5 Up-and-Coming Microbrands That Deserve Your Attention
Because the world doesn’t need another Submariner flex…
Let’s be honest — the world of horology can sometimes feel like a bit of an echo chamber. Rolex. Omega. Patek. Lovely stuff, but hardly fresh. That’s where microbrands come in: passionate, design-led indies punching way above their weight in the world of wristwear.
From enamel artistry in Glasgow to modern Chinese flair in Beijing, we’re spotlighting five microbrands that actually bring something new to the table — and they all ship to the UK.
Credit - Brew Watches
1. Brew Watches
📍 New York, USA
Think 70s café racer vibes brewed (pun absolutely intended) with a design brief that’s equal parts espresso machine and retro gadgetry. Brew is a US-based brand crafting watches with a sense of fun — and flair.
Watch to Watch: Brew Metric Retro Dial
Movement: Seiko VK68 meca-quartz (yes, it ticks and sweeps)
Case Size: 36mm x 41.5mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 50m
Price: Around £400 + UK import tax
The Metric Retro is a funky, panda-dial throwback with a blocky case and pushers that could double as arcade buttons. Perfect for the coffee-addled creative.
Why it’s worth your time:
Brew takes inspiration from industrial design and vintage espresso machines. The result? Something truly unique — not just another diver clone.
Credit - anOrdain
2. anOrdain
📍 Glasgow, Scotland
anOrdain are proper artisans. Their enamel dials — yes, real vitreous enamel — are made in-house by a small Scottish team. It’s painstaking work, and the result is breathtaking.
Watch to Watch: Model 1 – Green Fumé
Movement: Sellita SW210 (manual-wind)
Case Size: 38mm
Crystal: Double-domed sapphire
Water Resistance: 50m
Dial: Vitreous enamel with fumé effect
Price: £3000+vat (and often sold out)
Each dial is one-of-a-kind. The green fumé version looks like a glassy Highland loch under moonlight.
Why it’s worth your time:
They’ve taken a centuries-old technique and given it a thoroughly modern twist — plus, how many Scottish watchmakers can you name?
Credit - Atelier Wen
3. Atelier Wen
📍 Beijing, China
Atelier Wen is redefining Chinese watchmaking. No longer “just” a manufacturing base, China’s horological potential is finally getting the respect it deserves — thanks in no small part to brands like this.
Watch to Watch: Perception
Movement: In-house Dandong SL1588 automatic
Case Size: 40mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 100m
Dial: Hand-guilloché with “Sunmao” pattern
Bracelet: Integrated steel
Price: Around £2,300
The Perception series offers hand-crafted details like guilloché dials cut by one master artisan. Seriously, one guy does all of them.
Why it’s worth your time:
Artisanal finishing, integrated design, and an in-house movement — this thing punches so far above its weight, it’s practically in orbit.
Credit - Boldr
4. Boldr Supply Co.
📍 Singapore / Malaysia
If Indiana Jones wore a watch, it’d probably be a Boldr. Rugged, accessible, and very aware that people actually use watches outdoors, Boldr makes field and dive watches that look the part — and then some.
Watch to Watch: Boldr Venture Field Medic II
Movement: Japanese SII VK64 meca-quartz
Case Size: 38mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 200m
Case: Matte titanium
Price: £300
Developed during the pandemic for actual medics, it features a pulsometer scale. Also: it’s ridiculously tough for the price.
Why it’s worth your time:
Military-grade materials, high-legibility dials, and actual utility. For the money, Boldr’s field watches are nearly unbeatable.
Credit - Marloe
5. Marloe Watch Company
📍 Perth, Scotland
Marloe has quietly carved out a space for itself in the British watch scene, balancing classic design with modern manufacturing. Their designs are often inspired by British engineering, adventure, and aviation.
Watch to Watch: Marloe Morar 310
Movement: Miyota 9039 Automatic
Case Size: 42mm
Crystal: Sapphire Crystal with AR coating
Water Resistance: 310m
Bezel: Sapphire Bezel Insert
Price: £799
With its dramatic dial and tool-watch toughness, the Morar 310 is as at home on a North Sea trawler as it is on the Piccadilly line.
Why it’s worth your time:
Marloe is proudly British, with a clear design voice and real-world reliability. And 310m of water resistance? That’s more than a Sub.
Final Thoughts:
The microbrand scene is where creativity lives. These aren’t homage machines or badge-swapped catalogue watches, they’re stories on your wrist. Whether you're after elegance, adventure, or something genuinely different, there’s never been a better time to go micro.
