Independent watchmakers have seen a surge in popularity over the past decade, and a lot of the time they bring something a little different to the world of luxury. Chinese horology has also been having a moment, with more new brands bringing exciting and fresh takes on high-end watchmaking than ever before–so we've rounded up the five best Chinese microbrands that we think are worth checking out this year.
Founded by two Frenchmen in China, Atelier Wen unites French and Chinese design philosophies and artisanship. The brand uses watchmaking to celebrate China's culture and traditions, while also aiming to push Chinese horology further into the mainstream, in a world of luxury watches still dominated by European (especially Swiss) design.
Behrens is a young and exciting Chinese watchmaker, founded in 2012 in Shenzhen. Awareness of the brand skyrocketed in 2023, after a collaboration with artist Konstantin Chaykin. The partnership produced the 'Joker' watch, which quickly became a collectors' favourite, and later the 'Ace of Hearts' that also features a similarly playful design.
There's a new 'moon watch' on the market, and this time it's by Chinese microbrand CIGA Design. Only founded ten years ago, the brand has quickly established itself as an industry trailblazer pushing the boundaries of design, all the while offering exciting pieces that won't break the bank completely. A great example is the 'Aventur' collection, which all feature either the Earth or Moon at the centre of the dial.
Celadon's motto is 'Made in China, With Pride', and the brand champions artistry in all ways. Many of the pieces feature dial designs inspired by paintings and other works of art, and the watchmaker takes just as much pride in the mechanical quality as it does in the visual side of its designs.
While a lot of microbrands that spearhead artistry and design in the watch world offer watches with more premium price tags, Huasuo is committed to keeping things relatively affordable, with pieces that start from around SGD600.
