5 Reasons To Buy A Microbrand Watch! (And 5 Not To!)

[@robertb925]

I contacted Zelos and asked about BUYING the smaller clasp for my 42mm Swordfish, and they sent me 3 for FREE! Great customer service!

[@Mike-kr9ys]

Zelos has always treated me very well, as well.

[@randynovick7972]

Elshan rules.

[@JustWatches1]

Also had a very positive experience with Zelos.

[@rag_man673]

😲

[@christophergustafson3942]

I had the movement in my Mako V1 go bad a year out of warranty. Elshan replaced the movement and shipped the watch to and from Singapore...for free. That is how you make a loyal customer. I bought a Meteorite Swordfish the same day the Mako came home.

[@soerenwizard]

I purchased an Islander 38 mm. Blue with white dial. Very nice. No regrets.

[@f1jr724]

Marc at Islander has a great setup and responds really quickly to any questions...Perfect 👌

[@gravynog]

Would love to see Jody do a review of an Islander

[@locobenno9435]

yeah my ISL35 turned up this week, it's awesome, love it

[@mrjasonrowland]

Yep. Marc is the best. I would say micro brand with an asterisk. I happily own two. Hard to be the specs/quality for the price.

[@Nefville]

My ISL 21 came in Monday, but it has an issue with two of the hands touching at some point around the dial... I'll see today how the customer service is, I love the watch and the brand, but I need to exchange it.

[@drwindsurf]

I own several microbrand watches - I like the value of paying for watch quality and not history and advertising.

[@marlinwatches8878]

Your absolutely right Jeff I have just launched my own brand and sales are going well Micro brand divers have interest and are interesting www.marlinwatch.co.uk

[@GarySlegg]

Marlin Watches nice looking watches

[@marlinwatches8878]

Gary Slegg thank you Gary

[@trevorbowles7034]

That’s a bingo. I love my Spinnaker just as much as my Rolex presidential. Not exaggerating.

[@marlinwatches8878]

@Biggles-in-Cyprus Hi yes selling worldwide/ many sold to America, German Swiss, french, buyers to date 👍🐟🐟

[@pierce_fierce]

I’ve only had one issue with a micro brand watch thus far, it was a RLG (Richard Le Grand). The crown was having trouble screwing down and eventually couldn’t anymore. Sent a pic and a video to their Warranty team, and they had a watch to me in the states in 2 days via DHL with prepaid postage back for the old. Better service that I’ve ever had compared to the big names that sit in my watchbox.

[@GodfroySir]

I haven't seen anyone mentioning Direnzo watches, but I am a complete fan ! I have a DRZ 02 and will soon receive my new DRZ 03. Incredible design and great customer interaction ! All of this a bit thanks to you Jody ! Thank you for your videos.

[@ozludo]

I ordered a DRZ 03 in red. That was a good decision.

[@GodfroySir]

@@ozludo I ordered in blue because I didn't dare the red one. And I must confess that I regret at bit. But blue is also great!!!!

[@andrewknowles55]

My two favourite microbrand watches I own are my Lorier Neptune v2 and Dan Henry 1937, both absolutely great!

[@bradhogue2029]

I had an issue with my Dan Henry 1972. I emailed the company, Dan himself emailed me back, and took care of it. Superb customer service.

[@argenisgarcia5015]

I've been thinking about buying a Lorier for a couple of months but still not sure to pull the trigger, what can you tell me about the watch should I buy it?

[@nickwarne]

I recently bought a Long Island ISL-11. Can’t believe I can get a Seiko movement, Seiko Turtle case, Sapphire crystal and bezel, and an unusual, eye-catching bead blasted finish for US$300. With the name brand parts and the micro-brand style, it’s the best of both worlds, and great value. Understated but classy, why wouldn’t one buy micro?

[@willardhooton920]

Nick Warne Marc does a fantastic job👌

[@brianbuchert6382]

Hi I have the isL-12 turtle and love it I can’t believe for just $300.00 I could get all of that plus I had the first one I owned became magnetized I think it was due to one time setting my cell phone on the watch box just above the watch, I contacted Marc and he told me what the problem was but instead of telling me to take it somewhere to have it demagnetized he sent me a brand new watch and a printed label so I could send the effected watch back!! So now I’m thinking about getting the yellow version!!

[@georgehave]

Jodi, the voice of logic and sanity in the crazy watch world.

[@Miginath]

It’s interesting to see the wide range of micro brands. From the start up to the established they come in all shapes and sizes. Personally I hope that they move away from the ubiquitous Seiko NH35 and start using Miyota 9s movements as I think having a high beat movement makes the value proposition that much more intriguing.

[@briansmith3011]

Still in the honeymoon phase with my Islander ISL-44, green dial w/ embossed bezel. End of the day it’s a custom SKX bought for half the cost of building it myself. I have no concerns over the brand as it is an offshoot of a well established online retailer with fantastic service.

[@willardhooton920]

Brian Smith Marc’s the real deal!

[@ozludo]

Aren't they fantastic? I'm wearing an ISL-8 and it's super, on par with my Triton. There are two more watches from Marc stuck in CV19 delivery limbo somewhere between New York and Australia - an ISL-18 (swoon) and an ISL-26 Superlume-Samurai. The wait is killing me.

[@todd344]

How good is his watch And how good and how long does the loom last on those long island or watches I’ve been looking at those air for about the last three months

[@ozludo]

@@todd344 outlasts my Sumo and Turtle, about the same as a Vanuatu. Easy to see after 8 hours.

[@davidevans4609]

Helm is a fantastic microbrand. Amazing build quality and every watch is tested and certified. Hopefully they'll release more models soon.

[@JohnClarkW]

@JJD Good luck. I have wanted the same Helm watch for 3 years now, it has been available to order for less than 90 seconds twice per year and during the middle of my work day. After doing the dance for the sixth time recently, I am done with it. They don't need more models, they need more production of the models they make now.

[@davidevans4609]

I've got a Khuraburi and I love it. Ridiculously heavy but built like a tank. Amazing quality bracelets too.

[@ozludo]

Yeah, and they are incredibly hard to obtain. They sell out in *seconds* and the company refuses to operate a wait list. Like John I've been chasing a particular model for over two years. I've had the damn watch in my cart THREE times. Each time sold-out before PayPal could process. I'm probably silly enough to try again but my experience to date is 100% frustration. Hard to like the brand after all that negative emotion.

[@davidevans4609]

@@ozludo I think I must have been lucky buying my Helm. Got it on the first attempt and only purchased because of Jody's review.

[@JohnClarkW]

@JJD If they had an actual wait list, I would think better of them, but instead, they will email with the time that model will be available to order the next time. They have just made it too hard to buy a watch from them, as a result, I am am done with Helm.

[@THEMADWATCHCOLLECTOR]

You’ve just gotta give so much respect to the guys and gals that star a micro brand ! True watch enthusiasts!!!!! My experience with them is....... don’t necessarily go for a micros first watch as it’s by the time they get to there 2nd or 3rd you start to see the watch they truly want to make!!

[@locobenno9435]

shout out to Zelos, I finally got in on the action with the recent Swordfish 40 and it's an excellent watch, exceeded my expectations for fit and finish and how comfortable it wears. Also shout out to Marc at Long Island Watch, loving my ISL35 as well

[@matthewkaake8946]

Personally? Love my Helms, and absolutely hate the process of trying to buy a Helm. Same goes for many micros - when I find one that really strikes me, it's near impossible to buy. So long as they house a known-reliable movement, I'm never terribly concerned about buying from a small company. It's again, just the inability to actually buy many of them that irks me.

[@DIYCameraGuy]

I’m the opposite, I love the process, I took me almost a year to get the one I wanted. The difficulty of getting is add to its value for me. It’s something you can’t just buy without effort.

[@robertnorth1681]

matthew kaake Truer words never spoken. If you produce a good watch but a lousy customer experience (availability, purchase experiences, etc). I don’t expect to own a Helm, despite my appreciation of the product.

[@RickStegman]

Helm has given me nothing but a year and a half of total frustration.

[@robertnorth1681]

@@RickStegman Yeah, that's why I gave up and moved on. Too much competition to accept a bad customer experience.

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

I'm not interested in jumping thru hoops to buy a watch (or any product.) You won't find me camping out outside the Apple store or Best Buy or blowing a Rolex salesman in the alley behind the AD to get that coveted and exclusive, brand spankin' new thing.

[@brianhinson2773]

A shout out to Marc at Long Island Watch, I had an issue with my Islander and since I bought it secondhand he probably didn’t have to service it, but he did and even answered my email on Sunday. Great Service!

[@MrMagooRC]

Big plug for Dan Henry - I own a 1962 and a 1964 and love them both. The new 1937 dress chrono is an itch I might need to scratch soon too. Great retro styling from a manufacturer with an obvious love of horology, and although they're quartz, which might put some off, the Seiko mecha-quartz movements are very good.

[@ozludo]

The 1972 poor-man's moon watch looks awesome too. Great style.

[@MrMagooRC]

@@ozludo honestly, I think I could pretty much wear any and all of them!

[@WarzechaSoftWorks]

My favorite microbrand is Steinhart. I own the Ocean One Vintage Military and the Ocean 39 GMT Premium 500. I'm very happy with the quality.

[@taglu]

So my intro into the microbrand world was via this channel. I was the lucky recipient of the Helm Vanuatu that Jody had up for grabs in a contest. While I would likely have never chosen this watch for myself as it is on the large size for my 6.5" wrists its now part of my regular rotation and I can't say enough for the quality of the watch or the customer service, especially considering I paid nothing for it! More recently I sold my my Hamilton Khaki King and with the funds bought the Nodus Sector Field. Again I have been more than pleased with the quality of the build on this watch. No issues with the microbrand market as a number of these companies are becoming well established through the quality of the product they produce.

[@rodpanhard]

Microbrands can offer fantastic value and some very creative designs when done right, my biggest downside to microbrands is that one you love and really want always seems to be sold out and impossible to get.

[@willardhooton920]

Rod Panhard Makes it fun when you finally get one though...Helm and Smiths comes to mind!

[@rodpanhard]

@@willardhooton920 Too right Willard, I finally managed to snag a Helm Komodo and it was a real sense of achievement after all that time jumping through hoops trying.

[@AvgJoeWatchReviews]

Great video Jody. You bring up some really valid points. This is the first year I’ve truly been interested in microbrands. I think part of that is simply educating myself on the brands and becoming aware.

[@edwardcrater3591]

The last couple of years I have been getting into microbrands and have been pleasantly surprised. Many companies are putting out phenomenal and unique pieces. I don't worry so much about warranty. I sent my Omega in once and it took 5 months to get my watch back. My Citizen atomic watch had a hairline crack on the underside of the crystal. The dealer sent it in for a new crystal. It was under warranty and took 6 weeks to get back my watch. Anyway, enjoyed the video. Definitely some points to think about.

[@sightunseenstudio]

I've just come to show some love for Zelos. Have been building a small collection of Zelos watches since seeing your Skyraider vid Jody. The build quality is amazing, and the seem excellent value for money (if you get them at the pre-launch pricing). I am also really impressed by the Zelos Timekeepers community, and the owner's (Elshan) interaction with his cusomers/fans. Can't recommend them highly enough.

[@mickkerr77]

My favourite microbrand is Panzera. I bought an Aquamarine-45 back in April and had to send it back under warranty. No problems, I sent my watch back and had a new watch delivered in around 14 days. Customer service was great. Looking forward to getting their new Aquamarine Pro-diver

[@jakepowers1833]

I own a dive school and my favorite watches are Doxa and Squale. We also have a shop. While working, I have been wearing a couple of microbrands that I purchased. I get a lot compliments on my Helm and my NTH. As for actual brand history, every company had a start at one time or another.

[@TheHynza]

which nth model you have?

[@jakepowers1833]

@@TheHynza, my NTH is the Scorpene Nomad, no date. It is rugged and tough and a top notch dive watch.

[@EsbjornWristwatchReviews]

Direnzo, awesome customer service and responsiveness. Truly deserves support. Hamtun watches, slow motion car crash.....several kickstarters with initially patient backers that get no responses from the owner and eventually turn nasty. If backing Kickstarter projects, research their previous efforts, it will save you some hard earned money.

[@jb6027]

I recently purchased a Newmark 71. It's a totally fabulous watch. The new X1 lume on the dial and bezel are the best I've ever seen short of tritium, the escalator link bracelet looks fabulous and the comparative thinness of the total package all combine to make it a joy to wear. I haven't had occasion to use the warranty - the watch keeps time well within COSC standards and I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to see what Newmark comes out with next.

[@stevew7308]

I have the new Zelos Swordfish 40 Black Sand and its hands down my favorite watch. I had a question right after I received the watch and Elshan Tang replied to me right away. Great customer service and a fantastic value if you get the early release with the lower price. There's no way I could get a Seiko, which I love, spec'd for the same kind of price.

[@barry4140]

Draken is a highly underrated micro brand and deserves more recognition. The build quality and design is up there with the best of them. I would love nothing more than to see you pick one apart Jody, you know I've been a long time punter of DRAKEN.

[@Chris.Strange]

I've just ordered a Zelos Swordfish Ti. It's my first microbrand purchase and already I've been in contact by email. The first one was answered in minutes. It's a good start, now to wait for delivery.

[@kevinr206]

Micro brand owners: did you notice watches with 38-40 case, 20 to 16 bracelet taper, 47 lug to lug sell out? Too many micro watches have mega size.

[@willardhooton920]

Kevin R Hopefully their catching on!

[@paganizonda51]

I think Long Island watches sells a 38mm dive watch

[@paganizonda51]

www.longislandwatch.com/Islander_Automatic_Dive_Watch_p/isl-09.htm

[@gtaylor2770]

Traska Summiteer is 38mm. Perfect size, great watch. Yes, I own one.

[@hugedickerinokripperino5299]

Zelos came out with a dress type watch. Pretty expensive but they did it

[@DaveMGmovies]

I'm a big fan of the Scottish microbrand AnOrdain. They specialise in making enamel dials which don't come cheap but they are quality, hand-made products with reliable Sellita movements, and, in my experience, they have a first rate customer service. I like Lorier for similar reasons too.

[@AlexanderB.]

It's probably a good middle way to buy from an established Microbrand like Zelos. They offer something special with great value and you easily get in contact with the brand owner. You don't need to worry that you won't get amy more support in one or two years any more with a brand like that. An example for terrible customer service from a microbrand is Phoibos. I cannot recommend ordering from them (long story). And as an argument for microbrands not testing their products enough there is Seiko and their quality control 🤔

[@bmwtek8128]

Recently acquired my first real microbrand, a Traska Freediver and couldn't be happier. I don't have a super expensive collection, a couple longines, montblancs, zodiacs, and several Hamiltons. Compliments are always nice to get, but I get more satisfaction when someone mentions the Traska especially when they're wearing a rolex, breitling, tag, etc. Nice to see the small companies get love and respect. Next on the list is a Maen or Lorier.

[@davidmckenna1549]

Over the past couple of years I've been following microbrands. My favorites are Nodus, NTH, and Magrette.

[@lucienpetersen]

South Africa! Jody said South Africa. From a proud South African 🇿🇦

[@miker5502]

Could not be happier with the purchase of my Helm Vanuatu...stunning tool watch and the company was great to deal with, the only caveat was you have to get on their mailing list and be ready to pull the trigger. The watch itself is extremely well made and has been Uber reliable and has pretty much become my daily wearer. Kudos to Helm for making such a fine watch at an affordable price. Buying this Micro brand has been a worthwhile venture for me. Thanks Jodie for the great review videos. Cheers M.

[@magicaardvark1]

Bloody love my Helm Vanuatu, bought on Jody's recommendation.

[@JustOneMoreWatch]

Ahhh, the Vanuatu 😍 still #1 if you like a big watch. Cheers mate!

[@magicaardvark1]

@@JustOneMoreWatch Got an 8.5 inch wrist on me so no worries in that department lol. Always look forward to your videos for persuading me to part with cash. Trust a fellow Scot to tell it like it is. I do love a bargain!

[@nyr9457]

Lol I bought one after watching the video and its one of my favorites.

[@ozludo]

Yeah - the only time they operated a preorder! Try getting a Khuraburi :-(

[@cedarcanoe]

Boldr is a dream to get customer support from!

[@mupparna0]

Love the shirt Jody! F1 really helps during these sad times!

[@JustOneMoreWatch]

I was soooo happy when the season started up again mate! And some new/old tracks too, Imola, Turkey, Mugello...can't wait.

[@stevefox8605]

@@JustOneMoreWatch you should try watching motogp, proper excitement with overtaking, crashes and unpredictability 😉

[@kevindehinkelai7464]

Touring cars is where it's at!

[@johnnyh127]

HUGE F1 fan here in the USA! And I have zero friends around here to discuss it with. Just not a big sport in the US :( VER33 is God!

[@masalpert]

Title competition is a snoozefest sadly, but the midfield is on fire, just wish we were getting full races online still, the recaps aren't doing the action much justice.

[@mikecosslett1421]

I've bought a couple of christopher ward and phoibos watches this year both companies have been excellent

[@targaflorio3239]

Terrific, insightful commentary. The Straton Curve Chrono is one of my all time faves. Beautiful colours and Heuer inspired 60s retro era. Seiko movements. And Geckota another favourite. The G-01 red dial dive watch. Amazing! Would love to see you do some reviews on Geckota, including their Chrono range.?

[@pierremclean8504]

Jody: Bang on analysis of the pros and cons of Microbrands! With 40+ micros in my collection, I think you summarized the appeal and risks very well...the good news, is that many mistakes and disappointments can be avoided by first seeking your review before committing to a new watch. Your balanced observations are always on point and delivered with a dash of humour. Thanks, it makes collecting micros more enjoyable!

[@MrGameGuy97]

Bought a Helm Vanuatu about 2 years ago (something like that) and I've worn it every day since. It's an amazing watch and I have traveled the world with it on my wrist. Can't imagine there are better watches for the money, if so please let me know!

[@ThePaintedShip]

I have bought an Autodromo group B, Safari a month and a half ago and I am loving the watch. The design of the dial and the overall green colour theme is incredibly beautiful.

[@johnstyron6543]

I love my Visitor Vale Park. Great design.

[@dparis2172]

Visitors are among the best designs of any brand, micro or otherwise. I imagine that when you buy a Visitor, you get not only a watch, but you get to wear an achievement of design. I hope to buy one someday to confirm.

[@christophergustafson3942]

I had the movement in my Zelos Mako V1 go bad a year out of warranty. Elshan replaced the movement and shipped the watch to and from Singapore...for free. That level of service is how you make a loyal customer. I bought a Meteorite Swordfish the same day the Mako came home.

[@bfums]

I love micro brands. Farer is my favorite. I own 3 of their watches. Their color ways are top notch, and their 5 year warranty is one of the best in the industry. One of my Farers needed to go back for servicing, but I chose to hold on to it for an extra few weeks and wear it at my wedding, and the owner of the company emailed me back about the repair and congratulated me on my wedding, as well as discussed the repair. That level of customer service is something you can’t get with a larger brand

[@paulfarinha9347]

Stratton for sure. Great retro designs and colorways. Kyle, the owner, is superb with customer service.

[@mortenreimers8253]

Absolutely agree, Straton is great quality and great customer service: 👏

[@beaubuck9513]

Love my Dan Henry 1964 and 1962. Just got a Detroit Mint Mach bullhead which I am completely smitten with.

[@midwestgear]

Christopher Ward has been fantastic. Even pulled a bracelet together for a purchase for me even though it wasn't available. Quick responses and very accommodating. Plus I have to say my C60 with white dial is easily my favorite in my collection.

[@glennpowell3444]

Having watched your channel for 3 years now the only micro brand that inspires me is Stratton. Love the styling and the quartz options. Sick of nh 35,s in just about everything.Some guys like me buy quartz purposely! Cheers.

[@mathieut3197]

Agreed on this - nh35s are to the watch world (I have one on my wrist rn...) what the chevy 350 is to hotrodding.....

[@glennpowell3444]

@@mathieut3197 Yes but the Chevy makes a much better noise! Cheers.

[@nemes15G]

Just bought the 39.5mm Curve Chrono mechaquartz on the reviews of Jody and TGV. Never dipped my toe in the Microbrand pool before but am now far more open to it than previously.

[@tankevin2806]

Thanks to you Jody I bought a v4 Vanuatu 🥰 love it as a daily beater over my baby sub no date. It fits well on a rubber strap and comfortable, thanks again

[@stusims6567]

I have experienced some micro brands who sell their defective models at a reduced price. Be wary of “bargains” from smaller companies who sell watches at a discount because they may be defective! Great video as always Jody!!!

[@peakrider4886]

Nothing but praise and love for Lorier. They are well established now and have fantastic customer service. On the owner’s Facebook page anyone who has had a problem with their watch has been dealt with superbly by Lauren and Lorenzo. I fully appreciate the vintage design and concept they are going with and in my opinion you get a great watch for a fair price. I’ve had my Neptune III for over 2 months and love it.

[@AustinSamuelF]

Zelos 👑, best experience I’ve ever had with a watch company. The owner responds to you directly, is quick to resolve any issues and has even provided things like blank case backs to owners that don’t like the feeling of engraved case backs on the wrist.

[@JohnDavis-ol7qg]

I love them. Jack Mason my new favorite. Sapphire, excellent service and beautiful watches

[@MrLahrbrat]

About 40% of my watches are micro brands. Love them all

[@denisdaly1708]

I'm going to get a Traska. I rely on reviewers like Jody. My other watch would be a Monta Noble, but import taxes make it expensive, so going for Formex 39. The rest of my watches are brands. The brands have great know how. I'm more of a brand person, with judicious purchases in micros. And I'm willing to experiment with Ali express. Watching these reviews has educated me. Thanks Jody.

[@gripautotimepieces]

As a microbrand (company) operator/owner/designer. I'm loving to read the comments and thanks for the great video Jody!

[@JustOneMoreWatch]

Hope some potential customers gave you some good ideas! 👍

[@gusthesailor4885]

I own only one microbrand .. a Geckota GMT .. and very happy with :)

[@IceBox666theone666]

Hi, what movement do you have in that? Is it the Chinese one or Seiko?

[@gusthesailor4885]

@@IceBox666theone666 Ronda 515.24H Swiss MVT

[@IceBox666theone666]

@@gusthesailor4885 Superb!

[@lupo1185]

I own two micro-brands: I own is a Straton Curve-Chrono - still in love and in fact the used ones cost as much as new ones. In addition a kickstarter-ventus northstar. Well, maybe you could count heimdallr - they DO sell directly ;)

[@MyAlan999]

My last 5 purchases have all been micro's - 2 Boldr's (Expedition & Venture) , Ventus NorthStar and 2 Zelos (Mako V3 & SF40)

[@f1jr724]

Helm is great...personalised note which is nice, Elliot Brown when I email them said I could call in for a visit....Christopher Ward really nice people to deal with on the phone through Covid....all GREAT 👍

[@timefliesby-jleo474]

I have both ends of the spectrum! I bought an expensive Monta Triumph and I also bought a Pagani Design Rolex Mish-Mash. Two of my favourite watches, also own 4 seikos and I love them all. So far great experiences across the board.

[@UGA.D]

Fan of micros here... A-13A, Armida, Bertucci, Getat, Halios, Helson, Hexa, Marc & Sons, Venturo (Gruppo Gamma) and Vratislavia Conceptum all in the watch box. There's also an RGM and a Weiss, but I think of those more as "independents". While some micros have a serviceable movement (i.e. ETA 2824-2), many use the NH35/6 or Miyota 9xxx; those movements can be REPLACED less expensively than a typical service.

[@tedsklarchuk5868]

I have a few micros, and love them all. Recently got a Traska Summiteer, one of the screw pins broke inside the link. I contacted the owner (Jon) he promptly sent me a "half" bracelet, problem solved...thanks Jon.

[@elarson312]

Reason to buy a micro - it’s not a Rolex where you have to bribe the AD to come in the door! Zelos is my favorite!

[@vizuz]

Bribe the AD? I only had to lower my pants and bend over :shrug:

[@RJ-cq8dd]

Mine too, love their designs. Zelos has 1 year warranty but they helped me out for free after the warranty expired.

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

A few micros like Halios, Helm and Zelos seem to be perpetually sold out, much like Rolex. However, I don't believe the micros are hiding a Scrooge McDuck-like vault of watches the same was Rolex is.

[@RJ-cq8dd]

@@Mister_Phafanapolis Zelos makes their watches in limited numbers and rarely rerelease a watch..usually it's in the form of a revision/upgrade. So no it's not at all like Rolex for them.

[@christopheromahony5526]

My 2 favourites are my Zelos swordfish, in bronze with a meteorite dial, and my Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT 'san marco', one for the exotic materials, the other for the extraordinary color and detail. It seems there's a lot of love around for Zelos, the brand and the owner, but many feeling the opposite about Meccaniche Veneziane. But as Jody indicated, if you do some research, you'll know what risks you're taking to get the watch you're dreaming of. Or check a reputable re-seller to avoid any customer service horrors.

[@mattewj1268]

I recently bought a watch from a German microbrand which I have bought several watches from in the past. They had a no questions 28-day return policy. I bought the watch, it just didn't wear the same in reality as it looked online. I returned it and got my money back within a week.

[@1minutewatchguy]

Another great video and another shout out for Zelos, bought one for me last year and then another one as a gift because I was so impressed. Jody's tempted me with a number of other Micro's but it's hard to discern what's got/going to have lasting appeal.

[@rogerpianoking1945]

Got to say the helm watches blew me away when Jody reviewed them especially the khuraburi, but I couldn’t get my hands on the Vanuatu or the khuraburi no matter how hard I tried.😂 the problem limited numbers and every man and his dog wanting them. Matt said they are looking into the matter and are looking into trying to get more staff on board to produce more watches in the future. He was sorry I didn’t get one. My other 2 favourites are RLG and Zelos. RLG look very nice watches with a classy finish, but I suppose the king of the Microbrands are Zelos. You pay a bit more but wow have they got some super looking watches. Im looking at the abbys 3000 mk3 diver at the minute. I like a chunky watch and the weight doesn’t bother me. So it looks like you’ve got a better chance with Zelos in grabbing one as they’ve got more choices. Don’t get me wrong helm are great, but they’ve got a bit of catching up to do to challenge Zelos by the looks of it. As you’ve probably guessed I’m a fan of microbrands, cracking quality watches and great value for money. Sooner have a Microbrand than a Rolex/luxury watch.

[@shawn1928]

@ Roger King RLG (Odyssea in black) was one of my first legit watches, still love it as a desk diver. Have yet to pick up my first Zelos, so much choice lol and their recent dress piece is real nice

[@johncoote5134]

Phoibos are my fav brand - my fav sub homage that I’d never have discovered without you my friend

[@SiCutler]

I had a very specific design idea of what I wanted from a moonphase and found it with a micro, the sekoni tidal moonphase. Emails with the owner have been a joy. I've never seen it anywhere and do love that. Great content as per Jodi

[@JDRevene]

Geckota, Erroyl, Melbourne Watch Co (despite your experience), Tangramatic and Huckleberry & Co. all great watches at competitive prices with fabulous customer service (and four of those are Aussie brands).

[@stealthbanana]

I have several microbrands and am mostly happy, however I have learnt my lesson and will not back anything from an unknown on Kickstarter. I backed the Sequent Supercharger "smartwatch" that used a rotor to power it like a kinetic, looked really promising. I received it, ONLY two years late and it lasted three days before their terribly designed strap failed and it fell two feet onto a laminate floor and the back smashed. Turns out that a strap that uses press-fit needs no extra retaining strap, that they thoroughly checked it and it was my gault despite me sending a video exactly how it failed, and how easy, and mentioning that other makes that had a similar style have abandoned it (fitbit etc.) But I could ship it all the way from Scotland to Taiwan for them to look at my expense and they offered 10% off whatever the charge would be to fix. Anyway, the software is still not useable, no GPS as promised (not enabled supposedly), the facebook forums are dead, as everyone has come to the conclusion it's a P.O.S. and has tried selling it off (to no avail.) They launched the Supercharger 2 on Kickstarter, claiming the income from that would allow them to finally finish the software, basically describing a watch Ponzi scheme. I now have a cheap Honor band 5, that does a LOT more than the Sequent does at about 1/10th the Kickstarter price, or 1/20th the website RRP.

[@mrjasonrowland]

Brew, Straton, Islander, Geckota, Dan Henry, and more. Love them all. Most of my watches are micro brand watches. I enjoy the boutique buying experience and watches designed out of the box. It’s fun to actually speak or email with the designers/owners. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my Hamilton Khaki King and Seiko Alpinist. :)

[@jakelee1344]

Love microbrands. I especially love the unique ones. You will rarely run into anyone else--outside a watch event--that has your watch. And you get to talk with the actual owners and designers. Nodus makes excellent pieces and their customer service is fantastic. Also love Helm and Visitor!

[@jakelee1344]

Oops. I guess I just repeated what Jody said...

[@123vfp]

I love micro brands. Many offer great designs and value for your dollar. My favorites? Lorier, Baltic, Dan Henry and Monta are at the top of the list,

[@mikep5478]

Thanks for the review Jody. I have many micro-brands in the collection. Armida, Benarus, Halios, Helson, Raven, Zenton, etc. One of the best is Zelos. Elshan takes customer service seriously and fixes design flaws in the next generation productions. I am up to 16 models on the Zelos brand. I don't consider Spinnaker a micro-brand, but know some people do. They are owned by a large parent company that makes several different brands. Some being sold in stores and shopping channels.

[@ozludo]

Ooh, Raven! Ver' nice.

[@scottlisson7055]

I’m a fan of HELM, Zelos, Magrette, and Lorier. Great value and uniqueness are the selling points for me.

[@zzemi99]

Aquatico Nautilus 2 is great quality and beautiful, comfortable watch. Plus Calvin the owner is a great guy and so polite and professional!!!

[@addventure2863]

I love my Deep Blue... my daily watch and amazing! If I had one gripe, it runs a tad slow at -20 sec a day

[@andrebreuer3264]

Very good summary Jodi. Thank you for this. What is bothering me the most is the availability of the micro brand watches. My favourites are usually sold out. Micro brands do not really offer spare parts or even different clasps - Helm being an exception to this.

[@jwint456]

Your Nezumi review and Dan Henry review lead me to watches other than that were reviewed but both have been excellent. I lucked out with the the Nezumi Loews special edition with the Lotus JPS color scheme, and got my favorite number in the limited run by happenstance. I also went for a Dan Henry but the 1970 Diver watch in the 40mm. I have number 62 with a black face and orange noon to three stripe. I also opted for the orange and black bands as they offer quick release from the get go so I can change it for different occasions.

[@TheSerbianG]

HELM HELM HELM HELM!!! Unreal watch and thank you for introducing me to my favourite watch in my collection HELM VANUATU!

[@dougkrogh9266]

Best one I have seen, RAVEN watchs. Owner is great to deal with, the watchs are built like tanks, and even have one that fits my 8 1/2" wrist.

[@bovinejoni4243]

My Richard Legrande remains one of my most-worn watches. So close to a perfect design for a desk diver, really leaning into that semi-pejorative status instead of trying to deny it.

[@shawn1928]

@Bovine Joni same here ;)

[@fergiet18]

Another good video Jody. Mainly inspired by your video I have or have had a number of microbrands. Phoibos 3 (2xflipped), Borealis 2 (1xflipped), Straton, Hamtun H3 (ordered), RLG, Vaer, Tisell (flipped), Ginault (flipped). All have been great watches. Phoibos, RLG and Straton are my favourites and these are keepers. The ones I have sold went for a good price, no profit but no great loss either. Microbrands can give us some great watches at good prices. Mine live very well with my Omegas and my ORIS 65. (some people flip this watch !) Keep up the good work, still pissing down here so a bit jealous.

[@JustOneMoreWatch]

Still raining Fergie? That's quite a few pieces there, but you seem to have settled with your favourites, which is part of the fun. Cheers mate!

[@johnnyh127]

If you ever see the H3 Hamtun. Ross still hasn't fulfilled all of the H2 watches, and now he has been MIA without as much as a word from Ross for a couple months now. My H2 experience has been a complete joke.

[@shawn1928]

@@johnnyh127 I ordered an H3, time will tell I guess

[@fergiet18]

@@johnnyh127 hi, that's a bit of a worry. Just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Thanks for flagging up a potential issue.

[@timoteomeccanicatecnologia]

I bought a Pagani Design PD1639 after watch your review over and over again. I agree with all your pros. My worry is about the service. If I need to service it, where do I take it? Most of watchmakers may refuse to service a chinese "unbranded" watch, or not guarantee the service.

[@lpsalsaman]

I'm a keeper type of collector, I do like microbrands they give you more for your money as far features is concern. However you are right, you have to know exactly what you are getting into when buying from a microbrand. Micro's lets you have materials that you will pay a premium price for with established companies, but like you said; depending of the person running the operation you could have a great experience or a crappy one. Anyway Jody, another great vid my friend!

[@TerrySteiner]

I have two micros that I have been very happy with. A Nezumi Voiture two tone I bought directly and a first gen Borealis Estotil I bought second hand.

[@allanreardon]

I bought an Autodromo Stradale several years back. Really great experience. I asked if I could buy a second strap as the strap was quite unique and they sent me a second one for free. I would've liked an option of a nicer movement but still loved the watch and experience nonetheless. Being that their designed are inspired by cars it is quite different looking and gets people asking what it is far more than my Oris', Omega or Seikos.

[@stephencharlton2024]

Hello. I own a Monta Triumph ($1700) and a Traska Summiteer ($500). I wish I had known more. The Monta is a lovely watch (if a little clunky) but it is certainly not worth three times the price of the Traska. (I must admit to finding the Traska perfect (almost!!)). It seems some micro brands still play on the "Swiss Made" branding which given your observations of a $20000 Rolex is long past being a reason for premium pricing.

[@masalpert]

I've bought from Deep Blue in the past. The first watch they sent me had a horribly mis-aligned bezel insert that didn't even sit flat in the bezel (it was literally popping out) it honestly was so bad it should have never left QC. They were "kind" enough, after some back and forth, to replace the watch for me. The new watch was better in terms of fit and finish, but after about 8 months the watch started losing time massively. The rotor was sticking and would spin like an airplane propeller when I turned the crown to wind the watch. I contacted them again, this time about their warranty. Again after some back and forth they said they could have the watch serviced which would require sending it away to Europe. At this time I made what I thought was a simple request: if they have the watch apart anyways, could they swap the hands from one color to another? I asked for them to quote me a cost before conducting the work so I could decide if it was worthwhile. They said yes and I think the initial estimate was something reasonable like 4-8 weeks. After 8 weeks and no communication I attempted to reach out to them. What ensued was another 8+ weeks of back and forth where they never responded to emails without at least 2 weeks going by between their responses. The communication was horrendous. They said that the service center was backed up. Eventually, after over 20 weeks of waiting, and heinous communication, I was informed my watch had returned and I owed them something like $150+ for the hands. You can imagine my surprise when I was never even remotely approached about this cost and had assumed it was not happening. After threatening to keep my watch for their own failure of communication they eventually relented and returned the watch to me. Rant over needless to say I was very turned off micro brands by the entire interaction and wound up selling the watch not too long after.

[@ralphtaylor9968]

My favourites are Aevig and Dificano. I have the Aevig Balaur dual crown and the Dificiano Marlin. Right now the Marlin rarely leaves my wrist!

[@candide1772]

I have a Deep Blue 40mm Defender and I think it is a great watch and a great value. I am looking at a Dan Henry 1970 and Islander 38mm Diver for my next two microbrand purchases.

[@N0DIS]

This video made me really examine my two micros in the collection: Spinnaker Wreck and Phoibos Wave Master. While overall I'm happy with the design and value for both, the Wreck's dial did not look like I was expecting on wrist (scratches all in one direction--not random and 'weathered' as in the PR photos) and the Wave Master had quality control issues with the movement right out of the box (to Phoibos's credit, they did get it repaired and has been running fine, but a bit of a pain to go through). That said, still pleased with both purchases to have distinctive designs and to not be wearing the same watch as everyone else. Will probably continue to add micros to the collection as I target sub-$500 range for most pieces ... but they need to be unique designs. I do love how micros are willing to think outside the box and continue to be creative. Every time I think that we've exhausted all design permutations (colorways, hands, batons, etc.), a micro brand out there breaks the mold again.

[@nicks8026]

Neither of those are micros. Spinnaker is part of the dartmouth group that pumps out thousnands of watches through five or six different brands of dubious provenance. Phoibos is a factory brand as far as I know. Closer to something like San Martin than an entrepreneur driven micro.

[@mdunawaym]

I have heard good things about the Los Angeles micro brand Vaer by some of the reviewers I really respect. I had planned on buying one, and then they had a pre-order special for their upcoming diver! I pulled the trigger, and am eagerly anticipating its arrival!

[@chrisrichardson8244]

I’ve got several micro brands mixed in with established heritage brands and I love them. My Marloe Cherwell and divers from Phoibos and tc-9 are my favourites. I’d definitely say give it a try 👍

[@balpreetsingh8624]

Jody, you should review Lorier watches. They have a great size and style for a great price.

[@Huntersky0]

I agree except for the price - Zelos offers much more for usually much less. If you fancy their designs of course.

[@SWatchik]

I'm very interested to see what the top price for a seagull powered watch is, and Lorier seem to he pushing it to the extreme

[@NathanChisholm041]

Ive had mine for 2 yrs gone surfing kite-surfing and its held up well!

[@balpreetsingh8624]

@@Huntersky0 Agreed, Zelos has great value watches but the brand is like marmite ;). You either hate it or love it.

[@balpreetsingh8624]

@stephen boykin Thats baffling for me aswell, as to why ebay is selling some lorier models for almost twice the retail price.