In this episode of the Analog Explorer Podcast, I meet Ken Lam—founder, designer, marketer, photographer, customer service rep (and just about everything else) behind ARKEN Watches, live from the Vancouver Timepiece Show. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be a true one-man brand, Ken’s story is a masterclass in building something from the ground up with heart, creativity, and humor.
ARKEN began not in a studio or boardroom, but during lockdown. Then a content director grounded by COVID, Ken found himself diving headfirst into Seiko modding. That tinkering led to deeper questions: what if he could create something original and something the best he can for the #wathfam.
His latest piece, the ARKEN Alterum, is a standout in form and function. Built around a Miyota 9015-series base with a custom GMT-like dual time module and AM/PM apertures, it delivers a level of complexity and usability that punches well above its £600 price tag. Why titanium? Ken wanted something different, something lightweight, durable, and toolish. This formed the design language of his brand. “Once we launched our first watch in titanium,” he said, “it just became part of who we are.”
We also got into the realities of global trade and tariffs. While some brands scramble to adjust, Ken has a calm and measured approach, thanks in part to assembling in the UK.
When I asked him my usual closer, why watches?, Ken kept it real: “Why not?” For him, it’s more about the emotional connection and the joy of creating something that lives on someone’s wrist, beyond his own timeline. “There’s no greater feeling than seeing someone come up to the booth wearing something I made,” he told me.
So, if you haven’t already, meet Our Ken. He is not just building watches, but building relationships, one titanium case at a time.
You can follow Ken on Instagram at @arkenwatchco or explore his creations at arken.uk.
Big thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show—check timepieceshow.com to find out where they’re heading next.
