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Hello, my name is Perry aka @horo_surgeon. I’ve been collecting watches since 2005 but been wearing a watch ever since I was 5. I’ve always been fascinated by timepieces since that age. I dove head first into indies about 3 years ago and haven’t looked back. Perry

I'll pay on the NWA thread as well, but this is the @Treiber Timepieces T57BA in Larkspur Blue. And yes, I'm working in non-phone wrist shots. Slowly improving.

It might be just me and it could be that my MadMen heart speaking a bit too loud, but there's no such thing as bad attention... In most cases, all these independent brands are struggling for attention and even more to sell their pieces so help is welcomed..;) It's easy to look at the successtories now, but does anybody maybe remember that Grönefeld wasn't able to sell their first 10 watches and were about to fold it all up? LV is making a serious move into haute horology and that actually goes for all of like Bvlgari and Hermes as well but that's not necessarily a bad thing I'd dare to say as the market will decide what's hype and what's worth our penny... As far as I see it, more eyeballs toward 'indie' watchmaking is more than welcome and most creators that I know here are very happy with it as well: www.louisvuittonwatchprize.com

Thanks Chris, I’m very excited about this one. Got some prototype parts in hand and it’s looking pretty killer. You’re right, the crystal seat is lower than the bezel. I had initially modeled the watch with a standard double dome crystal, like in the renderings above. After some consideration I decided to change the crystal to be more like the style on the omega speedmaster . Unlike the speedmaster, the top of the crystal sits just slightly above the bezel. I think it looks really clean this way. Looking forward to sharing more in the coming weeks. This should be a bit easier to photograph too so we can all look forward to that

Hi all! My name is Ruben, I've been into collecting for about 8-9 years. I started with a G-Shock addiction and slowly built it up from there. I got bored of the constant buying and selling and got into independents about 2-3 years ago. My first purchase there was the Holthinrichs Ornament 1, which I still have. I'm a young guy, so sadly I can't buy everything I'm into, but that's also how I discover a bunch of amazing microbrands and independents at sub 10k pricepoints too. I worked at an AD during university and got to try a lot there. I also know for sure I want to get back into the industry at some point as I miss it already. Other than that I'm an admin at RedBar Amsterdam, which is also a great way to stay connected to the hobby when you have a full-time job in another field. I also do a lot of photography alongside this hobby so you'll likely see me share some shots here and there. I included a photo with some of the watches I currently have in rotation.

A watch driven by the childhood aspirations of its designer to rebuild classic cars. Like the movement in a mechanical watch, the engine in a car is the heart, beating away and keeping it alive. But there's more than just the movement or engine that keeps it running. As anyone who loves cars can tell you, there's a soul that sparks the spirit and passion of car collectors. No car captures the American spirit moreso than the 1957 Bel Air. The striking curves and aggressive lines encapsulate the soul of classic American carmaking. Hermann Kugeler, the man behind Treiber Timepieces, has been re-building classic cars since he was 13 years old - before he could even drive. A mechanical engineer by trade, Hermann has turned his focus to and alternative hobby - designing and building watches. His first watch, the T57BA, gathers inspiration for the 1957 Bel Air and reconstructs it into a curvy and sexy timepiece. Inspiration for watch designs can vary. The issue with any overt inspiration is trying to marry two existing, and divergent, designs. The results can often result in an incoherent and disjointed mishmash between competing elements. That isn't an issue here as the watch was designed from the ground up using the elements of the car as inspiration. When you think of a '57 Bel Air, you think shiny, polished chrome, rounded curves, and analog controls. More aggressive than sleek, its low and muscular appearance evokes power and bold design choices. The T57BA captures that same feel. With its rounded case, large domed crystal, and polished stainless steel case sporting two different styles of lugs, the feeling is both modern and classic at the same time. And yes, you read that right, two styles of lugs. The roof line of the Bel Air is one of its most striking features of the car and they are captured beautifully with the lug design. One set of lugs is thinner and slopes more gently and another that is a more rounded and curved down. This was not an easy decision and Hermann wasn't sure it would work. And while its certainly unconventional, it doesn't afffect day-to-day wear. Just a quirky and fun reminder of the underlying inspiration. Its doubtful anyone would notice while you're wearing unless you are specifically pointing it out. The push-pull crown, inspired by the knob to turn on the headlights, isn't the easiest for gripping and pulling out, but the curvature of the case makes this easy work and a non-issue. The crown is signed with the Treiber logo. The dial design truly shines, mimicking the classic cars' speedometer display. Smartly done, the hours are printed on the inside of the crystal from 8 to 4, replacing the MPH. It adds a nice 3D element to looking at the watch. The gear shift indicator has been transformed into a day indicator. The dial is nearly a minature version of the drivers console with the requisite changes to indicate the time rather than the speed. You can see the similarities in the photos below. The red-lumed hands look fantastic and emulate the speed indicator. As red lume is prone to do; however, it fades quickly. But it does look fantastic and I think consistency of design was more important than making a watch to win a #fridaynightlumebattle. The hour markers on the dial appear to be applied lume and this is probably why these markers aren't as crisp. I know this is something Hermann is looking into different solutions and will hopefully result in a solution. The printing on the crystal is fine on the wrist, but under closer scrutiny is slightly inconsistent with some numerals not being quite as crisp as others in places. These are the only two minor issues with an otherwise wonderful and unique design. I didn't find either issue to be an issue while wearing the watch, but they were noticeable while taking photographs and something you should consider if you're a louper. The mirrored center of the dial is another great design inclusion to be consistent with the car. I have to admit I was a little worried at the listed size of 45mm. In talking with Hermann, this was a conscious decision to have a larger, modern size that has a significant presence on the wrist. Kind of like driving down the road in a Bel Air, you're going to get noticed, and again I think this was the right choice. And on my 18cm wrist (7"), it didn't feel too big in the least. My preferred size is about 40-41mm, but similar to my 43mm Moser, the design of the watch and the lugs makes it very wearable. I'd say it wears on the wrist about the same size as the Moser which i find to be a fantastic larger size and extremely comfortable. It fits the overall aesthetic and proportions of the watch. It also allows the dial room to breathe so everything seems properly spaced even though there's a fair amount going on. The watch is held in place by an excellent custom leather strap and deployant buckle that is signed on both the outside with the brand name and inside with the logo. Small wings where the strap attaches to the buckle let's you tuck the strap in and adds security. I'm not a huge deployant fan, but the execution on this definitely made me forget about that. It's extremely well executed. Besides the signed crown and buckle, the dial includes the Treiber logo at the 12 o'clock in lieu of the Chevy logo. And instead of an Odometer on the central plate, Treiber is inscribed. Again, everything fits into the original design elements but the spacing seems even better and less cluttered than the original speedometer. As for the watches heart, its a modified STP4-13 with outer day-date. The movement can be wound manually, or pulled out and rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the day or date respectively. Pulling the crown all the way out lets you adjust the time. The rotor is signed with the Treiber logo. There's definitely a place in the world for truly inspired design and the T57BA absolutely fits the bill. This is a great looking watch with incredibly thoughtful design. Hermann may be an engineer, but he's got a fantastic eye for design. Capturing the soul of a car, and an era, in a watch is no easy task. To develop a completely unique design, from the ground up, based on design elements from a classic car would be a challenge even for an experienced designer. That this is Hermann's first watch is really a notable achievement. The execution for a first watch is also excellent. Other than the minor gripes mentioned above there's a LOT more to love and focus on. The price at $3,500 is a challenging price point for the first watch from a new brand. As with any new brand and new model, there's going to be areas for improvement. In my opinion the price is fair for a well executed and extremely inspired, unique design. It isn't perfect, and if you're a louper or a fanatic for perfection at close range, then the printing issue may give you pause until those get resolved. But if you're someone who enjoys great design, classic cars, or fun and unique watches, there's a lot to love with the T57BA. The T57BA comes in three (3) different colorways - this beautiful deep cherry red, a wonderful surf green, and a classic black. I think all three look great.

Wonderfully written as always, Chris! I’ve said this a few times, but it’s great how you’ve noticed some of the small design details I’ve incorporated. Really glad you got to get your hands on it and appreciate your feedback. As you’ve mentioned I’m working on improving the dial and crystal printing, so should have updates on that within the next month or two. Hoping to have more crisp printing and some stronger lume on the next batch. Maybe once I get those sorted I can get another watch sent out to you to get your input. My initial prototypes actually included a strap with a more standard buckle (with my own design), so if you, or other future customers prefer that over the deployant clasp, I could revisit that. I personally fell in love with the deployant clasp and haven’t wanted to touch a standard buckle since incorporating it so decided to move forward with that. Thanks again, and appreciate what you do to support us small guys in the watch world. -Hermann

Sounds like he had some awesome, not so common model A’s. I’m a big fan of the victorias, and you can’t beat a vintage fire truck! Very cool to hear and would love to see pictures if you find them.

So Hermann was kind enough to send me a 57BA to photograph. I will say every watch takes me a few days to get used to the lighting and angle and I just got this yesterday. Plus it has a lot of curves, including the crystal, as well as having a polished surfaces. Both things that still confound me and my makeshift studio on my kitchen table. Regardless, I'm practicing and here's a few early shots.

The dial is outstanding and totally respects the car theme of this watch. Super cool and not seen everywhere. The bracelet is awesome too, nice colors. I would have chosen a close caseback though , this movement and winding mass aren't great.

My dad first bought a hotrod while I was in college but I always enjoyed it. He didn't keep it too long before he sold it and then got into remodeling Model A's and was part of the Austin Model A club. I'll see if I can find some photos of some of his cars. He had a '31 Crown Victoria and a fire truck and a few others he worked on and rebuilt but ended up selling. I was never very mechanically inclined, but I think it definitely plays a part in my love for mechanical watches. I truly appreciate people that can design and build watches and I'm fascinated that hundreds of inert metal pieces can be assembled to tell the time within just a few seconds per day. Really remarkable.

I am too. They just stopped making it and are about to release their new model in the next couple weeks. Should be interesting. The guys at Holthinrichs are pretty cool, had a chance to chat with them several times. The 3D printing is pretty crazy and allows them to do some cool stuff like the side profile is hollowed out and there is text that is hidden. The kids are hollow and have a hidden drilled hole to release the springbar. I posted some sketches of the new version and the lugs are floating and the dial is deconstructed.

I’m obsessed with this watch! The design is !

Welcome to the Family The all-new Stardust and Stardust Nostromo. These two form a poignant milestone for Finland’s independent watchmaker: the path Sarpaneva has charted, and the voyage to come, beyond the Moon… to infinity!This pair of Sarpaneva watches marks this pursuit, into the unknown – what Finns call ‘sisu’ .One, the Sarpaneva Stardust gazes at the night sky with a hand-flamed titanium base dial glowing from beneath; shimmering with colours wrought from different torch temperatures, and echoing the deep-space constellations captured and rendered so vividly by Observatory telescopes.The other, the Sarpaneva Stardust ‘Nostromo’ is aimed squarely at Sarpaneva’s future – its next two decades’ trajectory – with a dazzling array of hand-applied Tritec luminescence, crafted in-house at Sarpaneva’s workshop. There’s a black polished rocketship small seconds hand at ’10 o’clock’; then its cross-hairs and surrounding numerals glowing in the LED orange of a cockpit display.Under the “ hood “ Chronode’s ultra-contemporary P.1003 calibre tick surely and steadily. First time switching from center to small seconds. Crucially allowing Stepan to create around the subdial’s spacious, acentric positioning. The Moon is certainly involved, in the bespoke winding rotor. The Sarpaneva ´new moon´ face of course included with a bit of lume!

Hey Hermann, happy to have you as part of the community, thanks for joining! Always like having watchmakers as part of the community and helping it to grow. That's a great looking watch! Chris

Yeah With a fully engraved movement, it's less obvious though haha. I was quite disturbed at the first sight of this new model, didn't know what to think about it. Now, I can say it's just awesome, a "complication" that makes the watch unique while keeping the dial clean. And that dial man! The depth and purity in it, I love it.

It's a splendid watch with the same awesome custom dials that existed in the previous models. A genta style that I like. I think it's a bit easy though, he's surfing on a trend like everybody else, the case-bracelet looks like the ones from other brands. I know we can't reinvent the wheel and the watch is really attractive and surely high end finish but I gotta say it, it feels a bit opportunistic

Fantastic! That looks great. Sorry for the delay, been working on learning photography and neglecting the forum somewhat, but I'll make a post about this. Cheers!

Lack of commitment!

That's impressive! Awesome piece of art dial.

That would have awesome to see for sure. There is some classes I’ve been thing of taking on the practice of engine turning.

As this board grows, I want to keep improving it, fixing problems, and adding features. If you notice any issues or if there are features you'd like to see, please post them in this thread. I can't promise everything will be implemented but I'll do what I can and that will help me focus on the things important to the most people.

Thanks, I appreciate that very much. Very happy to have you here. Feel free to invite anyone you know who might be interested. I launched the site, but won't formally announce it for a while. Kind of a soft opening to make sure the site is working and tweak a few things here and there. The more the merrier. And definitely feel free to offer suggestions anytime. Merry Christmas!

Very well said and agree. There are some amazing ADs out there for sure. Thanks for a great platform and it’s a pleasure taking part. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Fantastic brand! Congrats for your new watch! The caseback is super cool

Holthinrichs Watches Liminality Case Material: 3D proved Stainless Steel full Raw finishing Case Diameter: 38mm Case Thickness: 7.4mm Case Thickness (with crystal): 9.9mm Lug to Lug: 47mm Dial: Handmade deconstructed and flame treated metal with 14 diamonds 0.1 carat Hands: Handmade, flame treated stainless steel Movement: HW-LIM, base Peseux modified by hand and flame treated, blued screws, black polished crown wheel cuts, and shaking on the ratchet wheel Strap: Handmade, black ostrich leg Retail Price: €7800 exc VAT

Hey Mike! It was great to talk with you at both events and happy to have you on board. Not sure I'd call your background "boring." All three brands are fantastic and I was blown away by the Czapeks in person and it definitely reaffirmed my decision on the Glacier Blue! Well, other than the Rattrapante which is otherworldly. Work has been busy after taking a week off for watches, but I'm about to post some photos from both events. Cheers and welcome!

Hi All, I am Mike Margolis, aka @TheWatchEnabler on IG . Long boring history, here are the bullet points: Moderator on timezone from about 1997 to 2007 2007 to 2011 Sales Director, Hublot of America 2012-2014 President, Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard, North America 2014 to present: founder, Horology Works We are agents and importers for high end small independent watch brands; current stable is Czapek & Cie., SingerReimagined and Speake-Marin. I ran H. Moser Americas for about five years too. I also consult to folks looking to establish a watch company, and have a service to help folks legally import their timepiece into USA. Anyway, I am a huge watch geek and collector. Happy to be here after meeting Chris at WatchTime NY last weekend, and then again at Topper Jewelers in California.

We are continuing to add some independent watchmakers. Very happy to announce Arcanaut Watches, Strom Watches and Zeitwinkel! Please sign up for their clubs. We are just getting started adding watchmakers and we are working on content and some exciting features in the coming months highlighting these brands.

Holthinrichs Raw Ornament Review Case: 3D Printed Stainless Steel Case Diameter: 38mm Case Height: 9.8mm Lug Width: 20mm Dial: White Rhodium/Blue Pad Printing Movement: RW-01 (Modified and decorated Peseux 7001) My journey into independent watchmaking happened quickly. After buying my "grail" - a Glashütte Original Seventies, I realized I had no real interest in larger production luxury brand watches. Having something that was rare, knowing I wouldn't likely see it anywhere else was appealing. My own little secret. And maybe that of a few other watch nerds. And so began the descent into even more limited production watches and that's where I stumbled across a Swiss Watch Gang interview with Michiel Holthinrichs, talking about his inspiration and the new release, the Holthinrichs Raw Bronze. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen and I was taken and so I started doing more research about the brand and their watches. A few months later, I reached out to Holthinrichs, inquiring about the availability of the Raw Bronze. It wasn't currently available, but they did have a Raw Ornament White Rhodium dial available. And then things got interesting. I really did like the watch, but wasn't sure about the blue pad printing, so I asked if there might be another option. During the back and forth discussing potential options, Holthinrichs mentioned that a question I had about a rust colored printing on the dial had inspired them and they wanted to have a Zoom. Michiel and Damaien spent two (2) hours mostly just chatting with me on a Zoom, talking about the inspiration behind the company, the rust idea, and even took me on a virtual tour around the Atelier and showing me what they were working on (an uncompleted version of what would become the Liminality). And I was hooked. Here was an extremely talented watchmaker taking a couple hours out of his busy schedule, to just talk watches and ideas with me. And that's when I fully realized how much I had been missing. Sure I loved watches and the personal connection between me and the watch and the experiences I had while wearing it. But hearing the passion, understanding the inspiration and the vision of the watchmaker was a completely different level. It created an even more emotional connection with a timepiece I hadn't even seen in person yet. Holhinrichs describes the Raw Ornament as Horology Brut, inspired by architecture (Béton Brut or Raw Concrete). The concept is basically to showcase the raw materials, typically concrete, in their untreated or unfinished state. In making the Ornament 1, Holthinrichs would 3D print the cases using stainless steel or other materials, and then polish the case to a high finish. With the Raw Ornament series, only parts of the case and lugs are polished, leaving the rest unpolished, creating a "rough" look. The unpolished areas do appear rough, but in actuality are relatively smooth. Not polished, but not rough to the touch. As far as the watch, the Raw texture of the stainless steel is similar to that of concrete, somewhat matte, giving the watch an overall muted appearance. But in my opinion, it makes the polished, stepped edges of the lugs that much more dramatic. And the lugs are dramatic, long and flowing, with a small gap running between the inside and the outside before reconnecting where the springbar is inserted into the case. The lugs are truly a work of art and are truly unique. They are beautiful on the Ornament 1, where they are fully polished, but on the Raw Ornament, the contrast makes them even more of a standout. Despite the beauty of the rest of the watch, the lugs remain my favorite feature. The rehaut and the crown both contain polished elements which also provide additional contrast withe rehaut lighting up in the light to highlight the dial when the light hits at certain angles. The dial itself, made of white rhodium, is a prefect complement to the Raw Ornament. A somewhat understated silver/gray, the dial itself is extremely dynamic in the light. From afar, the dial appears as a nice consistent, gray, sometimes matte finish, but on closer inspection, the incredible variation in the white rhodium can be seen. It gives the appearance of texture, without being textured. Just millions of variations in light and dark that make the dial glitter in the sunlight. A visual feast for the eyes that keeps you checking the watch every time the light changes, just to see what it looks like. The dial has a dark blue pad-printed minute track, the Holthinrichs signature logo at the 12, and a small Made in Delft just below the subseconds at the 6. The hands are hand crafted and filled with a beautiful blue-aqua lume that glows bright but doesn't last particularly long. This isn't a sports watch, per se, so the lume is not a necessity and more than adequate for the timepiece. The subseconds, is recessed into the dial and contains a small railroad-style hour track. It blends into the dial easily and the polished bezel on the recess is another light-catching element. An acrylic crystal covers the dial, likely to provide an element of warmth to the aesthetic over a sapphire crystal. The crown is small, signed with a Holthinrichs signature H, and has a unique design likely only possible with 3D printing. My only complaint about the watch is that with my larger fingers, the crown can slightly difficult to wind. And the acrylic crystal could be more susceptible to scratches/marks than a typical sapphire crystal. That said, I think both the crown and the crystal are the correct choices and enhance the character of the watch. A sapphire crystal caseback provides a view of the beautifully decorated movement. The HW-R01 hand-wound movement is based on the Peseux 7001. The finishing is very good and the movement is wonderful to look at. At under 10mm thick, even with the slightly domed crystal, the watch wears close to the wrist. The crystal on the caseback is actually recessed so there is no hidden height added as with other protruding casebacks. With a relatively small bevel, the expansive dial, long-ish lugs, and flat profile, the watch presents closer to a 39-40mm watch on the wrist. Absolute a perfect size for my 18cm wrists. And while it certainly portends a dressier aesthetic, the funky lugs, and the contrasting raw/polished look really comes across as cool, casual. It isn't a go anywhere, do anything watch, but it a wonderful day-to-day watch in nearly all non-sports/water settings. Even moreso since its an absolute strap monster and I probably switch straps and the bracelet out 2-3 times per week. It looks great on the mesh bracelet, but the silver/gray dial with dark blue pad printing pairs well with nearly any strap from brown to blue to red to orange to green. I should note the clasp on the butterfly bracelet is also engraved with the Holthinrichs logo. Nearly every strap combo works and with 20mm lug width, there's no shortage of options out there. This brings me to one of the coolest features of the watch. The side case is hollowed out, including the sides of the lugs. This allows for a few cool surprises. The first is the watch comes with drilled lugs, but due to the hollowed-sides, the hole is hidden from sight. It can be a little bit of a learning curve to find the right angle to push the springbar out, but after a few times, it is much easier. It's actually ingenious. The other cool feature is that due to the 3D printing, they are able to print Holthinrichs and Oranament in the side of the case, hidden from view unless you are looking at the watch from the side or in between the lugs. It is clear Holthinrichs has really crafted a thoughtful timepiece and these small added thoughts add a refinement you can't get with traditional case making. The cool retro style and under the radar look makes this watch absolutely one of my favorites. That's only grown over the months I've had this watch and I get to experience it in different situations and come to appreciate just how versatile it is. The tight tolerances allowed by the 3D printing come together in a very thin and wearable timepiece that is extremely light (in part due to the hollowed sides) and comfortable. It disappears on the wrist and then grabs your attention with its eye-catching style and unique light-play. It feels at home under a cuff or out in the open with a effortless casualness when wearing jeans and a t-shirt. As I've had the opportunity to get to know Michiel and Damaien and now Isa with Holthinrichs over the last 6 months, my emotional attachment to the timepiece has only grown. Learning about the story behind the design, the trials to learn about creating the first 3D-printed case, and the passion of the people who created it takes the watch to levels my other off-the-shelf watches simply can't match. Its what makes independent watchmaking special and what makes the connection even stronger. It isn't inexpensive, but for an opportunity to wear something so unique and different, with extremely high quality hand finishing finishing and thoughtful attention to detail, it is absolutely worth the price of admission. With the release of the Raw Bronze, the Liminality, and the Pre-Liminality, Holthinrichs shows the creative well is deep and I expect the brand will continue to grow and meet success creating something innovative timepieces that are both daring and futuristic while maintaining their roots in historical architecture and style. Overall, this is a watch that I'm thrilled to own and appreciate more every time I wear it. The clear passion from Michiel Holthinrichs and his team only enhances the overall beauty of the watch. The Raw Ornament is a fantastic day to day timepiece, exuding charm and character. And if I ever do find someone who recognizes it, I know I'm probably in for a great conversation about watches with another watch person. There isn't really anything not to love about this timepiece.

For the next 8 days, these two custom Liminality designs from Michiel and Damiaen are available for purchase. This is a limited time only offer. Contact Holthinrichs for more information.

@TimeTexas too large for my wrist : the ideal diameter for a dress watch is , in my opinion 35/36 mm. It's very personnal. The price is fair for this quality level.

Very true. The purpose of this forum is to generally be supportive of independent watchmakers, but it shouldn't be a group think for positivity. I think honesty and candor is important. But I do hope that people think about how they approach criticism. It can be done in a positive way that promotes change, or it can be done negatively in a manner that doesn't promote change and only leads to defensiveness and entrenched opinions. It's one of my biggest concerns in moderating this board. Managing that discourse. Watches are emotional possessions, and especially so when talking about pieces that are in the tens of thousands of dollars. That emotion and passion is a wonderful thing but can also be a source of tension. In this case I think the discussion is absolutely warranted and should be out in the open. It just needs to remain honest and candid without being accusatory or demeaning.

Yes, they did a recent partnership with Garrick. They are a UK-based brand with a long history, went bankrupt, then were revived by one of the founders relatives. They are on the lower end of independents - sub $5k. I have to say that I'm just blown away by it. This was just under $4k and it really is a fine looking watch. The raised indices, the sub brushed case, the lume, the textured dial. I like nearly all watches and love alot of watches. I have no hesitation in saying I LOVE this watch. I think the 38mm salmon and/or champagne that I was originally interested in would have been too small on my 7" wrist for my tastes. But I couldn't be happier.

An incredibly detailed and interactive look at how a mechanical watch works. https://ciechanow.ski/

Hey, Jay! Glad to have you. Its a little light on activity right now. Mostly a soft launch just to get some more people in here and make sure the site continues to work and get suggestions for improvement. The General Discussion board is where most of the activity likely will be. However, I'm working with Holthinrichs to get their club set up how they want it. Then taking that to some other independent brands and keep building a community that hopefully provides for some great discussion of independent watches and also facilitates interaction between the watchmakers/brands and their clients/potential clients. All input, positive or negative is definitely appreciated. This is the first forum I've ever set up so there will be some growing pains. And my vision isn't necessarily the correct vision. When I started with an idea for this about 4 or 5 months ago, I knew there wasn't much out there like it that wasn't being dominated by larger brands. Which makes sense because those are the watches that drive people to the site. Probably to my wallet's detriment, I'm almost looking for the opposite of that. I hope this remains a relatively small and tight-knit community of people who are interested in learning more about smaller and relatively obscure brands that are making some absolutely amazing timepieces. Plus I pretty much hate Instagram - actually good timing for them to make it even worse just as I was just about to launch this site. People are looking for an alternative - the podcast I posted from A Blog To Watch nails it. In any event, you're clearly on your way - GO was my gateway drug. And I love your 60s green. I got the 60's Fiery Orange, but my grail had always been the 70s silver. And GO is a Swatch brand watch, but Swatch basically ignores them and they do their own amazing things. Once I got the 60s and then the 70s, my mindset just changed. I liked things that were different. That weren't mainstream. That were low production. That had a higher level of quality. That required actual hand craftsmanship. From there it was a deep dive and it has just been an amazing experience and fundamentally changed how I view watches. The ability to interact with the person who makes your watch. To talk about their inspiration and learn about their passion for making beautiful timepieces. And that shared experience really takes an object of great physical beauty and mechanical craftsmanship and adds an emotional element to it. Anyways, now that I've kind of opened up the site, I'll be putting out some more information and posts and hopefully some others will join (more knowledgeable than me), and add their knowledge and insight. Cheers and welcome! Chris

Mission To create a community solely dedicated to the appreciation and support of small, independent watchmaking; facilitate positive interaction between independent watchmakers, brands, and enthusiasts; and provide a forum for watch enthusiasts to gather, learn, and discuss a shared passion. Core Values Respect the watchmakers and brands Learn, Love, Appreciate and Interact Help others learn Relationships based on shared passion are the heart of independent watchmaking HOW you express your opinion matters as much AS your opinion Differences of opinion should be celebrated, not denigrated Be courteous in all interactions Enjoy the creativity, craftsmanship, and skill, even if the watch isn't for you Value everyone else's opinions as much as you value your own Your personal valuation of a timepiece as compared to the price is irrelevant Purpose BeSpoken is an independent watchmakers social community specifically created by small independent watchmakers to provide an interactive social platform for watch enthusiasts that is more consistent with the bespoke/independent watchmaking process. Independent watchmaking, more than any other product, is a shared passion and relationship between the creator and the consumer. In that way, it is unique and different from other consumer luxury goods. The intimate relationship between the watchmaker and the enthusiast is the beating heart of independent watchmaking and the value of that relationship cannot be measured in dollars. It is the emotions and feelings, the sense of shared passion, and the creation of mechanical and artistic beauty. In today’s ever increasing marketing driven world, current social platforms are designed to facilitate quick, meaningless interactions and to get as many Likes, Views, and Sales as possible. Instead of promoting an appreciation of beauty and creativity, these platforms encourage meaningless platitudes and hollow relationships as a means to an end. Loud, bold, and abrasive is celebrated, while quiet beauty tends to be ignored. This is in direct conflict with the bespoke/independent watchmaking process which celebrates the creative process, the time to appreciate the beauty of true craftsmanship, and the mutual enjoyment of developing new, enduring relationships based on a shared passion. BeSpoken is a community created and designed specifically to facilitate more meaningful interaction. A place where watchmakers and enthusiasts can both appreciate the craft of watchmaking and interact to the benefit of the watchmakers and overall watchmaking community. Failure to adhere to the core values above will result in a temporary or permanent ban. If you have any questions regarding the Mission, Core Values, or Purpose, please contact administrator@bespokenlounge.watch.

Hi, I'm mat from Belgium! Interested in watches since kid. Began with many and many Seiko, many brands, many sales, till my grail : a Sarpaneva watch. I'm sharing the point of view of Chris in the post above about the communication and relation I really like in small brands. I'm now focusing on uncommon watches under 3k 'cause the finance don't allow more independent high-end pieces !

My name is Chris and I didn't get into watch collecting until late about 7 years ago. I've made up for it in the short time I've been collecting and have gradually moved into higher-end timepieces. In the last year or so I really became interested in independents. I've always gravitated away from the mainstream, so smaller, relatively unknown independent brands was a natural progression as my collecting has evolved. Sharing a relationship with the person responsible for designing and creating your timepiece is a completely different experience than buying off the shelf at an AD. That personal connection just can't be duplicated and its the main reason why I decided to start a community built around independent watchmaking. Hopefully this forum can be a positive, supportive community for independent watch enthusiasts and small independent watchmakers to interact.

Welcome to BespokenLounge, a community of enthusiasts specifically created to support small independent watchmakers and brands. Independent watchmaking is steeped in history, tradition, craftsmanship, passion, and love. There is an intimate beauty and deep-seated bond created between the watchmaker and the watch during the painstaking process of creativity and creation. These feelings, this passion, goes far beyond the physical object. It is emotional experience of creation that is transferred to the person who buys and wears the watch. For many watch-wearers, a watch is simply a tool, a piece of jewelry, or all to often a status symbol used to portray success or wealth. This is antithetical to the appreciation of true craftsmanship and beauty that forms the heart of independent/bespoke watchmaking. Social Media has further reduced discussion to Likes, emojis, and platitudes. And these social media platforms and other watch forums are specifically designed to drive clicks which means they focus on large, luxury brands. This community celebrates watchmaking. It allows enthusiasts to interact with each other and engage in actual conversation . Further, we are working to add several independent watchmakers to the community in the near future with their own customized clubs and forums to directly interact with the community. This is what sets independent watchmaking apart from mass-produced watches. The personal connection and relationship between the watchmaker, the watch, and the wearer is the soul of independent watchmaking. So welcome to Bespoken Lounge. Use the Introduction Forum below to introduce yourself and tell us a about your journey to independent watchmaking. PLEASE READ the Mission Statement, Core Values, and Purpose of this forum. This community is a place to support independent watchmaking and the watchmakers who share their passion with us. Welcome, Chris (TimeTexasChris)