Rotary Watches Greenwich GT1 Automatic, £279
Rotary Watches are a prime example of a great brand to start with when you’re just getting into mechanical watches or are a collector on a budget. The skeletonised display of the Greenwich GT1 Automatic offers great views of the movement, with the constant beating of the balance wheel on clear display. It’s housed in a 42mm steel case in gunmetal grey, offering a sporty, industrial vibe, a design that feels at home in a vintage car restoration garage.
Available at Rotary Watches.
GoS Watches Winter Nights III
After years of wanting to produce a gold case wristwatch, GoS Watches have finally achieved that dream after teaming up with a Swedish master goldsmith. Together they developed a proprietary process to bond the gold directly to the surface of the Damascus steel case beneath, creating the look of an ancient Nordic artefact. That’s paired with a ‘Wildflower’ Damascus dial and GoS03 automatic movement by Schwarz Etienne.
More details at GoS Watches.
Seagull 70th Anniversary Rattrapante Split Second Chronograph, $4,619 (approx. £3,460)
Seagull is a well-established name in the world of microbrand and independent watchmaking for their third-party movement, but they are also a fully-fledged watch brand in their own right. Founded in 1955, last year marked their 70th anniversary, for which they produced the 70th Anniversary Rattrapante Split Second Chronograph, one of the most accessible rattrapantes available right now. The manual ST1961 movement is paired with a sleek display in blue with silver and red accents.
Available at Seagull.
Makoto Nagomi, CAD $1049, Pre-Order CAD $989 (approx. £575)
Makoto create small, limited run batches of watches with a clear design direction and international supply chain. They’re a Canadian brand inspired by Japanese design using watch parts produced in Hong Kong – something they are open about due to their philosophy of honesty, which is what Makoto translates to in Japanese. Their latest launch in the Nagomi, a 39mm daily beater with attractive sunray dial in a 28-piece limited edition (per colour).
Available at Makoto.
Yema Superman Titanium MoonTide, €2,190 (approx. £1,900)
French brand Yema isn’t particularly known for its artistic creations, instead focusing on practical tool watches that serve a purpose. But that’s not to say they don’t have an artistic side, which comes to the fore with the launch of the Superman Titanium MoonTide with its lunar texture display. The dial is made from titanium using an oil-press technique on a sand-blasted base to create a cratered surface in relief, inspired by the surface of the moon. It feels almost photorealistic.
Available at Yema.
