TIME HONOURED CRAFT –DRAKEN WATCHES
What began as a side project in 2016 has grown into Draken Watches, a highly respected brand founded by Waipu local Michael Blythe.
Producing functional analogue ‘tool’ timepieces for collectors and outdoor adventurers alike, Michael’s focus has always been on durability and reliability. Draken’s traditional mechanical watches stand in deliberate contrast to the fleeting trend of disposable smartwatches.
Michael’s path to horology was far from traditional. While working as a web designer at a major New Zealand telco, he got talking to a colleague who happened to be a passionate watch collector. Intrigued by the details that distinguish a quality timepiece from mass-produced quartz fashion watches, Michael’s obsession with watch design began. Being a designer by trade, he asked
himself: if I were to create a new watch brand, what would it look like?
The answer lay in his childhood. Michael grew up in South Africa and spent many adventure-filled holidays in the Drakensberg mountains, which ultimately inspired the brand’s name and design language. The first model, the Tugela, drew directly from the landscape of the region. Its case echoes the form of the Protea ‘Suikerbos’ flower, while the dial indices reference the patterns of Zulu beadwork.
Launching Draken was made possible through crowdfunding. A successful Kickstarter campaign enabled Michael to put
Tugela into production and order prototypes for the next model. Since then, Draken
has expanded its collection with designs influenced by vintage military watches and aviation instruments, featuring high contrast dials and bold markings for high legibility.
Every Draken watch is produced in small batches using premium materials such
as sapphire crystal, 316L stainless steel,
and ceramic. Their quality is immediately tangible, appealing to serious collectors as well as those who simply value precision and resilience. The latest release, the Kruger, is a lightweight tactical chronograph that honours the rangers who work tirelessly to protect some of the world's most vulnerable species, such as rhinos. In keeping with its inspiration,
a portion of each sale supports the Greater Kruger Environment Protection Foundation, providing vital resources for rangers in the field.
For Michael and his wife Holly, however, the Draken story is only one part of their life in Waipu. After watching a documentary on deforestation, they asked themselves: what can we do to help push back the tide? The answer came a decade ago, when they purchased an ex-forestry block on the town’s outskirts – a steep patch of land overrun with gorse. Many thought they were mad, but Michael and Holly saw the opportunity to restore it to native bush. Since then, they have planted more than 11,000 trees, slowly transforming the property into an evolving forest and moving from Auckland to make it their permanent home.
As the couple continues to balance family life, reforestation, and watchmaking, Draken’s future looks bright. The brand will celebrate its 10- year anniversary in 2026 with the relaunch of a special model, marking a decade of endurance and design.
Draken’s timepieces, much like Michael’s approach to life, are built to last – thoughtful, resilient, and deeply connected to place.
www.DrakenWatches.com | mike@DrakenWatches.com