WatchGAWDZ – Fashionably manifesting the GAWD within!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

It was the Ankh that caught my eye.

Okay, maybe it was the fact that it was a piece of rose gold jewellery that actually got me excited.

I was scrolling through Instagram, and a respected member of our community, Bro Oji, had posted a commercial featuring this sleek, sophisticated watch piece. I clicked on the link, and upon further inspection, I knew that I wanted to showcase this incredible artisan’s work.

WatchGAWDZ seeks to inspire those who want to manifest their inner gifts. The founder Junior Ramsey developed this brand with the intention to create products that are centered on ancient symbols that have powerful meanings and can bring about positivity in your life.

Sporting one of these watches not only reminds you how special you are, it serves to teach Africans living in the diaspora about our history and showcase the magnificent things we have accomplished in the past.

Also, I love watches because they tell you a lot about the person wearing it. Just a single quick look and you can predict a person’s mentality. It has a way of boosting your self-confidence, but it also has a way of making you look elegant and stylish.

Just in regards to fashion, a gentleman should always have some admirable watches in his closet. The same goes for a lady with class. Wearing a watch says that the person is punctual and he/she respects his/her time. People will only respect your time if you respect yours!

Junior has found a way to replicating styles from decades (or even centuries) past, and infusing modern styles with classic touches. Some people might think, “Why would you wear a watch anymore? Everyone has a cell phone?”  As usual, it seems like the millennial generation is leading the fashion game, and newer companies finding that the millennial generation loves classic watches

Now, this is not just any old watch. The symbolism alone heightens its value and worth.

The Ankh is one of the most recognizable symbols from ancient Egypt, known as “the key of life” or the “cross of life.” It dates from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 – 2613 BCE). It is a cross with a loop at the top sometimes ornamented with symbols or decorative flourishes, but most often simply a plain gold cross.

It is an Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for “life” or “breath of life” (`nh = ankh) and, as the Egyptians believed that one’s earthly journey was only part of an eternal life. The ankh symbolizes both mortal existence and the afterlife. It is one of the most ancient symbols of ancient Egypt

Another meaning was derived during the Middle Kingdom, as the word ‘nkh also meant “mirror”. This supports the belief that ancient Egyptians had, that the afterlife was a mirror reflection of life on earth. It is because of those beliefs that the Ankh symbol represents both life on earth and the afterlife, many Egyptian gods, especially the goddess Isis, are often shown holding the Ankh to represent their liveliness and immortality. To ensure a safe passage to the afterlife Egyptians would place the ankh in sarcophagi, which meant that the deceased mummy would be able to resurrect safely and live happily in the afterlife.

I messaged Bro Oji, and asked him to connect me with Junior. He responded promptly, and arranged some time in his schedule to speak with me. What I learned about him stunned me, but it was not a shock.

Both of my parents are Jamaican,” Junior tells me. “I was born and raised in Maryland. I moved to Florida to work with a team of engineers at NASA, specifically on the Artemis program. I provided back end support with servers, and assisted with troubleshooting.”

“NASA; that’s a big deal,” I said.

“Yes, I guess it is. Working at NASA was a great learning experience for me. It has definitely allowed me to move on to greater work. I stopped working there in 2020, and began to really take a look at what I wanted to do with my life. I started to think of what I can do beyond working for someone. I wanted to leave a legacy. I began to think about other businesses that I could create. I looked on my desk and saw some watches, and thought, why don’t I make my own watch?”

Now that he had a product, he had to think of a concept. He began to reflect on everything that he had learned about our history as Africans on this planet.

“I became more interested in African spirituality, in 2014, after reading “The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors,” written by Frances Cress Welsing. It truly opened my eyes to the many innovative thinkers that have risen from our people. If we do not have a psychological understanding of the system that destroyed Black history, our education is incomplete. Cultural identity requires that we not only know our history, but also have a psychological healthy Afrikan-centered mindset.

Our reality is heavily influenced by someone else’s thought process. I had the chance, and the ability to build something that suits us, and develops our thought process. I had no blueprint, so I started to Google about the fundamentals of creating a watch. I was determined to find out how to get this done.”

In the name WatchGAWDz, the GAWDZ stands for Gentleman And Women Designs. His watches were uniquely created to honour the God and Goddesses within us.

“I want to inspire, and implore people to learn more about their history, and I am using this watch to help do that. I took time with every aspect of this watch down to the packaging. I gave it a 360 degree feel by making the box the shape of a pyramid, and making it as realistic as possible with hieroglyphics on the inside of the pyramid.”

Junior has done his research. Wrist watches continue to find a way to matter and hold their value. They are fashionable, elegant, and uniquely adaptable, and they appeal to both our intrinsic fascination with technology and our nostalgic love for history.

Take a look at his unique design for yourself by visiting https://watchgawdz.com/.