microbrand
Bernhardt Binnacle Timer Hands-On Review
Bernhardt Binnacle Timer As I was preparing this Bernhardt Binnacle Timer review, it occurred to me that next year, Bernhardt, based in North Carolina will be twenty years old. Yes, Bernhardt is one of the OG microbrands and next year they will have been producing watches for two decades. Now keep in mind part of why it just dawned on me as I can’t believe it’s going to be 2025 next ye...
Duzu DW-D3 Hands-On Watch Review
Duzu DW-D3 A dive watch that is inspired by the Southern Right Whale. That is what the Duzu DW-D3 is, as well as the third diver watch for the Western Australian microbrand. This is the fourth watch for the young brand, with three dive watches and one pilot’s chronograph. While dive watches are probably the most produced and reproduced style of watch these days, Duzu was still able to make s...
RZE Aspirare Diver Watch Review
RZE Aspirare For the past few years, there has been a trend in the watch world, specifically the microbrand watch world, with smaller diameter watches. Why? Who knows? How do these trends start anyway? Whatever the reason, many microwatches released these days are under 40mm. And that is fine, as it seems there are many who do prefer a more compact watch. But what if you don’t, what if you a...
Boldr Safari GMT Hands-On Watch Review
Boldr Safari GMT Since the Miyota 9075 and the Seiko NH34 movements were unveiled, the latest microbrand trend has been GMT watches. Boldr has released quite a few GMT watches in the past, like their Globetrotter series, but those were much more expensive, and also much larger watches. The 9075, which is referred to as a “true” GMT has been quite popular, and is also a way for brands t...
Vaer D5 Tactical Diver Hands-On Review
Vaer D5 Tactical Diver Vaer Watches have become extremely popular and this Vaer D5 Tactical Diver is very popular as well. How do I know? Well, at the time of this publication, this watch in both the 42mm shown here and the 39mm variant is sold out. This review got pushed back a little, mostly my own fault and as such if you want to get your hands on one of these, you will have to wait for a resto...
Marin Instruments Skin Diver Hands-On Review
Marin Instruments Skin Diver Allow me to introduce a new brand and model, the Marin Instruments Skin Diver. I love being able to review new brands such as this, especially when they have hit a home run their first time at bat, which is not easy to do. Marin Instruments has two versions of this model, the Standard shown here and the Polar, a white dial, and both are limited in production, 300 and 2...
Charlie Paris Concordia Hands-On Review
Charlie Paris Concordia The Charlie Paris Concordia is available in many different colors, sizes, and movements, and this Tundra version is unique and special in a few ways compared to the rest of the collection. Charlie Paris hails from France of course and has been operating since 2014. Almost 10 years ago, yet someone they have flown under my radar up until recently. The French brand makes both...
Marloe Sceptre October Hands-On Review
Marloe Sceptre October The Marloe Sceptre October is one of the latest watches from Malroe Watch Company, a British-based microbrand that popped on the scene in 2015. Since then, they have created quite a few models and have their own distinct style, and have created their own niche. You see, Marloe doesn’t really have a standard dive watch most brands produce, they make watches that can go ...
RZE Ascentus GMT Hands-On Watch Review
RZE Ascentus GMT The latest Microbrand to release a GMT, and I have a feeling this RZE Ascentus GMT is going to be quite popular. Available in 4 colors, azure blue, black, white, and medallion yellow, this 40mm GMT is attractive, has a beautiful and easy-to-read dial, and an all-new bracelet from RZE, that they dub the HEX links. It is all titanium again as well, keeping this watch svelte and ligh...
Nodus Retrospect III Hands-On Watch Review
Nodus Retrospect III If you have been looking for a watch that is not an homage, is affordable, attractive and of course, built well, all for under $500, the Nodus Retrospect III might be one to check out. That does come with a caveat though, as, at the time of publishing this review, this watch is, unfortunately, all sold out. At the time this watch was sent for review, it of course was still ava...
RZE Resolute Super Compressor Hands-On Watch Review
RZE Resolute Super Compressor Continuing their success with the Resolute line, RZE has released a new watch, another titanium piece, this time a super compressor, the RZE Resolute Super Compressor, which is possibly the first, or maybe the second titanium super compressor in history. Or so I believe. The story there is, RZE touted this watch as the world’s first titanium super compressor whe...
Straum Opphav Hands-On Watch Review
Straum Opphav The Straum Opphav is the first model from the new microband, launched in 2021. Unlike a lot of new brands, the Norwegen microbrand did not go the way of using catalog parts and sticking its brand and logo on the dial. No, in fact, it took them 5 years to bring this model to fruition, with a few designs and bumps in the road along the way. What they ended up creating is a fantastic bl...