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Independents

Welcome to the forum!

 

Thank you for your post and I know of only one independent who I would thoroughly recommend based on your budget and your 36mm or below size requirement. I have a small wrist too so I can understand the size requirement. Although the Gronefeld Remontoire is 39.5mm, the curved lugs make this watch very wearable even for the smaller wristed folk like us. A Breguet for example at 38mm and the straight lugs would wear larger. The brand I am going to suggest is one that few know about not being Swiss, English, Dutch, French, Austrian or German. They do not use CNC machines are the finishing on their watches is sublime. I am referring to Atelier de Chronometrie which is based in Barcelona and who would make bespoke watches from 34mm onwards using vintage movements.  Attached below is the Adc5 which resembles a vintage Patek.









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16 Comments view entire thread 

Independent Conundrum

 
By: Anirudh : October 24th, 2018-22:42
Hope everyone here is having a spectacular week and so are his/ her watches. Considering buying my first independent after owning a few Patek and Rolex, but I am in a fix and was hoping someone would point me in the right direction though I have tried loo... 

Welcome to the forum!

 
By: sham1 : October 24th, 2018-23:16
Thank you for your post and I know of only one independent who I would thoroughly recommend based on your budget and your 36mm or below size requirement. I have a small wrist too so I can understand the size requirement. Although the Gronefeld Remontoire ...  

I have come across them

 
By: Anirudh : October 24th, 2018-23:22
Love the concept but find the movement finishing to be a little bland. I think I need to try the Gronefeld on the wrist before I count it out completely.

I personally hope to add

 
By: sham1 : October 24th, 2018-23:25
a Gronefeld before the run of 188 remontoires run out towards the end of 2019. You will smile uncontrollably once the watch is on your wrist!!

True!

 
By: sham1 : October 25th, 2018-03:53
But it could be said to define understated elegance.

So sorry!

 
By: sham1 : October 24th, 2018-23:23
Just noticed that you had already mentioned Adc! I missed that. Not many independents would offer watches below 36mm. Try Kikuchi Nakagawa at 36.8mm and which costs about USD20k. Great finishing and he uses a vaucher movement. Extremely limited production...  

As not all watches mentioned are from Independents

 
By: dedestexhes : October 24th, 2018-23:37
You could look at a compromise with the little Lange 1 in platinum? At 36mm and very good movement finish it might still fit the bill? Br, Dirk

Only watch that i can think of right now is the Akrivia RR Chronometre

 
By: Watchonthewrist : October 25th, 2018-00:03
Still a 38 mm watch but it will tick all your wishes imo . I think they are sold out now but maybe there are one or two still available through a AD .

And if you want something really special

 
By: sham1 : October 25th, 2018-00:11
Kari Voutilainen would be happy to make you a Vingt 8 in a 37mm case. He normally does it in 39mm but he has told me that the movement can fit in a 37mm case. The watch below is an example of one with a 37m case where the movement fills up the case back e...  

Kari

 
By: Anirudh : October 25th, 2018-00:52
Do you happen to have an idea what a bespoke order like this would cost? I understand that question is illogical considering the wide range of components that can be customized, but what do these start at?

72000 CHF

 
By: sham1 : October 25th, 2018-00:59
This is the starting price for his range and Kari never changes his prices irrespective of supply and demand.

One of the best undoubtedly

 
By: sham1 : October 25th, 2018-03:53
but I shall place Roger W Smith in at least the same league.