Second Hour
Second Hour is an independent Australian watch brand founded in Melbourne in 2019 by husband-and-wife duo Peter and Akira Sargison. The brand is recognized for its commitment to original, in-house design and the use of high-quality materials, such as Swiss and Japanese movements and scratch-resistant surface hardening treatments. Their debut release, the Gin Clear Diver, was a significant success on Kickstarter, leading to a diverse collection that includes the Mandala sports dress watch, characterized by its intricate guilloché-patterned dial, and the Sattelberg field watch series. Other notable models include the Giant Stride dual-crown diver, the Art Deco-inspired Memoir, and the Fusion, which integrates design elements from the Sattelberg and Mandala lines. By overseeing the complete lifecycle of their timepieces—from initial design to final quality control—Second Hour has established a reputation for delivering exceptional value and distinct aesthetic identity within the global microbrand community.
Ocean to Orbit
Ocean to Orbit is an independent Australian watch brand founded in 2020 by former automotive designers David Dewitt and Siddhartha Kazami. Based in Melbourne, the brand focuses on creating purpose-built, “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” (GADA) timepieces that blend 1950s explorer watch aesthetics with modern Swiss engineering. Their flagship model, the Lhotse, features a 38.5mm stainless steel case, a box-domed sapphire crystal, and is powered by the Swiss-made STP 1-21 automatic movement. The collection includes several variations such as the Classic Steel, Blue Steel, Mission Green, and the Heritage model with gilt accents, alongside specialized editions like the Lhotse x WEM. Notably, the brand’s design language incorporates subtle aerospace motifs, with hands shaped to resemble rockets and re-entry capsules, reflecting their mission to create watches capable of performing from the ocean to orbit.
Melbourne Watch Company
Melbourne Watch Company is an Australian microbrand established in 2013 by Sujain Krishnan, a former IT consultant who transitioned from hand-assembling custom homage pieces to creating original designs. Based in Melbourne, the brand focuses on producing accessible, high-specification timepieces that bridge the gap between entry-level fashion watches and high-end Swiss luxury brands. Their catalog is characterized by a “business-casual” aesthetic, with collections often named after iconic locations in Melbourne. Key pieces include the Flinders, the brand’s debut dress watch featuring a slim profile and Miyota 9015 movement; the Portsea, a nautical-themed calendar watch known for its multi-layered ceramic dial; and the Sorrento, a “dress-diver” that combines 200m water resistance with a refined ceramic dial and wave-textured bezel. Other notable models include the Collins, a minimalist dress watch, and the aviation-inspired Hawthorn. Each timepiece is designed locally, with assembly and servicing handled at their workshop in Carlton to ensure quality control while maintaining an affordable price point for enthusiasts.
Bausele
Bausele is an Australian watch brand founded in 2011 by Christophe Hoppe, a Swiss native who sought to combine Swiss horological precision with Australian design and identity. The brand’s name stands for “Beyond Australian Elements,” a philosophy reflected in their signature feature: a hollow crown containing a physical piece of Australia, such as sand from Bondi Beach or red earth from the Outback. Bausele has achieved significant recognition as the first Australian brand invited to Baselworld and through high-profile collaborations with the Royal Australian Air Force and the Sydney Opera House. Their collection includes the OceanMoon, a robust dive watch designed for maritime environments; the Terra Australis, which features a proprietary lightweight ceramic-steel composite called Bauselite; and military-inspired models like the Pilot Automatic and the Classic Field. These timepieces typically utilize Swiss-made movements and are designed to be versatile, often featuring interchangeable straps to transition from outdoor activities to formal settings.