AREN BAZERKANIAN MARRIES COMPLEXITY AND SIMPLICITY WITH NEW LUXURY WATCH
BRAND HAVID NAGAN
Written by Anita Yardemian
Photographs by Remy Haynes
ON a warm October day in the gritty cityscape of Downtown LA, a clean-cut Aren Bazerkanian doesn’t allow for tardiness while his new sold-out watch brand and even newer born baby girl take the star of his own show. Only in its infancy, his luxury watch brand, Havid Nagan, has emerged as one of the most rapidly expanding brands in Los Angeles, and the progress observed in Aren's journey is a testament to this. It mirrors his determination and is clearly evident. Just two years ago, he introduced his venture, and today, the young innovator reflects on the impressive impact and looks ahead into his trajectory.
Venturing into the world of watches began purely through personal interest. There were no watchmakers within the family nor any hints of artistry. Instead, Aren identified his beginnings purely through personal desire to craft his own timepieces. Kaleidoscopic imagery and graffiti art have circled his psyche and endured the test of time, serving as his inspiration. To the viewer, Havid Nagan’s brand logo already sets the structural tone. Shapes, structures and geometry stand out to Aren, stating “I'll think of something, and I'll immediately have to sit down and draw it out. The shape of the case and the shape of the dials and the cutoffs, how they will be indicated.”
From this design foundation, he sketched, drew, and visually charted his path towards future milestones, ultimately leading into his commercial business today. Aren masters the zeitgeist of watchmaking, from the rich heritage of Breguet to contemporary visionaries like Richard Mille, while actively staying in-tune with his surroundings of watch communities. From a watch enthusiast’s perspective, this level of devotion is essential. He embraces the roots of his career, paying homage to the knowledge gained from his time working with F.P. Journe, which has further enriched his vision and continues to illuminate his passion. His creative expression is authentic – what he envisions is precisely what he brings to life. This is the beauty of an independent artist reaching for stardom.
DESIGN
Havid Nagan's inaugural timepiece, the HN00, was an immediate signature success, through its distinctive color ways and unique dial selections of purples and blues. This quickly established his hallmark design elements, effectively defining the brand's visual identity. Purity and simplicity, alignment on the eyes− as Aren would describe− is what the elements of a Havid Nagan watch represent.
While HN00 was a simplistic sportier design, Aren peels away at the future by implying complex creations such as “…cascading, bezels and cases, artisanal lugs. They will not just be standard lugs. The dress watch will be a circle shape, and executed much more uniquely. I wanted that same sort of geometry and architecture of what you see with the sport watch, you see that communicated with the dress watch.”
These days, Aren finds himself drawn to the pursuit of simplicity. With his second release, HN01 Lucine, he’ll give his collectors more complexity, while maintaining simplicity. Aren describes Lucine in its entirety: “When you look at the watch, you'll notice that it's intentionally off-center, with the movement exposed around its edges. It exudes a sense of modernity, yet simplicity remains at its core. The hours and minutes are positioned off-center, guiding your gaze vertically, with just the moon phase display at 12 o'clock. This design approach, for me, serves as the defining element of the brand's identity.”
While collectors await the launch of Lucine, his vision extends past the timepiece itself. He plans on producing an event to kickstart the watch release but strives to make an impact big enough to sustain the excitement well beyond its launch. As Lucine's design expansion showcases various new features, Havid Nagan’s future designs are questioned about key elements such as the placement of lugs - are they screwed on or welded, dial positioning – is it centered or off-centered, and the visibility exposure of calibers. The ongoing dialogue the designer has with himself, and now with leaders in the industry, have formed his design principles into a reality.
Aren’s approach to present his product as a singular and exclusive offering doesn’t derive from a conventional, commercial sense. He eagerly states,” What I aim for is a collective understanding, a shared psychology among people, where they recognize that if they desire something distinctive and uniquely executed, something that embodies the essence of Havid Nagan, then there is only Havid Nagan.”
HN01 Lucine
FUTURE
Aren is clearly on an artisanal journey, not just presenting a new product with its technical specifications, but infuses an artisanal essence throughout the entire process, from conception to design and impactful visual story telling. His goal is for the wearer to become a participant in his narrative, to feel a sense of involvement and connection when they think about this brand. It's not merely a product; it's a story, a labor of passion and craftsmanship, and it invites people to explore, appreciate, and ultimately be a part of something remarkable.
The biggest challenge two years ago was taking the initial step, and now, a profound commitment to growth is setting sights on becoming a vintage brand in 15 to 20 years.
Aren aspires Havid Nagan to fund and create in-house calibers exclusively for the brand, implementing an ambitious future dedicated to developing in-house movements and acquiring the necessary resources for exclusive advancements.
The evolution of not only the brand Havid Nagan, but the individual behind it, has been a journey from grandeur back to the roots. The biggest challenge in this evolution has been taking the first step and presently his profound commitment to growth is evident. -