I second Emerson’s comment with the caveat that I’m still so so early (like 2 watches) into collecting. But I’m soaking up the knowledge and appreciate the info and the production quality.
Thanks so much Teddy. As many people have said, your videos are very informational and a big help to those of us who are still learning and who live far from boutiques. I thoroughly enjoy them and appreciate them.
I have a Serica 5303 and love it. I find myself wearing it more than almost all my divers, including my 5 digit sub. It's so versatile. It is the perfect classic tool watch with character.
Thank you finally highlighting Serica! More people need to know about their fantastic watches! Great company with true watch enthusiast values in the way they create their collection.
I recently started my watch journey with Kuoe, a fascinating Japanese micro brand. Love it for its simplicity and yet the amount of care of the detail.
@@brianrobbins2662 not bad at all. It has a vintage vibe that resonates with me. I bought it with both the dial and crystal updates and I’m loving it. If you don’t like the nato straps it looks good in a suede strap.
Love these types of videos keep them coming! I just picked up the new SCURFA Proto Dive watch in Blue and brought it to our local SDChrono watch GTG. No one could believe you could get a Titanium watch in the $200 price range :) Tons of value in some of these Micro- Brands!
You’re right, Teddy. I’m at the point in my watch collecting journey that perhaps I should start looking at micro brands to “broaden” my horizons. More of these types of videos, please! And thanks for all that you do.
Love my VAER D5 Tropic which takes inspiration from the JLC Deep Sea Alarm. Given all the Submariner, Seamaster look-a-likes it's refreshing to see something different. That Raven Trekker is very nice. SO many microbrands doing things right lately, Traska, Dufrane, Zoretto, Limes, Van Banner, etc.
It’s cool to see Scurfa getting some light shined on it. I was able to recently pick up the MS22 LE of the diver one and it’s a great watch and won’t brake the bank. A true tool watch. Great job like always.
Really relieved to see Vaer in this list. Ive seen the name a lot the last 6 months. Been tempted but havent been able to convince myself to get one. Seeing them on this list gives me a lot more confidence to maybe get one! Great video!
I bought a Vaer mechanical a couple of years ago and I love it. I am not a watch collector. I spend at least two years to decide on a watch. I value accuracy and readability. My top watch: a vintage Omega Railmaster. The Vaer is in that league, at a fraction of the price.
I've owned watches from many of these brands -- Vaer, Unimatic, Autodromo, Raven etc. -- and I've liked them all, but Serica is the one that really stands out. Stunningly gorgeous design and strong construction. The two Yemas I've owned, sadly, did not impress in terms of their quality.
Interesting take on treading lightly into microbrands when starting a collection. I did just the opposite. I started with Nodus, Vaer, and NTH (in addition to Bulova and Orient). I like the value they provide and giving me the opportunity to discover what I like for less than the more established brands. And the quality, at least for the watches I have, has been fantastic so far. Love your content, please keep up the good work. Thanks!
I am watching this video a year after it was produced, I am currently developing a great appreciation for micro brands. It’s great to see micro brands getting the attention they deserve these days. Great job Teddy as always! 🙌🏻✌🏻
Incredible experience with Yema - yes awhile ago customer service was an issue they’ve since come full circle and the necessary adjustments. My Yema 500 is phenomenal
My goal is to be on Teddys top 10 micro brand watches must have. In the begining stages of my own brand and only hoping to move on up with. His knowledge has helped alot.
Great selections. Happy Vaer owner here. The Scufa and Raven have very nice designs - but the huge logo and text are instant no go’s for me. Look at the clean serica dial. Mom a - text on the bezel also too big and going up against much better watches at that price point. PS - own 2 Farers - they’re fantastic.
HI Teddy, I'm a french owner of a Yema Superman GMT, "in-house" caliber Yema 4000 in it. Received mine with a faulty movement, GMT hand wasn't working like it's supposed to, you could feel the movement grinding while turning the crown as well and deteriorating a bit more after each crown turn. Sent it back straight away to Yema, a month and a half wait, came back with the exact same problem (they did a full service plus changed the GMT wheel) plus some tiny dust or whaterver it was behind the crystal. Obviously wasn't happy about it at all. Had to send it back again ! This time came back in two weeks working like it's supposed to. I thought finally I was clear, hell no... after looking at the watch I discovered that, i don't how, the hour hand is 3minutes late at hitting the markers from 6 to 12 but hit it perfectly from 12 to 6. I don't what what type of magic is behind this problem but one thing for sure : I'm done with Yema. I wont try to send the watch again, 3 times they've sent a watch which wasnt perfect. If I wanted to get a brand with awful QC I'd buy a Seiko. Anyway, horrible QC, horrible warrantee (you have to pay to send your watch to their factory, so i had to pay two times (50€ in total). Such a shame, I really like their design, their history and what they are trying to do with the brand but instead of trying to developp new in-house movement (you should check on their brand new micro-rotor movement) they should improve their QC and try to treat their customers nicely. I think their problems are beyond their in-house caliber but i have to assume that i've heard less problem from owner with SW in it instead of Yema 3000 or 4000 movement. Conclusion : I do not recommend at all and will get the upcoming Serica GMT in replacement of my kinda rubish Yema GMT.
Sercia has done more than fuse bezals together. They create a prefect design that can be used as a dive watch or GMT. Major brands need to take notice and adjustments.
Awesome assortment! I'd rather own a ton of affordable and unique microbrands with solid movements than blow thousands on one "grail watch" that frankly is probably just an homage to an even more expensive watch. Microbrands, maybe by necessity, seem like they need to go even harder with design and I'm honestly all for it.
Glad to see VAER make the video. I have the D5 Arctic and D5 Meridian. I enjoy them both. The crown does have a bit of a wobble to it on both. Overall I am happy with them. I was looking for an American assembled watch at an affordable price point. As for the video, we’ll done. Surprised that Christopher Ward did not make your list
About Yema: I have never handled one myself but At one point I was considering the Yema Superman GMT. I decided against it however because I heard that quite a few people have had qc issues with their watches and that the customer service isn't the best sadly. So if there's a warranty issue I think there's a chance you'll have a difficult time contacting them or getting the proper support. Now I dont mean to hate on them because I think they have great designs and deserve their place in the watch world but I just wanted to give a heads up to people who might be interested in buying one for themselves. If that's you maybe just read into the topic a little bit so you can make an informed buying decision.
Yeah, have three Yema’s. My navygraph crown fell off winding stem. Sent it to Yema from California to France. Perfectly repaired watch returned a few days later. Myndiver is flawless. Love it. Finally, The limited addition 41mm bronze diver with blue dial has never been worn. The lug to lug is kind of large. I should have ordered the 39. Every time I look at it I think darn it’s so big.
great stuff againfrom you Teddy, love the look of the Serica, maybe Baltic, Zelos or Farer could have been added. Most of the 'dive' watches make the Christopher Ward impressive new Trident look great value
I am in St. Louis right now for grad school, so I absolutely know a Monta will be the watch I purchase once I finish. They've really hit their stride lately, and I can't wait to see where they go from here.
Holy Sh•t that Serica watch, Ive never seen such a great value prop inside a dive watch package. The ceramic bezel and that unique dial is head-turning. How have I never seen this before?
Teddy you left out one of the hottest microbrands lately in the Baltic watches, i think theyre very similar in pricing, quality and provenance to Yema, also, Christopher Ward deserves a mention and an american brand that is under the radar after having its heyday 5 years ago is Ginault which can be considered the best quality Subs homages.
I have a Vortic / Hamilton, each one its unique , a fantastic concept, a modern titanium case / strap and through the glass you see a 100 years old moviment and everything else !
Teddy, I've been watching you for quite a while now. You've come a long way and I'm loving your content. It's informative, entertaining and presented in a very professional yet relatable way. Keep up the great work.
Great video on microbrands. I have some of the bigger names like Zelos, Halios, Traska, Bravur, but these obscure ones are interesting. The Elka is very nice.
Micro brands is my main focus at the moment. Trying to find Nice watches with great dials and rare pieces I love. I recently bought the new Tissot prx midnight Sky, and man this dial is Stunning! Hand painted, limited at 100 pcs
Yema has been making some AMAZING watches. I have a limited edition Navygraf FSM with their MK2000 movement with the most amazing minimalist military dial. I await delivery on their MYSTERIOUS BLUE Superman 500, recently updated in all respects They have Land sea and air models, newer (and more expensive) SLIM and microrotor movements, Lots to talk about. Most importantly they have a magnificent french styling that is simply charming AND a significant military connection.
Nice video. I’m glad you didn’t feature Anordain. I’ve been on the waitlist for a yr already. They emailed yesterday to offer a build slot with a non refundable deposit, earliest delivery mid 2025! I turned them down. I think a nearly 4yr wait makes a watch basically an obsolete proposition for nearly all.
I would definitely say Aragon needs some attention…they only make larger sized watches from 42-50mm but the specs you get for what they charge is unbeatable 🔥
So, Yema. As a French national, I really want to love the brand, and I do, to a certain extent. I owned a 41mm limited edition bronze case Superman GMT with an in-house caliber (YEMA3000) inside. The blue dial was absolutely stunning, very well finished. The bezel action felt great and the overall design was very satisfying with its highly domed crystal. The watch came with two straps, a black rubber tropic diver style and a brown leather vintage style. The rubber was comfortable, although I liked the look of the leather better. I could not size the leather strap properly for the watch to wear comfortably. The crown was always kind of digging into my hand. This was partly due to the bronze case: the combination of material and the thickness of its construction made it too heavy and somewhat unbalanced. I also ran into issues with the movement (GMT hand not pointing at the numbers on the hour, accuracy of the movement drifted over time until it finally started to run erratically). I sent it back to Yema (under warranty) and they had the movement replaced. According to the paperwork that came with it, the work was performed by a third-party watch maker. When I got it back, the watch was still running about 20 sec/day fast and the stem of the crown might not have been sized properly because the crown wouldn’t “click” back into place after setting the time, although it was not an issue preventing the watch from working normally. I ended up selling it. A few months later I purchased the 39 mm Superman Heritage featured in this video (except mine has a date). I like that one better, although the dial is a lot more restrained in terms of finishing. The Sellita runs impressively precisely. The watch feels like it’ll last me a lifetime. My criticism would go towards the bracelet, which looks good, wears comfortably, but feels a little cheap and somewhat too thin. I feel like the brand has a huge potential but they are in that spot where they are dwelling between QC issues and questionable design choices for some models. They look like they’re working hard though and deserve to be successful in my opinion.
I have two Vaer field quartz watches an S5 calendar and a C5 with a white dial. Owned them for almost two years with no issues and for the price with a 10% discount are excellent. I just wish they offered a field watch with tritium markers like my Armourlite field watch which is a built like a tank but wears much like a standard dress watch and like the Vaer at an affordable price. Lorier is another mircobrand watch company that makes excellent watches like their Zephyr dress watch with a design that will never go out of style.
Look into Dallas-based Jack Mason microbrand. Not sure how long they have been around but they are led by a couple creative founders. Apparently, JM was one of the first microbrands selected by Miyota to use their new 9075 true travel GMT movement and will be released in their Strat-o-timer in March 2023. Very impressive and gorgeous "Americana" (Pepsi) design with travel GMT function for an unheard of sub $1K price! I'm more of a vintage watch collector, but JM is the first that I seriously considered a microbrand. I went ahead and pre-ordered the Strat-o-timer Americana and eagerly await its arrival in March. Do check them out because they have a good story to tell.
I recently bought a Draken Tuglar 300m divers watch and man is it built like a tank! Looks great has its own look and it's defiantly worth looking at...
Thank you for your effort! I always look back to your channel and use as my buying guide when purchasing a watch. Your undying time dedication of expounding specification of certain watch plays a big role in choosing the best time piece using our hard earner money.
I've recently began my obsession as a watch collector. And i must say- out of all the luxury brands I've been researching, for me the MaMaCoo 's watches are the most intriguing.
Hey Teddy, you should check out Jack Mason watches. They’re based in Dallas, TX and while they started as a kind of fashion-y brand, they’ve made a few up-spec moves in recent years. I think you’d appreciate their True GMT which uses the Miyota jump-hour movement. It’s great to see it being employed in the microbrand space. Maybe the brand isn’t *quite* there yet, the GMT just came out, but maybe see where they’re at next year.
Thank you so much for making this video. I understand a lot of the videos you make promote watches that you are an authorized dealer for and therefore it helps your business so it's nice to see some fresh new faces and see some brands I have never heard of before. Well done, Teddy.
Great job as always Teddy. Thank you for the reviews of these lesser know brands and putting them on our radar screen. I have been a Vaer fan for several years, and wear my D5 Atlantic diver regularly when hiking or out near water. It is clean, comfortable, reliable, and I believe a great value.
I appreciate the time you take to put out this type of informative, very well-done video. I've seen others you've done and just ordered a Traska, a choice influenced by your presentation and review. Thanks again for your time, your effort, and for sharing your passion and expertise.
I'm waiting for my own Serica to arrive. I thought it looked fantastic when I first saw it, and I found myself going back to their website regularly. I can't wait to have it on the wrist, just a fantastic GADA watch
Bought a Vaer D5 Tropic & I really like it. My only complaints are the two bands that it came with: (1) The rubber/silicone is perhaps the cheapest grade of material I’ve ever seen - worse than Swatch. (2) Bracelet cannot be adjusted; the pins are lodged too tightly in their slots. I purchased an aftermarket band & now enjoy it, but some of these brands need to do a better job with their straps.
I like that you avoided Baltic watches. I had one for two years and it was incapable of keeping time. Had to send it back to them 3 times and it just never worked. They wouldn’t replace it either. Just got sick of sending it back and to be honest I don’t even know where it is now. Wish I went with one of these other recommendations.
I’m a huge fan of the channel and a big Yema fan (own 4 of their pieces with a Wristmaster Micro-Rotor on the way) and glad to see the brand get featured. By what is commonly accepted as a microbrand definition nowadays, however, it’s not a microbrand. It’s owned by a conglomerate (Montres Ambre). Love the inclusion of Serica and Monta, both are exceptional Micros. Would love to see Traska, Formex, and Second Hour in a video as well.
Many French brand : That’s cool ! Nobody is talking about it out of France, but I suggest you to look at « March Lab » : 70’s style and very well done watches. So much character !
Another great and very insightful video, Teddy! I would have loved to have heard your take on the Soprod Newton movement as it’s a lesser know, albeit quite an attractive proposition.
I own a Yema. Beautiful piece but construction leaves a lot to be desired. Had to send mine for warranty repair, within the first year, because the lume dropped off the face. I keep it in my collection because it wears so well (dress diver?) but I don't reach for it often because it's fragility - the mechanisms feel loose and crunchy.
Love my Vaer watches. I have the D5 Arctic and 2 of the D4 solar models. Very reliable and well-built and good looking. Suggestion for future consideration: Aquatico, esp the Seastar line.
I think a list like this isn't complete without Farer, Zelos and Baltic. In my opinion, Zelos and Farer are the top two. Christopher Ward too depending on your definition of microbrands.
Thanks for everything you do. Your channel is probably the main reason I was able to make smart decisions when I started collecting watches.
This 🙌
Very flattered by this comment, Emerson. Thank you for the support!
I second Emerson’s comment with the caveat that I’m still so so early (like 2 watches) into collecting. But I’m soaking up the knowledge and appreciate the info and the production quality.
Same for me 🙂
Thanks so much Teddy. As many people have said, your videos are very informational and a big help to those of us who are still learning and who live far from boutiques. I thoroughly enjoy them and appreciate them.
This is why I enjoy Teddy, he’s never snobbish with watches and gives away quality info and all kinds of watches.
I have a Serica 5303 and love it. I find myself wearing it more than almost all my divers, including my 5 digit sub. It's so versatile. It is the perfect classic tool watch with character.
Thank you finally highlighting Serica! More people need to know about their fantastic watches! Great company with true watch enthusiast values in the way they create their collection.
I was very impressed by them. Not necessarily my style but no question a well-done watch. Bracelet was phenomenal.
Agreed. Really like the Serica WMB I have.
Agree, I love my 4512 Commando, totally outshined the rest of my collection. Totally unexpected.
The 5303 midnight blue is phenomenal. I have a 4512 California. The other watches I have are gathering dust haha
I recently started my watch journey with Kuoe, a fascinating Japanese micro brand. Love it for its simplicity and yet the amount of care of the detail.
I have been eyeing the kuoe hard for a while, how do you feel about it after owning it for a bit?
@@brianrobbins2662 not bad at all. It has a vintage vibe that resonates with me. I bought it with both the dial and crystal updates and I’m loving it. If you don’t like the nato straps it looks good in a suede strap.
Love these types of videos keep them coming! I just picked up the new SCURFA Proto Dive watch in Blue and brought it to our local SDChrono watch GTG. No one could believe you could get a Titanium watch in the $200 price range :) Tons of value in some of these Micro- Brands!
Nice to see Scurfa getting some much deserved recognition, great tool watch, amazing value 👍
Am I reading this correctly. The Scrufa has Water Resistance to 500m?
@@crimping1 yes you are, mind boggling that they offer 500m for a little over 200 dollars
@@crimping1 I think they make use of a helium escape valve.
Agreed
You’re right, Teddy. I’m at the point in my watch collecting journey that perhaps I should start looking at micro brands to “broaden” my horizons. More of these types of videos, please! And thanks for all that you do.
Love my VAER D5 Tropic which takes inspiration from the JLC Deep Sea Alarm. Given all the Submariner, Seamaster look-a-likes it's refreshing to see something different. That Raven Trekker is very nice. SO many microbrands doing things right lately, Traska, Dufrane, Zoretto, Limes, Van Banner, etc.
It’s cool to see Scurfa getting some light shined on it. I was able to recently pick up the MS22 LE of the diver one and it’s a great watch and won’t brake the bank. A true tool watch. Great job like always.
Serica is crushing it. I have both their 5303 and 4512 Commando -- both great looking, solid watches.
Really relieved to see Vaer in this list.
Ive seen the name a lot the last 6 months. Been tempted but havent been able to convince myself to get one.
Seeing them on this list gives me a lot more confidence to maybe get one!
Great video!
I bought a Vaer mechanical a couple of years ago and I love it. I am not a watch collector. I spend at least two years to decide on a watch. I value accuracy and readability. My top watch: a vintage Omega Railmaster. The Vaer is in that league, at a fraction of the price.
I've owned watches from many of these brands -- Vaer, Unimatic, Autodromo, Raven etc. -- and I've liked them all, but Serica is the one that really stands out. Stunningly gorgeous design and strong construction. The two Yemas I've owned, sadly, did not impress in terms of their quality.
Totally agree
The Serica watch I wear the most , just love the style and size, and so unique
Interesting take on treading lightly into microbrands when starting a collection. I did just the opposite. I started with Nodus, Vaer, and NTH (in addition to Bulova and Orient). I like the value they provide and giving me the opportunity to discover what I like for less than the more established brands. And the quality, at least for the watches I have, has been fantastic so far. Love your content, please keep up the good work. Thanks!
I am watching this video a year after it was produced, I am currently developing a great appreciation for micro brands. It’s great to see micro brands getting the attention they deserve these days. Great job Teddy as always! 🙌🏻✌🏻
Just got my first henry archer watch. Quite impressed
Incredible experience with Yema - yes awhile ago customer service was an issue they’ve since come full circle and the necessary adjustments. My Yema 500 is phenomenal
So glad to hear this. I just ordered one and ever have been reading some poor reviews
Yeah I’ve tried Zelos, Traska, Islander, Venezianico, Smiths, etc. Best quality watch overall so far has probably been Islander or Venezianico
Direnzo. One of my absolute favorites are far as design and value. Lovely watches.
My goal is to be on Teddys top 10 micro brand watches must have. In the begining stages of my own brand and only hoping to move on up with. His knowledge has helped alot.
Great selections. Happy Vaer owner here.
The Scufa and Raven have very nice designs - but the huge logo and text are instant no go’s for me. Look at the clean serica dial.
Mom a - text on the bezel also too big and going up against much better watches at that price point.
PS - own 2 Farers - they’re fantastic.
HI Teddy, I'm a french owner of a Yema Superman GMT, "in-house" caliber Yema 4000 in it. Received mine with a faulty movement, GMT hand wasn't working like it's supposed to, you could feel the movement grinding while turning the crown as well and deteriorating a bit more after each crown turn. Sent it back straight away to Yema, a month and a half wait, came back with the exact same problem (they did a full service plus changed the GMT wheel) plus some tiny dust or whaterver it was behind the crystal. Obviously wasn't happy about it at all. Had to send it back again ! This time came back in two weeks working like it's supposed to. I thought finally I was clear, hell no... after looking at the watch I discovered that, i don't how, the hour hand is 3minutes late at hitting the markers from 6 to 12 but hit it perfectly from 12 to 6. I don't what what type of magic is behind this problem but one thing for sure : I'm done with Yema. I wont try to send the watch again, 3 times they've sent a watch which wasnt perfect. If I wanted to get a brand with awful QC I'd buy a Seiko. Anyway, horrible QC, horrible warrantee (you have to pay to send your watch to their factory, so i had to pay two times (50€ in total).
Such a shame, I really like their design, their history and what they are trying to do with the brand but instead of trying to developp new in-house movement (you should check on their brand new micro-rotor movement) they should improve their QC and try to treat their customers nicely. I think their problems are beyond their in-house caliber but i have to assume that i've heard less problem from owner with SW in it instead of Yema 3000 or 4000 movement.
Conclusion : I do not recommend at all and will get the upcoming Serica GMT in replacement of my kinda rubish Yema GMT.
Another happy Vaer owner chiming in. I recommend them often based on their build quality and design language.
Sercia has done more than fuse bezals together. They create a prefect design that can be used as a dive watch or GMT. Major brands need to take notice and adjustments.
Awesome assortment! I'd rather own a ton of affordable and unique microbrands with solid movements than blow thousands on one "grail watch" that frankly is probably just an homage to an even more expensive watch. Microbrands, maybe by necessity, seem like they need to go even harder with design and I'm honestly all for it.
Glad to see VAER make the video. I have the D5 Arctic and D5 Meridian. I enjoy them both. The crown does have a bit of a wobble to it on both. Overall I am happy with them. I was looking for an American assembled watch at an affordable price point. As for the video, we’ll done. Surprised that Christopher Ward did not make your list
Great to see Scurfa on this channel. I've had a diver one for years, still wear it regularly.
Fair review of the VAER. I own a D5 Arctic, great watch for the price. Sometimes too much marketing makes skeptics but it’s a good value.
About Yema:
I have never handled one myself but At one point I was considering the Yema Superman GMT. I decided against it however because I heard that quite a few people have had qc issues with their watches and that the customer service isn't the best sadly. So if there's a warranty issue I think there's a chance you'll have a difficult time contacting them or getting the proper support. Now I dont mean to hate on them because I think they have great designs and deserve their place in the watch world but I just wanted to give a heads up to people who might be interested in buying one for themselves. If that's you maybe just read into the topic a little bit so you can make an informed buying decision.
Love this video! Your older micro brand video convinced me to pickup pieces from Baltic, Astor & Banks, and Anordain. I guess it's time for round 2!
I love my Lorier, Farer, and Timex has been killing it with colabs and the Navi XL.!!! My two cents.
Yeah, have three Yema’s. My navygraph crown fell off winding stem. Sent it to Yema from California to France. Perfectly repaired watch returned a few days later. Myndiver is flawless. Love it. Finally, The limited addition 41mm bronze diver with blue dial has never been worn. The lug to lug is kind of large. I should have ordered the 39. Every time I look at it I think darn it’s so big.
I really believe that Ratio (Π Ratio)
sould be on the list!
Probably the most value-packed offerings for their price range.
I have had a yema superman for two years and I love it - never had a problem with the watch
I've been looking at pocket watches and hadn't heard of Vortic. What a brilliant idea and a unique opportunity to wear history
Oak and Oscar Olmstead 38. Next time I'm back in the states I'm picking one up. Absolutely wonderful watch.
I love the traditional dive watch designs from Vaer, being inspired by the military versions of Seamasters and Submariners.
I’m so happy to see Yema here 🇫🇷 this and LIP used to be big back in the 60’s-70’s in France and these brands are now back in the game
500 000 watches a year during their golden days. Glad to see Yema being back, they are also increasing quality which is very pleasant.
yema made in china
@@blue__wind like the others. But anyway, it's not a microbrand, so who cares,
Farer. Great micro brand. I have one. Very classy, extremely well made.
Thanks for covering Vaer. I love my D% Pacific diver, and plan on getting the Meridian!
great stuff againfrom you Teddy, love the look of the Serica, maybe Baltic, Zelos or Farer could have been added. Most of the 'dive' watches make the Christopher Ward impressive new Trident look great value
Hi Peter, those others have all been on the list in the past. I wanted some new blood for this video. All great suggestions though.
I am in St. Louis right now for grad school, so I absolutely know a Monta will be the watch I purchase once I finish. They've really hit their stride lately, and I can't wait to see where they go from here.
Holy Sh•t that Serica watch, Ive never seen such a great value prop inside a dive watch package. The ceramic bezel and that unique dial is head-turning. How have I never seen this before?
I have one and has not left my wrist in a year
Incredible looking watch, almost looks better than the Baltic watches, which also have a ceramic bezel.
Until you have issues. Go read about problems in watch forums
Teddy you left out one of the hottest microbrands lately in the Baltic watches, i think theyre very similar in pricing, quality and provenance to Yema, also, Christopher Ward deserves a mention and an american brand that is under the radar after having its heyday 5 years ago is Ginault which can be considered the best quality Subs homages.
I have a Vortic / Hamilton, each one its unique , a fantastic concept, a modern titanium case / strap and through the glass you see a 100 years old moviment and everything else !
Teddy, I've been watching you for quite a while now. You've come a long way and I'm loving your content. It's informative, entertaining and presented in a very professional yet relatable way. Keep up the great work.
I'm getting into Microbrands now. My Nodus Duality is beautiful, a couple of Zelos and love the value of Deep Blue divers.
So delighted to see Autodromo Vallelunga on your wrist!! I am big fan of Autodromo and a happy owner of Autodromo Veloce black myself!!
Great video on microbrands. I have some of the bigger names like Zelos, Halios, Traska, Bravur, but these obscure ones are interesting. The Elka is very nice.
Micro brands is my main focus at the moment.
Trying to find Nice watches with great dials and rare pieces I love.
I recently bought the new Tissot prx midnight Sky, and man this dial is Stunning! Hand painted, limited at 100 pcs
Some of the designs are truly original and wonderful. How refreshing.
Always good to see microbrands and their offerings and increase our perspectives. Thank you for your effort and time to share this info.
Yema has been making some AMAZING watches. I have a limited edition Navygraf FSM with their MK2000 movement with the most amazing minimalist military dial. I await delivery on their MYSTERIOUS BLUE Superman 500, recently updated in all respects They have Land sea and air models, newer (and more expensive) SLIM and microrotor movements, Lots to talk about. Most importantly they have a magnificent french styling that is simply charming AND a significant military connection.
Finally a Serica.
I got the 4512 and haven't needed another watch since. It's just 100% made of watch and built like a g-shock.
Nice video. I’m glad you didn’t feature Anordain. I’ve been on the waitlist for a yr already. They emailed yesterday to offer a build slot with a non refundable deposit, earliest delivery mid 2025!
I turned them down. I think a nearly 4yr wait makes a watch basically an obsolete proposition for nearly all.
Bought a vortic, the chicago model. I highly recommend. It is so cool and worth the price. A piece of history on your wrist.
I would definitely say Aragon needs some attention…they only make larger sized watches from 42-50mm but the specs you get for what they charge is unbeatable 🔥
So, Yema.
As a French national, I really want to love the brand, and I do, to a certain extent. I owned a 41mm limited edition bronze case Superman GMT with an in-house caliber (YEMA3000) inside. The blue dial was absolutely stunning, very well finished. The bezel action felt great and the overall design was very satisfying with its highly domed crystal.
The watch came with two straps, a black rubber tropic diver style and a brown leather vintage style. The rubber was comfortable, although I liked the look of the leather better. I could not size the leather strap properly for the watch to wear comfortably. The crown was always kind of digging into my hand. This was partly due to the bronze case: the combination of material and the thickness of its construction made it too heavy and somewhat unbalanced.
I also ran into issues with the movement (GMT hand not pointing at the numbers on the hour, accuracy of the movement drifted over time until it finally started to run erratically). I sent it back to Yema (under warranty) and they had the movement replaced. According to the paperwork that came with it, the work was performed by a third-party watch maker. When I got it back, the watch was still running about 20 sec/day fast and the stem of the crown might not have been sized properly because the crown wouldn’t “click” back into place after setting the time, although it was not an issue preventing the watch from working normally. I ended up selling it.
A few months later I purchased the 39 mm Superman Heritage featured in this video (except mine has a date). I like that one better, although the dial is a lot more restrained in terms of finishing. The Sellita runs impressively precisely. The watch feels like it’ll last me a lifetime. My criticism would go towards the bracelet, which looks good, wears comfortably, but feels a little cheap and somewhat too thin.
I feel like the brand has a huge potential but they are in that spot where they are dwelling between QC issues and questionable design choices for some models. They look like they’re working hard though and deserve to be successful in my opinion.
Love the channel, especially your thoughts on micro brands. Just purchased a VanBanner, my first micro brand watch and so impressed with the quality.
I have two Vaer field quartz watches an S5 calendar and a C5 with a white dial. Owned them for almost two years with no issues and for the price with a 10% discount are excellent. I just wish they offered a field watch with tritium markers like my Armourlite field watch which is a built like a tank but wears much like a standard dress watch and like the Vaer at an affordable price. Lorier is another mircobrand watch company that makes excellent watches like their Zephyr dress watch with a design that will never go out of style.
Look into Dallas-based Jack Mason microbrand. Not sure how long they have been around but they are led by a couple creative founders. Apparently, JM was one of the first microbrands selected by Miyota to use their new 9075 true travel GMT movement and will be released in their Strat-o-timer in March 2023. Very impressive and gorgeous "Americana" (Pepsi) design with travel GMT function for an unheard of sub $1K price! I'm more of a vintage watch collector, but JM is the first that I seriously considered a microbrand. I went ahead and pre-ordered the Strat-o-timer Americana and eagerly await its arrival in March. Do check them out because they have a good story to tell.
Teddy you are thorough with all you do and deserve all your success.
I recently bought a Draken Tuglar 300m divers watch and man is it built like a tank! Looks great has its own look and it's defiantly worth looking at...
The Draken Kruger is also incredible. Insane quality, crazy unboxing, they are great!
Thank you very much for the great work. Been wearing the Serica WMB since 2020. Such a great field watch.
Thanks Teddy, I always enjoy these Micro Brand Watch Video's. I like these obscure Watch Brands.
Thank you for your effort! I always look back to your channel and use as my buying guide when purchasing a watch. Your undying time dedication of expounding specification of certain watch plays a big role in choosing the best time piece using our hard earner money.
Yesssss the annual micro brands video 🎉 I’ve been so intrigued by Serica watches
I’ve been waiting for sooo long to hear you speak about serica! I really love what they do!
Loved those watches present here. But I also love Lorier and Baltic as well!
I've recently began my obsession as a watch collector. And i must say- out of all the luxury brands I've been researching, for me the MaMaCoo 's watches are the most intriguing.
The blog truly is so underrated. Keep up the great work!
Note to self "block all weekend for "rabbit hole" plunging in this blog" 😄👍🏼
Great list. Thanks!
Thank you for the review. Especially for the divers, it would be great to see the lume shots at the end of each watch!
Teddy, I believe those Autodromos are imitating a tachometer, having the very cool “red line” or “rev limiter” from 3-4
love these mircrobrand-focused videos. it's a cool way to discover watches/brands that might not otherwise be on my radar.
Hey Teddy, you should check out Jack Mason watches. They’re based in Dallas, TX and while they started as a kind of fashion-y brand, they’ve made a few up-spec moves in recent years.
I think you’d appreciate their True GMT which uses the Miyota jump-hour movement. It’s great to see it being employed in the microbrand space.
Maybe the brand isn’t *quite* there yet, the GMT just came out, but maybe see where they’re at next year.
Just watching this video now and I'm thrilled by your reviews. What do you think about Davosa Swiss Brand? Thank you.
Thank you so much for making this video. I understand a lot of the videos you make promote watches that you are an authorized dealer for and therefore it helps your business so it's nice to see some fresh new faces and see some brands I have never heard of before. Well done, Teddy.
Great job as always Teddy. Thank you for the reviews of these lesser know brands and putting them on our radar screen. I have been a Vaer fan for several years, and wear my D5 Atlantic diver regularly when hiking or out near water. It is clean, comfortable, reliable, and I believe a great value.
I appreciate the time you take to put out this type of informative, very well-done video. I've seen others you've done and just ordered a Traska, a choice influenced by your presentation and review. Thanks again for your time, your effort, and for sharing your passion and expertise.
Love the review & love the shout out to Vortic! I went ahead and purchased one! Love the history, thanks again for all the reviews...
I'm waiting for my own Serica to arrive. I thought it looked fantastic when I first saw it, and I found myself going back to their website regularly. I can't wait to have it on the wrist, just a fantastic GADA watch
Many reports of mechanical and customer support issues with Serica. Did you have to return yours?
My next watch is gonna be a Yema. Their catalogue is awesome! IMO
Great vid Teddy, worth looking at the Unimatic Swiss Series, Sellita movement, slimmer case, more expensive, but feels more premium....
Love Raven! Getting ready to get the new Trekker, have the Airfield. Very happy.
Ren seriously thinking bout buying a Yema good to hear some positive feed back
Bought a Vaer D5 Tropic & I really like it. My only complaints are the two bands that it came with: (1) The rubber/silicone is perhaps the cheapest grade of material I’ve ever seen - worse than Swatch. (2) Bracelet cannot be adjusted; the pins are lodged too tightly in their slots. I purchased an aftermarket band & now enjoy it, but some of these brands need to do a better job with their straps.
I like that you avoided Baltic watches. I had one for two years and it was incapable of keeping time. Had to send it back to them 3 times and it just never worked. They wouldn’t replace it either. Just got sick of sending it back and to be honest I don’t even know where it is now. Wish I went with one of these other recommendations.
I totally support you teddy 🐻 I am also a lover of watches large and small . Great video and all the featured time pieces are fantastic.
Thanks for that great review of some under rated microbrands, a really good insight into what makes them tick!
Great video many thanks for including the Diver One it’s much appreciated
I’m a huge fan of the channel and a big Yema fan (own 4 of their pieces with a Wristmaster Micro-Rotor on the way) and glad to see the brand get featured. By what is commonly accepted as a microbrand definition nowadays, however, it’s not a microbrand. It’s owned by a conglomerate (Montres Ambre). Love the inclusion of Serica and Monta, both are exceptional Micros. Would love to see Traska, Formex, and Second Hour in a video as well.
Many French brand : That’s cool !
Nobody is talking about it out of France, but I suggest you to look at « March Lab » : 70’s style and very well done watches. So much character !
Another great and very insightful video, Teddy! I would have loved to have heard your take on the Soprod Newton movement as it’s a lesser know, albeit quite an attractive proposition.
I own a Yema. Beautiful piece but construction leaves a lot to be desired. Had to send mine for warranty repair, within the first year, because the lume dropped off the face. I keep it in my collection because it wears so well (dress diver?) but I don't reach for it often because it's fragility - the mechanisms feel loose and crunchy.
Monta Skyquest GMT
Sellita Cal.SW330-2 is a thin automatic GMT movement. It is based on Cal. SW300-1, a clone of ETA’s 2892A2.
Great video Teddy! Wish you could also feature D Dornblüth und sohn in a Future Video
Love my Vaer watches. I have the D5 Arctic and 2 of the D4 solar models. Very reliable and well-built and good looking. Suggestion for future consideration: Aquatico, esp the Seastar line.
I think a list like this isn't complete without Farer, Zelos and Baltic. In my opinion, Zelos and Farer are the top two. Christopher Ward too depending on your definition of microbrands.
I'm currently wearing GX1-A LIV watch with an Elabore grade Swiss automatic movement. I feel LIV make some nice looking sports watches.