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When you get into the watches, the same couple of brands seems to come up in every conversation Rolex, Omega, maybe Patek Philippe. Not only that, it will often be the same models, from these brands people lean towards Submariner, Speed/Seamaster, and Nautilus. That is 80% of the conversations you will have with watch enthusiasts, so if what you were looking for was the most popular watches, thats grand, happy to help!

But recently, independent watch brands, or what has been dubbed Micro-brands, are coming up with innovative designs build on a new-school frame of reference. While the purists of the watch community frown at these newcomers, I think they are absolutely necessary and I applaud them for pushing boundaries.

Ill focus on what makes these brands unique, so I wont be pointing out how many jewels they got, whether it is an automatic or quartz, or what color underwear the designers were wearing when they were designing it. Do your own research.

eOne tell the time without watching

Ah, honestly, look at this watch! It is so neat and smoothly designed. The logs (the attachments to the strap) are flexible so it wraps neatly around your wrist. But the thing I love the MOST about this watch is the inclusive design.

This watch is designed for blind people to tell time by touching the face of the watch. With your finger, you locate the triangle at the top for 12 and map your way until your finger finds a little ball on the face of the watch; that is your minutes. On the outside, there is another small ball, that marks the hours. The small balls bump out so you can feel it, and rotate using magnets. How cool is that!

Mr. Jones For the Peter Pan Generation

The team at Mr. Jones usually works with the artist to create unique watch faces that break the norm, sometimes almost to the point where it can be difficult to tell the time. They can be childish like A Perfectly Useless Afternoon, or beautiful like the Paper Cranes.

My only caveat with these watches is the locks. For me, it makes their case look flimsy, and I usually prefer their XL cases which look a bit more sturdy.

REC Turnings wrecks into watches

If you are looking for a watch with a history behind it, you will probably normally look at the legacy of the brand; like how Omega was crucial to the Apollo missions with the Speedmaster, or how Rolex proved their water resistance swimming over the English canal.

But in a REC watch, EVERY SINGLE WATCH tells a different story. The watches are made out of recycled vehicles, inspired by the design of the wreck they were made from. So if your best friend is a car or motorcycle gearhead, you have a very nice Christmas present right here.

Christopher Ward The challenger brand

Christopher Ward is known for calling bull-shit on the obscene premium prices of luxury watches, by making just as good watches for an absolute fraction of the price. If you have been in the watch game for a while, you know there are certain features that watchmakers add to models, to justify an enormous premium. For instance, Omegas Speedmaster Chrono Chime has the additional feature that (as the name suggests) chimes. It does other things, but that is the feature that I highlighted for the premium. We know why Omega did that. It is challenging for Rolex and other luxury brands, to show they can compete in the $450,000 price range. A regular Speedmaster comes in at ~$6,000. So is a chime worth $444,000?

Christopher Ward proves it is not. Not only does the Bel Canto come in cheaper than the Omega Chime (about 0,75% of the price in fact), it comes in cheaper than a regular speed master. I mean, $3,600 is still a lot of cash for most people, but if you have your eyes on a chime, chronograph, or world timer, it is worth stopping by Christopher Ward for a reality check. One feature it doesnt have that all the luxury brands do have is of course brand recognition few people will be asking to hold your Christopher Ward. Maybe that is what we pay a premium for, buying an interesting personality because I dont have the time to develop one myself.

Zeroo The ultra challenger brand

If Christopher Ward is calling out the likes of Rolex and Omega, the Japanese watch brand Zeroo, is calling out the ultra-luxury brands Richard Mille and Urwerk. If you like the absolutely extravagant skeleton designs of watches, I recommend you look here.

Richard Mille watches go for on average $200,000, and here you have something that looks and feels 80% of the same for $1,915. This is not about having a fake Richard Mille, but proving you are out of your mind if you pay a premium for a watch (its okay, I am part of the group of people out of their mind, except I cant afford a Richard Mille).

German Polosin None canonical standards

The first time you see this watch, you might think it is the ugliest watch in the world. But the more you look into it, the cooler it gets. At the point you are writing a small article about it, you will most likely be obsessed with every detail of it guilty as charged.

The creator set out to create a watch that looks like a robot. At first, it was fun and giggles, but it became an obsession for him. I have never seen anything like this watch. It started (and still is) a joke but what a beautiful and well-executed joke it is.

Breda Best Instagram Watch (so far)

I dont mind fashion watches if they have something new to offer and dont just rely on brand recognition. If they are brave and go in their own direction, I think they can help push the industry to think differently.

I think Breda is still finding their feet, but I hope soon enough they realize that what they are good at, is discrete elegance. They are small delicate pieces that almost look vintage and futuristic at the same time. It is a watch that looks significantly more expensive than it is.

QlockTwo Read the time, literally

I dont know how, but QlockTwo managed to make such a geeky concept into something so elegant. It looks like the matrix pattern, and the idea could easily have been a disaster. Even the name seems a bit on the nose. But then you see the watch

and you want it. It is smooth, elegant, and minimalistic. The font is perfect, and you cant help but stare at it. You start looking for the other ways it can show the clock. It becomes a bit of an enigma. I am taken by this.

Slow Who cares what time it is anyway?

I used to live in Latin America. One of the biggest cultural differences as an Anglo-Saxon was how we relate differently to time. In the Northern hemisphere, the clock runs us. Punctuality is a sign of respect; it communicates you care about not wasting time. In Latin America, they have a much more laid-back and relaxed attitude which, once you get used to it, you learn to appreciate. Suddenly waiting 12 hours for a friend to show up, doesnt put you in a mood, but is seen as an opportunity to catch up on some reading (as an Anglo-Saxon god forbid just being in the now).

The Slow watch allows you a smooth transition into this mentality. By cramming all 24 hours into one watch, it becomes difficult to tell what time exactly it is. You know it is around 15.45 on the watch above. How freeing can that be? Besides that, the eight-sided case looks elegant and works in any setting.

Xeric Pushing the way we read time

Xeric Halographs are some of the most cool-looking nerdy watches, and they are in an affordable price range. Xeric is trying to push the design of the watch face and how we read time, instead of adhering to the traditions of the industry.

The watch looks a bit like a mix of a steampunk watch with a modern design. If you are looking for a conversation starter, a Halograph is an inexpensive way to get it. People might not like it, but they will definitely have an opinion on it.

Trilobe Wait, whats the time?

If you believe in the philosophy of Xeric, but you want a watch that looks like you have stolen it from a vault in the Vatican, Trilobe is maybe a brand you want to keep you eye on.

The Une Folle Journe (translated to A Crazy Day) lives up to its name. For one, it took me a while to figure out how exactly to read it, which is the complete opposite from what many watches are designed for readability. But one nice side effect is, you spend a lot longer looking at the watch, studying its details.

H. Moser Cie The most expensive punchline

If you have +$30,000 for a joke, the H. Moser Cies Swiss Alps should be something you look to acquire. Cleverly dubbed by the community as the Final Upgrade, H. Moser Cie has created an analog Apple Watch.

To get a screen-like feel, H. Moser Cie is using Vantablack, the darkest man-made material. So, yes, you will be paying a lot more money, for a lot less functionality, but if THAT doesnt scream fuck-you money, I dont know what does.

Maen While you are on the waitlist for Nautilus

While the H. Moser Cie is definitely more expensive than it looks, Maen looks a lot more expensive than it really is (especially the Manhatten 37).

When you first see it, it looks like a slim version of the Patek Phillipe Nautilus. It is classy, masculine, elegant, and could fly on the wrist of Patrick Bateman, easy.

Coggiola Custom watches

If you really really really like looking at watch movements, I am glad you made it all the way down here. Coggiola repairs old watches, with new handmade components. No two watches are the same.

This concept is so neat because you can get what i