D1 Milano x Peter Tarka "Impossible Watch" Hits Kickstarter

When Established Brands Turn to Kickstarter

Thoughts and attitudes toward Kickstarter-funded watch projects have shifted dramatically over the years. It used to be incredibly common for microbrands to break on Kickstarter with community-funded projects, and indeed some of our favorite brands trace their roots to a Kickstarter campaign. But as Zach Kazan of Worn & Wound noted, "one bad apple spoils the bunch, and a very small percentage of opportunists may have helped to contribute to an environment where skepticism prevailed over enthusiasm." Today, Kickstarter has increasingly become a platform for established brands to introduce products that might not fit their normal catalog — and that's exactly how we find D1 Milano.

The "Impossible" Design

The Italian brand, around since 2013, has launched a collaboration with 3D artist Peter Tarka for The Impossible Watch — based on a retro-futuristic 3D composition framed as "technically impossible in its original form." The result is a rectangular aluminum case with colorful dial options and a regulator-style time display featuring rotating discs for hours, minutes, and seconds. A day-of-week indicator with seven apertures gradually fills in day by day, and a digital readout shows the time and date at a glance.

The project has already smashed through its funding goal, with four variants available: two "Studio Editions" (White Space and Orange Pulse) and two "Color Editions" (Black Orbit and Green Dimension). The design draws from 1970s sci-fi aesthetics — the kind of thing you could imagine on the set of Star Wars.

Specs and Pricing

Kickstarter's Evolving Role

The D1 Milano x Peter Tarka campaign illustrates a broader trend: Kickstarter is no longer just a proving ground for unknown founders. Established brands now use it as a channel for creative experiments that might not fit their mainline collections. According to Worn & Wound, while there are still cool projects on Kickstarter, "it's no longer the dedicated proving ground it once was."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is D1 Milano a new brand?
A: No. D1 Milano has been around since 2013, making this a departure from their typical release strategy rather than a first-time launch.

Q: What makes the watch "impossible"?
A: The design is based on a retro-futuristic 3D composition by artist Peter Tarka that was framed as "technically impossible in its original form," though the actual watch uses a custom digital movement.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: Studio Editions are $495 and Color Editions are $545.

According to Worn & Wound.