Brand owner - here to learn and contribute.

[Microbrandowner]

Hi Folks, 

A few years ago I was a mere customer of nice watches. I took to specific styles of watches owing to an interest in aviation. Fast forward a few years, I started my own independent watch brand. We make a few hundred watches yearly and ship them to a small set of customers. I am no watchmaker, but because we run a brand, I have come to learn a great deal about watchmaking - repair and assembly.

I am here to learn and often ask questions about specific issues we're seeing, and perhaps contribute and bring a fresh perspective to problems and solutions from a brand owners point of view.

I'd like to keep my identity anonymous - in the interest of our brand. I hope that is OK!

Best wishes,

An anonymous watch brand owner.

[RichardHarris123]

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.  

[spectre6000]

Welcome! Mayhap we can learn a bit from you too! Tell us a bit about the nuts and bolts of starting up a microbrand. Seems easy enough to source movements from Selitta and Soprod and the like. Getting cases and dials made up that are interesting and different seems like the more challenging piece. I read an article yesterday in Hodinkee or something similar about the first "Albanian made" watch, and was surprised to learn it was just a mass produced Swiss movement with an elaborate dial for stupid money. Seems my idea of "making" a watch isn't the same as the market's. The thing that I find most interesting about watches with run of the mill dials is case and dial complications. I.e. An interesting display running off a high torque movement, or an altimeter or slide rule or something. Any thoughts on how something like that would be accomplished?

Edited August 10, 2024 by spectre6000

[KarlvonKoln]

Hello and welcome, from here in Indianapolis Indiana.  I can say I've assembled watches to my own designs before, all mechanical.  But starting one's own microbrand is a big step.  Wishing you much successs, and I too am hoping to learn some things from you along the way.

[Nucejoe]

Welcome to the WRT forum and good luck with your micro brand. 

 

[HectorLooi]

Hi, welcome to WRT.

Has Swatch Group's policy of not selling to independent watchmakers impacted you in anyway?

[Microbrandowner]

15 hours ago, spectre6000 said:

Any thoughts on how something like that would be accomplished?

I've been running the brand for more than 5 years. The biggest mistakes brand owners do when they start is to overthink complications, and technical specifications. What I have learnt is that the first question anyone should be asking is - Who is your target customer? What do they want from a new watch brand that other brands today don't offer? And proceed from there. This is easier said than done. Most brand owners are discovering answers to these questions only after 1-2 projects and then course correct. If you get this right in your first project then kudos to you!

15 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.  

Thank you!

8 hours ago, KarlvonKoln said:

But starting one's own microbrand is a big step

Indeed!

3 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

good luck with your micro brand. 

Thank you!

2 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

Has Swatch Group's policy of not selling to independent watchmakers impacted you in anyway?

Yes, Swatch (ETA) will not supply movements to us. We have been sourcing Sellita for a few years and it has worked out quite well.