The Micro Collector

Jack Mason's story is one of the most fascinating evolutions in American independent watchmaking. What began as a brand built for the traditional retail world successfully evolved alongside the modern microbrand movement by recognizing the shift toward direct-to-consumer, enthusiast-driven watch collecting—and having the conviction to completely rethink the business. In this episode of The Micro C...

Serica has become one of the most respected names in independent watchmaking, creating watches that combine the rugged capability of true tool watches with a level of elegance and refinement that feels completely their own. In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with co-founders Jérôme Burgert and Gabriel Vachette to discuss how they built Serica from the ground up, the philosophy behi...

What happens when an IT consultant decides to follow his passion and build watches for explorers, adventurers, and military professionals? In this episode of The Micro Collector, Justin Dorfman sits down with Michael Happé, founder of Gavox, to discuss his journey from IT consultant to watchmaker, the aviation roots that inspired the brand, and how Gavox became a trusted partner for military and a...

Farer has built a reputation for taking classic watch genres — GMTs, world timers, moonphases, divers, chronographs, and pilot’s watches — and making them feel fresh through bold color, texture, materials, and thoughtful design. In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by James Mulvale, Content and Communications Manager at Farer, to discuss the story behind the brand, its design philoso...

What’s really happening inside the watch industry? In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Daniel Malins, CEO of Watch Insider, a media platform focused on the business side of the watch industry. Daniel shares his perspective on the current state of the watch market, the rise of microbrands and independent watchmakers, why collectors are increasingly embracing smaller brands, and...

Most watch brands start by looking at what's already successful in the market. pOrtahl started with a different question: What watches are collectors missing? In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Jordi van Staveren and Alain van den Donk, co-founders of pOrtahl, to discuss how two marketers with no formal watch design background built a microbrand around creating "the watches yo...

Singapore has quietly become one of the most exciting hotspots in the world for microbrand and independent watches — and few people have played a bigger role in that rise than Lim Yong Keong (YK) of Feynman Timekeepers. In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with YK to talk about his journey from watch collector to founder, the inspiration behind Feynman Timekeepers, and the stories be...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Steven Lee, Founder of DuFrane Watches — an Austin-based independent watch brand known for its thoughtful designs, small-batch production, and hands-on approach to watchmaking. We discuss Steven’s unconventional journey from pilot and software sales into watchmaking, how trips through Europe studying independent brands inspired him to start DuF...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Thomas Brissiaud, Founder of Tessé Watches, to discuss his journey from chef to watch founder, his fascination with 1970s watchmaking, and how Tessé has developed one of the most distinctive design languages in the microbrand space. We also dive into Swiss manufacturing, the challenges of achieving high-end finishing as a microbrand, and what...

Jonathan Ferrer, founder of Brew Watches, joins The Micro Collector to share the full story behind one of the most recognizable microbrand watch companies today. What started as a creative experiment—designing a watch inspired by café culture—has grown into a globally recognized brand with a distinct design language and a deeply engaged community. In this conversation, we explore Jonathan’s journe...

If you’ve been following the microbrand and independent watch space, you’ve likely come across Formex. From their signature case suspension system to their on-the-fly micro-adjust clasps and innovative use of materials, Formex has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of watchmaking—while staying accessible. In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Markus Wälchli (Brand Dire...

What does it take to go from watch enthusiast to microbrand founder? In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Ryan Walker, founder of JWalker—a brand inspired by naval history, Art Deco design, and a deeply personal connection to his father, whose name the brand carries. While researching naval history, Ryan came across a gold Waltham watch tied to the only enlisted submariner to re...

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Tran, Co-Founder of Clicky Bezel—a San Francisco-based watch store specializing in microbrands, independents, and vintage pieces. Chris shares his journey from YouTube creator to opening one of the few physical retail spaces specializing in microbrand watches. We dive into the rise of microbrands, what makes them so compelling, and why a hands-on retail exper...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Yu Ando, Founder of AndoAndoAndo—one of the most creative and original voices in the microbrand watch world. From his beginnings in Japan as an artist and designer to building a watch brand known for bold, distinctive designs, Yu shares the full journey behind his work—including the realities of launching a watch brand, navigating a failed cr...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Adam Hodge, founder of Farr + Swit, to explore how a microbrand evolves—from classic watch design to bold, creative breakouts that define a brand. What started with more traditional pieces like The Seaplane gradually expanded into something much more distinctive—through experimentation, risk-taking, and a willingness to follow ideas that didn...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with James Williams, founder of Canuck Timepieces, to unpack his journey from watch enthusiast to microbrand founder—and why community and collaboration sit at the core of everything he builds. From assembling watches with off-the-shelf parts to launching a brand rooted in partnerships, storytelling, and a distinctly Canadian philosophy of “unity,...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, Justin Dorfman sits down with Jayson De Castro, co-founder of Flux and Valour, to unpack how a simple community chat turned into two emerging microbrand watches. What started as a conversation between enthusiasts quickly evolved into a partnership — and eventually the creation of two distinct independent watch brands. Jayson shares his journey from collector...

Giuseppe Marasco, also known as MrWatch93, joins The Micro Collector to share how his passion for watches led him to create the Microbrands Book series — one of the most thoughtful resources dedicated to microbrand and independent watchmaking. In this conversation, Giuseppe talks about how he first got into watches, why the COVID period became such an important creative turning point, and what ins...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Jérémy Griozel, Founder of Oscar Havane. Jérémy shares how he went from buying his first mechanical watch in 2024 to assembling watches from parts—and ultimately launching his own microbrand. We do a deep dive into Jungle Night, his debut pilot-inspired watch with a tropical rainforest theme (including the design choices and specs), and then zo...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Ed Margulies — a third-generation watchmaker whose journey spans the highest levels of the watch industry and a very personal turning point that shaped what he chose to build next. Ed trained in Switzerland, worked at the Longines factory in Saint-Imier, and helped distribute brands including Vacheron Constantin, Blancpain, Girard-Perregaux,...

Great microbrand watches don’t need ads—they need obsession with the product. In this episode of The Micro Collector, Justin Dorfman sits down with Scott Lancaster, Founder of Emerton Scott, to break down how he built the Evermont by prioritizing the watch itself (finishing, details, design intent) over paid marketing—and how “building in public” on YouTube became the real growth engine. We cover...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Tommaso Esposito, Co-Founder of Axon Watches — an emerging independent watch brand on a mission to make grand complications accessible to everyday collectors. Tommaso shares the journey from watch enthusiast to founder, and walks through the real process of building a modern microbrand watch from the ground up. We dig into everything from early...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I sit down with Phillip Plimmer, founder of Alternative Symmetry, to explore how modular design and sustainability are reshaping what modern microbrand watches can be. Phillip brings more than 22 years of experience designing watches for major global brands before launching his own independent watch brand—one built around modular components, sustainable mate...

In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Ryan LeClair, Founder of Makoto Watch Company, for a deeply personal conversation about passion, craftsmanship, and building a microbrand with meaning. Ryan shares his journey from lifelong watch collector and furniture designer to launching Makoto—a brand inspired by Japanese culture, respect for detail, and enduring design. We talk about the...

Welcome to The Micro Collector. In this short introduction, host Justin Dorfman shares the thinking behind the podcast and what it sets out to explore. After a lifetime as a watch enthusiast and collector, Justin became increasingly drawn to the world of microbrand watches—independent, founder-led watch companies producing limited-quantity timepieces outside the traditional luxury system. While mi...