8 Singapore watch microbrands you need to know about that offer unique timepieces (2024)

Singapore is home to many watch microbrands comprising a host of players that produce snazzy timepieces, often in limited quantities.

Many of them began their watchmaking journey on Kickstarter to fund their foray into horology, andtheir unique visions have caught the eye of watch enthusiasts and buyers from around the world.

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Known for their ability to combine interesting designs with good quality and often accessible price levels, here's a roundup of a fewproudly Singaporean watchmakers to consider.

1. KENT HALL & CO

The brand stands out for its unpretentious vision –stating how it’s not here to “revolutionise the watch industry”, and that it’s “simply a small and humble watch brand that sells watches its founders would love to wear themselves”.

So what do the founders – a small team of friends who share a passion for mechanical watches – love to wear? Judging from its collection, it’s safe to say that classics with a clever twist are closest to their hearts

With nothing priced above S$369 in its current catalogue, it is excellent value for money for watches that are fitted with Japanese or Chinese movements, and have a design aesthetic that is modern and stylish.

Available at Kent Hall & Co.

2. BOLDR SUPPLY CO

The brand’s story began in 2015, when founder Leon Leong set out to create a “clever watch” with power that would last a long time – the idea was to give it an analogue watch battery – on Kickstarter. This was a time when the world’s first smartwatches had just hit the market, and these primitive models had batteries that ran out quickly.

The project was headed for success when the fundraising target was reached in barely 24 hours, but things took an unexpected turn. Leong’s team faced multiple setbacks while trying to put the watch into production and eventually had to call off its plans and refund the orders.

Instead of shutting things down completely, Boldr Supply Co went on to produce the watch without the smart function, as suggested by those who placed orders on Kickstarter. This marked the start of one of Singapore's most successful watch microbrands. Reputed for well-made sports watches, the brand that has drawn countless fans, outside of Singapore even, with its contemporary designs that offer excellent value for money (prices start at S$399).

Available at Boldr Supply Co.

3. HUMISM

Here’s one watch brand that is truly unlike any you’ve ever seen – Humism’s visually mesmerising watches are moving works of art you can wear on your wrist.

The brand was launched in 2018 on Kickstarter, and – unsurprisingly – achieved its funding goal in just 30 minutes, ending up with a sum that’s 13 times its goal.

Inspired by the Kinetic Art movement of the 1950s, founder David Sze has creatively employed the movement of time in reimagining the watch's purpose. By cutting designs into discs that replace the hands of the watch, a moving graphic display is created as these discs rotate to tell the time.

Every design is different and equally spellbinding to see in action – we won’t be surprised there are those who’d buy and collect them all, since the wallet-friendly price points start from S$442.

Available at Humism.

4. REVERIE

If simple and elegant are words that describe your taste in watches, you’ll want to pay special attention to this Singapore microbrand. Reverie doesn’t produce a wide range of designs, but instead chooses to focus on a few key styles that are classic yet sporty.

The brand intentionally keeps its distance from current trends. Guilloche details on the dial are a signature of the brand and the watches come with Japanese movements from Seiko and Miyota. At prices starting from just US$350 (S$470), there’s no wonder why its timepieces are so well-received.

Available at Reverie.

5. ZELOS

The brand was started in 2014 by Elshan Tang, whose personal passion for watches developed into a desire to design and produce his own creations. Zelos had its beginnings on Kickstarter and quickly grew into a business with a clientele from all over the world who can appreciate a unique timepiece in a sporty, wearable style.

What sets Zelos apart from the competition is its use of special materials such as meteorite, submarine metals, bronze, and even Timascus (a Titanium Damascus alloy) which marks a world-first in watchmaking.

Another main draw is undeniably its “affordable luxury” pricing, which starts from the upwards of US$399 (S$536). For solidly made watches fitted with premium handwound and automatic movements, these kinds of price points are practically unheard of.

Available at Zelos.

6. UBIQ

Bright colour combinations are a specialty of this brand, which was founded just last year by Drayson Phua, who is a design creative director by profession.

Phua’s love of watches got underway when he went on a search for well-made timepiece he could wear and eventually pass down to his son. Having found nothing that excited him, he started envisioning what this ideal watch could be and ended up bringing the vibrant ideas he had in his head to reality.

His debut launch, the Dual Series 01 (US$649/S$871), is a fun and modern range of sports watches, which also incorporate a touch of vintage design inspiration and are fitted with Japanese Miyota movements.

Available at Ubiq.

7. ARCTURUS

A tourbillon – and an affordable one at that – by a homegrown brand is as rare as they come.

Named the LC-2 Vanda Tourbillon (LC stands for Lion City), this complication is a nod to the brand’s origins and perhaps the ever-growing Singaporean passion for horology. The complication also bears an engraving of the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid on its back and is available for pre-order (from S$1,788). The watch was successfully funded via a Kickstarter campaign just earlier this year.

Arcturus was founded in 2017 on the belief that well-designed, quality watches should be accessible to everybody, and that’s exactly what it’s done with its two launches to date, which clearly show the brand’s attention to design and finishing.

Available at Arcturus.

8. AZIMUTH

Christopher Long founded the brand in 2003, with a vision of breaking boundaries in the watch scene. One look at the brand’s catalogue you’ll see what this means – avant-garde timepieces that defy convention and look nothing like a typical watch form the bulk of it.

The brand takes inspiration from race cars, robots and space exploration, and boldly thinks outside of the box with its unexpected aesthetic. While pushing limits with design, the brand remains a stickler for the high standards associated with traditional watchmaking. Its Gran Turismo watch, inspired by a race car engine, retails at CHF5,000 (S$7,600).

Azimuth watches are fitted with Swiss movements and assembled in its workshop in Neuchatel, Switzerland, while Swiss watchmaker Giuseppe Picchi, a graduate of the La Chaux de Fonds Technical College with more than 30 years of watchmaking experience, takes charge of the brand’s technical direction.

Available at Azimuth.