Top American Watch Brands
In this blog site dedicated to the world of watches, we try to comment on every brand and style. As such, we wanted to write about not only Swiss, Japanese, and German watch brands, but also American watch brands that have an important watch history. The watch brands in this article are not as well-known as Swiss watches or as technologically advanced as Japanese watches, but they are important brands worth learning about.
When we take a trip to the history of watches, we will see that America has a rich history of watchmaking. Therefore, in this article, we will try to give you information about the history of American watchmaking and the top 10 American watch brands that are still in production today.
Top 10 Watch Brands Made in America
- Vortic Watches
- Autodromo
- Devon
- Martenero
- Shinola Watches
- Weiss Watches
- RGM
- brew
- Kobold Watches
- Oak & Oscar
American Watchmaking History
European-based manufacturers have long dominated the luxury watch industry, primarily in Switzerland and Germany. The main reasons for this are that some of the great innovations of the watch world, such as the chronograph and tourbillon, were invented in Europe and perfected on Swiss soil.
In the late 19th century, however, the landscape took a very different turn. The United States of America had been industrialized and turned into a workshop, and when these methods were applied to the watch industry, the watch industry was now on a path of no return.
Aron Dennison, David Davis, and Edward Howard decided to found the Waltham Watch Company in Massachusetts and make business plans. Interestingly, the inspiration for this venture came from what they saw when they toured the Springfield Armory. Within this plan, it was planned that each component of the watch would be produced by a separate machine as it would fulfill two separate purposes.
Mechanization of the process and interchangeability of components
American and European Watchmaking
At that time, European watchmakers were procuring all handmade pieces from different places and collecting them under one roof. On the other hand, the company established in America started to process each part in-house and collectively.
Close to the end of the century, Swiss watchmakers started to use similar machines in their own factories. American watch companies were enjoying decades of experience, even though the once-laggard Swiss watchmakers had begun to use the same system.
World War I would be a difficult period for the transition to wristwatches as American manufacturers were not professional and could not adapt to the wristwatch, then the Great Depression would be the next challenge. The final blow to American watchmaking was II. World War II would. Because many factories would have to transform their production to produce materials suitable for war conditions.
Only one American watch company survived the toughest times of the 20th century. The Waterbury Clock Company was later renamed the United States Time Corporation (AKA Timex) and survived mostly because it produced inexpensive products. The staggering popularity of cheap quartz watches took a toll on the industry as many luxury watchmakers closed down in the 70s and 80s.
Top 10 American Watch Brands
Today, luxury watch brands that survived the crisis have managed to regain their popularity. Marketing campaigns make references to ancient heritages and traditions, emphasizing things used in American watchmaking.
Today, there is an ever-increasing demand for American watch brands, and the watch market is now very suitable for the development of American watch brands.
1. Vortic
Of all the American watch brands that we will talk about today, one of the best is Vortic Watches.
The brand initially uses the movements of old American-made pocket watches. The original dials, hands, and mechanisms of these watches are preserved, and all have been re-updated by American watchmakers. The cases of the watches were 3D printed in New Jersey and assembled at the Fort Collins Co. headquarters. Additional components such as the crown button, strap, and case inserts are all American-made.
The Vortic watch brand emphasizes that all its models are unique. This is generally among the biggest claims of almost every brand in the watch world, but Vortic is one of the brands that best fits this description. There is an application on their website that supports these claims. In this web-based application called Watch Builder, you can completely customize your watches and choose the classic mechanisms, case, metal band and strap as you wish. There are also pre-configured and off-the-shelf watch models available in their online store.
2. Autodromo
As the name suggests, Autodromo watches feature designs that are particularly influenced by automobiles. All parts of their watches are designed in-house. It draws attention with its vintage inspirations, minimalist designs, and different model drawings.
The titanium and steel cases of Autodromo watches have sharp edges and are a wonderful combination of sapphire crystals, quiet operation and brilliant dials that look truly outstanding.
3. Devon
If you are bored with standard watch models and want to get rid of uniform models, you do not need to look at any other brand than the Devon watch brand. With its electro-mechanical parts, it is unlike any watch on the market before, and according to the brand’s founder, this is what they have always aimed for.
These different designs, which emerged with the combination of the new generation watch fashion with technology, are also quite remarkable with their 61 mm case.
4. Martenero
Martenero watch, a New York-based watch brand based in Brooklyn, has managed to become a brand that attracts attention and is preferred among small watch companies. The brand, whose motto is “Tradition Renewed”, manages to blend modern watch designs with the centuries-old watchmaking tradition.
The company aims to keep all its models at an accessible price point. With all current models under $1,000, most models from the brand are around $500.
5. Shinola Watches
Like some of the other brands mentioned here, Shinola offers not only wristwatches but also bags and jewelry that are in line with the designs of its watches. The headquarters of the company is located in Detroit.
The Shinola company collaborates with Ronda for the mechanism of its watches. Therefore, it cannot be said that the watches are 100% American made. There are very few American watch brands that will claim this anyway. However, they have been producing durable and trendy watches for years, staying true to their commitment to quality.
6. Weiss
The Weiss watch brand was founded in Los Angeles in 2013 by Cameron Weiss. It is one of the few American watch brands with 100% American production.
However, the Weiss watch brand has similar problems to other American brands. The specific components used in watches are missing from US-based suppliers. It was very difficult to find suppliers due to the recession in the American watch industry and the low demand for these components for years.
The few remaining American watch brands worked with abroad for solutions both for this reason and for reducing costs. Fortunately, lately the American watch industry has started to flourish and all watch components have started to be produced in-country again.
7. RGM
Rolan G. Murphy is an American-born American watchmaker. After being trained in traditional Swiss watchmaking, he started RGM again in 1192. He had a lot of experience restoring watches. Since he started the RGM watch company, Murphy has used everything he knows to help American watchmaking grow. He produced the first American-made mass-produced tourbillion movement with RGM.
RGM has been the first American watch brand to design and manufacture its own movements since the closure of the Hamilton watch brand in 1969. RGM watch models are priced over $2000, but high-end models like the famous Tourbillion are sold at much more special prices.
8. Brew
Brew Watch Company is one of the small watch companies in America. Jonathan Ferrer, the founder and designer of the brand, gets ideas for his models from industrial espresso machines. You can also see this when looking at the chronographs of the models.
Watch cases are in round square profile and are completely steel. Its dials are symmetrical chronographs and are characterized by sub-register indicators, minimalist hour and minute indices.
9. Kobold
The founder of the brand, Michael Kobold, learned watchmaking from master watchmakers in Germany. Kobold’s main purpose here was to make American watchmaking rise again. The evolution of the brand clearly underscores this intention.
In 2004, they revealed their mission with R&D investments. Only 2 years after the work, they managed to launch their first watch models by combining with European components in Pittsburgh. 8 years later, the watch case manufacturing facility was opened for the first time in 50 years in the USA.
The pinnacle of the brand is its use in feature films. Since the Kobold Phantom series was used in Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the brand is now known for dazzling sports watches.
10. Oak & Oscar
Chase Fancher, the founder of Chicago-based Oak & Oscar watches, was dissatisfied with his satisfied job and left to focus on his passion for watch and product design.
His goal was never to produce 100 percent American made watches, but to make high quality and desirable designs, and he succeeded.
Also: Hamilton
It would not be right not to mention Hamilton when describing American watch brands, we would not have fully explained the history of American watchmaking. Even though the American company that made the first Hamilton watches shut down in the late 1960s, the brand was later brought back to life in Switzerland.
Today, all of the Hamilton watch collections are now produced in Switzerland. Although the brand is de facto a Swiss watch brand, it is still possible to see its American heritage in watch designs.
In the late 1800s, Hamilton began making pocket watches that were known for their quality and accuracy. This reputation brought the brand the chance to produce watches for railroad personnel, airmen, and the US armed forces. When wristwatches became popular, the brand shifted its focus to suits.
In the 1930s, thanks to the Hamilton watch models, a long-lasting association would begin between the brand and the movies.
The Hamilton watch brand has managed to steer the industry, especially with its iconic models such as the asymmetrical Ventura and Pulsar, which are considered the world’s first digital electronic watches.
However, especially luxury watch brands, especially with the introduction of cheap quartz watches, had a very difficult time. Very few brands, even very few watch brands in Switzerland, have managed to survive this crisis.
However, at the point reached today, Hamilton is active again and continues its production. The future of the brand looks bright. It still graces the wrists of the most important movie characters in Hollywood blockbusters. He also participates in extreme sports as the official timekeeper of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Hamilton, a well-established American watch brand founded in America, continues its production as a hundred percent Swiss watch brand today. Time will tell if the brand, which is part of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch community, returns to America in the future. However, if we look at the American watch market, which is trying to return to its former glory and has come a long way, its return would not surprise anyone.
It is very important for the industry that America, which has made great contributions to the watch industry, tries to return to the watch market after many years. For this reason, it is extremely important that many American watch brands, which were established recently, continue their production without interruption and do quality work with different designs.
You can also review our website for the Best Watch Brands.
