So, I’ve been digging into this whole Japanese microbrand watch thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I started out just browsing, you know, the usual, checking out what’s hot in the watch world. I stumbled upon some names like Casio, everyone knows them, right? They are from Shibuya, Tokyo, and they started way back in 1946. Their G-Shock is kind of a big deal, but I was looking for something, well, a bit less mainstream.
Then I went down the rabbit hole of searching. I Googled up some other interesting names. And it seemed I’ve heard of a brand called Minase. It was founded by former Seiko guys, or so I read. They make some pretty classy stuff, from what I can see on the screen.
And this got me thinking, are Japanese watches really that good? Turns out, yeah, they are pretty darn good. After those wars, Japanese folks really got their act together when it comes to watch movements. A lot of fancy watchmakers actually use Japanese movements because they’re super reliable. It’s like the secret sauce of the watch world. I also read about this brand KNIS, founded in Kyoto in 2021. They’re all about that Kyoto craftsmanship vibe.
But here’s the tricky part. Lots of these microbrands don’t actually make the watches themselves. They get some factory, usually in Switzerland or China, to do the heavy lifting. But some, like this Minase, Celeste, Melbourne, Mr. Jones, Ocean Crawler, Swiss Watch Company, and Valimor, they put the watches together themselves. It’s like the difference between getting a meal kit and cooking from scratch.
So, I spent a good chunk of time reading about all these brands. I looked at their pictures, trying to get a feel for their style. Some were super minimalist, others were all blinged out. It was a real mixed bag, and it’s not easy choosing from a picture!
Here’s what I’ve found out after all that searching:
- Casio: Everybody knows them, they are kind of the big brand in Japan. They make G-Shock.
- Minase: Founded by ex-Seiko employees, known for elegant designs.
- KNIS: New kid on the block, from Kyoto, focusing on high-quality, Japanese-made watches.
So yeah, that’s my journey into the world of Japanese microbrand watches so far. It’s been fun, a bit overwhelming, but definitely interesting. Still haven’t bought one yet, but I’m getting closer. It’s a tough choice when there are so many cool options out there!