BEST MICROBRAND WATCHES OF 2026 SO FAR - Under $750!

What is going on everybody, and welcome back to the Shameless Watch Collector. Surprise! I thought this would be a fun curveball to throw at you guys. Here we are working through our best AliExpress watches of 2026 so far series, and then boom, microbrands. But it's been far too long since we've given the quirkiest, most passionate corner of the watch industry its time under the spotlight. And with everyone currently obsessing over a bioceramic pocket watch made by two of the biggest watch companies on the planet, right now feels like a better time than ever. And just like with the AliExpress series, there's no shortage of amazing microbrand watch releases already in 2026. So I'll tell you guys now, there will be a part 2 for this. So if your favorite microbrand release of 2026 isn't on this list, drop it in the comments and maybe it'll be featured in part 2. But let's not waste any more time. Let's take a look at the best microbrand watches of 2026 so far. Let's get into it. Let's start with Dépensable. This is a French brand founded in 2018, and they are very openly built around the overlap between watches and automotive culture, which is also why you guys have mentioned them so many times in the comments during microbrand list videos already. This is exactly the type of stuff I love. They also design and hand assemble their watches in Besançon, which is a historically important French watchmaking city. Their new Allure MonoEye series is one of my favorite Dépensable releases to date. It's a charming retro chronograph with a sector-based construction, where a black circular brushed surface at the center houses a pulsometer scale. But the signature detail here is the MonoEye chronograph display, and it's what makes this piece feel unique. Instead of giving you the usual balanced two-register layout, Dépensable throws the 60-minute counter over on the left side, right where the two dial sections meet. It gives the watch this slightly off-center, motorsport instrument feel without making it look too messy. Around the outside, you get a black circular brushed Array-O with a tachometer scale, so it still has that proper racing chronograph attitude and functionality. And for actual usability, the applied indices, hour hand, and minute hand are all treated with Superluminova C1. This is a 39mm watch with a thickness of 11.5, including the hardened K1 mineral crystal. And the lug-to-lug comes in at 45.8mm. The weight sits at only 68 grams, making this an exceptionally wearable chronograph. You're getting 50 meters of water resistance, a 316L steel case, and your choice between an FKM rubber strap or a racing-style leather strap. There are 5 great dial colors to choose from, all of which deliver that vintage racing energy, with the mint green being my personal favorite. Another thing that is awesome about Dépensable is that their pricing stays reasonable, with this new 2026 watch coming at only $495. Next, let's take a look at Notice. This microbrand really needs no introduction, not only because we've talked about them before on this channel, but because they have become one of the most iconic brands in the entire space. And their new Notice Obscura II introduces a totally new feature into the world of watches, and it's exactly the type of release that reminds me why I love microbrands so much. The Obscura II was designed with beers and cameras in Los Angeles, California, and this is one of those collaborations where the concept is the watch, instead of only being a design element. The whole idea is built around analog photography. This is meant to work as a proper everyday watch, but it also has a real connection to shooting film, being out in the field, traveling with the camera, and using the watch as a functional photography tool. The standout feature is the exposure gauge complication, which is based on the Sunny 16 rule. The Sunny 16 rule is a classic method for estimating exposure without needing a light meter. It gives photographers a practical starting point for matching aperture and shutter speed based on light conditions and film speed. So instead of this being purely decorative or loosely inspired by photography, the watch actually incorporates that exposure logic into the design. It turns that traditional photography principle into something you can reference directly from the wrist. The idea came from Juan Martinez, the founder of beers and cameras, and the concept was first developed more than 5 years ago. It was officially patented in June of 2024, and Notice is the first brand to officially bring this complication to the market. The way it works is pretty cool. You turn the bezel indicator clockwise to match your lens aperture with the corresponding value on the chapter ring, and then you find the ISO marker on the dial ring based on your film speed, with markings for ISO 100 or 200 and ISO 400 or 800. From there, the ISO marker points you towards the corresponding shutter speed on the bezel. So depending on the lighting condition, the watch gives you a suggested shutter speed that you can use to set your camera up and take the perfect shot. The first Obscura was internationally limited to only 100 pieces. Basically as a way to introduce the concept, test the market, and see how people responded. And apparently, people responded pretty well, because now we have the Obscura 2, and it's not limited to 100 pieces. The updates are fairly subtle, but they make sense. Notice removed the beers and camera logo from the dial for a cleaner overall look. The bezel action has been updated to feel smoother, easier to rotate, and more consistent. The dial is now a dark, fumey design, with a grainy texture inspired by film grain. So again, this watch is not randomly photography themed. The concept, the complication, and even the dial texture, all tie back to film. Dimensionally, this is also very wearable. The case is 360L surgical grade stainless steel, with a 38mm case width, a 40mm bezel width, 11.7mm of thickness, and a 47mm lug to lug. So you're getting that compact case size, but with a slightly larger bezel presence. Which makes sense, because the bezel is doing a lot of the functional work here. You also get a screw-down crown, 100 meters of water resistance, a box sapphire crystal with blue anti-reflective coating on the underside, and Swiss Superluminova EGW9 Grid A. The bezel inlay is aluminum, while the bezel grip and crown are made from CU-A15 bronze with a black DLC coating. Which adds another layer of texture and material contrast that shows how carefully Nodus considers every design detail. On the bracelet, you're getting a 20mm to 16mm taper, quick release spring bars, and Nodus' latest extension module clasp. And if you've handled a modern Nodus bracelet, you already know what's up. They pretty much lead the way when it comes to bracelet quality. Inside, the Obscura II uses the TMI NH38 movement, which is the no-date version of the NH movement family. The Obscura II comes in at $650, which really isn't bad for Nodus standards, or for how special and unique this watch feels. It feels like a must-have for photographers who also have a watch obsession. Third on the list, we have Mandep Brode. This is a fairly new company based out of Hong Kong. According to the bio on their website, they are professionals with 20 years of experience in the watch industry, specializing in designing and manufacturing watches for global brands. So I think this is a well-connected team, now making watches for themselves. And their whole thing is unique designs and complications, ones like their new Wandering Hour. A Wandering Hour is another one of those complications that looks way more confusing than it actually is. There are no traditional hour and minute hands. Instead, you have rotating hour discs that carry the hour numerals around the dial. One hour numeral becomes active at a time, and that number travels across the minute scale. So the easiest way to read it is this. Find the hour number that is currently moving along the minute track, then read where that number is pointing. If the number 4 is sitting at the 20 minute mark, it's 420. If the number 9 is halfway between the 30 and the 35, it's about 932. And once that active hour reaches the end of the minute scale, the next hour rotates into position and starts the whole process again from zero. So instead of a minute hand sweeping around the entire dial, the hour itself becomes the pointer. The hour numeral is doing the job of telling you both the hour and the minute. And on the Mandep rote, that is done through what they call a microchain drive complication, built around a Miyota 8215 automatic movement. So underneath all the weirdness, you still have a very familiar Japanese automatic base movement. I think this watch looks larger in images than it actually is, coming in at 41.2 millimeters in diameter and only 12.3 millimeters thick, including the AR coated sapphire crystal, which they also claim is quote unquote ultra scratch resistant. You also have an exhibition sapphire case back showing off that Miyota 8215, along with 50 meters of water resistance, a leather strap, and Swiss superluminova. There's a very wide variety of dial color combinations to choose from, all of which are priced very fairly at only $381, and are all also limited to a production number of only 50. So if you like what you're seeing, check the link below and go now, because a few are already sold out. Let's dial the weirdness back a little and see what RZE has been up to. This Singapore-based brand has made a few appearances on this channel before, and we've even looked at a different variation of this watch. But the Resolute Type A may be the best version of the line yet. This one is inspired by the historic Type A aviation dial, which means instant legibility. You get large Arabic numerals, high contrast minute track, and a lume integrated chapter ring. It has that traditional pilot watch readability, but filtered through RZE's more modern angular design language. The case is solid titanium with RZE's Ultra Hex Coating, which is a big plus. Titanium gives you that amazing lightweight feel on wrist, but the trade-off is that untreated titanium can pick up scratches pretty easily. RZE's Ultra Hex Coating is rated up to 1200 Vickers in hardness, so you get the comfort and weight savings of titanium without the paranoia of hurting it. Dimensionally, this is right in the sweet spot for a modern adventure watch. You're getting a 39.5mm case width, 11.5mm in thickness, and 46mm lug-to-lug. The weight is listed at only 46g without the bracelet, and 99g with the bracelet, so it's as feather-light as you'd expect from titanium. And the specs are what you'd expect from RZE. 100 meters of water resistance, a screw-down crown, sapphire crystal with inner super AR coating, swiss superluminova, a titanium caseback featuring RZE's first display caseback, and a Vitton gasket helping seal the case. Inside is the Miota 82S0 automatic movement. You also have two pricing options. On the TUK TEF Leather Strap, the Resolute Type-A comes in at $499, and if you go for the Hex-Link Titanium Bracelet plus the TEK-TUF Strap, it jumps up to $699. And that does sound like a considerable premium to pay, but I think it is worth considering. RZE describes this as their most articulated and elegant bracelet option to date. You have three color options available here, and the one thing that I always love about RZE is how they are so good at executing classic dial layouts while incorporating their own flair with their unique and bright options like the Medallion Yellow, but you also get those more traditional ones with their own design twists like the Carbon Black and Polaris White. No matter what, you're getting a beautiful piece from one of the most celebrated brands in the microbrand space. Let's check out a few less recognized names, starting with Asazem. This is a Canadian microbrand built around designer-artist Ilou Gadia, and the brand leans heavily into cultural identity, personal story, and watches that are meant to feel more symbolic than purely utilitarian. Their 2026 release is the Enigma, where the idea is centered around people who had to leave something behind and start over somewhere new. So the watch is meant to represent reinvention, identity, and becoming whole again in a place where you once felt unknown. Maybe that's a difficult relationship that you had the courage to leave. Maybe it's a job. Whatever that is to you is what this watch should represent. And visually, the Enigma really leans into that idea of identity and transformation. This is not a generic sports watch. It's not chasing the usual diver, field watch, integrated bracelet, vintage skin diver formula that we see all over the microbrand space. It has a much more formal, sculptural personality. The case is 42.5 millimeters wide, 13.5 millimeters thick with a 49 millimeter lug to lug. So this is definitely a larger watch with real wrist presence. But the shape is interesting. The case has this curved, almost fluid architecture that gives the watch a much more elegant profile than the dimensions may suggest. You're getting a 316L stainless steel case, a double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, an exhibition case back with sapphire crystal and one of the coolest case back designs you will ever see. You also have Swiss lume and 100 meters of water resistance. So while this watch is definitely more emotional and design forward, it passes them and not skimp on the specs. Inside is the Miyota 82S5 automatic movement, which has 21 jewels and a power reserve of around 42 hours. The Enigma comes in a few different executions, including a polished stainless steel version on a bracelet and a leather strap option. You can also choose between a rose gold case or a polished case, with the prices ranging from $756 to $818 Canadian dollars. The bracelet version weighs 152 grams, while the leather strap version comes in at a much lighter 101 grams. So those two options are going to wear fairly differently. This is also a true limited pre-launch release, with only 250 pieces being created per variant. One of them is currently on the way to channel and currently being held at Canadian Customs. Ooh. But make sure you stay tuned for that if this watch looks interesting to you. Let's take a trip to Switzerland and look at Wicked Watch. This is an independent, family-owned Swiss watch brand located near Basel, and in their words, they create small batch mechanical watches with strong lume, distinctive dials, grade 5 titanium and bronze cases, and honest specs. Built in limited runs with no loud marketing, just watches with character. Simple enough. Now let's take a quick look at their brand new Wukong edition chronographs. These are some evil looking, yet elegant and gorgeous special edition chronographs with some really impressive value. This is actually another one that we're about to take an in-depth look at on the channel, courtesy of the Watch Reviewers Collective. So let's just take a quick peek right now. This 38 millimeter chronograph, which is only 11 millimeters thick, including the crystal, comes in two different dial color combinations. One is the Buddha, which is the more red one, while the darker dial is the Demon. Told you it was an evil watch. We'll be taking an in-depth look at the stainless steel case versions, but they did recently open pre-orders for the IP Gold case edition, which also looks incredible. These beauties are powered by the BK64A Mecaquartz chronograph movement, and the specs are right where you'd expect, with materials like domed sapphire crystal with inner AR coating, 316L stainless steel cases, and 50 meters of water resistance. The stainless steel cases are limited to just 540 pieces, and are individually numbered on the case back, a feature I always really love. Those are priced at $470, which I think is really fair, and they're only making 60 each of the Gold IP editions, which were available for $508 on pre-order, but they've already been spoken for. So if you want that one, keep an eye out in the secondary market. Either way, keep your eyes out on the channel as well, because our in-depth look at these exciting chronographs will be releasing very soon. I got one more deep cut for you guys. Let's check out Axon. This is among the newest brands here, and the Erigo is Axon's debut watch. They're an Italian newcomer with an ambitious mission to make more complicated mechanical watches feel accessible to everyday collectors. As an Italian myself, I'm always going to be excited to include new and especially small brands with a real Italian identity. The team is built around Christian Cambio and Tommaso Esposito. Christian is the technical side with a background in mechanical movements, repairs, customization, micromechanics, and luxury sector experience. And they're coming out the gate strong with the Erigo. A calendar style layout with a moon phase, day date, month, and 24-hour indication, all at a price point that blew my mind enough to where I felt compelled to include this watch on the list. At first glance, this looks like a fairly elegant dress watch. You have a 39mm stainless steel case, Roman numerals, a leather strap, and a polished formal design language. But then you look at the dial and realize there is a lot going on here. The layout is split very cleanly. The upper half of the dial handles the calendar information with the day, date, and month windows arranged across the top arc. Then you have the 24-hour display and moon phase adding to the mechanical theater, while the lower half of the dial stays more traditional with applied Roman numerals. That balance is probably the biggest reason this watch works. A lot of affordable, complicated watches can look like the dial was designed by someone trying to solve a true crime case on one of those bulletin boards. The Erigo does have a ton of information, but the layout still feels symmetrical, formal, and intentional. The dialwork itself is also very impressive. Accent describes it as a cold enamel finish made with multiple layers of enamel lacquer, date-controlled, low temperatures, then polished between steps. This delivers a glossy, deep, reflective look that gives the dial a lot of visual richness. You can get it in black or gray, both with Roman numerals. And one little detail that I really like is that the Accent logo at 12 o'clock has a luminous finish. Super cool. For the case, the Erigo uses 360NL stainless steel with a 39mm diameter, 12.2mm thick, and a 45.8mm lug-to-lug. That is a very wearable size. It's not an ultra-thin dress watch, but with this many complications running through a modified automatic movement, 12.2mm thick is very reasonable. Pretty impressive really. You also get sapphire crystal up front, the case back is transparent mineral crystal, and the water resistance is 50 meters, which I think is fine for this style of watch. Inside, the Accent uses a modified Miyota Series 9 automatic movement with 24 jewels, a 28,800 vibration per hour beat rate, and more than 40 hours of power reserve. The standard strap is black buffalo leather with a quick-release and butterfly clasp, with a limited add-on strap option in certified Virtus Big & Leather, made in Italy by Panama Trimmings. They also offer custom laser engraving on that strap option. At a price that comes out to around $700 USD, this is one where the value is truly undeniable. For a debut watch, the Erigo reflects Accent's mission perfectly, and I'm excited to see how this watch does and what they come up with next. Now let's go back to more familiar territory and talk about a microbrand that you better know, Zelos. The winner of the 2025 SWC Microbrand Watch of the Year has not lost an ounce of momentum. I don't think there is a watch brand on the planet that I have to actively avoid looking at more than I do Zelos, or I will sell all my possessions to own every watch they have ever made. Their new Helica editions are a perfect example of a watch that is extremely dangerous to me, as I'm already thinking of ways to somehow afford multiple of these as I read this script. The Helica is Zelos' take on a go-anywhere, do-anything timepiece, which in their words, combines practicality with a touch of flair in a slim sports watch designed for daily adventures. And they are not kidding about the slim part, as both the new 39 and 42 millimeter Helica cases come in at 10.5 millimeters thick and 11.9 with a box sapphire crystal. Zelos' materials and craftsmanship are truly as out of this world as their dial textures, and the specs are always covered. You get 316L stainless steel everywhere, including on the 22 millimeter to 18 millimeter tapered bracelet that includes their brilliant on-the-fly micro-adjustment clasp. You also get 100 meters of water resistance, C3 Superluminova, and BGW9X1. Both the new Helica 39 and 42 are powered by the Miyota 9015 movement, but per usual with Zelos, the story is the dials and textures. I stand by my opinion that no one on the planet does textures as well as Zelos, and the Helica just reinforces my argument with insane options like the Wave Mother of Pearl, Vesper, Galaxy, Mosaic Mother of Pearl, and Kyanite. Okay, I need to stop because I want all of these and I'm just getting sad, but there are others and I literally want all of them. There are just so many textures that are exclusive to only Zelos watches, but whenever I talk about this brand in a video, there are always a handful of comments talking about how they've gotten too pricey over the years. And while I understand the frustration with the increased pricing, to me it feels so much more like how are these ever so cheap than it does why they're so expensive now. Because I feel like the $599 to $629 these are priced at right now is more than fair for everything you get. And as always with this company, if you like what you see, don't wait. These sell out crazy quick and often increase in value on the secondary market. Let's take a quick break from the texture craziness and focus on some more understated tasteful pieces, starting with MD Watches Studio. MD Watches Studio was founded in 2017 by Martin Iglady, who was originally from Kosice, Slovakia, but now calls Cork, Ireland home. So this is a small founder-led Irish micro brand with Slovakia roots and Martin's background is in graphic design, which makes a lot of sense when you look at his watches. The Emerald Isle is the newest release from the brand, and the whole concept is built around originality. MD Watches Studio basically said that in a market full of imitation, they wanted to create something with the actual inspiration behind it. And the Emerald Isle is built around clean, modernist lines, proportion, balance, and restraint. The name Emerald Isle comes from the 18th century Irish poem When Erin First Rose by William Drennan. And the design pulls from Ireland's natural beauty, resilience, cultural harmony, and independence. The case is 316L stainless steel with a 39mm diameter, 47 lug to lug, and 12.4mm of thickness, including the sapphire crystal. So the sizing is right in that modern sweet spot. Compact enough to be wearable, but with enough case presence to support the stronger geometric design. And the case shape is probably one of the biggest reasons this watch stands out. You get flat, brushed surfaces, sweeping, unbroken case sides, integrated lugs that flow directly into the bracelet, and a brushed circular bezel that frames the dial. Then the edges are sharpened up with a very thin chamfer. So the whole thing has this clean, angular, almost architectural look. It's not loud, but it's not plain either. And that's a hard balance to strike. The dial is also where MD Watches Studio gets to show the graphic design side of the company. The Emerald Isle comes in four restrained colors. Shallow Sky, Rain Cloud, Seafoam Zest, and Tangerine Dawn. Each dial uses railway track minute markers, electric blue indices with polished silver borders, and blue and silver dauphine hands. Then at six o'clock, you get a 24-hour sub-dial with a matching blue hand. As someone who also happens to have an extensive background in graphic design, this honestly does weirdly look like a watch designed by a graphic designer. One with an exceptional understanding of minimalism and space. The dial itself is described as a frosted steel, multi-layered dial. And that is the part that gives this watch a more dimensional, premium feeling. Combined with the applied details, polished accents, and blue hands, it gives the Emerald Isle a very crisp, modern, and slightly dressy personality. Inside is the Miyota 9132, which is a premium automatic movement from Miyota's 9000 series family. For the rest of the package, you get a dome sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, a screw-down exhibition case back with sapphire crystal, and the watch comes on a tapered, integrated stainless steel H-Link bracelet with quick-release spring bars. An MD Watches Studio also includes a leather strap in the color of your choice, which is a nice touch that I always appreciate. The leather strap options have a soft brushed finish with a very subtle bamboo pattern, and they come in several colors. The Emerald Isle is currently on pre-order at a launch price of around $514 USD, with a future retail price listed at around $631. Estimated delivery is June to July of 2026. And at that price, this is a very tempting pre-order, with the materials to justify it and a design that is outwardly and proudly original while staying very tasteful. Let's wrap part one of this list up with more minimalist beauty and Tangents. Tangents is a Danish macro brand founded in 2023, where the design language really is the entire story of the brand itself. Their watches are built around retro shapes, clean geometry, and the idea of taking familiar designs from past decades and making them feel more modern, minimal, and more Danish. Even the name Tangents comes from geometry. A tangent is a line that touches a curve at a single point, and the brand uses that idea as a metaphor for connection, balance, and the small moments that shape our lives. Very poetic. Thankfully, the watch itself is much easier to explain. The new Composition Automatic is Tangents' first automatic watch, and it takes their original Composition design and levels it up with a mechanical movement, a slimmer profile, and a more refined 38mm case. This is a 70s-inspired integrated sports watch, featuring a case with sharp geometric angles, flat brushed surfaces, and a clean architectural profile. This is not a loud watch, and it's not trying to win you over with some insane dial or crazy texture. It's much more about proportion, geometry, and wearability. The case is 38mm in diameter, only 10.45 thick, with a 45.5 lug-to-lug. You're also getting a 316L stainless steel case with 3-part construction, 100 meters of water resistance, and a sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating. And for lume, you have Swiss Superluminova BGW9. The bracelet is also a 316L stainless steel, and follows the same angular design language as the case, which helps the whole watch feel very cohesive. It tapers from 20mm at the lugs, 18mm at the clasp, and uses quick-release spring bars, and closes with a butterfly clasp. The dial is where Tangents keeps things very minimal. You get simple markers, clean branding, and a layout that stays calm. There are three color options, matte steel, juniper green, and bright white. The bright white and juniper green versions use a coarse, degradé, and sandblasted finish, while the matte steel version gets a brushed dial. So there is some texture and visual depth here, but it's handled in a very restrained way. Inside is another premium Miyota movement, this time the 9039, which gives you 24 jewels and around 42 hours of power reserve, while helping keep the watch slimmer, cleaner, and more refined. You also get a transparent case back, so you can see that movement work inside. The Composition Automatic is listed at $509, which is exactly what you'd expect for a premium automatic movement, proper specs, and intentional design. Thank you guys so much for watching this video. I hope it was a fun surprise for all of you who love microbrands as much as I do. These microbrand videos are always so much fun to make, and I'll make sure there are more of them on the channel going forward. These are all such easy watches to fall in love with, and I'm such a sucker for the stories behind them. Thank you all again for recently helping this channel hit 5,000 subscribers. The support means more to me than I could ever explain. I'm about to get to work on the 5,000 subscriber special video, where we will also be giving away a free watch. So make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss that or any of the other several videos coming up. Don't forget to drop your 2026 microbrand recommendations for part 2, and I'll see you all again very very soon. But until then, Shameless Watch Collector signing out. And always remember, it's not that serious.