Watch Microbrands have been blowing up recently, and for good reason. These are the people taking risks on unique ideas, niche themes, and enthusiast-level specs, and I really think they deserve our support.
In this video, I’m running through some of my favorite microbrands right now, and focusing on watches that feel genuinely special, have a real point of view, and still come in under $750 (with plenty well under $300).
What's going on everybody, and welcome back, to the Shameless Watch Collector.
Microbrands have been on an absolute tear the last few years.
They're getting more attention, more hype, and honestly, they deserve it.
This is one of my favorite corners of the watch world.
This is where all the weird ideas, risky decisions, and concepts that get laughed out of major
boardrooms actually get made.
Big brands are busy protecting their heritage and margins, while microbrands are out here
experimenting with wild dials, titanium everything, funky case shapes, themed collabs, and mind-blowing
specs for the pricing.
However, you'll notice that microbrands usually cost more than a lot of the watches
that I show from places like AliExpress, and that does make sense.
Most of these guys don't have giant factories, they're not buying parts by the container,
and they're not getting movements at the same wholesale pricing as brands with enormous
budgets.
A lot of this stuff is built in smaller batches with more custom parts, more hands-on assembly,
and way more time sunk into design and finishing.
You're paying for people who really care about every tiny decision and obsess over
watches even more than we do.
In return, you get watches that feel personal.
And that's why I think microbrands are worth our support.
When you buy from them, you're basically pushing the watch community forward and encouraging
more creativity.
So in this video, we're digging into some of my favorite examples of microbrands.
Ones that deliver real value and feel genuinely special.
And since these are microbrand watches, it means I have something for pretty much everybody.
This is easily the most variety in terms of design that I've had on any video on this
channel so far.
So let's get into it.
First, we have Dan Henry.
When it comes to elegant racing chronographs at ridiculous value, I personally don't
think anyone touches Dan Henry.
This is one of the brands that got me obsessed with watches in the first place, and somehow
they still don't get talked about as much as I think they should.
Let's start with the 1962.
This one is at the very top of my Christmas list, and I'm trusting my wife to deliver.
You guys know I'm a sucker for a car and a case back.
I'm in love with this one on the 1962 that features the Maserati Birdcage.
The engraving is so good, and I love when a watch goes all in on a racing theme.
I don't think I've seen another watch that screams racing chronograph this hard while
still looking this clean and minimalist.
The dial design is familiar in all the right ways, but still somehow feels unique.
Those blue hands are doing so much heavy lifting.
It's such a tiny detail, but it adds tons of character.
That only works because the rest of the dial is so confident and uncluttered.
Specs wise, this is basically my ideal vintage inspired racer chronograph, 39mm in diameter,
about 13.5 thick, and around 46 lug to lug.
You get a 316L stainless steel case with twisted lugs, a double domed K1 mineral crystal with
AR, and 50 meters of water resistance.
Inside is the Seiko VK63 mecha quartz, so you get that smooth chrono sweep and snap
back reset without having to baby a delicate mechanical movement.
I genuinely cannot wait to get this one on wrist and expect to see it on the channel
very soon.
Now let's check out the 1964 Gran Turismo, the watch that almost stole the spot from
the 1962 on my Christmas list.
I went back and forth between these two more times than I want to admit, and I'm 99%
positive I'm going to own both eventually.
On paper, it's a similar pitch, vintage inspired racing chronograph, with the tri-compax
or bi-compax layout, totally up to you.
You also have the mecha quartz inside, and another amazing color on the case back.
This time it's tied to the Aston Martin DB5 for 1964, which also just happens to be
one of my favorite cars of all time.
The 38mm version comes in at just under 13mm thick, around 45 lug to lug, with 50 meters
of water resistance.
The 36mm version basically shrinks down the whole package while keeping the movement intact.
The star of this line though, to me, is the mother of pearl on the 36.
I think this is one of the most beautiful dials Dan Henry has ever done.
If they offer this exact mother of pearl configuration in the 38, I honestly think this one might
have won over the 1962.
One detail I really appreciate on both the 62 and the 64 is that you can choose a date
or no date without it affecting the price, same with the bi-compax or the tri-compax.
And when I said value earlier, I was not kidding.
Both the 1962 and 1964 come in at around $280.
And then I have the 1975 here, mostly just to prove to you guys that Dan Henry isn't
just a racing chrono brand, he also makes some beautiful pieces like this diver.
This is a proper 70s style skin diver, slim case, big high domed crystal, bright dials,
and a bezel that looks really vintage and nice.
You're looking at 39mm in diameter, around 10.5 thick for the quartz, and about a millimeter
more for the automatic, and it's roughly 42 lug to lug.
You have a 60 minute bezel with 120 clicks, a high domed sapphire crystal with AR, and
150 meters of water resistance.
Dials come in a wide variety of beautiful colors, some more loud, and some more classic,
and very elegant looking.
What I also love about this is you get choices again, you get to choose your movement on
this one.
On the quartz side, you can get the VH31 with the smooth sweep, and then on the automatic
side you get the Miyota 9015.
28,800 beats per hour, hacking, handwinding, and a solid 40 hour power reserve.
No matter which one you pick, this one's a real winner.
Second on the list, we have Zelos.
Zelos is the poster child for one of the bigger micro brands doing wild dial work.
They're a Singapore based brand that's been around for a while now, and their whole
thing is pushing materials and textures way harder than most big brands are willing to.
And the best part is they pair all that beautiful chaos with the genuinely solid specs and sizes
that work on wrist.
We'll start with the Swordfish SS.
The Swordfish line might have some of the wildest dials on this entire list.
These are just ridiculous ideas.
Lagoon has this teal, almost mother of pearl effect that shifts like water.
And then you have Scarlet with the deep red that fades to black at the edges.
And then Holo.
This is a laser engraved steel dial that throws a holographic sunburst around whenever the
light hits it.
This is one of my favorite dials out there.
If you don't want to go full disco ball though, they do have more traditional colors.
They still get tons of attention to texture and finishing.
These also feel special just without being loud.
All of this sits in a very wearable case, at 40mm in diameter, around 12mm thick, and
46mm lug to lug.
The bracelet uses female end links with an updated clasp with an on the fly micro adjust.
You also have 316L stainless steel on the case and bracelet, flat sapphire with inner
AR, 200 meters of water resistance, and a 120 click bezel.
The lume is a mix of C3X1 and BGW9, so this thing basically turns into a glow stick once
the lights go out.
Inside this watch is the Seiko NH35 with a color match date wheel.
Not the fanciest movement, but it's reliable, easy to service, and I like how they added
a little nice touch with that color match.
This watch starts at around $425, the more premium materials used in the dial can drive
the price up a little bit, and they sell out ridiculously quick.
So if you see one you love, do not wait on these.
The Mako Izella is putting on a slightly more serious face than what they have with the
Swordfish.
You still get wild dials, don't get me wrong, but now with 300 meters of water resistance
and a slimmer, more vintage leaning case.
Most Mako V3 steel models come in around 40mm, 46-47 lug to lug, and about 11-12 thick.
So on wrist, it wears a lot like a Swordfish, just with a little more water resistance and
a little bit more vintage.
But the dials are what makes your jaw drop.
Meteorite versions with actual Mjonolista meteorite for both dial and bezel.
Lagoon blue with guilloche in reverse fumi, nebula fumi, with a matching sapphire bezel.
It's all completely over the top in a very fun way, and super easy to say, and definitely
didn't take me a million takes right there to get that right, and probably still pronounce
it all wrong.
Underneath, most Makos run a Miyota 9015, which is thinner and higher beat than the
NH35.
That's a big part of why this watch wears so well for something rated 300 meters.
It is a little pricier than the Swordfish line, but between the higher WR, the slimmer
profile, and the dial and bezel work, you at least know exactly where your money went.
Next up, we have Baltic.
Baltic is the tasteful French Mako brand that the internet has recently become obsessed
with.
And honestly, I get it.
They're one of the brands out there that's just nailing that vintage-inspired look, while
still feeling fresh.
They're all about proportions, textures, and colors that look far above their price
point.
We'll start with the Baltic Air Martique 4, another very easy French word to say.
On paper, it's just a straightforward field watch.
37mm, around 11th pick, 46 lug to lug, you get the 316L stainless steel, double domed
sapphire with internal AR, 150 meters of water resistance, and a screw-down integrated crown.
Inside is the Miyota 9039 automatic, this one runs at 28,800 beats per hour, and also
has hacking, hand-winding, and around 42 hours of power reserve.
But the dial is where Baltic starts to really stick out.
You get a two-part layout with a matte central sector, contrasting outer minute track, and
applied indices that bridge the two.
Syringe hands, a lollipop seconds, and big blocks of BGW9 or C3 lume to keep it legible
and give it that proper tool watch glow.
And then there's that new summer collection.
Same watch, same specs, but in these loud yellow, turquoise, pink, and orange colors,
all on matching FKM straps.
I'm such a sucker for a good summer line, as you guys know, and this one checks every
box.
And delivering good value, priced at around 550 pounds.
Now let's check out the HMS 002 and the 003.
For a Baltic, it gets a little bit more fancy, and I guess more familiar with the rest of
their collection.
These dial three-handers feel straight out of the 30s and 40s, but you obviously get
that modern reliability.
Both the 002 and 003 run the Miyota 8315 with a 60-hour power reserve and about 50 meters
of water resistance.
So these are still dressy, but they can be everyday watches as well.
The 002 is slightly larger, more of an old-school one at 38mm, about 47 lug-to-lug, with a high-domed
Hesalite crystal, and a stepped case that instantly gives it a mid-century vibe.
You get a sectored dial with a brush at a ring, glossy or matte intersection depending
on the color, applied markers, and slim leaf hands.
Black and gold PVD version in particular looks like it should cost so much more than it does.
The 003 shrinks things down a bit.
It's around 36mm in diameter with a shorter lug-to-lug, and it pushes even deeper into
the true vintage territory.
The dial feels like the greatest hits of earlier HMS designs.
You got the brushed railway track, sandblasted background, polished applied markers, and
slightly larger leaf hands for a bit more character.
Colors like the blue gilt and salmon absolutely sell this whole look.
Both of these models deliver great value, sitting around $300.
Let's keep things moving with Boulder.
Boulder is one of the leaders in the outdoor side of the microbrand scene.
They're based in Singapore, and they very much lean into the adventure tool side of
watches.
Their pieces feel like they're always meant to be used, knocked around, and they make
for amazing dailies.
They also feel like one of those companies that's just making watches for themselves,
instead of focusing on what's hot or trendy at the time.
First we have the Field Medic II, which is probably the most interesting and purpose-built
watch on this list.
It was inspired by healthcare workers during the pandemic, and designed to be useful on
the job.
It uses a super wearable 38mm titanium case that's about 12.2mm thick, and roughly 44
lug to lug.
And you also get 200 meters of water resistance.
You have flat sapphire with AR, a screw-down crown, a screw-down case backed with artwork,
and a nylon NATO strap with titanium hardware to make it light and tough in a way that steel
just can't match.
Inside is the Seiko MK64 mechacords.
So on this watch, instead of a tachometer, you have a pulsometer, and respiratory scales
printed around the edge.
Start the chrono, count heartbeats or breaths, stop it, and the seconds hand points straight
to the rates per minute.
It's an actual working tool for medical staff and a great everyday chrono for the
rest of us.
But the fact that Boulder also donates a portion of the sales to related charities just makes
the value of this price even better.
You can currently pick this one up for just under $300.
Now let's take a look at the Raleigh 3 Wells Jr. and the Raleigh 797 SRW.
So we take that same 38mm titanium case, the same dimensions, the same 200m rating, and
the same BK64, and we just bring all of that to the racetrack.
The Wells Jr. goes full Raleigh livery with yellow, black, and grey.
And a matte dial packed with lume so it still looks alive at night.
The 797 is kind of like the moodier one, darker case finish, black dial, but you get the bright
blue accents.
Both get custom engraved casebacks tied to their themes, both share the same titanium,
sapphire, and 200m spec stack, and both are at the same price, again $299.
And now we get to the next piece of their Pokemon line.
This time, Boulder chose Venusaur.
Part of their Voyage line, it's a 41mm 360 stainless steel case, just under 50 lug
It comes with a full steel bracelet with a clasp that has topographic line art etched
to it, and it still runs the BK64.
The dial is all around Bulbasaur and Venusaur, the matte ombre blue that matches the palette,
and the bright applied markers.
You get plenty of swiss lume, and the familiar dual register layout.
Flip it over, and you have a full Venusaur illustration under sapphire with the serial
number.
As someone who grew up in this era of Pokemon, and is definitely their target audience on
this one, they got me hook, line, and sinker.
I really have my eye on this watch, and I'm already so bummed that I missed out on the
Charizard and Trimander one, so I'll act quick on this one if it speaks to you as much
as it does to me.
Our next micro brand is RZE.
RZE is another Singapore brand, and they're fully committed to titanium and hard coatings.
Everything they make is light, tough, and has a sharp modern design language.
Their whole idea is assembled for adventure watches that you don't want to baby, and
finishes that can take abuse.
We'll start with the Urbanist, which at around $295 is probably the most approachable
way into RZE, and one of my favorite modern field watches out there.
This one uses a 36mm titanium case that's about 11 thick and 42 lug to lug.
The case is coated with their Ultra Hex, which bumps the surface hardness way up, and you
still get 100m of water resistance and a sapphire crystal with inner AR.
Inside is the Miyota Solar Movement, so 10 seconds under the sun wakes this watch up,
and as long as you don't live in a cave, it'll keep running.
The dial is a big part of the appeal here.
You have the sand textured surface, 3D embossed numerals, and bright superluminova.
It has a ton of depth for such a simple three-hander.
And the colors are amazing.
You have things like Medallion Yellow, Bubblegum Pink, Reserve Blue, plus their special editions.
I love that they took a category usually dominated by olive, black, and gray, and just threw
that out the window and did their own thing.
The Resolute 36 takes that RZE toughness, and wraps it in a smaller, more refined package.
The case is 36mm wide, only about 9.5 thick, with a lug to lug around 42.3.
It's full titanium again, case and bracelet, with the Ultra Hex hardcoating, and 100m of
water resistance.
You get sapphire crystal with internal AR, a screw-down crown and case back, and their
quick-click titanium bracelet with a no-tool micro-adjustment clasp.
The whole watch is incredibly light, the head alone is just in the mid-30g range, and even
sizing the bracelet, it disappears on the wrist.
Inside is the Miyota 9039 Automatic, a no-date high-beat movement with roughly 42 hours of
power reserve.
It's definitely a step up price-wise from the Urbanus, this one coming in at around
$680, but you can see exactly where the money goes in terms of finishing, bracelet engineering,
and the Automatic.
Next up, we have Notice.
This is a Los Angeles micro-brand that's become a bit of a benchmark in the space.
It's two friends who started it back in 2017, and they still assemble and regulate
everything in-house in Los Angeles, which is pretty rare at these price points.
Their design language is very modern to a watch with a restrained twist.
Things like clean lines, good proportions, and just enough personality to stand out without
it feeling over-designed.
Start with the Sektor Dive GMT, which is Notice taking their Sektor case architecture and
turning it into a compact travel watch.
This one is 40mm in diameter and about 12 thick.
It's around 47 lug-to-lug and the water resistance is 100 meters.
You get a 316L stainless case, sapphire crystal with AR, and a 24-hour bezel that works with
a GMT hand.
The bracelet is their H-Link design with the taper down to 16mm and the Node-X clasp, which
gives you an on-the-fly micro-adjust.
Inside you've got the Eseiko NH34 automatic GMT movement, so you have the independently
adjustable 24-hour hand, so you can track a second time zone.
Dial options lean into clean, legible layouts with strong lume and just enough color to
keep it interesting.
So if you want a microbrand GMT that's compact and genuinely practical, this is a solid pick
coming in at around $525.
Sektor 2 is Notice doing a modern 3-hand sports watch in the same compact case.
This one is 38mm in diameter, about 11.7 thick, and 47 lug-to-lug.
You get all the same premium materials from the GMT, and the dial options include a glacier
blue, frost white, void black, and tone model with a bronze bezel.
They're glossy enamel dials with applied indices and a printed minute track, no date,
and BGW9 grade A lume.
Inside is the Eseiko NH38 no-date automatic, which Notice actually regulates in-house to
tighter tolerances than stock.
So it's not a super flashy spec sheet, but the execution and finishing are what make
this one shine in the just under $500 price range.
Time to look at Henry Archer.
Henry Archer is a Danish microbrand that has blown up as of late, and I'm pretty sure
I'd really be hearing about it in the comments if they weren't on this list.
Their whole thing is dial work and finishing.
Hard-coated cases, insane color combos, all done with a very Scandinavian design sensibility,
so it never feels cheap or loud for the sake of it.
They're also one of the few microbrands where you can tell there's a real obsession
with both design and wearability.
You have thin cases, smart dimensions, and specs that make sense for both daily use and
for dress watches.
First, we'll take a look at the Havstrom.
This might be one of the most stunning dials I have ever seen.
Especially the purple.
You get this deep, saturated purple that shifts under the light, with a bright green ring
around it.
Really a color that absolutely shouldn't work, but it does so well.
It looks like the whole dial is glowing, even when the lume is off.
The case on this one stays very wearable, at 40mm, 47 lug-to-lug, and just over 10mm
thick.
You get sapphire on the front and back with multi-layer AR, 200m of water resistance,
and a hard coating on the case and bracelet that helps with scratch resistance, plus a
tool-less micro-adjust.
Inside is the Miota 9019 from their premium series, a slim, high-beat automatic that helps
keep this watch so wearable.
This watch is currently on pre-order for $652.
The combination of the dial, the hard-coated case and bracelet, the movement you're getting,
and the overall finishing makes this price make sense.
And from what I've seen, Henry Archer does seem to do well in the secondary market.
And then you have the Vesterhav, which is a slightly more everyday leaning counterpart
to the Havstrom.
It lands at 38mm across, about 10.45 thick, and 46 lug-to-lug.
You still get 200m of water resistance, and all the same premium materials you can find
on the Havstrom, down to the Miota 9019 movement.
Where this watch really shines is its variety.
The dial options range from more muted, almost dressy configurations, to insanely bright
coastal-inspired options.
Which is cool, because the name of this watch literally means West Sea in Danish.
It's what they call the stretch of the North Sea off Denmark's west coast.
So the watch is very much built around that aesthetic.
All with Henry Archer's usual attention to texture and color transitions and detail.
It's one of the more affordable ways to get into this brand, as some models come in below
$600.
And what kind of shocks me is that some of the more attractive and unique dial options
are below that $600 range.
So if you're looking to get into one of the internet's most loved microbrands, and for
good reason, this is probably where I'd look first.
Let's take a trip to Long Island, and check out Islander.
Islander is the in-house brand from Mark at Long Island Watch, and uncoincidentally, it
feels like it was built by someone who's been in this hobby for a long time.
Mark was massive on YouTube years before Islander existed, so when he finally launched his own
brand, it was a much-needed answer to the SKX-sized hole that was left in the watch
industry.
The result is a catalog full of enthusiast-spec watches with fun themes, strong lume, and
really crazy value.
We'll start with the Northport, because that's probably the watch that most of you
think of when you think of Islander right now, if you already know who they are.
And also, it's only fair that I include this watch after showing off the wish-do-it,
we can just say homage, of this.
So this one is 40.5mm in diameter, about 12.5 thick, and 47mm lug-to-lug.
You get 200m of water resistance, a flat sapphire crystal with AR, and a lumed sapphire bezel
insert.
But really, the dial is the star.
It's a ripple texture inspired by the Long Island sound, with gradients like seafoam
green fading to white.
The way the light catches the texture really does look like shallow water, and the color
matched bezel keeps the whole design cohesive.
Inside this one you get the Miyota 9015 Hypee Automatic, and a bracelet that tapers from
20-16mm, uses a full milled clasp, and has 6 micro-adjustment holes.
So you can definitely find the perfect fit on this watch, and Islander is known for their
bracelet quality.
For around $429, this delivers the value you expect from Islander.
And then we have the Saltaire.
This is a compact solar diver coming in at 38mm in diameter, at about 12.5 thick, and
only 46mm lug-to-lug.
You still get 200m of water resistance, a flat sapphire crystal with internal AR, and
a full stainless steel case and bracelet.
The movement in this one is the Miyota 2070 Ring Solar Quartz, so you have no date, just
a clean 3-hand layout that charges off the dial and off light.
The mint green version in particular is a standout for this one, has a soft nice color,
but still feels like a proper diver.
A full retail, this watch is still solid value, but right now at the time of recording, it
is on sale for under $200, so I would definitely check this one out.
And finally, we have the Hudson Harpoon from them, a watch where every week is shark week.
This shark themed diver comes in at 40mm across, and about 12.1 thick, so really a nice and
thin watch, and only 47mm lug-to-lug.
Of course you're getting your 200m of water resistance, sapphire with AR, and their amazing
bracelet.
The details are where this watch is just amazing and goes all in.
The dial has a subtle shark texture pressed into it, the minute hand is shaped like a
harpoon, the seconds hand counterweight is a tiny little shark, and the bezel pit has
a hidden little funnel motif.
The case back shows a breaching shark with HELP SHARK engraved around it, and the degrading
seagrain version, that gradient dial over the texture really does look like murky water.
Inside you've got the Miota 9015 again, so you have that smooth sweep and reliable
performance.
There's lume everywhere, dial, bezel, crown logo, even the date frame, so it glows like
crazy.
At full retail you'll find this one in the mid $500s, but this one is also on sale occasionally,
and at the time of recording, is in the mid $300s, and honestly, that might be the best
value piece on this entire list.
For our penultimate brand, we have Ferrell and Company.
This brand is pure motorsport energy, so you had to know they had a good chance of showing
up on this list.
Ferrell and Co. is from Canada, and they lean hard into the Le Mans, Gulf Stripes, vintage
race car dashboards, and one hand racing timers.
Everything they do feels like it was designed by someone who spends their free time watching
old racing footage.
You know, kind of like I do.
So if you want watches that are unapologetically car coded, but still have amazing specs and
thoughtful execution, I think you've come to the right brand.
First we'll check out the Racemaster Chronograph Azul.
This is them doing pure retro motorsport.
39mm in diameter, 13 thick, including the crystal, with a 45mm lug-to-lug.
Brushed 316L stainless steel, and a German box domed Hesalite crystal with 50 meters
of water resistance.
The dial is where things go all in.
You get asphalt textured base, applied indices with C3 Superluminova, and contrasting sub
dials that look like dashboard gauges.
The color blocking leans hard into the Gulf style, the blue and orange, which is one of
my favorite motorsport styles that you commonly see on these type of watches.
Inside is the Seiko VK64 Mechacords movement.
At this price, which is just around $425, the combo of unique design, along with reliable
movement and tons of character makes sense to me.
If you guys are getting a little bit sick of the Gulf livery style though, I would definitely
check out the silver dial with the racing accents.
This one hits all the same notes, and I think looks just as good.
Then we have the Distinct 3 Avanti, and this is a weird one in the best way possible.
It's a one hand racing watch inspired directly by classic Le Mans instruments.
It's a 42mm polished 316L case, and about 13.1mm thick in the automatic version, and
only 10mm thick in the quartz version.
Either way it's a 48mm lug to lug, and water resistance is at 100 meters thanks to that
screw down crown.
On this watch you have a choice of movements, either the NH35 automatic, or the Swiss Ronda
quartz.
Both of those are big winners.
This watch comes in a beautiful perforated Italian racing leather, or racing nylon strap.
The dial is a dual layer track, fully loomed in C3, with a single longhand that sweeps
once every 12 hours.
The dial is divided into 144 markers, each representing 5 minutes, with bolder markings
at the quarter hours.
So once you get used to it, it's surprisingly easy to read.
But it feels very different from a standard three hander.
It's a great example of a brand committing hard to a theme and backing it up with real
specs.
And you also have a great price on this one, coming in at only $320.
And the last brand we have on this list, is Sheffield.
This is a revived brand name that's gone all in on car culture with their modern lineup.
The current watches were built by someone who feels like they love Porsches and old
school racing, equally as much as they love dive and tool watches.
Almost everything in this catalog ties back to either driving or motorsport in some way,
but they do back up the theme with proper and solid specs.
We'll start with the Sheffield All Sport lineup, which is where they lean really the
hardest into the motorsport fun.
All of the GT models share the same core spec, a 40mm 316L case, 200m of water resistance,
a screw down crown, a sapphire crystal with AR, and the Miyota 2070 solar quartz movement.
You also get an FKM rubber strap, so no matter which color you pick, you're getting a legit
spec sheet for the money.
The classic GT and All Sport 1 variants lean into the traditional GT color combos, blues,
darker tones, and the now iconic white dial with the blue and orange stripes.
The GT Pink takes the same formula and just cranks the fun factor up, so you get a loud
pink dial that keeps the same racing layout.
Because the movement is solar, you get the grab and go convenience of a quartz with very
little maintenance.
You guys know I love to end these lists with the most affordable options, and this one
delivers especially for the specs you're getting, at only $138-$150.
Then we have the Jay Leno Garage Mechanics Pit Watch, another awesome microbrand collab
that I'm happy exists.
This is a 42mm 316L case with a sandblasted finish, so the scratches are less obvious.
Paired with the Seiko VK64 Mega Quartz.
Water resistance is 100m and you get sapphire crystal with anti-glare, a screw down crown,
and pushers for the chrono.
The dial is bright white and textured, with a big 60 minute register, a 24 hour sub dial,
and bold markings that are easy to read.
Lume on the hands and markers keeps it usable in darker garages or night drives.
It ships with a 22mm FKM rubber strap, and usually comes with an extra leather strap
in the box, which is always a nice touch.
This feels like a proper mechanics watch, tough enough for real use, but still very
much a car enthusiast piece with a really cool Jay Leno connection.
You can grab this one for only $258.
And last watch on the list, we have the SCR.
This takes things in a more serious diver direction, but still stays very automotive
coated.
The case is 40mm in diameter, 13 thick, and 48 lug to lug.
Water resistance is 200m and you get a screw down crown, and a sapphire crystal with AR.
Inside is the NH35 automatic movement, paired with the MAC dial, and white swiss lume markers.
At this price, getting a full automatic diver with a strong lume, sapphire, and real motorsport
DNA is in a compelling package at only $268.
So that's going to do it for this list, and if you made it this far in the video,
thank you so much for watching and I hope you enjoyed my picks.
Every watch I mention in this video will be linked in the description, and I highly encourage
you to check these out and support these microbrands.
I'll honestly probably have another microbrand list video soon, because it was so hard just
to narrow it down to only 10 brands, there are so many incredible ones out there.
So I also encourage you to check out this community, dive as deep into it as you can,
and find all these great brands doing such unique and creative work.
Thanks again for watching, please like, comment your favorite brands below, and subscribe
to the channel, and I will see you guys in the next video.
Seamus Watch Collector, signing off.
And always remember, it's not that serious.