Reply With QuoteI think you first need to say what type of watch you are looking for. There are so many micro brands out there nowadays.
I've let my knowledge of the smaller micro brands slip over the last few years as my watch fetish phase diminished, it is now back and so time to catch up on those micro brands I may have let slip under the radar, I'm looking to purchase a couple of watches in the sub £1000 bracket this year, one for myself and one for my son.
So apart form our hosts selection what other micro brands should I be looking at?
I think you first need to say what type of watch you are looking for. There are so many micro brands out there nowadays.
This thread may provide some inspiration - https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...w+micro+brands
I’d take a look at Helm.
Never owned one but they look incredibly good value for money, and I find them attractive.
Oh and I’ve found this article helpful to browse through:
https://watchbandit.com/watch-brands/
Newmark have just resurfaced and have brought out the excellent 6BB Chronograph and have a rather gorgeous automatic diver coming out soon - you could look at them
If you join the Microband forum on FaceBook you’ll see there’s so many brilliant microband watches out there - you’re really spoilt for choice - although I personally feel only a few get close to TimeFactors quality and value for money
Have a look here
https://microbrand.store/
Also Gnommon
Thanks folks something to look through.
Styles are fairly open at the moment, it’s a case of wha catches my eye
Borealis and Prometheus from Portugal (custom VAT free) are on top of my list for a solid diver or sporty watch
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In the past year I purchased a Schafen s.65 (dress watch) and a Maen Hudson (diver watch), both where great purchases, really solid and very reliable so far.
A few I either own or lust after include...
Helson
Armida
Scurfa
D Hodge
NTH
Certina
Gruppo Gamma
Ventus (mori)
Borealis
Certina micro brand?Originally Posted by Jonesinamillion
No it’s not...
Simon
Check out Gavox, as well.
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Maybe not, agreed; but it's hardly mainstream either and offers unique looking pieces, at a good price and great quality.
That's a lovely looking watch - is that a 40mm case size?In the past year I purchased a Schafen s.65 (dress watch) and a Maen Hudson (diver watch), both where great purchases, really solid and very reliable so far.
John
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I know :)
I would say Certina is a mainstream brand.
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Dagaz from HK. Jake Bordeaux is making nice hommages with Typhoons (Seiko 6105), modding SKX and even has a great newbie - Diamondback, great dressie diver.
I bought 2 from there and thumbs up
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Obviously out hosts watches are great and I have been impressed with both Helson and Crepas, however in my opinion MKII tops them all. They are a fair bit more pricey though.
Yes, the specs are 39.5mm, haven't mesured it yet with a caliper.
I have small wrists and it fits nicely.
In terms of a relatively good value / £1000 diver i've been thinking about these for a while. Ickler case, decent build and good customer service so i've heard.
https://www.limes-watches.com/endurance/endurance/
Ickler also have the Archimede brand which is slightly less expensive i think but with similar case quality.
https://www.archimede-watches.com/
Last edited by WillHarris2306; 14th February 2019 at 18:23.
Oh dear, was hoping you'd say it was 44m
I will have to take a look at one of these now...
John
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im finding this rather appealing
https://microbrand.store/collections...-earth-dweller
That Limes is very Pelagos inspired, change the hands to snowflake and away we go
Yeah i like it. This is it from a different angle (lugs are original that's for sure).
And another.
Last edited by WillHarris2306; 15th February 2019 at 18:37.
So is the bracelet end,nice.
:)Oh dear, was hoping you'd say it was 44m
I will have to take a look at one of these now...
John
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no no, it is very well sized, here's another one taken today for your inspiration.
I would definitely have a look at Halios. Very good value in my opinion and they’re not afraid of colour - sky blue, yellow etc. Here is my slightly more sober, dark blue Seaforth...
I'm beginning to wonder if you are on commission:)
no no, it is very well sized, here's another one taken today for your inspiration.
Looks wonderful, definitely on the list. May be a while as I have committed to something new next week which is using up all my available funds for now...
John
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I had a look at the sport archimede with the blue dial loved everything apart from the date at 4 o clock matching the crown position .Pity you can't see it in the flesh first
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That's the problem with these kind of watches. Generally I think you buy blind (and to keep).
They also hold their value very well if thats a concern.I would definitely have a look at Halios. Very good value in my opinion and they’re not afraid of colour - sky blue, yellow etc. Here is my slightly more sober, dark blue Seaforth...
Why not a 3227?:)
no no, it is very well sized, here's another one taken today for your inspiration.
Aevig seem to be a really good micro brand with a lot of interesting watches for sale.
Micro brands for me were always the chance to buy something different at a reasonable price. Here is a long discontinued RLT watch with copper dial.
Hamtun H2 Kraken £200
Most use ETA/miyota/Seiko movements, so should remain serviceable into the long term. Doesn't mean that bracelet parts etc will be available, of course.
Fwiw I think lower cost microbrands are great fun, but now that so many are £500 plus that's less true, and your point reflects an increasingly valid concern as prices rise.
I think there's microbrands and there's microbrands.
I cited Ickler Group watches earlier, perhaps a bit inaccurately, as I certainly wouldn't put them in the 'Kickstarter' arena as they're a high quality watch maker with tons of history, plus they use decent movements (Sellita I think) and have solid warranties and customer service. I guess I mentioned them as they are relatively unknown however and the OP mentioned a £1k budget so perhaps I should have categorised them as 'specialist' rather than 'microbrand.'
As for the £200-400 true microbrands I've never really tried them as generally they're not my bag but i guess some can be good fun and at least you don't have too much cash tied up if it ends in tears.
I don't own one of these but they look good, https://www.ecandersson.com/product/denise/ E.C. Andersson Watch Co
I hate to mention but TimeFactors are a Microbrand as are the newly reformed Newmark - I have no hesitation from buying from them at all.
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Carl at Gasgasbones has started making a limited number of smart chronos...
http://www.scottishwatches.co.uk/201...-little-money/
rather nice one of that list, but I am of course somewhat biased
They are stocking them in the local Omega AD so I would definitely say heading towards mainstream ...
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Surely Certina have been a mainstream mass-market brand on the continent for many decades, indeed back to the 19th century? I seem to recall them sponsoring a team in the Tour de France for many years, not that I follow cycling as such. Isn't it just that they didn't used to be sold in the UK?
Isn't that Festina though with the whole cycling thing?
Certina are owned by the Swatch Group, which doesn't preclude them from the microbrand classification necessarily, but explains why they are sold in Omega outlets.
I've owned a couple of Raven watches and found them well worth owning.
(this is a first edition Venture)
There's so many big-brand design cues / influences there though I don't know where to look.
Nice looking watch though.
EDIT P.s. looks very similar to this though (and i've seen this same case knocking about on lots of Kickstarter brands). Maybe just a coincidence.
https://www.traskawatch.com/shop/1-18
Last edited by WillHarris2306; 21st February 2019 at 11:27.
A great watch..IMHO, as owner of #148
https://marinechronometer.co.uk/inde...l/chronographs
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