Best microbrands for ladies

Wear whatever you want.
That’s the mantra of the watch world, and although very true, it isn’t terribly helpful. Sometimes having some guidance of where to start and what may be good safe bet when ordering blind online can be helpful.

Although this list could quite of easily been called ‘Best microbrands for small wrists’, what I have also tried to include are watches that are designed by, made by or inspired by ladies.

My main criteria for a brand being on this list is that the lug to lug of the watch they offer is less than 45mm, that they offer watches in sizes 38mm diameter and less, and that they ideally have a range of watches that fit this criteria (there is nothing more annoyed that falling in love with a brands designs, only to discover they only appear to wish to make watches for Arnold Schwarzenegger).

I have chosen the 38x45mm sizing because I think that is the upper limit of watch is ‘a safe bet’ for most women.

At 5.75 inches I have the average size ladies wrist, and 38x45mm looks great, as does anything smaller.

That’s the mantra of the watch world, and although very true, it isn’t terribly helpful. Sometimes having some guidance of where to start and what may be good safe bet when ordering blind online can be helpful.

Although this list could quite of easily been called ‘Best microbrands for small wrists’, what I have also tried to include are watches that are designed by, made by or inspired by ladies.

My main criteria for a brand being on this list is that the lug to lug of the watch they offer is less than 45mm, that they offer watches in sizes 38mm diameter and less, and that they ideally have a range of watches that fit this criteria (there is nothing more annoyed that falling in love with a brands designs, only to discover they only appear to wish to make watches for Arnold Schwarzenegger).

I have chosen the 38x45mm sizing because I think that is the upper limit of watch is ‘a safe bet’ for most women.

At 5.75 inches I have the average size ladies wrist, and 38x45mm looks great, as does anything smaller. Use this information as a guide for your own wrist. If yours is bigger then you will be able to comfortably wear bigger watches, if its smaller then you may prefer to go for watches with a shorter lug to lug than ones I have recommended here.

I absolutely wear bigger watches, with 45x53mm being my max, but I would say going bigger than 38x45mm is a bolder look and usually a less comfortable fit.

Remember, the lug to lug measurement is king. We can all wear a watch with a big diameter as long as the lug to lug measurement is reasonable.

Before we start, I am not affiliated with any of these brands, nobody pays me anything (sadly!). I simply recommend what I myself have had good experiences with or watches I hear great things about from the watch community.

I have tried to include a range of styles, complications and price points in our list today.

1. Farer

https://farer.com/
A well loved British microbrand that has a wide range of styles and sizes in its catalogue. Of particular interest are the Lander Kano GMT, which has a wonderfully compact size of 36mm with a lug to lug of just 41.2mm. Also the Stanhope II, although a little bigger on the diameter at 38.5, it does still have a compact lug to lug of 41mm, keeping it very wearable. The beauty of the Stanhope is that it is named after Lady Hester Stanhope

From the Farer website: “Lady Hester Stanhope , dubbed ‘one of the most pioneering women in history’. Born in 1776, the English socialite and adventurer blazed a horse trail across the Middle East, a century before TE Lawrence, and her exploits were celebrated by writers and artists including George Eliot, James Joyce, Picasso and WH Auden. Lady Hester’s archaeological expedition to Ashkelon in 1815 is considered the first modern excavation in the history of Holy Land archaeology.”

Prices £900 – 2200

LANDER KANO 36mm – 36mm diameter, 41.2mm lug-to-lug

STANHOPE II – 38.5mm diameter, 43.8mm lug to lug

SWANN – 39mm diameter, 45mm lug-to-lug

ROCHÉ – 39mm diameter, 45mm lug-to-lug

2. Brew

https://www.brew-watches.com/
This American microbrand, styled around the coffee brewing experience, scores big points for the fact that it’s entire range is highly wearable for ladies. With case diameters around 36-38mm, but more importantly lug to lugs of 41.5mm, smaller wrists can comfortably wear anything in their catalogue.

Prices around $400

Metric – 36MM diameter, 41.5MM lug to lug

Method – 38MM diameter, 41.5MM lug to lug

Retrograph – 38MM diameter, 41.5MM lug to lug

3. Lorier

https://www.lorierwatches.com/
Packed full of vintage style goodness, this microbrand was founded by a husband and wife team in New York. The fine ladies influence is obvious in the numerous pieces in their range which suit the smaller wrist.

Prices $500 – 800

FALCON
SERIES III
36mm diameter, 44mm lug-to-lug

ASTRA
36mm diameter, 44mm lug-to-lug

ZEPHYR
31mm diameter (similar fit to a round 35mm) 42mm lug-to-lug

4. Baltany

https://baltanywatch.com/en-gb
If affordable retro style watches are what you’re after then you should absolutely be checking out Baltany. A big chunk of their collection is in 36mm cases with lug to lugs 44mm and under, as well as a choice of automatics and quartz.

Price $99 – 189

Automatic military field
36mm diameter, 43mm lug to lug

Vintage Bubbleback
36mm diameter, 44mm lug to lug

Vintage small seconds Seagull mechanical
36mm diameter, 44mm lug to lug

5. Norqain

https://www.norqain.com
One of the few microbrands with a line of watches specifically aimed at ladies. The rugged Adventure Sport range comes in at 37mm and 44mm lug to lug and in a good selection of colours.

Price £1800 – £3500

Adventure sport
37 mm diameter, 44 mm lug to lug

6. Nivada

https://nivadagrenchenofficial.com/
Although they don’t offer anything in the 36mm size, and their lug to lug measurements come in at the top end of my search criteria today at 45mm, they are still very wearable watches for ladies, probably due to the down turn of the lugs.

The photo I showed you earlier is me wearing my husband’s Super Antarctic.

I have also included their Broad Arrow model in this list, with it being a nice 38mm chronograph, though do bear in mind the lug to lug is slightly larger at 46.5mm

Price $750-1750

Super Antarctic – 38mm diameter, 45mm lug to lug

Broad arrow manual – 38mm diameter, 46.5 lug to lug

Antarctic Spider – 38 diameter, 45 lug to lug

7. StudioUnderd0g

https://underd0g.com/
These guys get big props for the fact that their entire range of watches have a lug to lug of 44.5mm. So even though there case size is 38.5mm, smaller wrists can still pull off their watches. Plus their colour choice is supreme!

Price £500

10. Moels and co.

https://moelsandco.com/
An award-winning design by a very talented lady. They only have the one design but it does come in a multitude of colours. You may think the watch would be massive, given the diameter of of 45mm, but as discussed, lug to lug is king, and at 33mm it is eminently wearable.

Price £820-1000

Case Size: 45mm diameter, 33mm lug to lug

11. Bedat and co.

http://bedat.com/
A brand that I rarely, if ever, see discussed on the watch forums because they are a luxury swiss brand that makes watches purely for ladies. A more classic feminine aesthetic with hits of Cartier but still it’s own thing. The company was founded and is run by one of the top ladies in the world of luxury swiss watch making.

“After a Lifetime in the Swiss watch-making industry watching 50% of the world’s population being ignored, I decided to do something. BEDAT & CO was that something; a luxury timepiece brand founded by a woman for women.” – Mme Simone Bédat, Founder of BEDAT & CO GENEVE

Price £2000 – 8000

12. 47zero

https://47zero.com/
A beautifully different range of watch designs which bring something different and unique to the microbrand watch world. The winning move from 47zero is that they make all of their designs in both 36mm and 39mm, making them wonderfully accessible.

Price €900 – 1200

Case diameter: 36 mm, lug to lug 45mm

Honourable mentions:

1. Baltic

https://baltic-watches.com/en
Definitely a favourite of mine, and they could have been a contender for one of the top spots, given that their highly converted MR01 is only 36mm diameter with a lug to lug of 44mm. However the rest of their collection remains on the larger size for many ladies. Although deimeters are generally less than 40mm, the lug to lugs are prohibitive.

Price €550 – 1600

MR01
Case diameter: 36mm
Lug to lug: 44mm

Bicompax
Case diameter: 38mm
Lug to lug: 47mm

2. Formex

https://formexwatch.com/
Similar to Baltic, Forex are at the end of this list due to being a very formidable microbrand, but with only one watch within our sizing limits for today, it misses out on the main list.

Price £1400+

Essence 39
Diameter: 39mm
Lug-to-lug: 45mm

3. Maen

https://www.maenwatches.com/
With a name taken from the old Dutch spelling of Moon, Maen watches make the runner up list due to all of their watches being in the 36-38mm range, though sadly all with lug to lug measurements of 46+mm.

Price €640 – 800

Brooklyn 36 – Triple Calendar – 36mm diameter, 46mm lug to lug

This list is far from exhaustive so I may add to it as time goes on, but for now, happy watch hunting!