Time plays a significant role in David Lynch and Mark Frost’s masterpiece series Twin Peaks. That’s probably one reason why I’m excited to see new limited edition timepieces by Los Angeles-based Vannen Watches. Here’s an in-depth look at these new designs from a company that creates quality driven timepieces offered at a reasonable price (just like Special Agent Dale Cooper prefers).
VANNEN WATCHES
Vannen Watches (Vannen from a Swedish word meaning “friend”) was created by David Stowe in 2008 to help “take a pro-artist stance and build a global community of friends united by their love of art, music, and fashion.” David, a native of Charleston, South Carolina (and a Virgo – Virgos rule!), moved to Los Angeles, California in 2006 to be a graphic designer. Two year later, he founded Vannen.
Since then, his company has created some stellar collectible timepieces with artists (Dirty Donny, Chris, Ryniak, Huck Gee, Steak Mtn.), bands (Adolescents, Against Me!, Blondie, Iron Maiden, Public Enemy, The Vandals, Descendents), comics (The Walking Dead, Manifest Destiny, Invincible) , and more recently television shows (Dexter, Star Trek, Twin Peaks).
Vannen Watches, of course, attracts top designers to create these magnificent timepieces. For the Twin Peaks watches, they enlisted Corey Reifinger, a Pennsylvania-based freelance artist who described himself on his official website as:
I’m a doodler at heart who has always been drawn to the evolution of forming an idea into something tangible. No pun intended. Raised on a healthy childhood diet of satirical humor, 90’s cartoons, album covers, band posters, video games, and trading cards, my imagination was encouraged and transformed into an adult pursuit of the arts. This frequently culminates into a union of vector illustration, typography, iconography, and pop-culture references.
Corey spent most of his 20s as a graphic designer and art director before taking a leap to work for himself. You can follow his work on Instagram @Pugnk_Is_Dead.
THE WATCHES
At 9:00 a.m. Pacific on March 26, 2021, Vannen Watches officially launched the first two watches in their Twin Peaks series. How neat it was to see these two watches next to Star Trek-inspired designs.
The official news post from their website read:
Vannen and ViacomCBS have partnered to create a series of limited watches that celebrate the world of TWIN PEAKS. The first set of watches in this officially licensed series is inspired by the Double R Diner and features two of the show’s most iconic elements: coffee and donuts. Limited to only 200 pieces each, these damn good watches are AVAILABLE NOW for pre-order at VannenWatches.com for $65 each. Pre-orders are expected to ship on June 8th, and select watches will be chosen at random to receive autographed packaging signed by artist/designer Corey Reifinger. Good luck.
David Stowe told me that David Lynch personally approved the designs. He is still actively involved with reviewing product ideas and concepts. These were clearly a hit (I couldn’t order them fast enough!).
The brightly colored watches feature several icons from the show – coffee, doughnuts and the Double R Diner. Each watch will be individually inspected, assembled and packaged by hand in Los Angeles, California.
COFFEE WATCH
First up, the Twin Peaks: Coffee Watch. Vannen describes this watch as follows:
Inspired by the Double R Diner, the Coffee watch showcases Agent Cooper’s two most faithful companions: coffee and his hand-held tape recorder. The Coffee watch is limited to only 200 pieces and features glossy artwork on the dial and straps, and clear matte index markings printed on the inside surface of the crystal. Each watch also includes an exclusive Double R Diner sticker. As a bonus, random watch packaging will be signed by artist/designer Corey Reifinger. Good luck!
I love that Special Agent Dale Cooper’s tape recorder is seen on the wrist band.
We all know how much Agent Cooper LOVES coffee! I will always make “time” for coffee, especially when watching Twin Peaks.
DONUT WATCH
The second watched in this series has a donut-inspired design as described on their website:
The Donut watch features a policeman’s dream, donuts precisely arranged as if Lucy had set them out herself. Limited to only 200 pieces, the Donut watch features glossy artwork on the dial and straps, and clear matte index markings printed on the inside surface of the crystal. Each watch also includes an exclusive Double R Diner sticker. As a bonus, random Donut watch packaging will be signed by artist/designer Corey Reifinger. Good luck!
Can we just stop for a moment and acknowledge that description? It’s such a nod to the pilot episode and you can tell that someone who truly loves the show was behind these products.
It’s also cool that the watch will be presented in a pink-hued box with a stylized Double R Diner design (hmmm … pink boxes and donuts seem to go hand-in-hand).
Extra watch straps for both the Coffee Watch and Donut Watch are sold separately for $7.99 each (while supplies last).
A Double R Diner sticker will be included free with all Twin Peaks watch orders.
I can’t get enough of that sign and I can’t wait to add the sticker to my MacBook.
Below is a look back at how Vannen Watches teased and later marketed these new additions to their collection via social media and their website.
FEBRUARY 1, 2021 – TEASING PEAKS
On February 1, 2021, Vannen Watches shared a word search puzzle on both their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts teasing new designs for 2021.
Savvy fans will easily spot the word “TWINPEAKS” in this particular puzzle.
They also include several other teases in this puzzle. The words “CAREBEARS” jumped out at me as did the phrase “HIMYNAMEISMARK.”
FEBRUARY 25 – ALTERNATE WORD SEARCH
The Vannen Watches website published an alternate word search on February 25, the day after “Twin Peaks Day.” This time, the words “TWINPEAKS” would appear vertical in the word search.
MARCH 17 – RED DRAPES
While much of the world turned green on March 17, Vannen Watches only saw red … red drapes that is. They offer similar posts on social channels with an image of red drapes from the Red Room with a caption, “My log has something to tell you.”
I think you’d have to be trapped in the Black Lodge for the past 25 years not to know anything involving talking logs means Twin Peaks.
For their Instagram post, they also published a similar animated story.
I can almost hear Catherine Coulson speak.
MARCH 19 – OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
The new limited edition timepieces were officially announced on March 19 with a series of social posts and a post on their website:
Vannen is excited to announce a new collaboration with ViacomCBS for a series of limited edition watches that celebrate the most unique and bewildering television series of all time: TWIN PEAKS. The first two watches in this officially licensed series will be limited to 200 pieces each, and available for pre-order at VannenWatches.com beginning March 26 at 9am PT. More info to come follow Vannen for updates and details.
Two posts were made on their official Facebook page.
Two posts were made on their official Facebook page.
Key words I took from this poster were “first two watches.” Could there be more? I hope so!
This is the square image that you’ll see in multiple other posts below.
The Instagram post again included an individual post as well as an Instagram story.
The designer Corey also made a post on his Instagram account announcing his work on the watches.
REMINDER ON MARCH 25, 2021
A day before the release, Vannen Watches posted several reminders about the impending pre-order.
MARCH 26, 2021 – LAUNCH DAY
Shortly after the official launch, Vannen again made several posts to their social media accounts.
Like the announcement on March 19, Vannen made a post to their Instagram account and their Instagram story.
Finally, Corey made one more announcement stating the watches he designed were now available.
Time can’t pass quick enough until these watches arrive at my house in June. I can’t wait!
