Micro-Brand Digest: Neo-Modern Tool Watches, Hand-Engraved Dials, & Worldtimers

Welcome to the Worn & Wound Micro-Brand Digest, a semi-monthly roundup of all the new micro-brand news we’re following, from concepts that show promise, to kickstarter launches to restocks, and everything in between. Small independents, and affordable micro-brands spurred the creation of Worn & Wound over 10 years ago, and they still drive our enthusiasm in a big way. 

Here’s what’s caught our eye this month.

If you’ve come across a project you think qualifies, hit us up at [email protected] for inclusion.

Neotype LM01 Type D

We’re kicking this one off with an exciting tool watch we’ve been tracking for some time now, the Neotype LM01 Type D. This is a watch that utilizes a rather unique design and construction language. The 40mm case features a heavily domed bezel unit with small notches resulting in a near Ressence looking case/dial transition. The dial itself is reserved and graphic in presentation in a way that accentuates the diner details, such as the sandwich construction of the dial. In total, this is one we’re excited to get our hands on later this summer. The watch will be offered in steel/black, black/black, and gold/black. The Neotype LM01 Type D Kickstarter campaign will launch June 15th, and be priced from 730€ including VAT. More information here.

E.C. Andersson Poseidon

In our last MBD we highlighted the Calypso II from E.C. Andersson, and this time we’ve taken notice of a diver called the Poseidon. It’s got the same blocky lug design that give ECA watches their visual punch, but this one gets a ceramic split rotating bezel, a power reserve indication, and an AM/PM indication disc designed to look like a moisture indicator. All used together, you can even discern true north with ease, and if you’re not sure how, the caseback has pretty clear directions. The Poseidon will be priced from $810 during the pre-order, and just 120 pieces are planned for production, so don’t miss out on the window if you fancy this one. More from E.C. Andersson.

Batavi Geograaf

Batavi is a Dutch brand we’ve covered in the past, and their third collection called the Geograaf is about to launch on Kickstarter. The Geograaf will be a GMT worldtimer offered in 4 colorways, and will offer a unique case and dial design from their existing Architect and Kosmopoliet GMT collections. The 39mm Geograaf, which is the Dutch word for geographer, gets an adjustable worldtimer ring at the perimeter, and a 24 hour ring along the inner portion of the dial, which is highlighted in a contrasting color. Those color selections really set these watches apart, from base gray with orange and blue, to base white with pink and red. Learn more about Batavi here and keep an eye out for the Geograaf Kickstarter coming soon.

Biotic Watches

Biotic watches will launch their Formacidae watch Kickstarter campaign on June 12th, offering 4 variations of their rather unique design for prices starting at $399. The time and date watches are sized at 39mm and get an internal rotating compass bezel controlled by a second screw-down crown located along the left side of the case, mounted opposite the crown at 3 o’clock. Each oversized crown is set within a shallow guard in the case design, giving the watch something of a robotic look that sets it apart from nearly every other field watch that comes to mind. A pie-pan dial will be offered in one of four colors: red, green, black, and brown. Catch all the details on these watches from Biotic at their website right here and keep an eye out for the Kickstarter in a few short weeks.

Impossible Watch Company

Impossible Watch Company is an Instagram account that’s continually caught our attention with beautiful designs that range from dramatic art deco cases to classic sector dials. They exist solely on Instagram at the moment, however they’ve been teasing actual existing watches that have been finished over the past year with painfully few details to go along with them. The company, which is based in Alaska, is simply described as “coming soon”. What kind of movements or price points we can expect remains unknown, but the designs are more than enough to keep our anticipation high. Check out their full range on Instagram right here.

Belchengruppe

Founded by Christoph Schnee, the Basel based watch brand Belchengruppe prides itself on designing watches that “arouse emotion and show time in a new light.” Their philosophy holds true and becomes apparent the more you study the watches within their collection. Take for example their 1247 – 120˚. The hour markers are only displayed at three separate points on the dial: at twelve, four and eight signifying the three different stages of the day (morning, afternoon and evening). Combined with a subdial that visually, looks to be floating against an onyx toned dial and a distinct angular case, the 1247 – 120˚ has its own recognizable aesthetic. Belchecngruppe’s design approach has also gained credibility as they’ve snagged awards at the 2021 NY and Paris Product Design Awards. If you happen to reside in Basel, feel free to contact Belchengruppe to schedule an appointment to see the 1247 – 120˚ and the rest of their collection in person. For those of us around the rest of the world, head on over to their site and stay tuned to their IG channel @belchengruppe for more information.

Typsim

Typsim is a new watch brand based in Seattle, founded by self-taught watchmaker Matt Zinski. Their first watch, the 200M is expected to begin shipping in June, and it’s a nicely executed take on the classic dive watch. All of the hallmarks are here: a big oversized hour hand, large circular hour markers, and a dial that skews toward sober and traditional. The case even has beautifully chamfered lugs that recall classic dive watches from the golden era of Swiss sports watches. But what sets Typsim apart is the lume that’s used liberally on the dial. Typsim has worked with the makers of SuperLuminova to create a special lume compound that will naturally patina with time (no, it’s not radioactive). Watch nerds have been wondering for years how their brand new watches will age as the decades pass – new lume compounds have been designed for durability, and specifically not to degrade and show wear over time, so the new watch from Typsim is strikes us as something genuinely unique. Zinski expects the lume to age gradually, developing a hue that could range from cream to yellow depending on wear. We’ll be watching (and waiting) to see how this lume looks after some time has passed. More information on Typsim’s watches can be found here.