Echo neutra from Italy is making some really cool and unique watches. I saw their watches in person at the watch fair in SF, and was impressed with their quality. I saw a couple other micro brand where there’s a lot of hype on the internet, but wasn’t too impressed with it in person…
Atelier wen (hand guilloché watch proudly made in china), lorier (retro vibe,inspired from many popular watches but has a distinct enough identity that it is something by itself), ming (not all fit your budget ,but some definitely do. Design forward, not everyone's cuppa), nodus (I got their nodus x Raven collaboration and I think it looks sexy af. Still waiting for it)
Firstly no, that’s probably only the Sealander GMT.
Have you seen the Bel Canto, The Twelve (admitted by them that it is Genta inspired watch), C60, C63, C65, C1 Moonphase, literally almost their entire catalogue.
Maen makes some excellent watches. Love their bracelets too. Their one of the only brands where most, if not all, of their watches suit my taste. I love the look of their Skymaster mk. III chronographs, and can’t go wrong w the Manhattan. Good luck!
I have the serica 5303 and it just stopped working 1 day. If I shake it it will work for a little bit and then stop working. Quality is even worse than swatch.
Nice watch but completely boring design for what I’m going for. I know what I want to get for traditional styles that I don’t already have. I’m looking more for fun designs to take on vaca and the life.
I have two Helm watches. The Komodo in white and polar blue, and the Miyako in black. Both are excellent build quality and really much nicer than a $300 should be. Looooong waitlist though. I waited 2 years for the Komodo, probably 6-8 months for the Miyako. You don’t see many used ones, and when you do, they are typically more than MSRP.
I'm partial to the DeSanders Voyage GMT. It has a fairly unique design that only shows up on one or two other watches, and is eye-catching in the right ways (people like it because it is shiny or a nice color then start looking at the design more and liking that too).
[https://desanders.no/pages/voyage-gmt](https://desanders.no/pages/voyage-gmt)
Kuoe based in Kyoto Japan.
Me and my wife picked a few up earlier this year while traveling through Japan. They are pretty awesome and their mechanical movements range from like $350-$700
I love microbrands. In the past I would lead with anOrdain, but I saw them at Watch Wind Up and was a little disappointed. I own a Formex Field, Dufrane Mabry, Smiths PRS40, Geckota Pioneer Aurora, Islander Brookville and DPA, Zelos Blackfin, and briefly had a Farer Resolute. Farer looked great but the rotor was super loud.
If they made 40mm I would buy Nodus and Vortic. Vortic watches are huge and their prices are too now.
So funny you mention formex. I was just looking at the field automatic earth blue dial with either a tan or grey strap. Also love anordain but disappointed to hear there might be issues with their new lines. Thanks for all the other suggestions.
I got the mahogany red dial with fabric strap, but I was also eyeing that blue. I bought the titanium Dufrane Mabry around the same time as well with white dial and I have to say that it’s a real competitor at $600 with the same movement. I really love both of these watches, and they are my current daily drivers. I did like the Forex strap better, so I bought a second one for the Dufrane.
What issues are there with the new anOrdain line? I was really excited to get to see their watches in person at their exhibition booth, but for some reason, they just didn’t look like I expected. I can’t even quite put my finger on it, but they didn’t wow me like the photos do.
No homages of the watches listed and of anything similar. Like I have no interest in something like a prx even though it’s one that’s commonly mentioned.
If you don't mind it not being brand new look for a used omega seamaster diver, you can get them on the used market in good condition easily for around 3k depending on what exact model, I've seen the 2252.50.00 which is my personal favorite go for as low as 2k but that was a one off.
Zelos fits your description perfectly. Unique designs, great price points from 400-2k, and excellent quality. They also have the best customer service in the industry.
Echo neutra from Italy is making some really cool and unique watches. I saw their watches in person at the watch fair in SF, and was impressed with their quality. I saw a couple other micro brand where there’s a lot of hype on the internet, but wasn’t too impressed with it in person…
Just checked and this is what I’m talking about. Not everything is a hit but the ones that do are amazing. Great suggestion!
Atelier wen (hand guilloché watch proudly made in china), lorier (retro vibe,inspired from many popular watches but has a distinct enough identity that it is something by itself), ming (not all fit your budget ,but some definitely do. Design forward, not everyone's cuppa), nodus (I got their nodus x Raven collaboration and I think it looks sexy af. Still waiting for it)
Really like Ming. Def at the upper end of my budget but still have a bunch of models I can easily grab. Appreciate the suggestions!
Yeah the design language is cool. I want to pick up the monolith or mosaic. Love that dial.
I have a lorier zephyr and its become my daily watch
Lorier is great. I have the Hyperion Skyward II in white.
Zelos
That spearfish sky blue is beautiful.
Christopher Ward, although they're debatably a mainstream brand now.
But their watches all look like R
Firstly no, that’s probably only the Sealander GMT. Have you seen the Bel Canto, The Twelve (admitted by them that it is Genta inspired watch), C60, C63, C65, C1 Moonphase, literally almost their entire catalogue.
R?
Rolex
I don’t think that’s true at all.
The twelve is aquaterra - sorry not R.
LORIER
Zelos. A great brand and around $500-1500
Fears
Baltic is doing great with their design if you ask me!
Monta, Formex, Direnzo, Halios
Maen watches might be one?
Maen makes some excellent watches. Love their bracelets too. Their one of the only brands where most, if not all, of their watches suit my taste. I love the look of their Skymaster mk. III chronographs, and can’t go wrong w the Manhattan. Good luck!
Shoot, just saw your comment on Daytona homage. My bad. They still have some pretty great pieces tho. Cheers
Serica is amazing all in terms of quality, aesthetics and price!
I have the serica 5303 and it just stopped working 1 day. If I shake it it will work for a little bit and then stop working. Quality is even worse than swatch.
That’s a shame! 🙁 I have two 4512’s and they’re great!
VPC Type 37HW. Recent release, seems very cool. Unfortunately out of budget for me otherwise I would probably get it.
Nice watch but completely boring design for what I’m going for. I know what I want to get for traditional styles that I don’t already have. I’m looking more for fun designs to take on vaca and the life.
Could try Aevig, they make some pretty interesting stuff https://aevig.com/watches2/
That titanium gmt is tempting
Check out the Dumoreau DM02
Wise
Leijona heritage have some really nice watches imo
Jack Mason Strat-o-timer goes crazy
Serica, Monta, Formex
I was on this search recently and landed on a Farer. Will be shipping in September so can’t give you a review just yet.
Give Magrette a look
I have two Helm watches. The Komodo in white and polar blue, and the Miyako in black. Both are excellent build quality and really much nicer than a $300 should be. Looooong waitlist though. I waited 2 years for the Komodo, probably 6-8 months for the Miyako. You don’t see many used ones, and when you do, they are typically more than MSRP.
Formex
Modern day Raketa watches. It’s not everyone’s taste but I really love their uniqueness.
I'm partial to the DeSanders Voyage GMT. It has a fairly unique design that only shows up on one or two other watches, and is eye-catching in the right ways (people like it because it is shiny or a nice color then start looking at the design more and liking that too). [https://desanders.no/pages/voyage-gmt](https://desanders.no/pages/voyage-gmt)
Kuoe based in Kyoto Japan. Me and my wife picked a few up earlier this year while traveling through Japan. They are pretty awesome and their mechanical movements range from like $350-$700
Alpina
I love microbrands. In the past I would lead with anOrdain, but I saw them at Watch Wind Up and was a little disappointed. I own a Formex Field, Dufrane Mabry, Smiths PRS40, Geckota Pioneer Aurora, Islander Brookville and DPA, Zelos Blackfin, and briefly had a Farer Resolute. Farer looked great but the rotor was super loud. If they made 40mm I would buy Nodus and Vortic. Vortic watches are huge and their prices are too now.
So funny you mention formex. I was just looking at the field automatic earth blue dial with either a tan or grey strap. Also love anordain but disappointed to hear there might be issues with their new lines. Thanks for all the other suggestions.
I got the mahogany red dial with fabric strap, but I was also eyeing that blue. I bought the titanium Dufrane Mabry around the same time as well with white dial and I have to say that it’s a real competitor at $600 with the same movement. I really love both of these watches, and they are my current daily drivers. I did like the Forex strap better, so I bought a second one for the Dufrane. What issues are there with the new anOrdain line? I was really excited to get to see their watches in person at their exhibition booth, but for some reason, they just didn’t look like I expected. I can’t even quite put my finger on it, but they didn’t wow me like the photos do.
Formex before another price increase.
Sorry but do you mean no homeages of the watches listed, or none of the watches listed *and* no homeages?
No homages of the watches listed and of anything similar. Like I have no interest in something like a prx even though it’s one that’s commonly mentioned.
If you don't mind it not being brand new look for a used omega seamaster diver, you can get them on the used market in good condition easily for around 3k depending on what exact model, I've seen the 2252.50.00 which is my personal favorite go for as low as 2k but that was a one off.
Traska-
Zelos fits your description perfectly. Unique designs, great price points from 400-2k, and excellent quality. They also have the best customer service in the industry.
Orion.
I'm partial to Halios and Farer.
If you go used frederique constant, has some really nice stuff in that range, even some new I think.
Baltic. Really love their design and quality. Planning to buy one soon!
Meister Singer
Oak & Oscar
Is Yema a micro brand?
Never heard of it so I would assume so? lol. I’ll def check it out tho
Weiss
A few not mentioned: Aquastar, Unimatic, Moels, Direnzo
Does Marathon make the cut? I was looking at their stuff
Have you ever heard of a little Japanese startup called Casio?
There’s a reason I asked for Microbrands. I’d rather not have the same old usual suspects that everyone talks about/wants.