If you have been in the microbrand watch world for a while, you have probably seen PerpetuaL. This Hong Kong watchmaker was one of the original microbrands and has been…
282Articles
If you were a watch designer, what would you create? Set aside marketability, cost, and any possible lack of training and talent. Just pretend with me for a moment. Are…
Believe it or not, this is the third time around at The Time Bum for the Second Hour Gin Clear. First released via Kickstarter in 2020 and then revised in…
Stephen O’Connor is the man behind The British Bench, an independent website documenting where British watches are designed, manufactured, assembled, regulated, and tested. Establishing the country of manufacture for any…
I am wearing a Microbrand Watch of the Year contender. This Indian watch sold for $42, sold out in a flash, and they won’t ship to the United States. If…
Watchmakers draw inspiration from all manner of sources, running the gamut from the commonplace, “What if I reimagined this other, more expensive watch?” to the bizarre, “What if Ziggy Stardust…
In 2022, Ivan Chua of Vario did the unexpected when he released the Versa, an affordable, dual-faced, art deco watch in the spirit of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duo and Cartier Tank…
If you are steeped in watch media – podcasts, trade journals, and perhaps some lovable enthusiast blogs – you’ve likely come across a host or writer pondering what they would…
Imperial Watch Company entered the microbrand arena in 2022 with the release of the Royal Guard 200. In my review, I praised its retro charm and declared it to be…
When I see a retro-inspired watch, I ask myself if it is intended to be viewed as a product of the past or of the present. For example, if I…
The Bernhardt Watch Company of North Carolina was a microbrand before anyone called independent watchmakers “microbrands.” Founded in 2005, this family-owned business developed a fiercely loyal following of enthusiasts and…
Hemel has long been known for its military and tool watches, and while it has continued those themes with its Eyelandt collection, the sub-brand has also provided a place to…
To paraphrase Linda Martell, field watches are a funny little genre, aren’t they? It encompasses archetypal styles, military styles, other military styles, futuristic lovable oddball military styles – the genre…
The first mechanical watch I ever bought was a Jack Mason Pursuit Pilot, the original version from the days when the brand was showing signs of shifting away from its…
Sources
network of watch sites
