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The world of watchmaking is still dominated by a handful of major players, leaving a niche for smaller independents to flourish.
With their focus on quality and creativity, the best ultra-luxury brand have a unique appeal and are worth paying extra for. A few of the best independent watch brands include Parmigiani Fleurier, Urwerk, Arnold & Son and Ressence.
Parmigiani Fleurier
Parmigiani Fleurier is an independent luxury watch brand that is well known for its highly complicated timepieces. These timepieces are known as Haute Horlogerie and are the pinnacle of watchmaking skill.
Parmigiani Fleurier’s watches are distinguished by their unique aesthetics and complex movements. In addition to its Haute Horlogerie pieces, the brand also produces more affordable timepieces which are still of a high quality.
Urwerk
Urwerk is a Swiss watchmaking company that is well known for its innovative watch designs and its unconventional movement architecture.
The company uses a number of different movement designs, including the patented planetary movement system which allows the watch to be wound without the use of hands. Urwerk also works closely with its own movement designers, Girard-Perregaux, who have produced some of the most unique movement designs available today.
The most recent collaboration between the two brands is the UR-210, which features an innovative in-house movement that was designed by Girard-Perregaux.
Arnold & Son
Arnold & Son is a small company based in the UK that produces high-end watches at an affordable price. The company is a family-owned business that was established back in 1720 and has produced some of the most sought after watches in the world.
Arnold & Son has a number of unique models; some of the most impressive in the collection are the Westminster, which features an alarm function as well as Westminster chimes, and the Grand Complications which contains some of the most complicated movement technology available today.
Ressence
Ressence is a Belgium-based brand that is known for its unique watch designs and its magnetic levitation watch faces. The watches feature a smart technology which uses magnets to lift the hands and hour markers.
The magnetic levitation technology creates a unique design which effectively turns a dial into a sleek glass surface. Ressence’s watches are water resistant up to 30 meters and have a movement which is powered by a conventional battery.
The watch typically needs to be wound every 40 hours, which is an inconvenience for many customers.
Czapek
Czapek is an independent luxury watch company that was established in 2006 and produces a range of high-end timepieces. The company was founded by Jan Czapek, who has a history of watchmaking, having served as head designer at Montblanc and Piaget.
Czapek’s watches are Swiss made and are of a very high quality. Some of the most popular models include the Zenith and the Czapek 10, which is a limited edition timepiece.
Final Thoughts
The world of watchmaking is a very competitive industry and the top
