Watch Dandy

There’s a lot going on in American watchmaking right now. In particular, a new breed of small brand has started popping up, with passionate watch guys quitting their former day jobs to tackle horology themselves in their hometowns. But it’s not easy. I wanted to get a better sense of what actual problems are facing these new U.S. watch brands, so I spoke with Michael Wilson, founder of Niall Watches in Kansas City, to get the story right from the source.

This week, managing editor Stephen Pulvirent will be out on the west coast working on some awesome stories for HODINKEE. That seems as good an excuse as any to get a bunch of watch nerds together in a bar to talk about their latest finds, white whales, and current obsessions. You know what that means – it’s HODINKEE Meet-Up time.

Back in 2010, Bremont introduced the Supermarine 500, which introduced a fresh take on a pretty well-trod path: the dive watch. Its unique crown guard, sapphire bezel, signature Bremont three-piece “Trip-Tick” case, and overall styling set it apart from the pack. It quickly became a favorite of dive watch lovers. Then, in 2014, came the Supermarine 2000, which quadrupled the water resistance, introduced the anti-magnetic and anti-shock properties of Bremont’s MB watches, and beefed up the case from 43mm to 45mm. But for many, 45mm, or even 43mm, is too large for a watch, even a diver. So at last week’s “Basel-upon-Thames” event in London, Bremont released new additions to the Supermarine lineup – the Type 300 and Type 301 – both with an all-new 40-millimeter case.