25 Best Boutique Watch Microbrands

anOrdain utilizes the lost art of fusing glass with metal, creating an impressive range of dress watches.

Microbrands are great because, thanks to their size, they can offer niche watches that may be of particular interest to a small minority of the watch community. One such brand, which is an excellent example, is anOrdain. Founded in 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland, where a team of ten people designs and manufactures watches, anOrdain specializes in Grand Feu enamel dials. Enameling is a painstaking and difficult-to-master practice that involves fusing glass with metal at extremely high temperatures, and anOrdain helps revive this lost art with its stunning watches.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Glasgow, Scotland
• Style: Dress
• Popular models: Model 1, Model 2
• Price range: $2,400 to $4,000
• Watch model: Medium Model 1

Chicago-based Astor+Banks produces high-quality sports watches at reasonable prices with classic designs.

Astor+Banks, located in Chicago and founded by watch enthusiast and US military veteran Andrew Perez, has truly made a name for itself over the last couple of years. The brand produces sports watches primarily aimed at enthusiasts, with high build quality and affordable pricing. Current offerings include the Sea Ranger, a unique and attractive hybrid diver and field watch, and the Fortitude, an everyday watch with a vertically brushed bezel and symmetrical dial layout. All Astor+Banks watches undergo final assembly in the company's Chicago workshop.

• Year founded: 2012
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Style: Diver, Field
• Popular models: Sea Ranger, Fortitude
• Price range: $650 to $850
• Watch model: Fortitude Lite

Autodromo produces some of the world's finest racing-inspired watches, as well as accessories like gloves.

Autodromo is another brand focused on a specialized segment, but it does so in a more circuitous and completely different way. The New York-based brand was founded by designer and automotive enthusiast Bradley Price in 2011 as a design-focused car-themed brand. While Autodromo produces items like driving gloves and sunglasses, their core business is watches. Thanks to Price's sharp design skills, Autodromo produces automotive-themed watches that look like nothing else on the market, such as the Group B watches inspired by 80s rally cars.

• Year founded: 2011
• Location: New York
• Style: Sports, Racing-Inspired, Chronograph
• Popular models: Group C, Vallelunga Automatic
• Price range: $475 to $775
• Watch model: Vallelunga Automatic

Baltic makes some of the most expressive vintage-style divers.

A major theme that has emerged in recent years not only among microbrands but also throughout the watch industry is vintage-style watches. It seems every brand is turning to mid-century style for influence on their current models, but few - if any - do it better than Baltic. Founded in Paris in 2017 by Etienne Malec as a sort of homage to his late father's passion for watch collecting, Baltic creates original vintage-inspired models such as the popular Aquascaphe and GMT divers.

• Year founded: 2017
• Location: Paris, France
• Style: Vintage, GMT, Diver
• Popular models: Aquascaphe, Bicompax, HMS
• Price range: $360 to $1,600
• Watch model: Aquascaphe GMT

BOLDR takes the category of field watches and adds its own signature style, all at accessible prices.

The Singapore-based BOLDR Supply Co. was founded in 2015, but you would never know it by looking at their sleek and professional website. The brand has a large product range for a microbrand and a strong identity as a maker of rugged and durable watches and outdoor gear. Their designs are bold, often large, and original, with lots of sharp angles. BOLDR makes watches that are meant to be used and can withstand tough treatment. They currently offer five different lines: Expedition, Odyssey, Venture, Voyage, and Safari.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Singapore
• Style: Field, Outdoor
• Popular models: Venture, Expedition
• Price range: $149 to $699
• Watch model: Expedition II Eiger

Brew possesses one of the most assertive design languages in the industry, offering affordable retro-style watches that far exceed their price tags.

When you look at a brand like Autodromo, it just makes sense. After all, cars and watches overlap a lot when it comes to enthusiast communities. But Brew's connection to the world of watches is a bit more abstract. Founded by designer Jonathan Ferrer in 2015, the New York company Brew draws its inspiration from coffee. And, in fact, it's not as strange as it sounds. Ferrer uses his supernatural sense of good design to draw stylistic inspiration from industrial coffee machines, and conceptually, the brand's ethos is about savoring small moments of time, as happens during a coffee break.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: New York
• Style: Sports, Chronograph
• Popular models: Metric, Retrograph
• Price range: $375 to $475
• Watch model: Retrograph Technicolor

Dan Henry's lineup works inspiredly with the 1930s, naming each of its models after the year it was created.

Even before founding his eponymous microbrand in 2016, Brazilian watch collector Dan Henry was quite a notable figure in the watch industry. His collection and knowledge of vintage watches, presented in his online database timeline.watch, are among the most impressive in the world, and Henry has translated his extensive experience in vintage watches into his series of watches based on style combinations from his collection. While most worthy microbrand watches are in the range of $500 to $2,000, Dan Henry's offerings are much more affordable, priced at $350.

• Year founded: 2016
• Location: Brazil
• Style: Vintage, Sports, Chronograph, Diver
• Popular models: 1939, 1962, 1970
• Price range: $200 to $350
• Watch model: 1970 Automatic Diver

Farer's knowledge of color and accessible retro style have earned the brand a deserving spot on our list.

Of all the brands featured in this list, Farer is perhaps the least like a microbrand watch company. All their watches bear the elusive 'Swiss Made' mark, their beautiful website and social media accounts put many luxury Swiss brands to shame, and they have gained widespread recognition for their ability to use color in their watches in interesting and unexpected ways. But the six-year-old British brand can certainly be classified as micro, as their team comprises fewer than 10 people, and watches priced under $2,000 can only be purchased via the aforementioned site.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: United Kingdom
• Style: Sports, Diver, GMT
• Popular models: Tonneau Automatic, Chrono-Sport, World Timer Automatic
• Price range: $995 to $1,995
• Watch model: World Timer Automatic

One of the oldest microbrands, Halios can compete with more expensive brands and sells out quickly with each release.

Vancouver-based brand Halios has been around longer than most, originating on online forums in 2009. Halios is the brainchild and project of watch enthusiast Jason Lim, who handles practically all aspects of the business himself. Halios is sometimes called the 'Rolex of microbrands,' and it has earned this reputation in several ways. First, their watches are of excellent quality and can compete with much more expensive examples. And second, they are very hard to get. New watches sell out in seconds, and on the pre-owned market, their price often exceeds MSRP. Exclusivity further increases the popularity of modern classic models such as the Seaforth and Fairwind.

• Year founded: 2009
• Location: Vancouver, Canada
• Style: Diver, Casual, Sports
• Popular models: Fairwind, Seaforth IV, Universa
• Price range: $735 to $775
• Watch model: Fairwind

Haven from Indiana has become a fan favorite with its 70s-inspired chronographs and business transparency.

One of the newest brands on this list, Haven released its first watch, the Chilton, in 2019 after the company's founder Weston Cutter decided it would be fun to try making his own vintage-style watch after seeing the prices of real ones skyrocket. The result was a 70s-style chronograph that quickly became a fan favorite and turned Cutter into a watchmaker. The brand assembles its watches in the Midwest from components sourced from around the world and is very transparent about its business model. Haven is a brand to watch, as they are just getting started.

• Year founded: 2019
• Location: Indiana
• Style: Chronograph, Casual
• Popular models: Chilton, Lomax
• Price range: $1,800 to $2,000
• Watch model: The Chilton

Lorier produces some of the best pilot and diver watches inspired by the mid-century, among microbrands and beyond.

Lorier is another microbrand that has turned to vintage watches for inspiration - and not just one era. Founded in 2018 by husband and wife Lorenzo and Lauren Ortega, Lorier from New York quickly became one of the most popular and recognized brands in this area. Their designs draw inspiration from 50s and 60s sports watches, not as copies, but what makes them even more interesting is the way they are made. Lorier uses vintage elements like acrylic crystals to make watches that not only look vintage but feel like new watches would have felt in the mid-century.

• Year founded: 2018
• Location: New York
• Style: Diver, Vintage, Pilot, Chronograph
• Popular models: Neptune, Hyperion
• Price range: $500 to $600
• Watch model: Neptune

MING has become one of the most coveted watch brands due to its unique design and award-winning watchmaking.

Moving to the higher end of microbrands, we have MING. Based in Malaysia, MING is a 'watch collective' of six people, founded by photographer and designer Ming Thein. Since its debut in 2017, the brand has received several impressive awards for its unique and timepieces, along with several awards at the prestigious Grand Prix D’Horlogerie De Genève. MING watches are known for their originality and attention to detail, and although their price sometimes reaches five figures, they are geared toward enthusiasts and sell out almost immediately after release.

• Year founded: 2017
• Location: Malaysia
• Style: Dress, Luxury
• Popular models: 17.09, 37.05
• Price range: $2,600 to $33,000
• Watch model: 17.09 BLUE

Mk II has been around for over two decades and specializes in making homage watches to Rolex and Omega.

Mk II (pronounced as 'Mark Two') is one of the leaders of microbrands. The brand started as one of the first aftermarket watch part manufacturers over two decades ago, then transitioned into a watchmaker. Based in Pennsylvania, Mk II is mostly known for its high-quality homage watches. Their Benchcrafted designs are modern interpretations of long-discontinued Rolex and Omega models. But even if homage watches aren't your thing, Mk II has several excellent original models in the Ready to Wear Japanese-made line.

• Year founded: 2002
• Location: Pennsylvania
• Style: Field, Sports, Diver
• Popular models: Cruxible, Stingray II
• Price range: $649 to $940
• Watch model: Cruxible

As a genuine luxury watchmaker, Monta fills its products with real quality and high-class details.

If you own a Rolex watch, or even if you're a fan of them, you're likely familiar with Everest Bands, a maker of high-end rubber straps for Rolex. Well, the guys behind Everest - Michael DiMartini and David Barnes - founded Monta watches in 2016, with Justin Kraudel joining as a co-owner in 2017. Based in St. Louis, Monta is a legitimate luxury watch brand and competes as such. All their models are Swiss-made sports watches featuring high-end details like rhodium-coated and diamond-cut hands, as well as quick-adjust bracelet clasps, yet every watch they sell is priced under $2,500.

• Year founded: 2016
• Location: St. Louis, Missouri
• Style: Sports, Diver, GMT
• Popular models: Skyquest, Ocean King
• Price range: $1,700 to $2,400
• Watch model: Skyquest 24-Hour

Nodus, founded by childhood friends in Los Angeles, specializes in versatile and well-made tool watches with unique and original designs.

Nodus is based in Los Angeles and was founded by childhood friends Wesley Kwok and Cullen Chen, who in 2017 decided to turn their shared passion for watches into a business. It turned out to be the right decision, as Nodus has experienced impressive growth and gained a loyal following in the few years since. The brand specializes in creating versatile and well-made tool watches with unique and original designs, and it always keeps an ear to the community to understand what enthusiasts want. Notably, all Nodus watches undergo final assembly right in Los Angeles.

• Year founded: 2017
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Style: Field, Sports, Diver
• Popular models: Sector Field, Sector Deep
• Price range: $450 to $600
• Watch model: Sector Field

One of the few microbrands based in Switzerland, Norqain has some Breitling pedigree and features its own movements.

Like Monta, Norqain competes with major Swiss brands to the same degree as other microbrands, perhaps even more. They are genuinely based in Switzerland, which is rare for microbrands, and they have real industry clout behind them: one of the co-owners comes from a family that owned Breitling for 40 years. Since its founding in 2018, the brand has wasted no time making a name for itself in the industry with signature design touches like the customizable Norqain plate and Norqain pattern dials. Furthermore, the brand has its own movement manufacturing thanks to a partnership with Kenissi, the same manufacturer used by Tudor.

• Year founded: 2018
• Location: Switzerland
• Style: Sports, Diver, Skeleton
• Popular models: Independence, Adventure, Neverest
• Price range: $2,400 to $6,000
• Watch model: Adventure Sport

The small team at Oak & Oscar makes big watches, collaborating with local American brands for many of their releases.

Oak & Oscar is another microbrand competing at higher price points. The company was founded in Chicago in 2015 by Chase Fancher (the eponymous Oscar is Fancher's dog), who left an unfulfilling corporate job to start his own venture. And while Oak & Oscar has a small team, you would never know it by looking at the brand's overall impact on the community. When producing their watches, Oak & Oscar collaborates with local American brands whenever possible, while more technical aspects of production are carried out in Switzerland. Their designs - such as the Humboldt and Jackson Big Eye - are very modern and original.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Style: Sports, GMT, Diver
• Popular models: Humboldt GMT, Jackson Big Eye
• Price range: $1,500 to $3,100
• Watch model: Humboldt GMT

Founded by watchmaker Nick Harris, Orion is a great mid-tier brand with excellent build quality and durability.

Microbrands are typically founded by enthusiasts, often with backgrounds in design or business. But the Pennsylvania-based company Orion was founded by a legitimate watchmaker named Nick Harris. Of course, technically, Harris was still obtaining his SAWTA certification when he founded the brand (he actually used the brand's profits to fund his education), but the point is that Orion watches are the real deal. The current collection consists of the Hellcat and Calamity models - two sports watches with excellent build quality, appealing design, and durability.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Pennsylvania
• Style: Sports, Dress, Diver
• Popular models: Hellcat, Calamity
• Price range: $700 to $1,600
• Watch model: Hellcat Burgundy

Pelton is one of the only brands to produce its own cases and bracelets. It's a true "Made in USA" brand with luxurious quality.

There are many American brands on this list, but Pelton is perhaps the most American of them all. Most microbrands outsource their watch production to overseas partners because the US simply lacks the manufacturing capabilities to do it in-state. But not Pelton. Founded in 2016 by Denis Mesanovic and based in Detroit, Pelton actually produces its own cases and bracelets (it's the only company in the US to do so), and Mesanovic personally assembles and hand-finishes every watch to a luxury standard.

• Year founded: 2016
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Style: Sports, Dress
• Popular models: Perseus, Sector
• Price range: $1,500 to $3,000
• Watch model: Perseus

Since 2008, Raven has honored vintage divers while creating its own sought-after tool watches.

Like Halios and MkII, Raven is a brand that existed before the term 'microbrand' was coined. Launched on watch forums and founded by enthusiast Steve Laughlin in 2008, Raven started by producing diver's watches and later moved on to its own, more original designs. Today, the Kansas-based brand designs and produces some of the most renowned and sought-after tool watches in the business. Models like the Trekker and Endeavour II give enthusiasts exactly what they want.

• Year founded: 2008
• Location: Kansas
• Style: Sports, Diver, Field
• Popular models: Trekker, Endeavour II
• Price range: $580 to $700
• Watch model: Endeavour II

RZE has only been around since 2020 and produces exclusively titanium watches, enhancing their hardness.

RZE is the newest brand on this list, having released its first watch in February 2020 - just weeks before COVID-19 effectively shut down the world. Despite the unfortunate timing, the brand is thriving and has already built up an extensive catalog of three well-regarded models. Their success should come as no surprise, as founder and airline pilot Travis Tan was one of the original co-founders of BOLDR before leaving to start this brand. The Singapore-based RZE produces only titanium watches and, notably, has found a solution to titanium's main drawback - its scratch-prone nature - by coating the watches with their patented ULTRAHex coating, providing exceptional hardness.

• Year founded: 2020
• Location: Singapore
• Style: Sports, Diver, Field
• Popular models: Ascentus GMT, Valour 38
• Price range: $300 to $550
• Watch model: Ascentus GMT

One of the most prolific microbrands, Straton boasts serious automobile-inspired watches with unique color schemes.

One of the most prolific brands on this list, Straton was founded in 2015 by South African Kyle Schut, who lives in Switzerland. Schut's passions are classic cars, auto racing, and watches, so he decided to combine them into one brand: Straton. The company produces vintage automobile-themed watches, mainly racing chronographs, but does so in fun and vibrant forms that make them stand out from the crowd. And with many watches offered with affordable micro-quartz movements or premium Swiss-made mechanical movements, Straton offers something for every budget.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Switzerland
• Style: Racing-Inspired, Chronograph
• Popular models: Syncro, Speciale, Curve Chrono, Classic
• Price range: $300 to $500
• Watch model: Syncro

Founded on the idea of creating vintage divers capable of withstanding wear, Traska emphasizes color and understated design.

Company founder Jon Mack was on vacation in Vietnam when he accidentally ruined his favorite vintage Bulova watch. That's when the young enthusiast got the idea to create vintage-style watches that could withstand modern wear, and in 2018 he founded Traska in Florida. Of course, this isn't exactly an unusual origin story when it comes to microbrands, but Traska watches are definitely unusual. By mixing modern and unexpected colors - like mint green - with classic designs, Traska has created something entirely new and interesting.

• Year founded: 2018
• Location: Florida
• Style: Sports, Diving, Dress
• Popular models: Freediver, Commuter
• Price range: ~$600
• Watch model: Freediver

Refining its unique minimalist aesthetic, Unimatic has climbed the ladder to become perhaps the most famous microbrand in the world.

One of the few microbrands that has managed to break out of the enthusiast community and gain attention in the mainstream style world is the Italian company Unimatic. Founded in 2015 by designers and friends Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato, Unimatic became famous for its unique minimalist interpretations of tool watch designs. Their watches are instantly recognizable by their monochromatic style and layouts that eschew embellishments in favor of functionality above all. Their team remains small, and they still produce their watches in small batches in their Milan workshop, but in recent years Unimatic has certainly flourished and almost shed the microbrand label.

• Year founded: 2015
• Location: Milan, Italy
• Style: Sports, Diver, Field, Minimalist
• Popular models: UC1, UC2, UC4
• Price range: $400 to $600
• Watch model: UC1

Experimenting with materials and shapes, Zelos specializes in diver watches with massive cases.

Last but not least is Zelos. This Singapore-based brand is the work of founder and designer Elshan Tang, who may be the hardest-working man in the industry. Since the brand's inception in 2014, Zelos has released several new models every year, and these aren't just off-the-shelf watches - Zelos produces some very inventive items. Known for their chunky bronze diving watches (Zelos helped popularize the use of this metal in watches), Zelos has pioneered the use of several unique materials, including meteorite, titanium Damascus, and ZircTi.

• Year founded: 2014
• Location: Singapore
• Style: Sports, Diver
• Popular models: Starfighter, Great White, Hammerhead
• Price range: $430 to $1,800
• Watch model: Hammerhead V3