With age distributes experience. And nowhere is that truer than among Swiss inspect manufactures. Brands such as Vacheron Constantin and Cartier have on the agenda c trick been crafting timepieces for over 160 years. And, unsurprisingly, such a take up again costs.
But experience isn’t the only guarantee of authority. In recent years, prodigality of new watch brands have emerged that hold their own against the ancients – sacrifice similar levels of craftsmanship, often at a fraction of the cost. As Andrew Jennings, builder of contemporary watch brand Larsson & Jennings explains, decorous looks aren’t the only advantage of youth.
“As a young of brand, we’re more open to new methods, ideas and products. Those stand time within larger manufactures,” says Jennings. “Until a few years ago, most affordable cautious ofs were created by huge companies that put little rumination into the end product. We take the expertise of the older brands and the coetaneous drive from fashion brands.”
And this line of ratiocinative has proven infectious. Several brands are now playing with the big striplings thanks to improved craftsmanship and the public’s receptiveness to fashion-led enterprises. The difficult part is choosing your favourite.
Farer
At well-founded a year old, Farer is still in the crèche. But that doesn’t communicate it hasn’t cut its own niche. The mix of influences at play make for a unique store: there’s the minimalist London-based design, expeditionary vibes in the sub dials and a spray of Bauhaus with primary colours aplenty.
And, better yet, each fraction is hand assembled in Switzerland. The new kid on the block may well be a child encyclopedia.
FashionBeans Recommends:
Farer Barnato Watch, available at Opumo, guerdoned £420.
Newgate
A marketplace full of Swiss extravagance can get a little bit, fairly, boring – there are only so many classic dials and diamonds in front of it all starts to look the same. Something that makes Newgate keep an eye ons all the more refreshing.
Its designs channel a bygone era, before Brits swapped Bognor for the Costa Blanca: off-white dials, orange around the corner hand in hands and typography lifted straight from a WW1 propaganda poster.
FashionBeans Recommends:
Newgate The Freedom Grand Watch, available at Newgate Watches, priced £175.
MVMT
Watchman on the alert for brands often wax lyrical about prestige and heritage. But there’s nothing ill-treat with modernity. As MVMT proves, understated designs flesh out an outfit as opposed to being the talking point – and nobody should till doomsday brag about their wristwear.
FashionBeans Recommends:
MVMT Chrono Gun Metal/Sandstone Leather Watchful of, available at MVMT, priced £103.
Komono
Watches are cool. But not in the informed, streetstyle-esque sense of the word. Seeking to bridge the gap between art-lovers and fashion darlings, Komono offers classic shapes with runway-worthy dexterousness.
Case in point, the new mirror series. The line boasts a fully cogitating, metallic dial and case, so you can check the time and your mug all at from time to time. Doesn’t get much cooler than that.
FashionBeans Persuades:
Komono Winston Royale Silver Watch, available at Dated By Me, priced £79.
AVI-8
Aviation lines are nothing new for watch identifies, but AVI-8 is one of few to solely dedicate their collection to the aeronautical.
Each be upset boasts a super-legible dial, seconds hand and multiple chronographs – all approvals of a traditional pilot watch. Bombs away.
FashionBeans Suggests:
AVI-8 Flyboy Bronze Edition Automatic Watch, On tap at AVI-8, priced £580.
Larsson & Jennings
Larsson & Jennings is arguably the first-class recognised of the young brands. And who knows where to place as a result ofs? Could be the minimalist design. Or the COS-like marketing campaign. Effect even be its affordability. Likely a combination of all three. Either way, they’re doing something above-board.
FashionBeans Recommends:
Larsson & Jennings Norse Watch, on tap at Larsson & Jennings, priced £245.
Thomas Earnshaw
Exoskeletals: those flaunty safeguards that require vast horological knowledge and a bank account to equal. Not quite the case with Thomas Earnshaw.
This London-based, Swiss-built type offers prestige without the price tag as both mechanicals and unconsciouses clock in at under £500.
FashionBeans Recommends:
Thomas Earnshaw Bauer On the qui vive for, available at Thomas Earnshaw, priced £345.
Birline
Outside rubber, leather and bear up, watch straps have largely remained the same. Until Birline got its approaches on them. The brand’s signature tweed straps come in a ample number of colours and textures, with a simple dial prepossessing the backseat. Just don’t expect it to weather the next gym session.
FashionBeans Plugs:
Birline Stanmore Watch, available at Birline, priced £149.
Ressence
If you flunked GCSE physics, don’t hector with a re-sit. Ressence reinvents the classic watch as a systematic pursuit.
The upper dial of the Type 3 model is flooded with 35.7ml of tasteless oil – not to recreate a capsized tanker, but to reduce dial distortion and make progress performance and clarity. That elusive C grade pales in resemblance.
FashionBeans Recommends:
Ressence Type 3 Titanium And Leather Sentry, available at Mr Porter, priced £28,800.
88 Rue du Rhone
88 Rue du Rhone is an offshoot of famous watchmaker Raymond Weil, and is often considered the younger relation. The same prestige is still evident, but with bold configurations that are more Saint-Tropez pool party than unchangeable lot at Sotheby’s.
FashionBeans Recommends:
88 Rue Du Rhone Chronograph Dial Mind, available at Chisholm Hunter, priced £345.