Okay, so I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while – independent watch brands, or as some folks call them, “indie” watch brands. I’ve been getting into watches lately, not just the big names everyone knows, but also the smaller, more unique ones. So, I decided to spend some time getting to know these indie brands better.
First, I started by making a list. You know, just jotting down names that popped up from different places. I scoured online forums, read through watch blogs, and even asked some of my watch-enthusiast friends for their input. My list grew pretty quickly. I think it had like, 30 or so brands when I first started. It was a mix of names I’d heard in passing and others that were completely new to me.
Diving Deeper
With my list in hand, I started digging deeper into each brand. I visited their websites, read their “about us” pages, and tried to get a feel for their story, their style, and what makes them tick. This was actually really fun. Some of these brands have such cool backstories, like the one started by a former engineer who just loved tinkering with watches, or the one that’s all about using sustainable materials. Then there was also a lot of information on the web. Things like “The Holy Trinity”, “The Big Three” or “The Big Four”. I found it was Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, and Richard Mille. It was an eye-opener for sure.
Narrowing Down
- After a while, I realized I needed to narrow down my list. 30 brands were a bit too much to handle.
- So, I started thinking about what I really liked in a watch. For me, it’s a mix of good design, interesting history, and a bit of that “underdog” feeling.
- I cut some brands that felt a bit too similar to the big names, and others that just didn’t resonate with me personally.
My list eventually shrank down to around 10-15 brands. I felt good about this number – it was enough to give me variety, but not so many that I’d get overwhelmed. I also found that some brands like Berneron, Biver, and Greubel Forsey were great. And monochrome watches are gaining popularity in 2024. That was the latest trend, I guess.
Sharing My Findings
Finally, I decided to share my findings with you all. I’m not trying to say these are the “best” indie watch brands out there, but they’re the ones that caught my eye and that I think are worth checking out. I’ve put together some notes on each brand, with a bit about their history, their style, and what I like about them. I also included some pictures, ’cause who doesn’t love looking at beautiful watches? I really hope that this will be useful for someone who’s looking to get into the world of independent watch brands.
This whole process has been a blast. I’ve learned so much about watches, about design, and about the passion that goes into creating these little works of art. And I’ve discovered some really cool brands that I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. I definitely recommend doing a deep dive on indie watch brands if you’re even slightly interested in watches. You might be surprised at what you find!
