Five Independent Watch Brands that Keep on Pushing the Boundaries

Independent watchmakers are at the forefront of innovation in the world of horology. With an avant-garde approach and inventive spirit, these brands aim to push the envelope. Needless to say, their creations are celebrated for exceptional quality and unconventional designs. Moreover, since these brands usually have smaller teams, they can forge personal connections with wearers. 

What is an independent watch brand?

As the name implies, an independent watchmaking brand does not operate as part of any major conglomerate. That is, they aren’t owned by groups like Swatch, Richemont, Kering, and LVMH. “Indie” brands are often family-owned and have limited production capacity. In fact, this limited production capacity makes these brands highly desirable among discerning collectors and connoisseurs looking for exclusive timepieces. 

Five Promising Independent Watch Brands 

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NORQAIN 

Born in the Swiss Alps, NORQAIN’s DNA resonates with a brave adventure spirit, constantly striving for newer endeavours and horizons. Take the Wild ONE collection, launched in 2022, that perfectly exemplifies their spirit of innovation. The collection’s high-performance sports watches boast shock-absorbing cases crafted from exclusive NORTEQ® material. This carbon fibre polymer is not only six times lighter than steel but also 3.5 times lighter than titanium, offering superior durability and lightweight comfort for wearers pursuing active lifestyles.

ID Genève

ID Genève is a pioneer in the Swiss circular economy. It is also Switzerland’s first luxury watch company to be awarded the “B Corp” certification, a testament to high performance, transparency, and accountability. Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio has been an investor in the brand since late 2023. His investment was part of a CHF 2 million seed round for the brand, born of the company's commitment to recycling as well as reusing parts and materials for watches, such as steel melted by solar rays and ecologically friendly straps.

De Bethune

De Bethune’s journey spans just two decades but includes an impressive roster of achievements: 31 calibres, 30 world premieres, numerous patents, and 230 unique pieces. De Bethune has received the highest distinctions from the watch industry, including the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix for the “best watch of the year” in 2018. This year, the brand launched the new De Bethune DB Kind of Grande Complication, a mechanical marvel comprising over eight functions, along with a tourbillon. 

Trilobe

Bringing the French Renaissance to the watchmaking world, Trilobe has produced timepieces that have defied the conventional norms of displaying time. Founded in 2018 by a young entrepreneur, Gautier Massonneau, Trilobe means “three lobes”, which are displayed passionately on their watches. The three rotating rings rush forward, carrying with them the scales of time: the largest ring for hours, the median one for minutes, and the smallest one for seconds.

Speake-Marin

Speake-Marin was founded in 2002 by a London watchmaker; it was later acquired by entrepreneur and watch enthusiast Christelle Rosnoblet in 2012. Since 2015, Speake-Marin has pursued an in-house movement strategy at “Le Cercle des Horlogers” in La Chaux-De-Fond, Switzerland. The distinctive feature of Speake-Marin watches involves the small second hand positioned at 1:30, a departure from traditional watchmaking norms that adhere to the 6:00 position.