Viribus Unitis
Viribus Unitis is an independent Austrian watch brand founded in 2017 by Thomas Hiden and based in the Vienna Woods. The brand draws heavy inspiration from the military history of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, with its name referencing the motto of Emperor Franz Joseph I and a famous WWI dreadnought battleship. Their timepieces are characterized by a modern vintage aesthetic and are organized into thematic collections—Airborne, Land Bound, and the forthcoming Seaborne—utilizing materials such as 316L stainless steel, bronze, and titanium. Key pieces include the Airborne series, which features designs like the A11 and 153.52 inspired by historical military aircraft and pilots such as Godwin von Brumowski, and the Land Bound series, which includes the IR27 field watch. These watches often feature sandwich dials, sapphire crystals, and reliable mechanical movements from manufacturers like Sellita, Miyota, and STP, with a distinct emphasis on individualized, built-to-order manufacturing.
Habring²
Habring² is an independent Austrian watch brand founded in 2004 by the husband-and-wife team of Richard and Maria Kristina Habring, based in Völkermarkt. Richard Habring, a highly accomplished watchmaker formerly of IWC and A. Lange & Söhne, is renowned for developing the Doppelchronograph (split-seconds) mechanism, a technical expertise that remains a cornerstone of the brand’s identity. Habring² is characterized by its “honest watchmaking” philosophy, focusing on technical ingenuity and modular complications rather than marketing hype. A pivotal milestone for the brand was the 2014 introduction of the Felix, which featured their first fully in-house developed movement, the Caliber A11. Their collection is defined by clever complications, including the Erwin, which features a jumping seconds (dead-beat) mechanism, and the COS (Crown Operation System) chronograph, which allows for full chronograph control solely through the crown. Other notable pieces include the Doppel 38, a continuation of Richard’s split-seconds legacy, and the Chrono-Felix Top-Second, which incorporates a unique flashing red dot indicator. The brand’s commitment to quality has been recognized by the horological community with multiple Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) awards.
11i11 Saat
11i11 Saat is an independent watch brand based in Vienna, Austria, founded by Petar Kajevski with a design philosophy centered on atypical aesthetics and functional innovation. The brand is distinguished by its unique approach to horology, notably incorporating the watch crown into the dial design at the 8 o’clock position to form part of an index and serve as an analog reminder. Its flagship collection, the KoC-M1 (King of Crowns), features a distinctive dial layout that references the time 11:11 through specialized hour and minute indices. These timepieces are available in both Swiss-made mechanical automatic versions, utilizing the large-diameter Sellita SW400-1 movement to accommodate a custom peripheral date window at 5 o’clock, and more accessible quartz models. The brand emphasizes high-quality construction and customization, offering a wide range of strap options from Austrian manufacturer Hirsch and mesh bracelets from Germany’s Staib.
Aethelsohn
Aethelsohn is a Hong Kong-based microbrand that specializes in accessible timepieces defined by highly textured and artisanal dials. The brand is best known for its Shard series, which features multi-layered, 3D-stamped patterns in various colors such as Blue, Crimson, Turquoise, and Amethyst, often compared to high-end luxury designs. Their catalog also includes the Horizon Voyager collection and the Horizon GMT, which utilize reliable automatic movements like the PT5000 and NH34. Aethelsohn emphasizes value-driven specifications, incorporating box-domed sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating, 316L stainless steel cases, and unique dial materials including natural stone and organic oxidation patinas.