7 Best Microbrand Watch Releases of 2025 So Far

As we’re right at the midway point of 2025, it’s a great time to spotlight a few standout microbrand and indie watch releases—not just because they’re noteworthy, but because they point to where this corner of the watch world is heading. And that would be in a great direction. Each year these brands come up with more diverse designs and concepts, better value, each year threatening the raison d’être of the big brands at least from a value standpoint. In 2025, we’re seeing bolder designs, broader variety, and in many cases, better watches than we did just a year ago.

Born from the creative mind of Jacob Hatzidimitriou, the Ianos Dytis is a singular-looking diver though spec’ed to the extreme. Every visual aspect of this watch references ancient and modern Greek culture in subtle ways, and doubles as practical elements for effective time telling. It’s a proper diver with a pearlescent-coated Grade 2 titanium case, paired with a Sellita SW360-1, a bespoke case-back “strap channel,” and 300 meters of water resistance. It retails for 1,850 CHF/$2,260 USD and is readily available on the brand’s website. 

Bill Yao’s MKII is known in the niche world of utilitarian and military horology for his technically accomplished tool watches which draw inspiration from iconic models of the past whilst never hitting the “homage” category. The Fulcrum 39 is Bill Yao’s interpretation for what the Rolex Mil-Spec could have been for American soldiers should the Coronet brand had existed on a different plane. It’s powered by Miyota 9015, has 200 meters of water resistance, a thick and domed sapphire crystal, and retails for $995 USD. (Currently sold out but restocking soon.) 

A new entry into the world of micro/indie horology this year, the Palmos One created by Thanos Repanas is an architectural elegant everyday timepiece. It’s bold and minimalist, mechanically sound and visually striking, inviting us to rethink what stainless steel sport watches could and should be. The thin, long, and angular case hides a Soprod M100 caliber regulated to run at COSC levels, and is paired with a 1970s-style bracelet and the whole package will cost 935 EUR/ $1,010 USD when it launches this month. 

Based in Canada, Héron is a relatively new brand which thus far has only offered dive watches. The Mirabel GMT is something new entirely, a cross between a sports watch and a dressy timepiece, something the brand describes as a complication watch, complete with a Miyota 9075 flyer-style GMT caliber, a beefy and bulbous case complemented by a sector dial and the old-school looks of Roman numerals. It’s a new type of GMT and something shaped in its own style. Launching this month for $690 USD. 

Sergio Direnzo’s latest creation the DRZ-07 Universo errs on the side of everyday horology sized for any wrist, strong of a reinforced case (800HV on Vickers Hardening Scale) measuring 37.5mm in diameter, equipped with a Sellita SW200-1 Élaboré caliber, 100 meters of water resistance, and legendary great lume. All of Sergio’s collections are visually unique and balanced, never compromising on legibility and always prioritizing singularity in design. The DRZ-07 Universo retails for 750 CHF/$835 USD and is readily available on the brand’s website. 

Travis Tan’s RZE based in Singapore is a mainstay in the micro/indie watch world as it has pioneered full titanium watches and the standardization of contemporary and angular cases. In its catalog we find field watches, divers, pilot watches and GMTs, and there was one type of watch which had yet to be created in the world: the titanium digital tool watch. And now it’s here! Starting at $219 USD the UDT-8000 is light and robust, and equipped with a customized module for paired-down functionality. Currently on pre-order. 

Based in Hong Kong, Leonardo Tsai’s Selten has a knack for making haute horlogerie attainable to most watch enthusiasts, and his latest release, the Grand Feu Enamel, just proves that. The star of the show is the dial, made with about 700 manually engraved lines organized in a flare or spiral pattern, then covered by multiple layers of hand-applied enamel paint. This model is also a complete watch with a Soprod M100 caliber, sapphire sandwich construction, and 50 meters of water resistance. Prices start at $1,899 USD and the model is currently on pre-order.