Maryland Micro Brands - do you have your own local favorites?

Hi Crunchers,

I know we have a very international group. I live in Maryland, a very small state on the eastern coast of the USA. We are about the size and population of Denmark. We’ve often worried here on the Crunch about the future of watchmaking. In the past few years, I‘ve seen the rise of a few micro brands in our state. Pretty happy about that!

Last weekend I went to the District Time watch show in nearby Washington, D.C. (thanks @TheTimeBum for reminders!) There were almost 30 micro brands represented there. I’ll focus on a few from Maryland.

Several are supported by the work of Maryland Watch Works. MWW is carrying on a three generation family tradition of watchmaking by the Stohlman family. They do ébauche work on a number of movements from ETA, Selitta, Soprod, SA Schild or STP, as well as movements from Miyota, and Seiko for other watchmakers and they have just inaugurated their own MD 7081 movement based on the ETA 2824 architecture; more on that in a moment.

The current MWW family is just about to launch their first watch, the Earl. It’s a day/date automatic with the MD 7081 movement. You can see them at estohlman.com. There’s a number of dial choices;

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the mother of pearl is on order for me.

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Very well finished silver 39mm cases with rhodium plating for tarnish resistance. The movement weight is decorated with a Calvert Cross, a design that’s part of our Maryland flag.

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Beautiful thin and supple high quality alligator band. I’ll report on this one more once it comes in, but for now I’d say it’s a well done piece for current or former Marylanders and anyone who wants interesting new design with a retro feel. They also refurbish and sell a number of classic watches. My wife has a LeCoultre from the ‘50s in her sights.

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Next brand has been around since 2017, Tsao. Alan Tsao was at the show, he’s the young handsome one!

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They primarily use MWW movements. They’ve developed a number of watches (see tsaobaltimore.com). Many of their watches feature some homage to the Baltimore area, like the USS Constellation, Martin Airplanes, or a purple dial for the Ravens. The one that’s on order for me is a new creation the Balt-Pilot named after the Martin 187 Baltimore, also known as the A-30 Bomber. The Martin 187 was used in WWII by US allies and was eventually nicknamed "The Balt".  This is a useful take on a world time GMT. It has a second crown that rotates the city dial bezel, which is inside the crystal, like a compressor-style dive bezel. The time zone usually designated by “New York” is appropriately replaced by “Baltimore”. It houses a Seiko NH34 in a 40mm titanium case with matching band that’s well finished (think smooth, unlike many titanium watches). The crown has a small picture of the Balt plane and the Tsao logo is a stylized Maryland flag. There’s a number of dial finishing choices, the one on order for me has a meteorite dial.

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This is a good choice for those of us who can use a novel world timer, except maybe for New York Yankee fans 😉.

One more Maryland Brand is McDowell time, they’ve been around since 2016. They also primarily use MWW watch works and have good looking quartz chronometers and automatic dive watches. One, the Rockville, carries the name of the town where my brother-in-law has his business.

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He’s got a birthday in May, so . . .

Finally there’s the Towson Watch company. They source their movements independently and finish them in house. They an also a multi-generational family business and have several young watch makers learning the trade from older masters. Clearly carrying on the tradition. I already have one Towson watch, the Cadet.

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My early WC review is at https://www.watchcrunch.com/Robcollects/posts/new-launch-from-a-local-watchmaker-17518 . It’s a very well finished field type watch. It came with two comfortable leather bands, a deployant clasp, a buckle, and a very nicely done pen. It felt like a great deal and the watch is now happily in my daily rotation. They finish their watches at a small shop that’s very worth a visit (towsonwatchcompany.com). They’ve got a number of interesting current offerings. Including a beautiful skeletonized manual

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and are working on developing a tide timing watch. When it’s ready there’s a slot in my collection.

So, that’s a long post about Maryland’s contribution to the future of the watch world.  Nice to have some hope for the future.

How about you all? Any local (to you) brands you’d like us to know about?

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I learned today that there was a McDowell Time named the Rockville. If they ever come out with a Derwood or Laytonsville I am there.

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Amazing how many Maryland-based brands there are. You can add Winfield to that list.

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TheTimeBum

Amazing how many Maryland-based brands there are. You can add Winfield to that list.

Thanks, sorry I missed them on the list. I thought I saw on their website that they were made in Ohio. Oh well, next time. Or someone can start an Ohio page!

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I also have an E. Stohlman with the black mother of pearl dial on order and have aTowson Skipjack in my rotation. The District Tome was a great show,

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Robcollects

Thanks, sorry I missed them on the list. I thought I saw on their website that they were made in Ohio. Oh well, next time. Or someone can start an Ohio page!

I somehow got it in my head that they were in Virginia and touted them as such in the lead-up to the show until Mark corrected me. I think they are in La Plata.