Perhaps the most unique single attribute of the BaliHa’i is its caseback design.   So far as we know, this is the first watch to rely on the services of a professional illustrator and comic book artist, and we’re pretty pleased with the results.  That illustrious artist is Gene Gonzales, a South Florida resident and all-around nice guy with more than fifteen years of professional illustration experience.   Between working for small unknown companies such as DC Comics, McGraw Hill, and Hewlett-Packard, Gene has found time to do tropical-themed work for suppliers of the Ron Jon Surf Shop and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.  As a result, he turns out a mean tiki, and was nigh irresistible for our project.  Fortunately, he was also a consummate professional, and willing to work in our sketches on short notice.

Learn more about Gene and his work at his site and his blog:
http://www.genegonzales.com/
http://genegonzales.blogspot.com/

(I think he even Twitters, if you’re into that kind of thing… http://twitter.com/genegonzales)

Inspirations…

There are many excellent forums and chat groups available on the internet for dive watch fans, and much of our inspiration for this project, is derived from discussions and debates held in these virtual bar-rooms.

Accordingly, we're very pleased to have been invited to start our own sub-forum on the 3T forums at www.timetechtalk.com.  This forum, hosted by watch super-aficionado Oagaspar, is a great source of information about watches, dive watches in particular, and has always been a friendly watering hole for small new brands like ours.

The BaliHa'i sub-forum can be viewed here:
www.timetechtalk.com/view_forum.php?id=57

On that BH forum, you'll find discussion threads with some background and information on our watch projects, as well as a lively discussion with fans about what we're doing, right or wrong (we learn more from the wrong, even though we like reading about the right).  We'll also engage in threads about what we should do next, and what our fans would like to see...

In addition, the BaliHa'i design has been influenced by a number of different discussions in threads on other sites:

Watchuseek.com (an excellent and lively forum owned by Ernie Romers, of the Netherlands)

Watchuseek Dive Watch forum: http://forums.watchuseek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=74 (look for our banner at the top of the page – we’re proud sponsors)

Some of the many specific threads there that have shaped the BaliHa’i include:

“The BaliHa’i Project” thread (well, of course): http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=166322

“Best casebacks”: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=169553 (I’ll put ours up against of ‘em!)

“Coolest Crown”: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=164438

“Best Case” (no, not that kind of case): http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=153851

“Best dive watch names” (ok, so we ignored most of this discussion… but post #27 was very helpful): http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=181392

“To dome or not to dome”: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=175606

“The BEST bezel”: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=169160

… and many more.