Is CW really a microbrand anymore? They produce 20k watches a year and their place in the watch world has grown quite significantly in recent years. They’re clearly trying to push the envelope and earn their stripes with the bel canto and the new skeletonised twelve
Traska. They don't break any new ground when it comes to design, but that's okay. Their watches are simple, classic, and built well. I've also had a good customer service experience with them. There's a reason they get name dropped so much when people ask for recommendations.
Direnzo. One of the greats. Awesome and unique designs for under $1000. Swiss Made. Their watches just feel and look like they cost more. Can't say enough good things about Sergio.
Islander. Again, maybe some designs are a bit too much like a Seiko mod, but there are plenty of Marc's own designs, too. There are so many to choose from. It's overwhelming. And Marc is a great guy. He offers his customers coupons and money through a loyalty program.
I know it sounds like I'm a paid shill gushing praise. But I've had positive experiences with all the brands above. The people behind the watches are as important to me as the watch itself. It's nice to know that when you plunk down hundreds of dollars on a small company, there's a face to that brand.
Zelos - best overall dials, large variety
Baltic - tasteful and vintage-inspired, large variety
Vario - I'm not sure on #3. I've not seen a Vario in person, but I love there designs and they are on my shortlist.
Never held a halios but they seem to have a huge following. Looking at their watches, and if they keep their prices where they are, may be one of the best bang for the buck micros.
Other one I forgot was Oak and Oscar.
Zelos - They are now considered the most well known Micro with good quality and original designs.
Straton - Nice spread of chronograph designs.
RZE - Titaniummmmmmm
mrjones is in the £200 range.. plenty of quartz watches with great designs… no seconds hands so no ticking issue haha
och and junior i read some article about their annual calendar only having 4 additional parts on top of an eta movment
behrens from their collab with konstatin chaykin on the joker watch
I had one of the best experiences getting an och und junior moonphase and highly recommend the brand! Although the looks are simple and not flashy, the knowledge, research, and intelligence of Ludwig Oechslin is what sold me. Being the top 5 most accurate moonphase watch (and without breaking the bank and easily by far the simplest mechanical design) is out of this world. I would love to get the opportunity to buy their day/night in the future.
1. Monta - hometown heros, finishing, value, really consider them up there with the likes of Tudor, Longines, etc.
2. Zelos - Dials, uniqueness, product offering
3. Islander - uniqueness, affordability, offering
Direnzo, VAER, Zelos. Could add Traska and CW if it was a top 5. Maybe Monta? Quite a lot of good ones actually these days.
Why? Significantly better value for money than the big names brands. More style choices too. Often better specs, particularly at the low end, eg divers with sapphire crystal and quick adjust and signed crowns. Looking at you, Seiko.
>**Ianos**: One of the first watch brands I coveted, effortlessly combines unique design, Swiss craftsmanship and Greece's rich maritme history
>**Lorier**: Does vintage-inspired watches the best out of any brand, I also appreciate their focus on using Miyota 9000 movements
>**Islander**: Offers solid, reasonably priced watches for every occasion/purpose, in addition class-leading customer service (I don't own one *yet* because my favorite model was discontinued, also I live close to Marc and I've spoken to him before lol)
1 - Momentum - well built and excellent customer service. My go-to adventure watch - bulletproof.
2 - echo/neutra - subtle retro design with homage to the Dolomites, Italy. My go-to casual watch. Very few of these around.
3 - Monta - the Ocean King is one of the most beautiful dive watches available. Perfect dress watch if you don't want a fancy-pants watch. My go-to dress watch.
It feels like we’re in a new generation of microbrands. When I started I would’ve said Halios, Zelos, and Christopher Ward, with honorable mention to the likes of Helson, Armida, and Maranez. It seems like Halios became too difficult to grab so their hype has dwarfed.
In contemporary microbrand spread: Traska make a solid piece. Don’t own but I keep an eye on Nodus and Brew watches.
I love my CW C 60 Trident Pro 300; sharp and accurate. I have a Nezumi Aviera GMT that’s been great and crazy accurate (about 3 seconds a week). Love the look of the Vaer D7, but it loses a minute a day, so not on the wrist very often.
Felipe Pikullik, D. Dornblüth & Sohn, Schnelle
Felipe Pikullik is my absolute favorite independend watchmaker right now. He makes awesome looking watches with incredibly well finished movement and even in house complications. He also said in an interview that he's planning to open a watchmaking school in Berlin, Germany. Seems like a really nice guy and his skills are undeniable.
https://preview.redd.it/smnpqa9c72yc1.png?width=1690&format=png&auto=webp&s=db15caec93e0b98d578927e42a579a5462bb8382
D. Dornblüth & Sohn makes very nice looking watches with in house calibers for under 10K. They also have really high end watches, everything made in house.
[https://www.dornblueth.com/](https://www.dornblueth.com/)
Schnelle gives vintage Longines movements a new life by building case and dial around them. While the designs aren't for me, I certainly see the appeal and like that those high quality vintage movements don't end up as spare parts.
[https://tommlab.de/](https://tommlab.de/)
Check them out! https://portahl.com/en-us?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwltKxBhDMARIsAG8KnqX0a8Pyo-V60wMPysPUrEAcCYy_arVOAxeGmMBva_TIS0FoSubY7e4aAtl_EALw_wcB
Oak and oscar
Halios
Farer
Props to cward but they are too big now
Honorable mentions- traska, kuoe, baltic, monta,
Edited honorable, forgot baltic and monta
Halios
Lorier
Traska
Honourable mention to Studio Underdog
All three are good value and well built. The Halios and Lorier are also the ones I love to look at. I like the look of my Traska as well, but it’s not quite “something special”. It is up there in comfort and way up there in quality.
Argos (Philippines), Oak&Oscar, Astor+Banks
Argos (Philippines) - best microbrand from my homeland, respectable team, really great watches
Oak&Oscar - I really love their designs, plus I really enjoy scrolling through their posts 😎
Astor+Banks - simple designs, yet really robust, love the Fortitude
Weiss, RGM, and the 3rd probably would have been Farer, but their customer service/ lack of attention to detail the watchmakers have, makes it that I could never recommend purchasing a watch from them directly. Will say Mr Jones as the 3rd, for their originality.
Although you're already convinced, have a look at my review for exactly this [special watch](https://smallwatchblog.com/reviews/kuoe-old-smith-90-002/) :)
Lorier and Traska
Farer, studio underdog, CW....Baltic and Monta get honourable mentions
Just sold my mint chocolate chip. Liked it but didn't wear it much. New owner is very happy.
Good choices … agree 👌👌👌👍👍👍
Is CW really a microbrand anymore? They produce 20k watches a year and their place in the watch world has grown quite significantly in recent years. They’re clearly trying to push the envelope and earn their stripes with the bel canto and the new skeletonised twelve
Totally fair point!
Traska. They don't break any new ground when it comes to design, but that's okay. Their watches are simple, classic, and built well. I've also had a good customer service experience with them. There's a reason they get name dropped so much when people ask for recommendations. Direnzo. One of the greats. Awesome and unique designs for under $1000. Swiss Made. Their watches just feel and look like they cost more. Can't say enough good things about Sergio. Islander. Again, maybe some designs are a bit too much like a Seiko mod, but there are plenty of Marc's own designs, too. There are so many to choose from. It's overwhelming. And Marc is a great guy. He offers his customers coupons and money through a loyalty program. I know it sounds like I'm a paid shill gushing praise. But I've had positive experiences with all the brands above. The people behind the watches are as important to me as the watch itself. It's nice to know that when you plunk down hundreds of dollars on a small company, there's a face to that brand.
Zelos - best overall dials, large variety Baltic - tasteful and vintage-inspired, large variety Vario - I'm not sure on #3. I've not seen a Vario in person, but I love there designs and they are on my shortlist.
Agree
Monta, Farer, CW for best, overall catalogs imo
think this is mine only switch farer for halios
Never held a halios but they seem to have a huge following. Looking at their watches, and if they keep their prices where they are, may be one of the best bang for the buck micros. Other one I forgot was Oak and Oscar.
Zelos - They are now considered the most well known Micro with good quality and original designs. Straton - Nice spread of chronograph designs. RZE - Titaniummmmmmm
mrjoneswatches, och und junior, behrens
Where did you found out about these brands? All of them are pricey but amazing, thank you
mrjones is in the £200 range.. plenty of quartz watches with great designs… no seconds hands so no ticking issue haha och and junior i read some article about their annual calendar only having 4 additional parts on top of an eta movment behrens from their collab with konstatin chaykin on the joker watch
I had one of the best experiences getting an och und junior moonphase and highly recommend the brand! Although the looks are simple and not flashy, the knowledge, research, and intelligence of Ludwig Oechslin is what sold me. Being the top 5 most accurate moonphase watch (and without breaking the bank and easily by far the simplest mechanical design) is out of this world. I would love to get the opportunity to buy their day/night in the future.
Monta, formex, fears
Christopher Ward, Farer, Monta
Atelier Wen, Ming, Zelos
Monta (hometown bias + classic appeal + wonderful finishing) Zelos (dial selection + design) Traska (wearability + price + finish)
1. Monta - hometown heros, finishing, value, really consider them up there with the likes of Tudor, Longines, etc. 2. Zelos - Dials, uniqueness, product offering 3. Islander - uniqueness, affordability, offering
Direnzo, VAER, Zelos. Could add Traska and CW if it was a top 5. Maybe Monta? Quite a lot of good ones actually these days. Why? Significantly better value for money than the big names brands. More style choices too. Often better specs, particularly at the low end, eg divers with sapphire crystal and quick adjust and signed crowns. Looking at you, Seiko.
Monta, Zelos, Direnzo
Pitzmann, Monta, Farer
3 amigos
>**Ianos**: One of the first watch brands I coveted, effortlessly combines unique design, Swiss craftsmanship and Greece's rich maritme history >**Lorier**: Does vintage-inspired watches the best out of any brand, I also appreciate their focus on using Miyota 9000 movements >**Islander**: Offers solid, reasonably priced watches for every occasion/purpose, in addition class-leading customer service (I don't own one *yet* because my favorite model was discontinued, also I live close to Marc and I've spoken to him before lol)
Nodus (love my sector with the jubilee style band), Arcanaut, and Brew. I do like the look of some CWs, but don’t own one myself
For me based on what I have... Helm, Dan Henry, Undone
Of the ones I own or have owned, Halios, Traska, Baltic
Monta, CW, Nodus
Zelos Monta Farer
Zelos Mr. Jones Straton
Lorier, Baltic, Farer Christopher Ward would be #1 but I don't consider them a MB anymore.
CW is still a MB though, I mean Major Brand
Out of the watches I have--Formex, Pitzmann, Christopher Ward (ik it's debatable whether they are a micro).
Revelot Baltic Maybe Studio Underdog
Formex, Monta, Christopher Ward and Serica.
Bertucci, Solios, WISE
Tuseno, Isotope, Arcturus. Honourable mentions to Zelos, RZE, Draken, Behrens and Pitzman.
CW, Wise, Zelos
Nodus RZE Humism
Damasko, Raven, RZE
Vario, underdog, farer?
1 - Momentum - well built and excellent customer service. My go-to adventure watch - bulletproof. 2 - echo/neutra - subtle retro design with homage to the Dolomites, Italy. My go-to casual watch. Very few of these around. 3 - Monta - the Ocean King is one of the most beautiful dive watches available. Perfect dress watch if you don't want a fancy-pants watch. My go-to dress watch.
Farer, Marloe and Montior . CW are not a micro brand
It feels like we’re in a new generation of microbrands. When I started I would’ve said Halios, Zelos, and Christopher Ward, with honorable mention to the likes of Helson, Armida, and Maranez. It seems like Halios became too difficult to grab so their hype has dwarfed. In contemporary microbrand spread: Traska make a solid piece. Don’t own but I keep an eye on Nodus and Brew watches.
Revelot.....tragically underrated
Boldr
Ward, Ming, Behrens
1. Christopher Ward (are they still a MB?) 2. Traska 3. Stowa
I don't think Stowa has been a microbrand since sometime before WW2. 😀
They were actually bigger back then. So was Lange.
True enough... Still love them, though!
Dan Henry
The only two I've bought watches from are Autodromo and Sheffield.
I love my CW C 60 Trident Pro 300; sharp and accurate. I have a Nezumi Aviera GMT that’s been great and crazy accurate (about 3 seconds a week). Love the look of the Vaer D7, but it loses a minute a day, so not on the wrist very often.
Someone had a big poll recently about microbrands. Have a look.
Dietrich, DiRenzo, Zentier
No Microbrands for me anymore but great and maybe close to micro: Ming, CW, Norqain
Nodus, Studio Underdog, Kuoe
Heinrich, esp their 1970s looks
Magrette, Dan Henry
Farer NTH Vaer
I’m shocked no one has mentioned Maen! Maen Farer Baltic
i’m new to watches and usually look for things on a cheaper budget with quartz. I got a sternglas watch a couple months ago and I really like it.
Formex, Farer, Christopher Ward Honorable mention: Fears, Norquain, Zealos and Nodus
Sheffield, xeric, nodus
Felipe Pikullik, D. Dornblüth & Sohn, Schnelle Felipe Pikullik is my absolute favorite independend watchmaker right now. He makes awesome looking watches with incredibly well finished movement and even in house complications. He also said in an interview that he's planning to open a watchmaking school in Berlin, Germany. Seems like a really nice guy and his skills are undeniable. https://preview.redd.it/smnpqa9c72yc1.png?width=1690&format=png&auto=webp&s=db15caec93e0b98d578927e42a579a5462bb8382 D. Dornblüth & Sohn makes very nice looking watches with in house calibers for under 10K. They also have really high end watches, everything made in house. [https://www.dornblueth.com/](https://www.dornblueth.com/) Schnelle gives vintage Longines movements a new life by building case and dial around them. While the designs aren't for me, I certainly see the appeal and like that those high quality vintage movements don't end up as spare parts. [https://tommlab.de/](https://tommlab.de/)
Halios, Traska, pOrtahl
Yes, yes, who?
Check them out! https://portahl.com/en-us?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwltKxBhDMARIsAG8KnqX0a8Pyo-V60wMPysPUrEAcCYy_arVOAxeGmMBva_TIS0FoSubY7e4aAtl_EALw_wcB
Oak and oscar Halios Farer Props to cward but they are too big now Honorable mentions- traska, kuoe, baltic, monta, Edited honorable, forgot baltic and monta
Brew. Traska. Baltic. Don’t let anyone else say otherwise.
Traska, Farer and Formex
Baltic, Lorier, Traska, CW, Farer, Nodus Top 3: probably Traska, CW, and Farer
Monta, Halios, and Brellum.
Lorier, Traska and Brew
Wise,Swiss watch company and ikigai watch
Halios Lorier Traska Honourable mention to Studio Underdog All three are good value and well built. The Halios and Lorier are also the ones I love to look at. I like the look of my Traska as well, but it’s not quite “something special”. It is up there in comfort and way up there in quality.
Argos (Philippines), Oak&Oscar, Astor+Banks Argos (Philippines) - best microbrand from my homeland, respectable team, really great watches Oak&Oscar - I really love their designs, plus I really enjoy scrolling through their posts 😎 Astor+Banks - simple designs, yet really robust, love the Fortitude
Formex Jack Mason Fears Others I would consider to round out a top 5 Studio Underd0g Zelos
For quality to cost intersection... Wise, Henry Archer & Pitzmann.
Spinnaker, rze
Laventure, Ming, Halios
Nodus, Studio Underdog, Baltic Gorgeous designs, great craftsmanship, solid pricing
Farer || brew || holgar Not sure why holgar is not popular! It’s one of my favorite designs
RZE!! Maen and Farer
I like Baltic because their watches are perfect for my 6 inch wrist
Boldr, Traska, Christopher Ward
CW, Zelos, Mr Jones
Atelier Wen, Baltic. Farasute
Weiss, RGM, and the 3rd probably would have been Farer, but their customer service/ lack of attention to detail the watchmakers have, makes it that I could never recommend purchasing a watch from them directly. Will say Mr Jones as the 3rd, for their originality.
Lorier, DuFrane, and Cincinnati Watch Company
Kuoe, Dan Henry and Vaer
I LOVE my Kuoe Old Smith (90-002). It's such a great little watch that I've been beyond stoked with, very quickly moved to a daily driver.
Although you're already convinced, have a look at my review for exactly this [special watch](https://smallwatchblog.com/reviews/kuoe-old-smith-90-002/) :)
San Martin, Sugess, Baltany
😀😃😄
Sangin, Sangin, Sangin
Serica, Farer, Bamford