About Us
Our Story
AXIA (pronounced ahx-EE-ah) means value/worth in Greek and our name is at the heart of our values.
AXIA Time was born out of our founder's love of horology and his alma mater.
Fascinated by the engineering intricacy of mechanical watches and the artistry of the myriad design elements, he always wanted a quality and stylish mechanical watch branded to his alma mater. While many university watch options exist, the vast majority are either poor-quality quartz (battery operated) watches, or very expensive and well-known Swiss brand name watches with the university logo added as an afterthought.
He wanted a watch he’d actually wear. One that was also affordable.
One with quality and styling that matched the significance of his accomplishments and memories. A watch with subtle elegance. A premium timepiece that wouldn't break the bank. When he couldn’t find what he wanted, he made it himself.
What he created are Swiss Made mechanical watches hand-crafted with quality and legacy in mind: with the same components as, and by the same engineers who build other premium Swiss brands. And most importantly, with the same high-quality Swiss Made movements. At a fraction of what the big brands charge.
Swiss Made
Swiss Made is a legal designation granted to products that meet or exceed strict standards set by the Swiss government. It is because of these strict standards that Swiss Made has become synonymous with quality and precision.
AXIA Time watches are built with Sellita movements. Sellita is one of the finest movement makers in Switzerland for their unwavering dedication to quality. Many of Switzerland’s top watch brands use Sellita movements to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their watches.
For watches to meet Swiss Made standard, they must also be assembled in Switzerland. AXIA Time watches are hand-built in the in the heart of the Swiss Alps at the center of the watch world—by the same engineers who assemble and test other premium Swiss brands.
We are so confident in the quality of our components, the Sellita movements and the engineers who build and test our timepieces that we offer a 3-year warranty from manufacturer defect. Learn more.
Quality. Craftsmanship.
We believe you shouldn’t have to break to the bank to afford a high-quality Swiss Made mechanical watch. Whether you’re looking for your first mechanical timepiece or you’re considering adding another timepiece to your collection, we are committed to delivering a premium watch without a premium price. We are able to do this by keeping our overhead low and selling directly to our customers, avoiding all the middlemen and many of the marketing markups.
An AXIA Timepiece is the very definition of quality, craftsmanship and legacy.
At AXIA Time, we are passionate about and committed to the design and craft of automatic watches in the Swiss tradition. Every element of our design is thoughtfully and meticulously considered with legacy in mind. An AXIA Time wristwatch is built with the same components that other big-name Swiss watch brands use, and most importantly, is built by the same engineers as those Swiss watch brands.
Our Promise
An exquisite timepiece should tell more than time.
The mechanical wristwatch is a marvel of engineering. It’s an art that was first perfected in the 19th century. A tradition with enduring principles that are rock solid and still relevant today. Maybe even more so.
The intricate construction of springs, gears and intricate parts are painstakingly engineered and artfully crafted, and a Swiss Made mechanical watch, with its strict quality controls, has come to be synonymous with quality and precision.
Our goal is to exceed expectations in everything we do. From our designs and quality of the components we use, to the purchase experience of our customers, our intention is to treat you exactly the way we would want to be treated if we were in your shoes. Maybe better.
AXIA (pronounced ahx-EE-ah) means value/worth in Greek and our name is at the heart of our values.
AXIA Time was born out of our founder's love of horology and his alma mater.
Fascinated by the engineering intricacy of mechanical watches and the artistry of the myriad design elements, he always wanted a quality and stylish mechanical watch branded to his alma mater. While many university watch options exist, the vast majority are either poor-quality quartz (battery operated) watches, or very expensive and well-known Swiss brand name watches with the university logo added as an afterthought.
He wanted a watch he’d actually wear. One that was also affordable.
One with quality and styling that matched the significance of his accomplishments and memories. A watch with subtle elegance. A premium timepiece that wouldn't break the bank. When he couldn’t find what he wanted, he made it himself.
What he created are Swiss Made mechanical watches hand-crafted with quality and legacy in mind: with the same components as, and by the same engineers who build other premium Swiss brands. And most importantly, with the same high-quality Swiss Made movements. At a fraction of what the big brands charge.
Swiss Made is a legal designation granted to products that meet or exceed strict standards set by the Swiss government. It is because of these strict standards that Swiss Made has become synonymous with quality and precision.
AXIA Time watches are built with Sellita movements. Sellita is one of the finest movement makers in Switzerland for their unwavering dedication to quality. Many of Switzerland’s top watch brands use Sellita movements to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their watches.
For watches to meet Swiss Made standard, they must also be assembled in Switzerland. AXIA Time watches are hand-built in the in the heart of the Swiss Alps at the center of the watch world—by the same engineers who assemble and test other premium Swiss brands.
We are so confident in the quality of our components, the Sellita movements and the engineers who build and test our timepieces that we offer a 3-year warranty from manufacturer defect. Learn more.
We believe you shouldn’t have to break to the bank to afford a high-quality Swiss Made mechanical watch. Whether you’re looking for your first mechanical timepiece or you’re considering adding another timepiece to your collection, we are committed to delivering a premium watch without a premium price. We are able to do this by keeping our overhead low and selling directly to our customers, avoiding all the middlemen and many of the marketing markups.
An AXIA Timepiece is the very definition of quality, craftsmanship and legacy.
At AXIA Time, we are passionate about and committed to the design and craft of automatic watches in the Swiss tradition. Every element of our design is thoughtfully and meticulously considered with legacy in mind. An AXIA Time wristwatch is built with the same components that other big-name Swiss watch brands use, and most importantly, is built by the same engineers as those Swiss watch brands.
An exquisite timepiece should tell more than time.
The mechanical wristwatch is a marvel of engineering. It’s an art that was first perfected in the 19th century. A tradition with enduring principles that are rock solid and still relevant today. Maybe even more so.
The intricate construction of springs, gears and intricate parts are painstakingly engineered and artfully crafted, and a Swiss Made mechanical watch, with its strict quality controls, has come to be synonymous with quality and precision.
Our goal is to exceed expectations in everything we do. From our designs and quality of the components we use, to the purchase experience of our customers, our intention is to treat you exactly the way we would want to be treated if we were in your shoes. Maybe better.
AXIA Time was 30 years in the making.
it started with a win.
Ever since winning the Lacrosse Ivy League Championship in 1988, founder John Kanaras searched high and low for a high-quality watch with a design that matched the significance of his achievements. In 2018, he built his vision, just in time for his alma mater team to win again.
1988
2019