The Microbrands Thread

[Justayellowbadge]

[mondie]

The Offshore Professional Chronograph is a superb UK made watch, It is 44mm with excellent build quality and the engineering is first class. Mine is on order for delivery in January.

https://marinechronometer.co.uk/

IMG_20181117_143017 (Medium) by Simon Gee, on Flickr

IMG_20181117_143241 (Medium) by Simon Gee, on Flickr

[vixen1700]

mondie said:

The Offshore Professional Chronograph is a superb UK made watch, It is 44mm with excellent build quality and the engineering is first class. Mine is on order for delivery in January.

https://marinechronometer.co.uk/

They do indeed look fantastic quality and not as expensive as you'd imagine. Very nice.

Got my heart set on a silver one of these, once I save a bit for it:

https://www.brellum.swiss/en/onlineshop/wyvern-cla...

[Xtriple129]

I really want an Offshore watch, but, I absolutely detest the 7750 movement! Irrational? Maybe, but it's my irrational hate and I'm keeping it.

[Hoofy]

Xtriple129 said:

I really want an Offshore watch, but, I absolutely detest the 7750 movement! Irrational? Maybe, but it's my irrational hate and I'm keeping it.

What don't you like about it?

[lostkiwi]

mondie said:

The Offshore Professional Chronograph is a superb UK made watch, It is 44mm with excellent build quality and the engineering is first class. Mine is on order for delivery in January.

https://marinechronometer.co.uk/

IMG_20181117_143017 (Medium) by Simon Gee, on Flickr

IMG_20181117_143241 (Medium) by Simon Gee, on Flickr

I keep looking at these then buying something else.
I want to like it enough to buy one but I think the dial puts me off. I'm not a fan of the silver infills between the hour markers.

[anonymous-user]

lostkiwi said:

I keep looking at these then buying something else.
I want to like it enough to buy one but I think the dial puts me off. I'm not a fan of the silver infills between the hour markers.

It's a watch that looks significantly better in the flesh than in any photo i have seen.
I had the same reservations as you but took the plunge anyway and don't regret it one bit.

[vixen1700]

More nice looking things.

https://www.meccanicheveneziane.it/products/redent...

https://www.march-lab.com/en/12-men

[Lorne]

desolate said:

lostkiwi said:

I keep looking at these then buying something else.
I want to like it enough to buy one but I think the dial puts me off. I'm not a fan of the silver infills between the hour markers.

It's a watch that looks significantly better in the flesh than in any photo i have seen.
I had the same reservations as you but took the plunge anyway and don't regret it one bit.

Watches are incredibly personal choices and there's nothing worse than buying one and then having that slightly annoyed feeling that it wasn't really what you wanted, but since you've bought it you're kind of stuck with it.

To help, I have a loaner that you can try out for a few days. Other than the design and styling, the Field Engineer is quite large at 44 mm, but I think it sits surprisingly well on smaller wrists (seeing as I have skinny wrists). The loaner isn't one you can buy though as it's my own serial number 000 that has been through quite a lot with me over the years.

[mondie]

lostkiwi said:

I keep looking at these then buying something else.
I want to like it enough to buy one but I think the dial puts me off. I'm not a fan of the silver infills between the hour markers.

You're mad! Take Lorne up on his offer, the OP is fantastic and the silver 'plates' are great in person, I too had concerns over them until I borrowed an OP for a week, they add an extra dimension to the dial and are more nuanced than they appear in photos.

Xtriple129 said:

I really want an Offshore watch, but, I absolutely detest the 7750 movement! Irrational? Maybe, but it's my irrational hate and I'm keeping it.

Why? The 7750 is a brilliant movement that has proved itself over many decades. Easy parts availability and servicing too. The only criticism that I see is rotor wobble but in the OP you won't notice it due to Lorne's movement isolation.

Cheers

[vixen1700]

https://www.brew-watches.com/

Fancy a Brew?


https://www.jubileon.com/the-superellipse

Liking the grey & blue Superellipse from Singapore.

[vixen1700]

Another interesting looking British microbrand, not cheap though.

https://pinionwatches.com/

Pinion Watches.

[vixen1700]

Pre-orders on the new Redentore just announced.

Do fancy one of these...

https://www.meccanicheveneziane.it/pages/redentore

[anonymous-user]

Dibble said:

And if that lot isn’t enough to get you going, there’s a ton more here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vEzy7x0tX0...

Wow. That’s a nice piece of work. Thanks for sharing it. Lots of brands I have never heard of. Just one missing that I can see: Masahiro Kikuno.

[Harry Flashman]

Someone pointed me in the direction of these the other day, and I like the look of them, and the detailing. The Cobb especially - love the case, dial and custom rotor visible through the exhibition back. Not cheap, though.

https://wornandwound.com/first-look-the-mechanical...

https://farer.com/collections/chronograph

[vixen1700]

Yes, those Farers do look nice and yes they do appear a bit on the pricey side

Have a look at Marloe if you fancy something cool, British and with low production numbers.

[SteveS Cup]

Bought an MVNT watch when they first came out, thought it was rubbish and only ever wore it once.

Lord Timepieces seem to be the next brand all over Instagram at the moment... looks similar in quality to MVNT though.

Steinhart by far are my favourite brand. Currently own the Ocean 44 and Nav B 47. Also bought the Mrs an Ocean 39 and she loves it.

[vixen1700]

Had to look both of those up.

Not quite sure they're 'microbrands' in the sense of the thread.

Steinhart are a decent small manufacturer.

[vixen1700]

Colourwise, going for something a bit different, so loving the look of one of these:

https://orionwatch.com/shoporion/orion-sylph

[Trophy Husband]

vixen1700 said:

Colourwise, going for something a bit different, so loving the look of one of these:

https://orionwatch.com/shoporion/orion-sylph

That is lovely on the tan strap!