Author: Bert Kanne
Bronze cased watches have become increasingly popular recently and many brands and microbrands are offering models made of this wonderful alloy. It is primarily made of copper, tin and other metals (typically zinc, nickel, manganese and aluminum) along with some non metals or metalloids. Bronze (CuSn8) has many uses and is a welcome alternative to stainless steel in watches because the patina that develops on the metal surface actually adds to its character.
In the past I have reviewed a few men’s watch’s from BLWRX/Neymar, a prolific Chinese microbrand watch company. The company’s watches combine classic homage designs with exceptional quality and value. For this review I have the first woman’s watch I have seen from the company.
Ocean7 is a watch brand that I have only recently become aware of. As a new microbrand, coming up with a major game changing dive watch is a difficult task.
Back in June of 2019, I reviewed the Oceaneva Deep Marine Explorer 1000M Pro Diver watch, a Swiss automatic dive watch with amazing build quality and value. Oceaneva is now introducing a quartz GMT version of this watch.
If you do not know by now, the Internet and Kick Starter have radically changed the watch industry for the better. A perfect example of a very cool watch, inspired by a military field watch backed up with excellent modern technology and thinking, is the first watch from Mitch Mason.
There are so many newly revived watch brands on the market, it’s amazing. The secret for their success rests primarily in the internet that brings the world watch market to almost everyone with access. Rarely does a brand come back from the dead in its country and city of origin. Circula is an example of a watch company that has managed to do just that.
BOLDR Supply is a relatively new Microbrand from Singapore/Malaysia that started it’s journey into the watch world with an electronic smart watch misadventure. Through hardwork and determination they managed to recover and now the company offers six lines of watches; Venture, Expedition, Odyssey, Globetrotter GMT, Explorer II GMT and Journey.
Farr + Swit is a new Chicago USA based microbrand that has recently introduced its first watches, the Seaplane Automatic Midnight Landing and the Seaplane Automatic Day Trip.
Ardor & Forge is a new independent watch microbrand based in Tyrone, Pennsylvania founded by Zack Rackovan. Zack is an Industrial and Graphic Designer with a strong commitment to preserving and enjoying the outdoors for now and generations to come.
For this review I have what I have been told will be the last watch model to be released by David Freemont under the brand, the d. freemont Airbatic.