Earlier this month we took a look at 30 of the best independent watches released in 2026 under £10,000, with a focus on microbrands. However, a vast proportion of the independent watch market is occupied by ultra-high end timepieces with price tags that make them extremely exclusive. Despite that exclusivity, it’s often these high end independents that dominate conversations at watch-meets and in collector groups. So here are some of our favourite independent watches over £10,000 from this year.
Fears Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar
Fears knows how to celebrate an anniversary and, given this watch was last issue’s cover star, we’d be remiss not to include it here. And it deserves its spot. The British brand’s most complicated watch to date goes hard with a proper perpetual calendar housed in a slightly redesigned Brunswick case that keeps things slim and elegant. With a warm silver dial, Fears’ own ‘Bristol’ typography and a classic calendar layout, this is a watch 180 years in the making. And this isn’t a one-off showpiece either; it sits in the core collection, capped at 25 pieces a year, with 2026 already gone and pre-orders open for 2027. Even Christopher Ward hasn’t brought out a core perpetual calendar. Yet.
Model: Fears Brunswick 39 Perpetual Calendar
Case/dial: 39mm x 37mm x 9.4mm thickness, stainless steel
Dial: Silver mink, frosted
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Dubois Dépraz calibre 55115
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 47h
Functions: Hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year, moon phase
Strap: Ostrich leather strap
Price: £26,950
More details at Fears.
1776 Atelier Liberty 250
The Liberty 250 was made to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, and everything about it leans into that brief. The manual-wind Caliber L250 is built in-house and finished with 222 hand-polished internal angles, with another 62 on the dial, part of hundreds of hours of hand-finishing. The hands are shaped, bevelled and polished in-house too, thermally coloured to a rich plum. Even the presentation box backs up the story, an American walnut case holding a genuine fragment of Independence Hall timber set into a Liberty Bell inlay.
Model: 1776 Atelier Liberty 250
Case/dial: 41mm diameter x 10.2mm thickness, 18k rose gold
Dial: Black rhodium, hand-finished
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: 1776 Atelier calibre L250
Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 48h
Functions: Hours, minutes
Price: $44,000 (approx. £32,700), limited to 25 pieces
More details at 1776 Atelier.
Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue
Armin Strom’s already done blue in this collection: the 18k white gold First Edition put sky-blue grenage dials over the movement. This new Manufacture Edition flips the emphasis, keeping the dials white and colouring the movement itself, a blue PVD mainplate and bridges beneath crisp white grenage displays. The 39mm case carries over, with twin crowns at 4 and 8 o’clock for adjusting each time zone independently, and sapphire crystals front and back. It’s still one of only a handful of brands making true mechanical resonance watches, the patented clutch spring letting two escapements actually synchronise, limited here to 50 pieces.
Model: Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue
Case/dial: 39mm diameter x 9.05mm thickness, stainless steel
Dial: White grenage
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Armin Strom calibre ARF22
Frequency: 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 42h
Functions: Hours, minutes, second time zone, day/night indicators
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: CHF 95,000 (approx. £86,090), limited to 50 pieces
More details at Armin Strom.
Rexhep Rexhepi RRCHF Chronograph Flyback
Rexhep Rexhepi has become one of the trendiest names in independent horology, whether that’s under his eponymous brand or Akrivia. For 2026 he has introduced his first flyback chronograph with the RRCHF, featuring a column wheel construction and lateral clutch. It measures 38.8mm in diameter and just 9.7mm in thickness, making it very slim for a chronograph and emphasising the delicacy and prestige of its platinum case. The dial is made from storm blue enamel with three open-heart disks in place of subdials. Priced at CHF 150,000.
Model: Rexhep Rexhepi RRCHF Chronograph Flyback
Case/dial: 38.8mm diameter x 9.7mm thickness, platinum
Dial: Storm blue grand feu enamel
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Rexhep Rexhepi in-house manual-winding calibre
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, instantaneous minute counter
Strap: Nubuck calfskin leather strap
Price: CHF 150,000 (approx. £135,900)
More details at Rexhep Rexhepi.
Berneron Mirage 38 Miroir
Berneron is a Swiss independent brand that has a clear plan ahead of them for the next ten years. They aim to release one watch a year during the first week of September, meaning there’s no questions about when their next release might suddenly drop – giving collectors security and confidence. Running their brand like clockwork. 2026’s launch is the Mirage 38 Miroir in white and yellow gold, a new expression of 2023’s Mirage 38. It features a flipped construction so that the dial looks like the caseback view of the standard Mirage.
Model: Berneron Mirage 38 Miroir
Case/dial: 38mm x 34mm x 7mm thickness, 18k yellow gold
Dial: Openworked movement with sector guilloché
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Berneron calibre 283
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes
Strap: Barenia leather strap
Price: CHF 72,500 excl. taxes (approx. £65,700)
More details at Berneron.
Krayon Pac-Man
The creative duo at the head of Krayon is Fei Hou and Rémi Maillat and while they grew up on different sides of the planet, one thing that unites them is a shared love for vintage arcades. As such, when Pac-Man celebrated its 45th anniversary earlier this year they created a special edition Anywhere based on the famous game. It’s mechanically identical to the core model with its 24-hour display that shows sunrise, sunset and calendar functions. However, instead of a sun for the 24-hour hand we have Pac-man. The other details have also been swapped for Pac-man items such as ghosts, fruit and dots.
Model: Krayon Anywhere Pac-Man
Case/dial: 39mm diameter x 9.5mm thickness, platinum
Dial: Polished onyx with Pac-Man maze and hand-painted ghosts and fruit
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Krayon calibre C030
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, 24-hour display, sunrise, sunset, date, month
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: CHF 188,000 (approx. £170,400), limited to 15 pieces
More details at Krayon.
Bovet Récital 31
Bovet are one of the quintessential high end independent manufactures producing only around 1,000 watches per year (which is actually a lot more than some of the brands in this articles). The Récital 31 is a perpetual calendar with spherical moonphase equipped with indications for hours, minutes, seconds, date, months, days of the week and of course the signature spherical moonphase. It features a new in-house movement with 5-day power reserve. There are five variants being produced in either titanium or rose gold.
Model: Bovet Récital 31
Case/dial: 44mm diameter x 13.3mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Hemera blue with guilloché centre
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Bovet in-house manual-winding calibre
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 120h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, retrograde date, day, month, leap year, spherical moonphase, power reserve
Strap: Rubber strap
Price: CHF 102,000 (approx. £92,400), limited to 60 pieces
More details at Bovet.
Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph Champagne 210th Anniversary Edition
Louis Moinet as a modern brand was launched by Jean-Marie Schaller inspired by the legacy of one of history’s most significant watchmakers, Louis Moinet. In 1816 he created the first known chronograph, which the brand has translated into a modern wristwatch in 2025 called the 1816 Chronograph, followed by the Champagne 210th Anniversary Edition in 2026. It measures 40.6mm diameter in Grade 5 titanium with an unusual chronograph display that features subdials at 11 and 1 o’clock instead of 3 and 9. It’s priced at CHF 28,900 (approx. £26,900).
Model: Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph Champagne 210th Anniversary Edition
Ref: LM-151.20.30
Case/dial: 40.6mm diameter x 14.7mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Champagne beadblasted
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Louis Moinet calibre LM1816
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 48h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph
Strap: Titanium bracelet
Price: CHF 28,900 (approx. £26,900)
More details at Louis Moinet.
H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Concept Ceramic
Given the wide variety of haute horological avenues H. Moser & Cie. have travelled down in their history, it’s quite surprising that they’ve never produced a ceramic wristwatch before. The new for 2026 ceramic case on the Streamliner Tourbillon Concept Ceramic measures 40mm in diameter with the signature Streamliner cushion shape leading into an integrated bracelet that’s also in ceramic. To contrast with the dark tone of the case, H. Moser have given the Streamliner Tourbillon Concept Ceramic an intense red dial made from Grand Feu enamel. £98,000 including tax.
Model: H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Concept Ceramic
Ref: 6805-2100
Case/dial: 40mm diameter x 12.8mm thickness, anthracite grey ceramic
Dial: Red fumé Grand Feu enamel
Water resistance: 120m (12 bar)
Movement: H. Moser & Cie. calibre HMC 805
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, flying tourbillon
Strap: Ceramic bracelet
Price: £98,000
More details at H. Moser & Cie..
Grönefeld 1941 Quadrivium
The Brothers Grönefeld have become such a well-regarded duo in the watchmaking industry that if you have visited the brand’s website in the past 36 months, you’ll have been greeted with a message saying their order books are currently closed. But that hasn’t stopped them releasing new watches to delight clients already on the waiting list such as the 1941 Quadrivium. It features a 7.5-seconds remontoire, one-minute flying tourbillon, hours, minutes, jumping seconds and power reserve indicator.
Model: Grönefeld 1941 Quadrivium
Case/dial: 40mm diameter x 11.3mm thickness, tantalum
Dial: Frosted champagne
Movement: Grönefeld in-house manual-winding calibre
Power reserve: 50h
Functions: Hours, minutes, jumping seconds, tourbillon, remontoire, power reserve
Strap: Leather strap
Price: €280,000 excl. taxes (approx. £234,500), limited to 28 pieces
More details at Grönefeld.
Sylvain Pinaud 30s Tourbillon
Like many independent watchmakers, Sylvain Pinaud cut his teeth working across multiple small and major watch manufactures before striking out on his own. His latest creation is the 30s Tourbillon, which stands for “Thirty-Second Tourbillon”, a type of tourbillon where the cage completes a rotation once every 30 seconds as opposed to the more common rate of 60 seconds. It’s paired with a dial that displays hours, minutes and small seconds with the titular tourbillon displayed at 5 o’clock. The movement is housed in a 39mm case. It’s limited to 30 pieces that are already sold out.
Model: Sylvain Pinaud 30s Tourbillon
Case/dial: 39mm diameter x 11.2mm thickness, titanium or platinum
Dial: Silver, black or white with white agate or onyx centre
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Sylvain Pinaud manual-winding calibre
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 100h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, tourbillon, zero-reset
Strap: Calf leather strap
Price: CHF 180,000 (approx. £163,100), limited to 30 pieces
More details at Sylvain Pinaud.
David Candaux DC6 Night Forest
The David Candaux DC6 Night Forest comes in at CHF 248,000 (approx. £225,000) made from a combination of carbon and titanium. The display features a hobnail guilloché plate with a domed fumé subdial in topaz green for the main time indication and an open-heart aperture for the inclined tourbillon at 9 o’clock. It’s powered by a twin barrel system in series that provides a 55-hour power reserve to the watch with manual-winding. It also includes five patents.
Model: David Candaux DC6 Night Forest
Case/dial: 45mm diameter x 11.29mm thickness, UD carbon and titanium
Dial: Topaz green anodised titanium
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: David Candaux calibre H74
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 55h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, tourbillon
Strap: Rubber strap
Price: CHF 248,000 (approx. £225,000), limited to 8 pieces
More details at David Candaux.
Cleguer Inspiration One
The Inspiration One is the debut timepiece of the independent brand Cleguer. On a surface level it features hours, minutes, seconds on an off-centre enamel dial and a power reserve indicator. However, the mechanics of the watch go deeper than that. It features a patented mechanism that founder Mathieu Cleguer calls the Innate escapement – a modern reinterpretation of Abraham Louis Breguet’s Natural escapement that ensures it is self-starting by integrating a tangential impulse transmission. This means that if the balance is interrupted and stops, such as due to a bump, it will automatically resume instead of needing manual restart. CHF 103,020 (approx. £94,600).
Model: Cleguer Inspiration One
Case/dial: 38.5mm diameter x 12mm thickness, white gold
Dial: Off-centre champlevé Grand Feu enamel
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Cleguer manual-winding calibre
Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 36h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve
Strap: Calfskin leather strap
Price: CHF 103,020 (approx. £94,600)
More details at Cleguer.
Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing Mystery
While being mostly known for his high end novelty watch designs in the Wristmon series, Konstantin Chaykin proved that he’s as serious about horology as any other independent watchmaker when he unveiled the ThinKing in 2024, the world’s thinnest mechanical wristwatch. That original was a one-off prototype but in 2026 they launched the ThinKing Mystery, a production model with transparent subdials. At 1.65mm it’s so thin that it requires a special too to wind and set the time rather than a traditional crown.
Model: Konstantin Chaykin ThinKing Mystery
Case/dial: 41mm diameter x 1.65mm thickness, high-strength alloy
Dial: Sapphire mystery discs
Movement: Konstantin Chaykin calibre K.23-3.1
Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 38h
Functions: Hours, minutes
Strap: Leather strap with titanium stiffeners
Price: CHF 400,000 (approx. £362,400), limited to 12 pieces
More details at Konstantin Chaykin.
Greubel Forsey Balancier QM
Greubel Forsey have launched a new series within their highly exclusive range of watches called the Balancier QM. The QM stands for Qualité Musée, a new internal standard of finishing that the brand aspires to maintain across every watch they ever produce. The Balancier QM is the watch that Greubel Forsey have decided to introduce this standard with and so is dedicated to being a showcase of hand-finishing techniques. It features a partially open-worked display that is layered to reveal the drama of the dial to maximum effect. It’s price on request in a limited edition of 33 pieces.
Model: Greubel Forsey Balancier QM
Case/dial: 39.6mm diameter x 12.25mm thickness, white gold
Dial: Multi-level white gold
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Greubel Forsey calibre GF09
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve, stop-balance
Strap: Rubber strap
Price: Price on request, limited to 33 pieces
More details at Greubel Forsey.
Dominique Renaud Pulse60
The Dominique Renaud brand is a new, individual project of one half of the popular independent watch brand Renaud Tixier. His first creation in the project is the Pulse60, an exploration into the world of low frequency watchmaking. At a time when the watch world is looking at hi-beat calibres that oscillate at frequencies of 5 Hz, Renaud is looking in the opposite direction at 1 Hz balances that oscillate just 60 times per minute. In order to maintain accuracy and shock resistance, the balance wheel itself is dramatically oversized to offset errors. It has also been constructed to allow an amplitude of over 360 degrees.
Model: Dominique Renaud Pulse60
Case/dial: 40mm x 44mm x 12mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Silver grey opaline
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Dominique Renaud calibre BUA2024
Frequency: 7,200 vph (1 Hz)
Power reserve: 96h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, torque indicator
Strap: Rubber strap
Price: CHF 49,000 (approx. £44,400)
More details at Dominique Renaud.
Christian Lass 30CT Tourbillon
Christian Lass is a Danish independent watchmaker and the former Master Watchmaker of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, trusted with the care and restoration of some of Patek’s most prized timepieces. He produces an extremely limited number of watches by commission. The 30CT Tourbillon is all about refinement and class, with a sector dial and small seconds subdial disguising the complexity of the manual tourbillon movement inside.
Model: Christian Lass 30CT Tourbillon
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, tourbillon
More details at Christian Lass.
Marco Lang Seven Spheres
Marco Lang is the independent watchmaker behind Lang & Heyne, which he left in 2019 ahead of founding a brand under his own name in 2020. In 2026, after three years of development, he has introduced the Seven Spheres, a planetary style tourbillon with seven rotating rings made from titanium that move the balance wheel through a vast range of positions to improve isochronism. Creating it was the challenge of taking sci-fi style architecture and turning it into reality. Priced at €250,000 (approx. £210,000).
Model: Marco Lang Seven Spheres
Case/dial: 42mm diameter x 10mm thickness, 950 platinum
Dial: Solid silver chapter ring with red numerals
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Marco Lang calibre ml-02/7sp
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 55h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seven-axis tourbillon
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: €250,000 (approx. £210,000)
More details at Marco Lang.
Behrens x Vianney Halter Master Collection KWH
In 2025, Chinese watch brand Behrens teamed up with Swiss watchmaking legend Vianney Halter to create the Behrens Master Collection KWH x Vianney Halter. For 2026 they expanded the range with new materials and colours including this tantalum alloy edition with a lazuline blue display. Instead of a regular hour display, it uses a rotating chain display that moves around the edge of the dial like a snake. It’s powered by the BM06 manual-winding movement and is priced at $33,800 (approx. £29,000) in a limited edition of 99 pieces.
Model: Behrens x Vianney Halter KWH Tantalum
Ref: BHRM2TA01
Case/dial: 35mm x 41mm x 10.9mm thickness, tantalum
Dial: Lazuline blue
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Behrens calibre BM06
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, day/night indicator, power reserve, date, moonphase
Strap: Calfskin leather strap
Price: $33,800 excl. tax (approx. £29,000), limited to 90 pieces
More details at Behrens.
Henri Grandjean & Cie. The Magician
Henri Grandjean & Cie. is a revival heritage brand inspired by the work and legacy of the original Henri Grandjean in the 1800s. During the 1800s the brand was recognised for its work in automata and ‘magician’ watches, which is why the brand’s first revival collection is called The Magician. It features a highly engraved rose gold case with sapphire flanks that reveal a triple-axis tourbillon set alongside an onyx time display. The in-house movement is manually wound and provides a 42-hour power reserve. CHF 480,000 (approx. £360,000).
Model: Henri Grandjean & Cie. The Magician
Ref: 50-01-HG5/NR
Case/dial: 45mm diameter x 16mm thickness, carved 18k rose gold
Dial: Black onyx
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Henri Grandjean calibre 1831
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 42h
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, day/night indicator, triple-axis tourbillon
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: CHF 480,000 (approx. £360,000)
More details at Henri Grandjean & Cie..
Laurent Ferrier Sport Traveller
After an early career in motor sport, Laurent Ferrier moved into the family business of watchmaking. At the age of 63 he struck out to become an independent watchmaker by establishing his own eponymous brand. In 2026 they launched the Sport Traveller with dual time display. It’s made from Grade 5 titanium with a 42mm diameter and 13.3mm thickness, housing the LF275.01 automatic winding calibre with 72-hour power reserve. Through the caseback you can see the flawless finishing and micro-rotor. CHF 61,000 excl. taxes (approx. £58,250).
Model: Laurent Ferrier Sport Traveller
Ref: LCF045.T1.NG1C7
Case/dial: 42mm diameter x 13.3mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Slate grey opaline
Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
Movement: Laurent Ferrier calibre LF275.01
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, dual time
Strap: Titanium bracelet
Price: CHF 61,000 excl. taxes (approx. £58,250)
More details at Laurent Ferrier.
De Bethune DB25 Digitale
De Bethune comes from the era of independent watchmakers founded shortly after the turn of the millennium in 2002, a time in the watch industry where independent watchmakers helped turn the ship around after the challenges of the late 20th century. The DB25 Digitale features a dynamic wave pattern dial with a digital time display – meaning that the hours and minutes are told through numeral displays rather than hands pointing at a fixed track. The jumping hours are positioned above the central moonphase and the minutes on a rotating disk at the bottom of the display.
Model: De Bethune DB25 Digitale
Ref: DB25VD
Case/dial: 42mm diameter x 11.9mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Blued titanium with random guilloché
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: De Bethune calibre DB2144V3
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 120h
Functions: Jumping hours, minutes, moonphase
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: CHF 106,000 (approx. £96,000)
More details at De Bethune.
Ressence Type 10
Ressence is a Belgian watch brand that uses rotating, orbital displays and oil-filled dials to create watches look like extraordinary futuristic devices. However, a consistent criticism that the brand has faced is that despite the creative concepts and bespoke modules they’ve created, the base calibres powering the watches have been workhorse ETA numbers, creating a cognitive dissonance with the premium price tags that the watches command. However, in 2026 they have stepped up their game by introducing their first in-house movements, including in the new Type 10 with the RW-04 equipped with the ROCS 10. CHF 45,000 (approx. £40,900) excluding taxes, limited to 100 pieces.
Model: Ressence Type 10 DN
Case/dial: 41.5mm diameter, grade 5 titanium with dark blue DLC
Dial: Dark blue titanium
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Ressence calibre RW-04 with ROCS 10
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 60h
Functions: Hours, minutes, second time zone, running indicator, oil temperature indicator
Strap: Rubber strap
Price: CHF 45,000 excluding taxes (approx. £40,900), limited to 100 pieces
More details at Ressence.
MB&F HM12 Guardian
MB&F has always been open about the fact that many of their more extreme watches are inspired by media and science fiction ever since the brand was founded in 2005. Especially in the Horological Machine series, which is where they explore Avant Garde case designs, futuristic concepts and ideas that are more than a little outside the box. In as simple terms as possible, HM12 The Guardian is a multi-part sculpture with detachable components that turn the piece from a sculpture into a wearable wristwatch with accessories. CHF 280,000 (approx. £263,000) excl. VAT, limited to 12 pieces per colour.
Model: MB&F HM12 The Guardian
Case/dial: 49.3mm x 43.6mm x 13.8mm thickness, grade 5 titanium
Dial: Super-LumiNova dial by La Montre Hermès
Movement: MB&F calibre HM12
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 84h
Functions: Jumping hours, minutes, flying tourbillon
Strap: Fabric strap
Price: CHF 280,000 excl. VAT (approx. £263,000), limited to 12 pieces per colour
More details at MB&F.
Petermann-Bédat Ref. 1826
Independent watch brand Petermann-Bédat was founded by Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat who met while studying horology. In 2026 they began a new partnership with The Hour Glass Japan to retail their watches in Japan and to mark the occasion they created the regional exclusive Ref. 1826 – a new interpretation of the Ref. 1825. The update features a 36.4mm diameter, reduced from 38mm, giving the piece a neo-vintage appeal. It’s presented in either white or rose gold with black or white dials respectively. CHF 96,000 (approx. £87,000) excl. tax.
Model: Petermann-Bédat Reference 1826
Ref: 1826
Case/dial: 36.3mm diameter x 10.15mm thickness, 18k white or rose gold
Dial: Black or white ivory grand feu enamel
Movement: Petermann-Bédat calibre 233
Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 56h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: CHF 96,000 excl. tax (approx. £87,000), limited to 5 pieces per case material
More details at Timekeepers Club.
Fleming Series 1 Mark II
The Series 1 Mark II by Fleming has a movement developed alongside Jean-François Mojon of Chronode and an architectural case built by Swiss artisans. The result is a modern dress watch with a sports watch’s confidence. Sculpted, open-worked lugs make it incredibly comfortable and extremely wearable at 38.5mm x 9mm with a lug-to-lug of 46.5mm. Subtle contrast defines the dial, polished markers sitting against brushed surfaces for a fresh take on the sector layout. The Redwood’s warm tones take their cue from the forests of the brand’s Californian home. CHF 53,500 (approx. £48,500) excl. tax in a limited edition of 25 pieces.
Model: Fleming Series 1 Mark II Redwood
Case/dial: 38.5mm diameter x 9mm thickness, 18k 5N rose gold
Dial: Brown and gold sector
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Fleming calibre FM-02
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 168h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Calf leather strap
Price: CHF 53,500 excl. tax (approx. £48,500), limited to 25 pieces
More details at Fleming.
Naoya Hida & Co. NH Type 8A
Naoya Hida & Co. takes a novel approach to allocating their yearly production of watches: no wait lists, no pre-orders, no seasonal releases – they launch their watches all at once in a big wave. For 2026 that included the introduction of the new NH Type 8A, a 31mm dress watch with small seconds and a German silver dial. It’s powered by the manual-winding Cal.2326SS with 38-hour power reserve. It’s priced at ¥3,520,000 (approx. £16,720).
Model: Naoya Hida & Co. NH Type 8A
Case/dial: 31mm diameter x 8.9mm thickness, 904L stainless steel
Dial: German silver with hand-engraved Breguet numerals
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Naoya Hida calibre 2326SS
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 38h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Leather strap
Price: ¥3,520,000 (approx. £16,720)
More details at Naoya Hida & Co..
Stollenwurm Series III
Introduced at Geneva Watch Days 2026, the Stollenwurm Series III is the brand’s first flying tourbillon wristwatch. The tourbillion is housed in a 42mm platinum case with a laser engraved dial that depicts the brand’s namesake Stollenwurm creature (a cat-headed serpent) against a guilloché style background. It’s a limited edition of 12 pieces. Stollenwurm was founded by Edward Tourtellotte with a clear vision for mythologically themed pieces of haute horology.
Model: Stollenwurm Series III
Case/dial: 42mm diameter x 11.1mm thickness, platinum and tantalum
Dial: Nickel silver, laser-engraved Stollenwurm pattern with ruby eye
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Stollenwurm calibre WU-02-01
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 60h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, flying tourbillon
Strap: Platinum and tantalum bracelet
Price: Price on request, limited to 12 pieces
More details at Stollenwurm.
Moritz Grossman Hamatic Enamel
Moritz Grossman is celebrating the 200th anniversary of their founder’s birth in 2026, and to celebrate they have launched a pair of Hamatic Enamel watches. These dress watches in white or rose gold feature black enamel dials that are paired with a very clean display of Arabic numerals and a railway minute track. Inside is the calibre 106.0 automatic with pendulum-style hammer weight instead of a traditional rotor. €75,600 (approx. £63,300) in a limited edition of 8 pieces per case material.
Model: Moritz Grossmann Hamatic Enamel
Case/dial: 41mm diameter x 11.35mm thickness, 18k white or rose gold
Dial: Black enamel
Movement: Moritz Grossmann calibre 106.0
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Alligator leather strap
Price: €75,600 (approx. £63,300), limited to 8 pieces per case material
More details at Moritz Grossmann.
Stéphane Pierre L’Impétrant
Stéphane Pierre had his start in watchmaking as a subcontractor producing watch hands. Then, in 2022, he decided to establish his own eponymous brand with the skills and experience he had gained. The L’Impétrant is the culmination of that project and the brand’s debut watch. It’s a bi-retrograde watch with the hours and minutes each displayed on independent retrograde scales made from white ceramic. It’s housed in a 39mm Grade 23 titanium case. CHF 90,800 (approx. £83,400).
Model: Stéphane Pierre L'Impétrant
Case/dial: 39mm diameter x 10.8mm thickness, grade 23 titanium
Dial: White zirconia ceramic
Movement: Stéphane Pierre in-house manual-winding calibre
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 70h
Functions: Retrograde hours, retrograde minutes, seconds, power reserve
Strap: Calf leather strap
Price: CHF 90,800 (approx. £83,400)
More details at Stéphane Pierre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an independent watchmaker?
An independent watchmaker owns and runs their brand outside the big luxury groups such as Richemont, Swatch Group and LVMH. Independents typically make small numbers of watches, often with their own movements and hand-finishing. Many belong to the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), founded in 1985.
What’s the difference between an independent watch and a microbrand?
Microbrands are usually small, online-first labels selling accessible watches built around sourced movements. High-end independents develop their own calibres, hand-finish components and often make only dozens of watches a year. Both are independently owned, which is why our guide to the best independent watches under £10,000 includes microbrands.
Why are independent watches so expensive?
Tiny production runs, hand-finishing and in-house development. Rexhep Rexhepi makes around 50 watches a year, 1776 Atelier hand-polishes 222 internal angles on the Liberty 250’s movement, and Greubel Forsey’s Balancier QM is limited to 33 pieces. Development costs are spread across very few watches.
How do you buy a watch from a high-end independent?
Most sell through waiting lists, pre-orders or set sales windows rather than shop stock. Grönefeld’s order books have been closed since 2021, Naoya Hida opened a single online sales window in May 2026 and Fears is taking pre-orders. A relationship with the brand or its retailer helps.
Which of these watches are GPHG 2026 finalists?
Eleven: Rexhepi Chronograph Flyback, Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph, Candaux DC6 Night Forest, Pinaud 30s Tourbillon, Chaykin ThinKing Mystery, Cleguer Inspiration One, Dominique Renaud Pulse60, Behrens × Vianney Halter KWH, Naoya Hida NH Type 8A, Bovet Récital 31 and Laurent Ferrier Sport Traveller. Winners announced in Geneva on 7 November 2026.
Are independent watches a good investment?
Some independent watches have sold well above retail at auction, but that is far from guaranteed. Values depend on the maker, scarcity, condition and demand, and many watches trade below list price. Buy a watch because you want to wear it; see our guide to investing in watches.
