Microbrands
My favourite watch brands are Omega & Cartier, favourite in the sense that their watches are higher end within my budget. A Lange & Sohne & Romain Gauthier watches are my ultimate favourites but they're a pipedream.
The journey of discovery in the world of watches I have experienced in recent years has made me aware of the vast number of microbrands that are available & making great watches. Their price point has allowed me to indulge in building a collection. The pic above is the box where I keep my favourite microbrands. It's pretty heavy in Christopher Ward but there are a couple of Yema, Unimatic, a Boldr, Studio Underd0g & an Isotope.
I'm a huge Christopher Ward fan & at one point had 8-10 but sold a number of them to ease my guilt in the collection getting out of hand. Unimatic were another favourite, I do have another 2 not in this shot. Recently their numerous releases have not tempted me at all. Their price increases don't justify what you're getting in my opinion. Their watches are cool but it's a £500 watch for me. Studio Underd0g, Yema & Boldr have tempted me on a number of occasions, these watches are great value or offer something different to the norm. Isotope watches don't stir my interest usually, the Terra Maris that I did buy was purely down to their mix of colours & the strap.
There's many, many other microbrands that I'm really not that informed about. Watchcrunch is a fabulous place for an education, it really has hit me just how little I do know & how much I have to learn.
What are your favourite microbrands? Please post some pics of yours, the lesser known the better!
I'm really a strap collector just looking for the right watch.
well I don't have many micro brands but I do have one that I really like, CREPAS is a Spanish micro brand
well I don't have many micro brands but I do have one that I really like, CREPAS is a Spanish micro brand
This is another factor that I love about microbrands. The watch market for many doesn't go beyond Switzerland, Japan & Germany. I love that there are people around the globe living in countries not known for watchmaking that are striving for a place at the table. My own country, Scotland, has no real history of watchmaking but in recent years there are new microbrands popping up across the country. It's fantastic.
I just ordered an Oak and Oscar Humboldt GMT. I’ve been wanting a durable sport GMT for quite a while and finally hit add to cart. My budget was well above the price of this watch, but there just isn’t anything else out there that ticks all my boxes. I love how so many micro brands are filling some pretty gaping holes in the watch market, IMO. I also love saving money, so happy day for me. 🙂
I just ordered an Oak and Oscar Humboldt GMT. I’ve been wanting a durable sport GMT for quite a while and finally hit add to cart. My budget was well above the price of this watch, but there just isn’t anything else out there that ticks all my boxes. I love how so many micro brands are filling some pretty gaping holes in the watch market, IMO. I also love saving money, so happy day for me. 🙂
What dial colour did you go for? I love the look of the white dial, it's very clean looking.
My favorite micro brand is probably Zelos, mostly based on their really intersting dials. I have 5 Zelos in my collection, and they all have what I consider to be really interesting and unique dials.
Zelos Mako V3 - bronze case with a meteorite dial from the Muionalusta metorite
Zelos Mako V3 - Titanium case, with a blue Mother Of Pearl dial that really plays with the light.
Zelos Mako V3 with Aventurine dial. It's impossible to capture this dial in photos or videos. In the sunlight it sparkles with every slight movement.
Zelos Spearfish with a hardened SS case and a burnt orange dial.
Zelos Horizons GMT with a stunning teal dial. In photos the true color never comes across. In person the green tones become much more prominent. It's the only watch in my collection that my wife has ever used the term "gorgeous" to describe.
In addition to Zelos, I have a few other microbrand watches.
Geckota G-01 with a dial that appears brown in some lights, and grey in others.
Brew Metric Gold - Brew tendsto have a very easly identifiable design language, even though their various models each have their own distinctive looks.
Slo One Hander with a 24 hour dial. This watch was partially responsible for getting me interested in watches.
Bradley e-One - designed for the visually impaired, uses exposed ball bearings to tell the time.
Humism Dasein - uses 3 revolving discs for hours, minutes and seconds, providing for a very hypnotic experience.
Phantasos Triclops - uses "wandering hours" to display the time.
Studio Underd0g - Desert Sky. Another brand with instantly recognizable designs. Very hard to pick just one.
Love the 556, but is Sinn a micro brand?
My favorite micro brand is probably Zelos, mostly based on their really intersting dials. I have 5 Zelos in my collection, and they all have what I consider to be really interesting and unique dials.
Zelos Mako V3 - bronze case with a meteorite dial from the Muionalusta metorite
Zelos Mako V3 - Titanium case, with a blue Mother Of Pearl dial that really plays with the light.
Zelos Mako V3 with Aventurine dial. It's impossible to capture this dial in photos or videos. In the sunlight it sparkles with every slight movement.
Zelos Spearfish with a hardened SS case and a burnt orange dial.
Zelos Horizons GMT with a stunning teal dial. In photos the true color never comes across. In person the green tones become much more prominent. It's the only watch in my collection that my wife has ever used the term "gorgeous" to describe.
In addition to Zelos, I have a few other microbrand watches.
Geckota G-01 with a dial that appears brown in some lights, and grey in others.
Brew Metric Gold - Brew tendsto have a very easly identifiable design language, even though their various models each have their own distinctive looks.
Slo One Hander with a 24 hour dial. This watch was partially responsible for getting me interested in watches.
Bradley e-One - designed for the visually impaired, uses exposed ball bearings to tell the time.
Humism Dasein - uses 3 revolving discs for hours, minutes and seconds, providing for a very hypnotic experience.
Phantasos Triclops - uses "wandering hours" to display the time.
Studio Underd0g - Desert Sky. Another brand with instantly recognizable designs. Very hard to pick just one.
I very much loved Zelos watches when I discovered them. At one point I had 8, HH2, HH3, HH Chrono etc. The HH2 slate grey dial in bronze was my favourite watch for a long, long time. Unfortunately they started to give me pain in my wrist towards the end of the day, they were just too heavy for someone with Carpal Tunnel.
I sold them off one by one but kept the HH2 for sentimental reasons. I did however decide to gift it in the end. There was a guy on the FB Zelos fanpage that was looking for the strap that I had on the watch. He was a real Zelos enthusiast. I sent him the watch attached to the strap as I was never going to wear it again.
You have some incredibly interesting watches in those pics, very unique. Thank you posting them.
Love the 556, but is Sinn a micro brand?
Probably not, it's only in there because there isn't any room in my main watch box 😀
My favorites are the ones I own right now, Nodus and Monta
I very much loved Zelos watches when I discovered them. At one point I had 8, HH2, HH3, HH Chrono etc. The HH2 slate grey dial in bronze was my favourite watch for a long, long time. Unfortunately they started to give me pain in my wrist towards the end of the day, they were just too heavy for someone with Carpal Tunnel.
I sold them off one by one but kept the HH2 for sentimental reasons. I did however decide to gift it in the end. There was a guy on the FB Zelos fanpage that was looking for the strap that I had on the watch. He was a real Zelos enthusiast. I sent him the watch attached to the strap as I was never going to wear it again.
You have some incredibly interesting watches in those pics, very unique. Thank you posting them.
LIfe's too short to wear uncomfortable watches, that's for sure. I was diagnosed with mild carpal tunnel myself this spring, but I've never had an issue with them, or any other watch for that matter. Sorry to hear that they were problematic for you.
I really like watches that have something interesting and unique about them, so I kinda seek them out. My favorite Rolex is my Cellini Prince for that very reason - it's something that you don't see every day.
I don’t have any micro brands… yet. But in 3 days, 3 hours, and 31 seconds, I hope to be purchasing a pink lemonade from Studio Underd0g
Formex is my favourite. Their design is almost square in the lug. I am getting the lastest Unimatic. I also have CW Sealander GMT, i like CW beautiful hands. I really want Studio underd0g, in their mailing list for watermelon
I don’t have any micro brands… yet. But in 3 days, 3 hours, and 31 seconds, I hope to be purchasing a pink lemonade from Studio Underd0g
I wish you good luck in getting the watch you want 🙏. I have tried & failed in doing exactly that last year when I tried to get a Desert Sand.
A nice one to start with 👍
Formex is my favourite. Their design is almost square in the lug. I am getting the lastest Unimatic. I also have CW Sealander GMT, i like CW beautiful hands. I really want Studio underd0g, in their mailing list for watermelon
I really like the Formex design. I seriously thought about buying the green dial last year but in the end resisted.
Wow, that's quite an astonishing amount of microbrands 💪👍👌
You will quickly learn, @ChronoGuy has an expansive, FANTASTIC collection. 😂 👌🏻
And yet some more...
RZE
Roebuck
RLG
REC
Selten
Second Hour
Seals
Seabourne
TC-9
Straton
Trifoglio
Tribus
MK II / Tornek-Rayville
Undone
Vario
Valimor
UW
Vaymont
WISE
Love that Tornek-Rayville dude! 🤘🏻👌🏻🤙🏻
Furlan Marri. This was the limited edition black dial. Have no idea how many were made. It’s retired now like me.
Waiting patiently for this Atlier Wen
Great colours. I love the Zelos community, they really are incredibly passionate & loyal about the brand. Elshan is a really great guy as well. He repaired a HH Chrono I had, no charge, just had to send it to him.
Your spot on! Had a bezel loose a lume pip from a model I bought years ago from him. He turned around and just sent a new bezel. No charge. Love the brand!
This is an interesting watch. But not for me. Message me if anyone is interested. Modello DueU2S-M, LNIB.
The CW look sweet as well
You will quickly learn, @ChronoGuy has an expansive, FANTASTIC collection. 😂 👌🏻
Thanks for the kind words!
Thanks for the kind words!
Of course dude. Call em like I see em! 👌🏻
Others have said it already, but Zelos is great. I've got a Mako V3 Titanium Frost, gets a lot of wrist time.
How's the boldr? I've considered them... I also love micros and own watches from Farer, Baltic, Halios and Brew. Still trying to fill that last spot. Also considering Traska and Lorier.
How's the boldr? I've considered them... I also love micros and own watches from Farer, Baltic, Halios and Brew. Still trying to fill that last spot. Also considering Traska and Lorier.
I really like Boldr watches, they're great for messing around at the weekend. Very light, tough & great value for money. For less than £300 or $360 you can't go wrong getting one.
How's the boldr? I've considered them... I also love micros and own watches from Farer, Baltic, Halios and Brew. Still trying to fill that last spot. Also considering Traska and Lorier.
Love this collection. Looks much like my box. I have a Halios, Baltic, and Hamilton along with a Dufrane and a helm. That Farer is beautiful and they are on my hitlist. I have also been eyeballing Lorier, Traska, Nodus and Monta
Sounds like we have very similar taste. Having a hard time filling that last spot, but there’s no rush I suppose. Which Dufrane you have? I’m also looking at traska and Lorier.
Inspiring taste