Welcome to the Worn & Wound Micro-Model Digest, a semi-monthly roundup of latest micro-brand information we’re following. This contains promising ideas, Kickstarter launches, restocks, and all the things in between. Worn & Wound was based over 10 years in the past to help small impartial firms and inexpensive micro-brands, and our ardour for these manufacturers stays sturdy.
Right here’s what has caught our consideration this month.
For those who come throughout a mission that qualifies for our roundup, please e mail us at [email protected] to be included.
Houtman Watch
Jason Liddell grew up in Western Australia and has at all times deeply appreciated the nice open air. He’s significantly keen on the long-lasting areas and landmarks in Western Australia, together with the Murchison River and the Pilbara. Houtman Watches is known as after the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, charted by the Dutch sailor Frederick de Houtman in 1619. The Houtman Abrolhos is the southernmost true coral reef system within the Indian Ocean and contains a surprising chain of 122 islands together with their related reefs.
The primary two sequence have been named after the rivers talked about earlier, and their most up-to-date assortment known as the Murchison. This sequence showcases 4 dial and hand configurations, which embrace two discipline/costume watches, one discipline/sport watch, and one pilot watch. All these watches have a chrome steel case with a diameter of 40mm, a thickness of 11.5mm, and a size of 48mm from lug tip to lug tip. The inside width measures 20mm, permitting for varied strap choices. All of them function the identical lovely engraving on the again of the case, showcasing a kangaroo in mid-hop.
These are your quintessential go-anywhere, do-anything (GADA) watches. With strong circumstances which are waterproof as much as 100 meters and a dependable Swiss-made Sellita computerized motion, these watches are designed to accompany you in every single place whereas trying good on the identical time. They are often paired with a minimal-stitch leather-based strap or a beads-of-rice fashion bracelet that includes stable finish hyperlinks, a brushed and polished end, and a milled clasp with on-the-fly micro-adjustment—no instruments required.
These 4 variations are River Lume, which incorporates a absolutely lumed dial with three completely different Superluminova colours. The Aviator has Arabic numerals, a black dial, and daring fingers. The Burnt Earth has a salmon-colored dial with black numerals and fingers. Lastly, the Sport options giant lumed hour markers, sword fingers, and an anthracite dial. There will probably be not more than 75 examples of every configuration, priced at $445 plus your alternative of strap or bracelet. Extra data on the model’s web site here.
Knis Kyoto
Keisuke Nii based Knis Kyoto in 2021 to showcase Japan’s craftsmanship in watchmaking. Because the watch market has declined because of the rise of smartphones, Knis goals to remind Japanese shoppers of the worth of meticulous, native manufacturing. The corporate is devoted to sharing Japan’s conventional methods with the world and believes that the Japanese watch business will thrive sooner or later. Their designs goal to shock with distinctive, refined particulars whereas preserving a timeless attraction that individuals of all ages can get pleasure from for years to return.
Their most notable piece is the Knis Meteorite, which, because the identify implies, incorporates a putting meteorite dial. The fabric is sourced from the Muoninalusta meteorite, which is believed to have impacted northern Scandinavia close to the Sweden-Finland border about a million years in the past. The primary fragment was found in 1906 close to Kitkiöjärvi, 140 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Muonionalusta is the oldest identified meteorite, courting again about 4.5653 billion years. “Muonionalusta” comes from Finnish, which means “a spot under” close to the Muonio River.
Aside from its cosmic origins, what makes this materials fascinating is the distinctive lattice sample shaped by the extended cooling of molten materials within the vacuum of area through the photo voltaic system’s formation. For that reason, every dial is exclusive and adorned with diamond-cut hour markers and fingers stuffed with a strip of luminous materials. Defending all of it is a flat piece of scratch-resistant sapphire glass.
The Knis Meteorite options a chrome steel case with a diameter of 38mm, a thickness of 12mm, and a lug width of 20mm. Inside, it has a Miyota 8-series motion with 21,600 vibrations per hour and an influence reserve of 42 hours. This motion might be seen by means of the screw-down show case again. It’s waterproof as much as 100 meters and is accessible in black-coated or normal stainless-steel. It comes with a real leather-based strap that includes a deployant clasp or a 5-link bracelet with a butterfly clasp. The beginning worth is $740. Extra data might be discovered here.
Migma Watches
There’s a protracted held perception that the German persons are snug with silence, and don’t really feel the necessity to fill conversations with meaningless chatter. The web site for the German model Migma is a mirrored image of this concept in that it’s free from pointless data, irrelevant historic particulars, and ineffective advertising. Their values are to the purpose: Ship excellent service, craft the highest-quality watches, and differentiate your self by means of your achievements.
The Migma Plankton is a dive watch with a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 13.5mm, crafted from titanium. It incorporates a sapphire crystal that protects a utilitarian dial, which incorporates daring hour markers and enormous sword fingers designed for divers. All components are generously coated with SuperLuminova BGW9, which glows blue at the hours of darkness. The unidirectional bezel features a luminous pip on the 60-minute mark and is DIN-certified with a 60-click detent.
The Plankton incorporates a Swiss-made ETA 2824-2 computerized motion, which operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and presents an influence reserve of 40 hours. A tender iron cage protects it to reinforce its anti-magnetic properties. It incorporates a screw-down crown and a screw-down engraved case again, offering 200 meters of water resistance. Dial shade choices embrace black and darkish blue, with the potential of altering the second hand to yellow and utterly altering all of the fingers to plongeur-style fingers.
You possibly can select between a rubber strap, canvas straps, or the complete titanium bracelet, which has screws for sizing, a security folding clasp, and a diver’s extension. Pricing begins at €575. Extra data might be discovered here.
Shelby Watch Co.
Matthew McMillan found a ardour for repairing classic timepieces, which sparked his curiosity in watchmaking as a interest. He mixed this newfound curiosity along with his 15-year profession as a Canadian paramedic to create the preliminary designs for the MEDIC wristwatch. These preliminary sketches served as the inspiration for the ultimate prototype and led to the institution of the Shelby Watch Firm in 2023. They consider that every watch can carry out one other activity along with telling the time.
Constructed from sturdy 316L surgical-grade stainless-steel, the Medic has a diameter of 40mm, a thickness of 12.5mm, and a lug-to-lug size of 47mm. It incorporates a bi-directional rotating bezel with two separate scales: a pulsometer for calculating heartrate and an asthmometer for measuring respiration. To make use of both scale, rotate the bidirectional bezel till the start line of the chosen shade aligns with the second hand. Enhancing this mannequin for medical professionals or anybody that loves “the glow” is a totally lumed dial and bezel scales.
The Shelby Medic is powered by an computerized motion from McDowell Time, a comparatively new participant within the business. The motion, designated as caliber MD7081, is predicated on ETA 2824 structure, making it an acceptable substitute. This motion contains Swiss and overseas parts, with remaining meeting carried out on the MWW store in Hagerstown, Maryland. It’s a 4 Hz motion regulated to take care of accuracy inside +/- 10 seconds per day and has an influence reserve of 42 hours.
The Shelby Medic is waterproof as much as 150 meters and comes with a brushed metal H-Hyperlink bracelet that tapers right down to 18mm on the quadruple-trigger clasp. The clasp options two buttons for opening and shutting and two further buttons for deploying the micro-extension. Sizing is adjusted utilizing one-sided screws, and as much as 5 full hyperlinks might be eliminated. McMillan has pursued non-public funding regardless of a failed crowdfunding marketing campaign, and the Shelby will probably be obtainable for buy in early 2025 for CAD 885. Extra particulars here.
Tennet Watch
Royce Wee, co-founder of Tennet and longtime watch collector, was a lawyer who labored for the Singapore authorities and within the expertise business. He thinks of watches as extra than simply their parts, and a well-designed and crafted watch can elevate its operate past the strange. A tenet is a precept, perception, or doctrine usually held to be true. These are theirs: (i) make trustworthy, good high quality watches, (ii) present good worth to our prospects, (iii) make the client journey a cinch, (iv) be dependable and reliable, and (v) be a accountable stakeholder in our neighborhood.
The model’s first assortment, Somerset, showcases a formidable stage of consideration to element far exceeding expectations for such a younger firm. The case is constituted of 316L stainless-steel and options deeply curved lugs and a concave bezel that steadily slopes as much as the boxed sapphire crystal, which is handled with a number of layers of anti-reflective coating. The step dial has varied finishes, together with a sunburst sample and a textured outer observe. It additionally options utilized polished indices and elegantly sculpted cardinal level markers.
The fingers of the watch have additionally acquired a sublime, sculpted remedy, creating a surprising distinction towards the text-free dial. Even the model identify seems as a cutout plate, giving the impression that it’s floating on the dial. This timepiece is powered by a High Grade Sellita SW 210 manual-wind motion, which is absolutely adorned with Côtes de Genève stripes, perlage on the bottom plates, and heat-blued screws. It may be admired by means of the show case again, secured with 4 polished screws.
The Tennet Somerset has a diameter of 38mm, a thickness of 9.5mm, and a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm. Moreover, this elegant watch is waterproof as much as a formidable 200 meters. Its obtainable dial colours are Onyx (black), Moon (silver), Lagoon (blue), Vermilion (crimson), and Clover (inexperienced). Every comes on a color-synergistic full leather-based strap completely crafted by the acclaimed strap retailer Delugs. Remarkably, these timepieces are priced at $1200 and can be found now. Extra data might be discovered on the model’s web site here.
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