"Best Micro Brand Under $3k USD" Tournament - Finals Update
FINAL UPDATE
After 8 grueling days of agonizing between brands, we have a winner. 32 of our favorite brands entered and sadly we had to pick just one. Like the seven days before it, the final day delivered the most votes in a single matchup showing the strong momentum of this tournament. Congratulations to Farer for taking the top prize They had a bracket of some of the industry's best, but ultimately made quick work of all their matchups throughout the whole tournament.
Much love to Baltic for coming out of a very tough bracket and beating a number of greats on the way to the finals. They were #1 in the hearts of many.
Special thanks to everyone who participated and all the brands that showed up. Personally, I never thought we would see so many brands join in on the fun and discuss their watches with the community. That is what makes WatchCrunch special.
Rules:
- Four matchups a day (2 from each side). Each will be a separate post to allow for civil debate. Be respectful of all the brands and members, even if the vote does not go your way. This is meant to be lighthearted fun to help raise awareness of 32 awesome microbrands.
- The brands selected are among the more well-known brands with some history and have offerings under $3,000 USD.
- Voting will commence at approx 12 AM ET until about 11 PM ET each day. Note, it is just me running this, so I will do my best to honor those times within a reasonable tolerance.
- Voting is based on the overall brand, not the individual model or sample photo.
- There are no rules on how you should choose, but you are welcome to civilly debate quality, value, heritage, etc.
- The bracket will be updated regularly (edited original post to cut down frivolous posts).
- Once all the match-ups are concluded, we will proclaim a WC Community Winner.
- Ties will go to the brand with the most user-owned photos of their watch.
- All posts will be under #microtournament
- The old posts will remain since I cannot close them, but no changes will be made once I update the bracket here.
Watch enthusiast who insists on the next watch being the last.
I’m in.
Awesome!!!
I vote Atelier Wen. Immediately. Done. Winner. I mean, they're making "made in China" totally haute horology and acceptable. Next thing you know, really nice watches are actually gonna be affordable - like their Perception!!!
Okay, all joking aside, do it! This tournament would be awesome!!!
I’ll see how the comments here play out and if positive, launch the first four matchups tonight. I like the idea of people (potentially) researching and learning about these brands as they vote.
Awesome!!!
I vote Atelier Wen. Immediately. Done. Winner. I mean, they're making "made in China" totally haute horology and acceptable. Next thing you know, really nice watches are actually gonna be affordable - like their Perception!!!
Okay, all joking aside, do it! This tournament would be awesome!!!
Just realized the randomizer put Kurono and Atelier in an opening round match-up. Those are two heavy hitters.
This will be interesting for folks like me, who doesn’t know much about micro-brands. It will be good to know the pro and cons are…
I’ll see how the comments here play out and if positive, launch the first four matchups tonight. I like the idea of people (potentially) researching and learning about these brands as they vote.
Whoa whoa whoa, RESEARCH. I only said I was in because I thought we were just going to make stuff up and shout at each other. Now I’ve got homework? I’m going to need to think about this some more.
Whoa whoa whoa, RESEARCH. I only said I was in because I thought we were just going to make stuff up and shout at each other. Now I’ve got homework? I’m going to need to think about this some more.
Love it. Your research can be entirely personal preference at the moment of voting.
There were a lot of ones that didn’t make it, but not enough to fill an even 64. I was shooting for diversity in styles. If it helps, I believe they are made by the same manufacturer as a couple on the list.
I love offering opinions based on absolutely no knowledge. Count me in.
Sounds fun count me in but, I'm requesting Monta and Weiss be put on opposite sides. They're both heavy hitters that could win it all!!
Sounds fun count me in but, I'm requesting Monta and Weiss be put on opposite sides. They're both heavy hitters that could win it all!!
I can do another randomizer. Personally, I think Monta vs. Weiss, Wen vs Kurono, and even Farer vs. Unimatic each eliminate heavy hitters off the bat, which may not be fair so I may have to do some ranking. Ditto for AnOrdain and Autodromo. Ugh. So many difficult choices this group will make.
I agree wholeheartedly on that battle, but I intentionally tried to have some cheaper options.
Well Fortis is disqualified as it's a 110 year old Swiss watchmaker
Well Fortis is disqualified as it's a 110 year old Swiss watchmaker
Thanks for pointing that out Blake! Will take them out and add Traska which should make @martini happy.
I love offering opinions based on absolutely no knowledge. Count me in.
My entire brand
There were original in-house movements in the mix(from brands I would consider independent watch makers rather than micros), but those are disappointingly long gone. Defiantly not a watchmakers competition 😑
As I’ve said before, I’m amazed at the various reasons folks voted. Regardless of whether I agree with some winners, in many cases folks got to learn about some great watchmakers, even in defeat.
I’d posit micro is such a hard thing to nail down.
As far as watchmakers, so many people refused to vote for brands if they could not buy watches right now. That clearly hurt batch release based brands, which accounted for most of the makers. Folks complain about the Rolex sales model, yet we had brands doing all they can to democratize the distribution of hot watches largely ignored.
Again, lots of healthy topics for debate, but again, regardless if I agreed, I love the discourse this created as well the fact many brands jumped on WC to have conversations with us.
The only micro brand I know well is Steinhart but it's not in the competition.
Really don't think that Steinhardt is a micro-brand. Like their watches, but not a micro-brand.
Really don't think that Steinhardt is a micro-brand. Like their watches, but not a micro-brand.
How does Steinhart not fit the micro brand criteria.?
How does Steinhart not fit the micro brand criteria.?
Well, IMHO, I think micro-brands are usually 1. small 2. independent 3. have a limited portfolio of watches 4. have their own designs. Steinhart doesn't fit into my criteria. However, I would definitely consider buying one of their sub homages.
Well, IMHO, I think micro-brands are usually 1. small 2. independent 3. have a limited portfolio of watches 4. have their own designs. Steinhart doesn't fit into my criteria. However, I would definitely consider buying one of their sub homages.
Steinhart is a small company, it's independent, has their own designs. 3 out of 4.
Good idea. I'm not sure I agree with the result, but that's the nature of the tournament and the madness! I want to own a watch from a few of these brands especially AnOrdain, Baltic, and Traska.
This is a nice reference for microbrands to look for, whether you agree with its outcome or not. Thanks to all who contributed.
I've missed that. Joined later than the competition started. Sorry, but I will now vote on every pair to know the results of every individual competition. Great work
I've missed that. Joined later than the competition started. Sorry, but I will now vote on every pair to know the results of every individual competition. Great work
There will be a new and improved version in March!
There will be a new and improved version in March!
Can't wait. I was a bit surprised at some results of the votings.
I would add Isotope from England unique quality watches at very reasonable price.
I would add Isotope from England unique quality watches at very reasonable price.
Thank you! They seem to be a worthy entry in a competitive price bracket.
Steinhart is a small company, it's independent, has their own designs. 3 out of 4.
The latest figure I have heard about Steinhart production is they produce upwards of 30,000 watches a year ( I have no idea if this is true). If true, that is well outside the realm of microbrands.
Having just bought my first Farer, I'm happy to see this result after the fact. For the next tourney, I might respectfully suggest adding Marloe. An excellent Scottish microbrand, with lots of cool designs.
https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/
Having just bought my first Farer, I'm happy to see this result after the fact. For the next tourney, I might respectfully suggest adding Marloe. An excellent Scottish microbrand, with lots of cool designs.
https://www.marloewatchcompany.com/
We are a month or so away from March Madness, so we’ll see! Thanks for the suggestion.