Clemence Watches is a British independent watch brand founded in 2021 by Tom Clemence. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, the brand was born from Tom’s lifelong interest in horology, which was originally sparked by his grandfather’s Universal Geneve timepiece. As a trained ecologist, Tom integrated a strong environmental ethos into the company’s business model, establishing a climate-positive initiative where a native tree is planted in Scotland for every watch sold to help reforest the region.
The brand has gained a following among watch enthusiasts for its ability to balance vintage-inspired aesthetics with modern technical specifications and robust build quality. Many are drawn to the brand’s focus on ergonomic design, specifically their commitment to creating slim profiles that enhance wearability. Clemence Watches emphasizes longevity and transparency, ensuring that their timepieces are designed and assembled in Britain using high-quality components such as high-beat Miyota automatic movements and sapphire crystals.
The brand’s debut model, the Photic Diver, established its reputation in the microbrand community. Named after the upper 200 meters of the ocean where light still penetrates, the Photic Diver is a 39mm skin-diver inspired watch featuring 200 meters of water resistance. It has since been updated to the Photic MKII, which features a slimmer 10.5mm total thickness and a hardened steel coating for increased scratch resistance.
Another key piece in the collection is the Munro, a 37.5mm field watch named after Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet. The Munro is noted for its exceptionally thin 10mm profile and high-quality tapering bracelet equipped with a tool-less micro-adjustment clasp. These models exemplify the brand’s philosophy of “purpose first,” offering functional tool watches that transition easily from outdoor adventures to everyday wear.
