Introduction

[Perry]

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

[TimeTexas]

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.

[Nakkdry]

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 !

[41mets]

Hi, I’m Jay- Aka 41mets 

I, also, have mostly held on to pieces that are unique.  I currently only own one watch from an independent brand- Triton- but my other mainstream watches are from Glashutte Original and Grand Seiko, and none of those three are their more mainstream offerings.  I’ll enjoy reading up more and learning about independent brands.  

[TimeTexas]

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

[Ed the Grocer]

Hello, my name  is Edouard, aka Ed the Grocer since 2003, when I discovered horology. First,  I apologize for my poor englih, I am able to read and understand, but i's more difficult to talk...

After a great interest for high horology , and the observation of the lack of real novelty in the production of consumer brands, I think independant horology is the fied where something really  happen.

So, thank you for this forum.

[TimeTexas]

Edouard, great to have you here. No need to apologize for your English - what is your native language?

You have been a collector for a much longer time than me so I look forward to learning more about collecting and more about your journey through watches and into independents.

I think overall interest in independents really started with watch forums and then social media like Instagram. It really provided an opportunity to learn about new brands that didn't have marketing budgets, didn't have the ability to get their watches out to the public. That's no longer an issue. The biggest issue, and why I started this forum, is because large luxury brands have the resources to dominate these platforms, and they make so many watches that more people have them and talk about them.

Its easy for small independent brands to get lost in the hype over these larger brands.

My watch collecting only began about 7 years ago and I was always drawn to lesser known brands, microbrands, and then as I learned more, I really became interested in independent brands.

In any event, we are still testing the site out, so if you have any issues or notice anything we could be doing better please let us know. We are adding small independent brands that can have their own club spaces and participate as well (as their time allows).

In the meantime, welcome, and make yourself at home as we continue to grow the site!

Chris

[TheWatchEnabler]

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.

[TimeTexas]

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!