The best microbrand watches
Microbrands are small independent makers, often run by a handful of people, that compete on design and value rather than marketing budgets.
They also tend to publish their lug-to-lug, which is why this list is well measured.
Our picks
A vintage-styled 39 mm diver with a 46 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 46 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
- Specs
- 39 mm case · 11.4 mm thick · automatic, 42 h reserve · 200 m
A 300 m diver with a 47.5 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.5 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 40 mm case · 11.3 mm thick · automatic, 38 h reserve · 300 m
- FarerLander IV GMT 36mm$1,575
A 36 mm GMT with a 41.2 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 41.2 mm
- Fit
- Fits 5.75"–6.75" wrists
- Specs
- 36 mm case · 11 mm thick · automatic, 56 h reserve · 100 m
A 200 m diver with a 46.5 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.5 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
- Specs
- 41 mm case · 12.4 mm thick · automatic, 65 h reserve · 200 m
- TraskaFreediver$795
A diver built to a tough spec, with a 48 mm lug-to-lug.
- Lug-to-lug
- 48 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.75"–8" wrists
- Specs
- 40.5 mm case · 11.9 mm thick · automatic, 42 h reserve · 200 m
An automatic diver for under $450.
- Lug-to-lug
- 47 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.5"–7.75" wrists
- Specs
- 40.5 mm case · 12.5 mm thick · automatic, 42 h reserve · 200 m
A vintage-styled automatic diver for about $300.
- Lug-to-lug
- 45.7 mm
- Fit
- Fits 6.5"–7.5" wrists
- Specs
- 40 mm case · 14.8 mm thick · automatic, 41 h reserve · 200 m
Everything else that qualifies
| Watch | Case | Lug-to-lug | Thick | Fits | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinnaker Bradner Automatic | 42 mm | 50 mm | 14 mm | 7"–8.25" | $370 |
| Islander Greenport 39mm | 39 mm | 47 mm | 13.5 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $395 |
| Brew Metric Chronograph Retro Dial | 36 mm | 41.5 mm | 10.8 mm | 6"–7" | $475 |
| Lorier Astra | 36 mm | 44 mm | 10.4 mm | 6.25"–7.25" | $699 |
| Lorier Falcon | 36 mm | 44 mm | 10.4 mm | 6.25"–7.25" | $699 |
| Lorier Hyperion GMT | 39 mm | 46 mm | 12.2 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $799 |
| Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Automatic 39mm | 39 mm | 45 mm | 10.9 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | $1,430 |
| Squale 1521 Militaire (bracelet) | 42 mm | 48 mm | 12.5 mm | 6.75"–8" | $1,510 |
| Christopher Ward C63 Sealander GMT 39mm | 39 mm | 45 mm | 11.3 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | $1,620 |
| Christopher Ward The Twelve 40mm | 40 mm | 44.5 mm | 9.9 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | $1,635 |
| Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 300 40mm | 40 mm | 47.5 mm | 11.7 mm | 6.75"–8" | $1,675 |
| Doxa SUB 200T Professional | 39 mm | 41.5 mm | 10.7 mm | 6"–7" | $1,790 |
| Monta Atlas | 38.5 mm | 47 mm | 10.7 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | $2,150 |
| Doxa SUB 300T Professional | 42.5 mm | 44.5 mm | 13.7 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | $2,190 |
| Doxa SUB 250T GMT Professional | 40 mm | 42.9 mm | 10.8 mm | 6"–7.25" | $2,790 |
| Doxa SUB 300 Professional | 42.5 mm | 45 mm | 13.4 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | $2,890 |
| Baltic MR Classic | 36 mm | 44 mm | 9.9 mm | 6.25"–7.25" | — |
| Baltic Aquascaphe MK2 37mm | 37 mm | 45 mm | 12.9 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | — |
| Farer Lander IV GMT 39.5mm | 39.5 mm | 45 mm | 11.3 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | — |
| Farer Resolute III | 39 mm | 45 mm | 11.8 mm | 6.25"–7.5" | — |
| Baltic Hermetique Tourer | 37 mm | 46 mm | 10.8 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
| Studio Underd0g Mantis (Gen2) | 37.5 mm | 46 mm | 11.5 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
| Serica 5303-1 Dive Chronometer | 39 mm | 46.5 mm | 12.2 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
| Baltic Aquascaphe GMT MK II | 39.5 mm | 47 mm | 13.8 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
| Baltic Aquascaphe MK2 39.5mm | 39.5 mm | 47 mm | 12.9 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
| Baltic HMS 002 | 38 mm | 47 mm | 13 mm | 6.5"–7.75" | — |
How we picked
We considered every current watch in the almanac from an independent microbrand. “Fits” is the range of wrist sizes where the watch grades as an ideal fit on our lug-to-lug model. Prices are US retail and change often.