Caveman Watches: Anthony Dzamefe is Accra Street Journal’s Spotlight Personality

Anthony Dzamefe, the visionary founder behind Caveman Watches, has been honored as Accra Street Journal’s Spotlight of the Week, celebrating his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building Ghana’s first globally recognized luxury watch brand. His story, featured in Accra Street Journal, underscores the power of resilience, innovation, and proudly showcasing African craftsmanship to the world.

The “cave boy”, a name that was popularly used to tease Anthony Mensah Dzamefe as he spent days, and then years, hidden from the spotlight, searching for purpose, defining resilience, and slowly crafting something bigger than himself. What many dismissed as isolation was, in truth, the formation of a vision. A vision that would later become one of Ghana‘s most admired brands; Caveman Watches.

The journey didn’t begin in a high-rise office or a fancy boardroom. It started at an Airport here in Ghana, where Anthony, then a marketing specialist at a hotel, found himself holding up name cards for arriving passengers, an odd detour from his actual role. It wasn’t fulfilling, and the pay barely got him by. In his own words, “I knew I’d get stuck if I didn’t find another way,” he shared with Accra Street Journal. That desperation, mixed with a spark of curiosity, led him to order a watch, an item he never even used to wear. After showcasing his newly bought watch on social media, just like that, someone offered to buy it. That single transaction opened his eyes to a bigger opportunity.

From Hustler to Horologist

With no inventory of his own, Anthony began reselling watches from boutique shops. The margins were small, but the demand kept him going. Over time, he traced the supply chain and started importing a few watches at a time to sell on university campuses and in car parks.

But it wasn’t always easy. Friends mocked the hustle. Some colleagues called it unserious. His own mother tried to persuade him to take a banking job. “I promised her I’d try the business for a year,” he recalled. “If it didn’t work, I’d quit and go back to the bank,” he shared with Accra Street Journal. That promise bought him time, but instead of folding, he doubled down.

He taught himself about watches, spent time with local repairers, and learned leatherwork from the roadside to improve the straps. “I wanted to understand every part of what I was selling, not just to sell, but to build,” Anthony said.

The Birth of Caveman

After years of trial, error, and dedication, Anthony launched his own brand in 2018: Caveman Watches.

The name “Caveman” wasn’t just a bold branding choice. It was symbolic, meant to reflect the relationship between the raw, vintage craftsmanship of the old and the refined skills of the modern artisan. That symbolism runs through every part of the brand, from the hand-assembly process to the use of sustainable raw materials.

“The name CAVEMAN was chosen to portray the symbiotic relationship between the vintage methods possessed in the crafts of the archaeological Caveman and that of the modern craftsman.”

However, the brand initially faced a tough challenge: convincing the Ghanaian market to accept a homegrown product. There was a pervasive perception that locally made items were of inferior quality. “Even in Accra, there is still this perception that items made locally are of inferior quality to international brands,” Anthony explained. “When I started, I purposefully didn’t talk about our watches being Made in Ghana – I simply referred to us being a Ghanaian brand.”

It took time, but Caveman Watches eventually broke through. In less than a year, it caught the attention of the New York Times, solidifying its place as a pioneer in Ghana’s horology industry.

About Caveman

Founded on 12th December 2018 by Anthony Mensah Dzamefe, Caveman is Ghana’s first watchmaking brand and a rising force in Africa‘s horology space. It was born out of the experience Anthony gained running TimepieceGh, a corporate watch retail and repair business. Caveman reflects the journey of a self-taught entrepreneur who dared to build something original.

Caveman watches are authentic, durable, sustainable, and proudly Ghana-made. The brand is known for hand-assembled timepieces, crafted leather straps, and the use of natural materials, all rooted in timeless design and local pride.

From there, the brand began to take shape. Collections like the Turbo Prime, with its sleek, high-end feel, and the Blue Volta, a versatile unisex line with customizable options, quickly gained attention. The Caveman Heritage collection infused cultural symbolism using Adinkra icons, while the Kingsman Turbo catered to those with a taste for prestige. For minimalists, the Heritage Leather series offered clean design with premium leather finishes.

Beyond watches, Caveman is committed to impact, providing clean water to underserved communities and creating local jobs.

Today, Caveman’s vision is clear: “To become a globally recognized watch company while creating employment for Ghanaian society.” Its mission remains grounded: “Providing quality and affordable time-telling devices and accessories for the Ghanaian consumer and beyond.”

Staying True to the Craft

Caveman didn’t hide its Ghanaian roots forever, but in the early days, Anthony kept it low. Many people assumed quality couldn’t come from Ghana. So he let the product speak first.

Now, customers can walk into the Caveman workshop in Accra, customize their watches, and watch the team build them in real-time. The process reflects a strong sense of ownership and craft, a value that Anthony built from day one.

“We at CAVEMAN have employed the use of the vintage traditional hand assembly, handcraft and the use of the finest natural raw materials to ensure originality, ingenuity and undiluted quality.”

The cave boy didn’t just emerge, he built his way out. Brick by brick. Strap by strap. Tick by tick.

And today, Caveman Watches continues to stand as proof that bold ideas, born in the shadows of doubt, can rise to define time itself.

Check more at: https://cavemanwatches.com/collection/

Last Updated on April 29, 2025 by samboad