Peter Sargison is an Australian entrepreneur and the founder of Second Hour, an independent watch brand based in Melbourne. His professional transition into horology is often described as a significant mid-life career change, occurring after approximately 45 years of working in the corporate and government sectors. Prior to founding his own company, Sargison built a career as a technology consultant, a background that provided him with experience in project management and technical systems which he later applied to watch design and manufacturing.
In 2019, Sargison established Second Hour alongside his wife, Akira. The brand’s name was chosen as a philosophical reference to this second phase of his professional life, while also serving as a play on the standard units of time measurement. Driven by a long-standing passion for timepieces, Sargison moved beyond collecting to learn the technical arts of watchmaking and design, aiming to create mechanical watches that offer high-level specifications and original aesthetics at accessible price points.
Under Sargison’s leadership, Second Hour gained immediate traction in the enthusiast community through crowdfunding. The brand’s debut model, the Gin Clear Diver, was successfully funded on Kickstarter in early 2020, reaching its goal in just 33 minutes. This initial success was followed by the release of several other collections, including the Mandala, the Giant Stride, the Sattelberg field watch, and the Art Deco-inspired Memoir. Sargison is noted for his hands-on approach to the business, overseeing the complete lifecycle of product development from initial in-house design in Melbourne to rigorous testing and quality control.
Sargison’s design philosophy often focuses on structural precision and intricate dial work, such as the guilloché patterns found in the Mandala series. He has also emphasized durability in his releases, frequently utilizing high-tech surface hardening treatments on stainless steel cases. Beyond technical development, Sargison is active in the horological community, maintaining direct engagement with customers through social media and enthusiast forums. His work has helped establish Second Hour as a prominent figure in the Australian microbrand landscape, characterized by a commitment to transparency and the preservation of independent watchmaking.