As much as we hate to admit it, the kind of wristwatch we choose to wear can tell us a lot about our – or someone else’s – personalities.
In fact, some experts believe that the watch we choose can tell us more about who we are than any other accessory.
One study from 2015 found that watch wearers are likely to be more conscientious than those who don’t wear watches.
It also found that people who own and buy smartwatches are more likely to already be leading a healthier lifestyle, and that desire to own a watch can be a sign that you would like to be more organised.
Researchers of the study also noted that watch wearers were more likely to be introverted and had lower levels of agreeableness and openness, but higher levels of emotional stability.
So, while by simply wearing a watch, you can tell a lot about what the person wearing it is really like, the kind of watch you wear matters too.
Rolex, Omega, Tissot and Cartier are some of the biggest luxury watch brands on the market today, while Apple reigns supreme in the smartwatch category - but there are lesser-known labels that offer high-quality designs without those designer price tags.
For example, have you ever heard of Dan Henry Watches? The microbrand was started in 2016 by a Brazilian watch collector – called Dan Henry – who had spent 30 years collecting over 1,500 watches. After starting an Instagram account and gaining interest in his expansive collection, Henry decided to start Timeline Watch, a dedicated page chronicling his collection. This then expanded into Henry creating a watch collection of his own based on his favourite timeless designs, for vintage-look wristwatches at a reasonable price point.
Or, Tusenö? A brand born in 2015 in Switzerland producing small-batch watches that are purely mechanical. The brand’s designs are simple, clean, and look much more expensive than they actually are.
So, if you’re after a new watch, or looking to join the conscientious club, read on for some brands you might have never heard of.
Best smartwatches for kids 2024 with fun features they will love
Best entry level luxury watches to feel fancy on a budget
Best rugged smartwatches in 2024: Tough techie timekeepers for testing times
Best fall detectors for protecting your near and dear
Best affordable watch brands to shop in 2024: styles under £200
Woolbrook Watches
Woolbrook first launched in 1949, offering high-quality, sturdy tool watches. After being ‘asleep’ for 50 years, the brand was revived in 2019, relocating across the Atlantic with all of its watches and chronographs now assembled and regulated in the outskirts of Besançon, France. The result? The same sturdy style with noticeable French flair.
Buy now, Woolbrook Watches
Héron Watches
For a unique timepiece that you won’t spot on anyone else, look to Héron Watches who produce limited-edition drops of premium models. The brand places its emphasis on design and quality, over ethereal fads - so you can be sure this is a time-teller that will transcend the trend cycle. The label is Canada-born and the country’s landscape inspires the collections that are rugged enough to withstand the toughest conditions.
Buy now, Héron Watches
Dan Henry Watches
Created by Brazilian watch collector-turned-maker, Dan Henry’s eponymous brand produces vintage-inspired timepieces that are influenced by the classic designs that he owns as part of his 1,500-strong collection (but at a fraction of the price).
Buy now, Dan Henry Watches
Tusenö Watches
The Swiss just know how to make really great watches and Tusenö is no different. Started in 2015, this small batch brand creates products that are 100 per cent mechanical, and that look much more expensive than they cost.
Buy now, Tusenö Watches
Baltic Watches
Baltic is the brainchild of Etienne Malec who founded the microbrand in 2016. Inspired by his father’s passion for the timepiece (he was said to have kept a note of every watch he came across over the years), Malec set out to put a modern spin on classic watchmaking.
Buy now, Baltic Watches
Monbrey
Hong Kong-based Henry Kwong and Austin Lee founded MONBREY to bring their expertise as industrial designers to the world of timekeeping. The duo are fans of retro designs and, in particular, the unique silhouette of Wedge Era shaped cars with their angular constructions. This inspired the brand’s MO - to reinvent old designs in a modern way. Enter the MB1 series of automatic watches that take its cues from the Seventies and Eighties with contemporary movement and elements.
Buy now, Monbrey
Void Watches
In 2008, Swedish mechanical engineer and designer David Ericsson launched his own brand of watches with the now-iconic square-faced designs, the V01s. Over 15 years later, simplicity is still at the core of everything the brand does, and the result is timeless pieces that will last a lifetime.
Buy now, Void Watches
Hamilton
Hamilton is Hollywood’s go-to watch brand. From Indiana Jones to Oppenheimer, Ocean's Eleven to James Bond, it’s been featured in countless blockbuster movies adorning the wrists of leading A-listers.
Beyond that, the timepieces boast Swiss-made precision as well as American roots for designs that balance character and quality.
Buy now, Hamilton
Longines
The first watch by Swiss watchmaker Longines was a pocket watch designed for timing sporting events. Over 145 years later and the collection now includes hundreds of timepieces which span divers, dress watches, chronographs and aviators. One thing they all have in common? They’re all intricately engineered and expertly designed. An investment that’s worth it.
Buy now, Jura
Oris
Independently owned. Climate neutral. Constantly innovating. These are just a few of the ways you can describe the Swiss watch company Oris.
Still based in the same building the founding brothers bought over 100 years ago, the brand has over a century’s worth of experience in creating luxury timepieces with speciality in diving, motorsports and aviation. If you want one of the signatures, look for those with the Pointer Calendar where 31 days are displayed on the inner circle of the dial with an extra hand indicating the date.
Buy now, Jura
Rado
Innovation is at the heart of Rado. It was the first watchmaker to use high-tech ceramic back in 1986 and the first to use sapphire crystal for the watch glass. With so many transformative moments for the industry, it’s no wonder the brand boasts the nickname ‘master of materials’.
Besides the textiles they use, the designs span everything from automatic square silhouettes to chunky sporty styles, all of which come with a five-year international warranty when bought directly with the brand.
Buy now, Jura
