The Eras Tour: Timeless Timepieces from Our Favorite Independent Brands
Our top five indie releases that capture the essence of summer memories while creating powerful new ones.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
We were putting together a weekend at the beach playlist when we realized that many of our favorite summer songs carry a certain amount of nostalgia. Whether they are actual throwback tracks like Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” or more recent tunes, like Frank Ocean’s “Pink + White,” many classic summer bops are by independent musicians.
We at Watchonista support independent watchmakers for the same reasons we like to highlight independent musicians, designers, restaurants, and filmmakers: these creators often make life more interesting with their unique takes.
It fosters innovation (which we need to keep the passion in our community alive) and makes us feel more like a tastemaker than a trend follower. More importantly, it provides a platform for indie releases, each with its own personality.
Plus, we couldn’t help but notice that several indie releases from the past month or two have an unmistakable tinge of nostalgia about them. So, since it’s summer, we thought it was time to give some recent indie announcements a day in the sun!
Furlan Marri Disco Volante
We’ve written about why Furlan Marri is one of the most exciting indie brands. However, with the recent launch of the permanent Disco Volante sub-collection, we think watchmakers Andrea Furlan and Hamad Al Marri have found their groove.
Part of the brand’s Mechanical collection, these timepieces are a stylish mash-up of Art Deco elegance and futuristic flair (which makes sense considering “disco volante” is Italian for “flying saucer”). Plus, the perfectly round (dare we say dish-like) 38mm case is wonderfully complemented by its hidden lugs and integrated crown.
Yet, despite its retro appeal (something for which many enthusiasts will happily pay a premium), what makes the Disco Volante models ideal for summer is their sensibility and, thus, versatility. The fluid shape lends it a jewelry-like look that doesn’t break the bank but is perfect for taking it from a lunch at the Cap d’Antibes to a night of dancing at a chic French disco.
These three references – the Disco Havana (in shades of salmon and brown), Disco Celeste (with a clean blue and white colorway), and the Disco Verde (sporting a neo-classic green and cream color scheme) – are priced at CHF 2,500.
Nivada Grenchen x Ocarat Antarctic Spider Green
We love a good revival, but so does Nivada Grenchen’s Guillaume Laidet (we even spoke to Laidet about bringing micro-brand energy to historic timepieces in 2022). That is why we’re thrilled by Nivada Grenchen’s recent collaborative release with French jeweler Ocarat.
Dubbed the Montre Antarctic Spider Green Nivada x Ocarat, We can see wearing this 1970s-style watch with some aviators and a light corduroy jacket (for those cooler, late summer nights).
This 38mm beauty, sporting an unusual greenish-teal finish that cannot be described as anything but “pleasing to the eye,” is not for the wallflowers among us. Plus, its creamy Super-LumiNova makes it stand out even further.
Fun Fact: The “Spider” moniker refers to its retro-chic unique sector dial that resembles a spider’s web, which can also be found on the recent Antarctic Spider 35mm models ($850) released at the end of June.
The watch is limited to 50 pieces and is available for pre-order on Ocarat’s website (with delivery in September) for €1,090.
Singer Reimagined 1969 Chronograph and 1969 Timer
Watchonista first sat down with the Singer Reimagined team in 2017 to discuss how the brand is an unabashed love letter to 1960s and ‘70s aesthetics. It makes us feel good that the California-based maison is still thriving while staying true to its mid-century design principles.
In July, Singer Reimagined announced that six new bi-color beauties would join their black-dialed brethren of the 1969 line, with two references added to the “1969 Chronograph” line and two references added to the “1969 Timer” sub-family.
These chronographs and timers come in 40mm cases made from either stainless steel (with a sun-brushed silver-colored dial) or bronze (with a velvety matte green dial). The reimagined part is that these editions were not based on any archival piece. Rather, they were designed with the zeitgeist of the era in mind.
Both models feature tonneau-shaped cases with domed glass-box sapphire crystals, exhibition casebacks, and an impressive 72 hours of power reserve. The 1969 Chronograph also has an extra pusher at 10 o’clock and a unique minute display at the six o’clock position featuring a pair of rotating dials to display the watch’s 60-hour chronograph.
The Singer Reimagined 1969 Chronograph is priced at $62,042, while the 1969 Timer is $36,661. Both have a limited production run in 2024 of only 25 pieces.
The Urwerk UR-100 LightSpeed
Not everybody shares the same idea about what a summer watch is supposed to be. Likewise, there is no universal definition for what retro means. That is why we’re longtime fans of Urwerk’s esoteric UR-Satellite line.
We especially like the UR-100 LS, or LightSpeed, which debuted last February: It is a contemplation on time and space, going back millennia, not mere decades, for inspiration.
The architecture of this watch’s industrial 54-layer black carbon case, measuring 43mm wide, 51.73mm long, and 14.55mm thick, evokes a kind of retro-futurism – the kind of tomorrow we were promised in the science fiction of our youth.
So, while, yes, technically speaking, the UR-100 LS isn’t a summer release, what makes it summery, and therefore worthy of this list, is that its water resistance improved from 30 meters to 50 meters, and it comes on a delightful red textured rubber strap.
Perfect for the beach punk in you, the Urwerk UR-100 LightSpeed retails for CHF 65,000.
Fears Brunswick “Aurora”
Even though the British brand Fears has been around since 1846, the Brunswick “Aurora” is the maison’s first mother-of-pearl dial.
The face recalls classic two-tone displays from the 1940s but is ingeniously crafted from two sections of MOP that are cut to different lengths. Each piece is then hand-tinted to give it a calming blue-sky vibe.
Other old-timey touches include milled and hand-applied numeral indices and the bespoke “Edwin” typeset of the diamond-polished, rhodium-plated numerals.
As we said, there are many ways to create a heritage mood, and the classic look of this simple timepiece would not feel out of place on the lawn of an English Country House (or on the wrist of an artist with a studio in the American Southwest.
Available now, the Brunswick “Aurora” from Fears is priced at $4,050.