Amazon's $335 titanium luxury watch is powered by Seiko
It offers 500 meters of water resistance.
Overview
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Perhaps the bestselling luxury watch style these days is the classic diver. While this title was held for decades by the ever-popular dress watch, times have changed. With the proliferation of remote work positions and the advent of business-casual dress for the office, a more laid-back style is more en vogue than at any other time in recent history. That's why every luxury watch brand hopes to entice shoppers with that one perfect dive watch that can anchor your whole collection. While I've waxed poetic more than I'd like to admit about the superiority of heritage brands like Seiko and Citizen, and their dive watch prowess, they're not the only game in town.
Details
Every watch collector has succumbed at one point or another to the call of a scrappy and eager-to-please independent watch brand. I myself am a sucker for an inspiring startup story and a crowdfunding link. To be perfectly honest, much of the most fun and innovative watches to be released every year come from young brands that are just starting to get their watchmaking feet wet. They're akin to a teenager just coming into their own and feeling out exactly who they want to be. That mix of adrenaline and experimentation is exactly what makes unboxing any microbrand luxury watch an adventure. I stumbled upon one that I haven't been able to get out of my head for weeks, so I figured I might as well share it.
What is a microbrand luxury watch?
Microbrands are small independent watch companies that can be far more nimble and creative design-wise than most larger established companies. They often have parts manufactured in different locales in order to get the best price. Microbrands consistently deliver some of the most interesting designs because they have the freedom to be far more creative than their larger competitors. As an example, a Swiss luxury watch brand that's been around for over a century doesn't necessarily have the creative freedom to try something completely new and out of the box. It has its heritage and reputation to consider, as well as a loyal customer base that it has built over decades. Those same customers might not look too kindly on a design that they would consider too avant-garde for such a reputable brand. Microbrands don't have to adhere to those same rigid standards of heritage and continuity.
Undone watches
Undone is a microbrand that embodies the ethos described above. The company opened its doors in 2014, founded by experienced watchmaker and well-known Rolex restorer Michael Young. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Undone makes the most of its fortuitous location in order to source parts from Asian manufacturers. This allows the company to get high-quality components from well-respected factories without shipping them halfway across the world. It also has an in-house design team that knows what watch lovers want, and always strives to satisfy.
Undone Titanium Aquadeep 500 Meters
The Undone Titanium Aquadeep 500 Meters is the result of the above approach to modern watchmaking. With a case made from lightweight grade II titanium, the watch is built tough, and it looks the part. The dark sandblasted gunmetal finish exudes rugged luxury on every faceted edge of the case. It also has an attractive textured gray dial, luminescent hour markers and numerals, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protecting the dial. To top it all off, the watch has a staggering 500 meters of water resistance, so there's no aquatic endeavor it can't handle.
Speaking to the brand's sourcing practices, powering this watch is an impressive Seiko NH35 automatic movement. It's the beating heart of this piece and shows how Undone respects the art of watchmaking and shows respect for the brands who came before it. The display caseback is the cherry on top, allowing you to see the inner workings of the watch through its highly-accurate Japanese movement. This is a watch that shouldn't be ignored, and will get you all the right kind of attention for an unbelievable price.
More microbrand watches
If the Undone Titanium Aquadeep 500 Meters doesn't speak to you, there are lots of other microbrands out there that might just pique your interest. Whether you're a fan of dive watches, dress watches, or everything in between, Amazon is a great place to discover small independent watchmakers who are creating and innovating. Check out our list to see if there's anything you've got the time for.
Vaer DS2 Meridian Black Dive Watch
Boldr Venture Titanium Field Watch
San Martin Automatic Stainless Steel Watch
About Vintage 1960 Racing Chronograph
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Source
Originally published at www.thestreet.com.
