Watch Dandy

In the current bleak climate of the watch world, with almost every news story full of doom and gloom, there glows a bright spot – that of the so-called “micro” or “boutique” brands that have come of age in the past decade. These small, often one-person companies have taken advantage of the increasingly egalitarian playing field of internet watch forums, crowdfunding, and contract manufacturing that has emerged to challenge huge marketing budgets and giant workshops full of watchmakers. Of course, among these, quality is hit or miss, many designs are downright derivative, and a lot of these small marques have folded as quickly as they appeared. But to the die-hard watch enthusiast crowd, some have offered fresh alternatives to the big brands and affordable watches that, when done well, remind us that sometimes strapping on a watch can be just plain fun instead of a statement or an investment. Unimatic and its Modello Uno (U1-B) are a perfect example.

Times are tough out there – and not only are we seeing major brands take a hit, but also some of the little guys. Today, a fan favorite here at HODINKEE – Vulcain – announced that it would be laying off seven of its 12 remaining managerial positions. The company declined to say whether or not it would be for sale, though it seems likely it would be considering how thin staffing has become.