Reply With QuoteI once fondled a Crepas (!) that was well built.
The micro brands do have a good following here. I do like several brands.
Based on experience, I would like your thoughts on the micro brand (or brands) you feel are built better than other brands.
I once fondled a Crepas (!) that was well built.
Depends on what you think is a microbrand.
I would class stowa as a microbrand, but i could be underestimating their output.
Stowa are top notch, outstanding quality.
Steinhart, again, quetionable as a microbrand are excellent for the money, if a bit derivative.
Definite microbrands will vary considerably, but from my experience halios & helson are excellent, but are very much tool watches.
Ive never had anything more refined from a microbrand so cant answer in that respect.
Is Damasko a micro brand? Either way, Damasko quality is outstanding.
+1 for Steinhart quality being excellent.Originally Posted by Wilson_smyth
Steinhart are very good, but for me Scurfa are a true micro brand. I have the quartz diver one and it is by far the best value for money watch I own, the build quality far surpasses its cost.
Newmark
Vdb
Hamtum
Timefactors
All good quality
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There is this...
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...our-microbrand
I have a few microbrands that have impressed me.
TF for sure, my Air Ministry especially.
My Siduna is exceptionally well put together
For the money, my Armida is amazingly well built.
My A-13A is also excellent.
The difference that I look for is
The quality of the casework, the transitions and crispness of lines between polished and brushed facets.
The dial print quality and texturing
The hand precision and finish
Lume even-ness and precision of application
Caseback quality
Feel of bezel action and presence of any slack.
Use of good materials, evidenced by crystal type and spec, AR, WR capability,
Bracelet (if supplied).
I have to say I am looking forward to the Newmak 71 arriving, that alos looks like a good benchmark of quality for the money.
D
Who can forget the legendary McManus Amphibia:
Certainly puts the “anus” in “McManus”. Yuck.Who can forget the legendary McManus Amphibia:
Schofield - they compare very well with my other watches - BP, Hublot, JLC
Well, I haven´t owned enough to compare them with each other, but I am really satisfied with the quality of my Tourby Pilot.
Always partial to the odd micro brand and never been disappointed with any of the following;
A-13A
Helson
Crepas
Steinhart
Timefactors
Enzo Mechana
I am another who thinks TF, Helson and Crepas are great.
MKII are also fantastic watches with superb build quality.
Timefactors,
Ventus,
Newmark,
Scurfa,
Happy with all of them, it's only when I wear a Rolex that I risk bumping into someone wearing the same thing.
Last edited by number2; 4th October 2019 at 19:15.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
Top marks to:
Visitor
Kronos
Prometheus
Timefactors
Very happy with:
Steinhart
Orsa
RLT
Deep Blue
Aramar
Obris Morgan
Marathon
Like others, I'm not sure where a brand stops being a microbrand. That said, I am really happy with the Farer I have on all the criteria mentioned above. Outside of movement, build quality, the strap etc, the real pluses IMO (not just on the model I have, an AC, but on all the range) are the dial work and use of colour. These set Farer apart I think.
The NTH I have - reminiscent of a 70s diver with a Doxa-like look to the case - is a very well-built thing, with superb lume. Happy with this also.
A friend of mine is very pleased with his (several) Magrettes.
Always had great experiences with Timefactors, Ming, Guinand and Yema.
I would very much like a 17.06 Ming, hopefully next year.
TF, Newmark, Helson, Farer, Damasko are a few of the Forum favourites I’d second.
Another vote for MKII. Waiting lists aside, every bit as good as many Swiss pieces.
Everest and Key West keep the better known and higher end pieces off my wrist.
Fortunately this hobby isn’t logical!
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I've had nothing but positive experiences with (in no particular order):
Timefactors
Archimede
Halios
Squale
NTH (although the bracelet clasps can be a little sharp on the corners)
Scurfa
Briston
Gavox
Geckota
Landeron
Microbrands are terrific fun for not a lot of money. I'm definitely a fan and always keen to learn about other companies in the same space.
SGR
A micro brand is really how you perceive it. The lower the production rate, the smaller the micro brand I guess.
I've found one brand that has shocked me but in a good way, and that manufacturer is Oak & Oscar. Handling one has certainly made me think about high end brands and their current retail prices.
As far as a very low production micro brand is concerned, Oak and Oscar is easily the best I've experienced, and by a country mile too.
Spinnaker and Borealis? Dan Henry for sure . Tiger concept, Sharkey , Heimndalr, Davosa,
Do CWC have mainstream recognition or are they still part of the obscure , under the radar thus a microbrand?
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Pinion gets a thumbs up from me.
z
Last edited by zelig; 3rd October 2019 at 17:54. Reason: Pic added
Benarus. Wish I still had one of my old Megalodons.
Last edited by dejjl; 3rd October 2019 at 19:20.
You could argue they are I guess
I have a Bali Ha'i micro brand.Bought of here several months ago and one heck of a watch.
Not sure their around making them anymore tbh.
Doubt I'll see one out and about,and I think they only made 10 like mine with the black bezel.
+1 for Benarus. Very impressed with their Moray. I think they went on to become Raven Watches? No experience of the latter.
Depends if the micro-brand has a long-lasting line-up that got refined over iterations.
Some design their watches as a sum of parts, putting together off-the-shelf components. They lack the refinement you find in a top-notch branch.
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+1 for both Scurfa, Newmark and Timefactors
I have a Vaer on order via Kickstarter and will be very interested in its quality.
(A Newmark 71 is also on the way)
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I like quite a few of Eddie's, and was really impressed with the hands and dial of Pinion.
It's just a matter of time...
The Pinion's are rather nice.
Agree about Pinion.
Scurfa and TF for sure
It's funny how your view can be skewed.
I never think of TF as a Microbrand, because I'm so familiar with the watches through the forum.
Certainly the quality is right up there with some of the bigger mainstream makers.
I guess Sinn are too big to be a microbrand? If not, definitely right up there in terms of quality.
I was very impressed with my Schaffen, but sadly it's broken...
M
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Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
I’m glad Farer got mentioned. I absolutely love the look of their Oxley GMT
No-one mentioned Baltic yet? Haven't seen one in the flesh but have heard good things.
Are Helson a micro brand ? I don't know about "better built" but they are certainly better than Seiko in the same price catergory IMO
I was impressed by the build quality of a Steinhart diver I owned, in particular the rubber bracelet and clasp was totally off the charts. I have owned a few Alpina’s, which were superb in terms of build quality, but I wouldn’t class them as a micro brand.
+1 for steinhart . They are extremely high quality . I have an ocean one GMT.
It feels like a much more expensive watch than it is . And is extremely comfortable and keeps great time .
Acquired this Visitor awhile ago, it’s a bit dressy but absolutely stunning, the finish is superb and so unusual.
My microbrand watches are top quality, Minotto marina, Horloscaphe, Yema, all good!
Out of all the mechanical watches I’ve had, my Steinhart Marine was probably the most accurate out of the box. Top marks to Günter Steinhart and his team!
RLT - The older stuff was very good, I seem to recall he used to sell Ollech & Wajs stuff I assume they made some stuff for him as they seemed to be the same cases and dials. Later stuff was a bit hit and miss but the vast majority of his watches were very well made and excellent value for money.
Timefactors - Owned a few all of them pre - owned. Good value for money and very well made.
Zeno - Well made similar to the above two
Stowa (Not sure if they are considered a micro brand?) Excellent quality I found to be better than the above
Tourby - A little more than Stowa and not as well known but the quality I think is slightly above Stowa. Very well made, the customer service by the way from Tourby is excellent.
I really like the the look of Baltic, anybody have any experience with them? Are they worth the price point?
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Yeah, I agree with Benarus - my Moray 38mm is built like a rock!
I have two timefactors watches,sold a Scurfa and a Mercer,nothing wrong with any of them just couldn’t bond with the last two.
Newmark - Just the 6bb but very impressed with it.
Gruppo Gamma - Have owned nine but now down to four. Gone up in price as of late due to more expensive movements used, overall quality has always been good.
Timefactors - Have several new and pre-owned (but well looked after) always been of good quality build and vfm.
RLT- Have three of these atm all pre-owned, all of good quality and again vfm.
I have a bunch of micro brands and have flipped a few others:
Baltic HMS-001 which I flipped - nice looking watch, it just felt a little insubstantial to me.
Unimatic U2-C - built like a rock, weird (case shape), love it
Benarus Moray 38mm - built like a rock, this is my camping, kayaking watch
Brew HP1 - love it, beautiful, weird (case shape) - good quality
A couple of Timefactors in the post...
Steinhart every time have an 6 year old GMT never misses a beat.
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