DC Hannai
Microbrands are one of the best things that often need to happen in the conservative watch industry. The tendency of enthusiasts to harness the power of subcontractor production on a smaller scale has really brought original designs to watch fans, and is reminded of vintage favorites that are out of reach of the average collector. We are also promoting underrate watchmaking brands. And when the microbrand really makes it right, it’s an advantage for both of you. Here we have 12 of the best microbrands offering great design, a balanced lineup, great value and a winning customer experience.
Fran Mari
Talk about FOMO: Furlan Marri quickly smashed it out of the gate with the first release of Mechaquartz Chronographs, which leaned towards that retro. The watches are extremely popular, and after just seven months of business, the brand won the prestigious Revelation of Watches at the Grand Prix de Holollogarie des Geneva. From its first release, it has been expanded to an attractive automatic movement sector dial model (including a lovely salmon version) and added an addition to the Furlan Marri Mechaquartz collection. It plunges into the world of mechanical, enduring calendars, presenting works featuring unique silver-based LaJuze Power at its only watch auction in 2023. Can it portend a permanent calendar of standard catalogs? Only time can be seen. Time + Tide Shop is an authorized dealer for Furlan Marri in Australia.
Celica
Serica’s Designs combines the refined Parisian fashion with the coolest things from Alain Delon. There are plenty of classic clues and look like an expanded catalogue that includes field watches, elegant trim divers and now GMT. Style’s arbiter Matt Hranek (the man and his watch) put in two cents when the 4512 Field Watch was in development, but it’s now a Cosk certified 5303 diver who really punches my ticket. The dial has graphic energy that reminds you of 50’s jazz album covers, with dual-scale steel and ceramic bezels allowing you to track both diving times and second time zones. From the Svelte 39 x 46.5 x 12.2mm dimensions to sweeping lyr’s lugs and its wavy mesh bracelets, it’s a whimsical cocktail swirling with foreign conspiracies. It is also highly capable and devastating handsome, with a coercive, shocking, and water resistant to 200 meters. This is a tool watch that won’t hesitate to pair with Turnbull & Asser shirts and crazy Hermes tie. Serica Watch is available from the Time+Tide Shop.
Imitation
Italian imaginative hIt carves the space between the Micros with the bold, graphical interpretations of the classic tool watch, and is constantly evolving as it focuses on limited editions. Where other brands tend to add, Unimatic Genius It removes visual excess. In doing so, the watch looks like more of a factor than what’s out there, and I love it. As Miles Davis famously said, “It’s not a note you play, it’s a note you don’t play.” Its lineup includes riffs from four basic platforms, named UNO (Diver), Due (Field Watch), TRE (Chronograph), and Quattro (Fixed-Bezel Military Watch), and many variants have been released. Far from the careful design prudence, Unimatic shows it As proven by collaborations featuring Spongebob, NASA and more, you don’t hate a bit of fun South Park. No matter which design speaks to you, all Unimatics offers robust build quality, 300 meters water resistance, and reliable Seiko Automatic or Mecha Colts movements.
A more distant universal
Of all the microbrands out there, the farther Universal has proven fearless when it comes to colour. Its growing roster includes classic three-hand, diver, GMT, chronograph and even a lunar phase model, but the wild hues on display stand out stand out even more with traditionalists. Is it decorated with a manual chrono with a bright white dial and bezel, with eye-catching red and blue markers? Reach titanium bernina. How about the pink 36mm GMT? Courtesy of Lander Kano, you can have it too. When you peruse the entire farther catalogue, you will definitely find it, so expect it to be unexpected. And to avoid thinking that the brand is just a collection of pretty faces, the watches have their specs speak to and make them a powerful value play, with the high quality Swiss Celta movement under the hood.
Beaucroft
No matter how much opinion you have, qualified designers are almost always going to design watches better than you. Beaucroft started by creating a completely bespoke watch and working with Lionel Ritchie, but now it has mandated the cutouts in favor of a watch that is designed and completely proud of. Based in Cambridge, UK, the microbrand is a member of the British Watch & Watch Maker Alliance and an official partner at Cambridge University. Creative minimalism, British assembly and premium Miyota moves regulated internally for accuracy are all part of Beaucroft’s impressive value proposition.
Echo/Nutra
The Core Echo/Nutra Team is skilled in very different ways, including design, architecture, rocket propulsion, extreme sports. Not all of these aspects are immediately apparent in the watch design, but we can see that there is something different about this brand. Most striking is the ability to remain thematically consistent across these different styles of the collection, including a rectangular dress watch that evokes brutal architecture, a pilot’s realistic lunar watch, and even a homage to divers in the 1950s. They are all made in Switzerland, with outstanding build quality and refined refinement, with Serrata movements to keep prices as affordable as possible while offering luxurious quality. You can purchase your Echo/Neutra Watch exclusively in store from Tide+Tide Watch Discovery Studio in Melbourne.
Lorca
For microbrands, which have only been released in two models, Lorca had a major impact with its keen clinical approach to designing languages ​​from the 50s to early 60s. The first watch, the aptly named Model No. 1 GMT uses the Swiss Sorod Caliber C125 R4 in a petite 36mm case, making it your beloved little dressy tool watch. The steel bezel and neat printing are refined as the 200m water resistance and the 24-hour bezel boost its utility. Next is the Model No. 2 chronograph with a hand-wound cella movement that offers a beautiful triple register look that is not lacking in appeal. The sunburst dial and guilloche bezel add a level of decoration that most sports watches lack, let alone a chronograph with a water-resistant 100m.
ANOMA
There are several micro-brands that make the design very appropriate and become legendary before you release the watch. ANOMA is one of the latest examples. That first A1 model is very sculptural, to play with rotating triangles and soft edges to get mystical and asymmetrical results. This case is particularly inspired by tables by medieval designer Charlotte Perion, and interprets the shape of “pebble” in a much more unique way than traditional round watch cases. Still, nothing is balanced about the watch, and the attention to detail is incredible for the price range. The A1 is currently being released with blue and black dials, but it’s fair to say that there is a high prediction for the second clock shape.
Loria
Lorier was one of the first micro-brands to complete the niche of sports watches of the 1950s, immersed in dressy elements. Some of the more derivative heritage models, such as Neptune, Falcon, and Hyperion, have become a staple in collections for those looking for vintage styles on a micro-brand budget, while Hydra, Olympia and Astra run in a much more original direction with Lorier’s distinctive style. There was also some luxurious limited edition runners with a tonneau-covered Zephyr dripping in Art Deco influence, and a Lorier X Worn & Scarred Stargazer that fused sci-fi style with throwbacks to obscure Russian watches called Raketa Kopernik.
Studio Underd0g
A series of successes that ironicize the name has led micro-brand enthusiasts to expect the best from the studio Underd0G. Originally, it gained popularity from the 01 series of twin registered chronographs, based on fun, fruity color combinations. The 02Series field focuses on color and execution as a much bigger point of difference, with quirky shapes to take on quirky shapes. The Studio UnderD0G brand power has secured a deal with Seagull, one of the world’s largest movement manufacturers, and is therefore signed for an improved version of the iconic ST-1901B chronograph calibre. Studio UnderD0G watches are available from the Time+Tide Shop.
Galvin Watch Company
A common tactic for microbrands is to pretend that they are just a large corporation that actually runs by one person and that they seem more legal. In the case of Galvin Watch Company, founder Susan Garvin is proud to acknowledge himself as a collecting all his watches in Sydney, Australia. Born in Finland, much of her designs are inspired by Scandinavian flavours, but the Giroche Patter dial is completely captivating. The Loimu and Suvi watches have outstanding designs, but the debut Alku is a great watch for people with a simpler taste. All Garbin watches are medium sized gender neutral, easily suitable for wrists.
