There are certain people, events or situations that leave a lasting impact on us. Sometimes we take this feeling and store it within our memories or we create something incredible to remind us of it.
That’s what Darnel Greenidge did when he created Monumental Watches; the first Luxury watch brand from Barbados.
CARIB VOXX: Tell me about you, the person behind monumental watches?
Darnel Greenidge: I am 25 years old, I grew up in a small lower-middle-class family. I currently work as an accountant and I am also a cricketer. I am a lover of watches and minimalism.
CARIB VOXX: How did you come up with the idea to create luxury watches?
Darnel Greenidge: I had a very close relationship with my grandmother. We lived together from 2015 until July 2016 when she passed from cancer. While taking care of her, I was also studying for my CPA Taxation exam. Because of her passing and the fact that she was a lover of watches, I decided to create a watch/company in her honour. So on August 30, 2018, the brand was established. We have placed the trident in our dial to remind us that we can overcome the hardships in life and to have the perseverance to triumph in every situation we encounter.
CARIB VOXX: Is there any significance or meaning behind the name?
Darnel Greenidge: The name Monumental represents the relationship I had with my grandmother.
CARIB VOXX: Do you design each watch yourself?
Darnel Greenidge: Yes that is correct, every watch is carefully designed by myself.
CARIB VOXX: Are there any challenges you have encountered being a jewellery designer?
Darnel Greenidge: Some challenges we have faced so far are marketing. We initially struggled with creating content due to the lack of equipment and time. You would be surprised to know that 85% of the content on the page was taken with my smartphone and not a professional camera.
CARIB VOXX: How would you describe this brand?
Darnel Greenidge: Monumental watches is a luxury brand built upon strong relationships and passion. Our watches strive to bring a sense of self-pride and high self-esteem. When you wear a watch from one of our collections, we want you to feel confident, passionate and ready to take on the world.
CARIB VOXX: Are there any other brands that you garner inspiration from?
Darnel Greenidge: I am a big fan of the brand Omega and IWC. Some of our designs and materials used take inspiration from these two powerhouses.
CARIB VOXX: Do you have any background in design in terms of studying?
Darnel Greenidge: Actually, I do not. I have a strong love for watches and I go through a series of prototypes and renders along with the use of market research to come up with finalized designs.
CARIB VOXX: What are the different styles that are offered?
Darnel Greenidge: We currently have 2 collections and we are currently working on another to be released later in the year.
CARIB VOXX: What are the price ranges?
Darnel Greenidge: All our watches retail for $130.00usd and our matching beaded bracelets are $25.00usd.
CARIB VOXX: Where can the watches be purchased?
Darnel Greenidge: We are on social media such as Facebook and Instagram with the name Monumental Watches as well as our website www.monumentalwatches.com. Interested persons can place their orders on those.
CARIB VOXX: What type of consumers do you cater to?
Darnel Greenidge: In 2019, watches are now seen as an accessory. In an age where people use smartphones to tell the time, a watch is now seen as a statement piece and a collector’s item. Our watches are very attractive and we see people between the ages of 18 and 45 ideally, with a sense of style and sophistication to be the kind of persons that we would target.
CARIB VOXX: How has the brand resonated with consumers?
Darnel Greenidge: The response has been overwhelming and I am very impressed by the level of willingness to support. Usually, you encounter people saying that locally made stuff is cheap or low quality but that has not been the case. Everyone is happy to support a local/regional business.
CARIB VOXX: How do you feel when you pass people wearing your watches?
Darnel Greenidge: We expect our consumers to feel a sense of self-pride and high self-esteem. When I see others wearing one of our timepieces, I also feel proud. It is very fulfilling to see someone enjoying something that I have created.
CARIB VOXX: What more can we expect from this brand in the future?
Darnel Greenidge: We are focused on continuously improving whatever we offer. As long as brand awareness continues to grow, we will be entering into different markets since we have already begun research and development in other areas.
