Makoto Kodawari
Japanese-inspired microbrand Makoto is getting in on the stone dial trend in a big way with the Kodawari, a collection of charming, streamlined 39mm watches crowned with malachite, meteorite, red agate and this dark lapis lazuli dubbed the Sora. There are also a pair of 37mm models in turquoise and pearl, but with its lumed peripheral ring, 12, nine, three numerals and colour-matched date window at six o’clock, this larger, bluer model is a surprisingly affordable winner no matter your wrist size.
Price and Specs:
More details at Makoto.
Tusenö Supervintage
The Shellback and Windseeker were two of Scandinavia’s coolest, most bulletproof field watches, but now Tusenö is taking a hard right turn with the eye-catching Supervintage. Dressed in a trio of iconic serves – shades of green for the mojito, brown and cream for the espresso martini, and red and orange for the negroni – the funky numerals and oval shape ooze more character than a vintage travel poster, with just as much cocktail-laced glamour.
Price and Specs:
More details at Tusenö.
Matthew Mercury Dan W Anniversary
Timeless, luxuriously styled watches usually come at a premium (obviously), but this piece courtesy of the accessible mavens at Matthew Mercury takes that kind of milestone-worthy two-tone look and makes it affordable. A mix of silver and white with crisp gold-plated highlights equipped with a reliable Swiss Ronda quartz chronograph, it’s a fuss-free and wallet-friendly way to make an impact with your wrist.
Price and Specs:
More details at Matthew Mercury.
Perun Veles
Oris aren’t the only brand with a taste for pointer dates. Fledgling micro, Perun, has adopted the underrated complication and reinterpreted it through the lens of their own culture. That means Glagolitic (look it up) script and symbols of the ancient Slavic gods, like Veles’ horns at 12 o’clock and Perun’s Thundermarks on the crown. Even if this hasn’t made you want to Google the hell (or Nav) out of ancient Slavic folklore, the watch itself is a clean, interesting go anywhere, do anything watch with solid build quality and a worryingly tempting price tag.
Price and Specs:
More details at Perun.
Geoshop Islandtime GMT
There are plenty of enamel dials these days; even we’re getting in on the act. But Geoshop’s Islandtime GMT is distinctive in the best possible way. Inspired by marbled LPs, the dial is enamelled with a stone-like grain. Unusually, the bezel follows suit, and in the Vol. 1.5 edition, offers a two-tone 24-hour GMT bezel split between dial-matched pink and a malachite-adjacent green to match the second timezone hand. It’s fun, funky and like nothing else out there.
Price and Specs:
More details at Geoshop.
Aura Chronograph 001
For all the inventive, out-of-the-box creations in the microbrand space, sometimes you just want a design you know and love but can actually afford. Case in point the Aura Chronograph 001. There are no points here for the type of watch Aura is riffing on; it even has the Royal Oak’s tappisserie dial down pat. But the solidly built industrial chic of this particular version will set you back just £322, which is insanely good even once you factor in the ever-reliable Seiko VK63 mecha-quartz movement.
Price and Specs:
More details at Aura.
