President & “Guardian” of the Autistic Thai Foundation, Dr. Chusak Janthayanond.

So why a Koi fish on the dial? According to Mr. Ratapat Chantamit, “The Koi fish symbolizes good luck. Many Thais believe that it represents strength, determination, and a strong will to succeed. My message to everyone who views my picture is: May good luck be yours.”

For watch lovers, of course, the most interesting thing here is the odd mode of telling the time, with the hours displayed through a leaf-shaped aperture around 12 o’clock, while the minutes are seen through a circular aperture overlaying the Koi carp’s mouth. The titanium case has a screw-down crown, water resistance to 200m, a wearable 38mm diameter, 12mm thickness, and a 44mm lug-to-lug, and is attached to the wrist via a 20mm wide fabric NATO. Powering this seldom-seen display is the Seiko NH35 movement.

Art Story

Art Story is concerned with giving Autistic children and adults the chance to shine and to find their voice, whether literally or through an artistic medium that allows them to express themselves fully. Piangkarn Suwannaphat leads this developmental process as part of the charity’s operations. She says, “I would like to thank BOLDR Supply Company for their kindness and involvement in this project. For me, working with my exceptional autistic gang is awesome and fulfilling, and we love the watches that we have created together. Each watch is special, just like my children in the foundation.”

Boldr

Founder of BOLDR Leon Leong added that working with the Art Story initiative to create meaningful products is a huge privilege. It is heartening to see a young and dynamic company seeking out this kind of opportunity. Please let us know in the comments below what you think. Should watch companies support this kind of initiative? Do you like this special edition model will be? This special edition BOLDR Venture × Art Story is currently available on BOLDR’s website. It is limited to just 99 pieces and priced at $299. Learn more here.

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