Australian Watch Brands: Top Timepieces Made in Australia
Australian watch brands are now a powerhouse that horologists cannot ignore. Although Australian timepiece brands are still not as popular as German, Swiss, or Japanese manufacturers, they are now shining internationally.
Combining rugged craftsmanship with modern designs, Australian watchmakers’ products demonstrate the continent’s most beautiful landscapes and unique spirit. They draw inspiration from their environment and local culture, creating watches that deeply connect to people’s lifestyles and preferences.
Australian watch manufacturers have received global recognition in recent years for their innovativeness, distinctiveness, attention to detail, and fresh perspectives. This article explores the top Australian watch brands, highlighting their humble beginnings and success stories.
Top 10 Australian Watch Brands to Explore
Australian wrist watches boast fresh innovation, unique designs, and durability. They offer a perfect alternative to conventional industry giants. Not every Australian timepiece is native to the beautiful continent, though.
This post only features watch brands that originally hail from Australia. Here are the top 10 Australian watch brands that have gained attention globally:
1. Melbourne Watch Company
The Melbourne Watch Company is one of the top Australian watch brands to consider. Sujain Krishman, the founder, started his company from a small watch store he was running online. Back in 2013, Sujain Krishnan decided to expand his business by designing his first classic style business-casual watch.
The Flinders Automatic, his first timepiece, became a dream come true via an online crowd-funding project. This model got overwhelming public support and recognition, prompting the owner to open the company’s headquarters in Melbourne City in 2016. Other fashionable and premium-quality watch models followed, including the Melbourne, Fitzroy, and Portsea.
The Melbourne Watch Company has at least seven watch collections. Offering quartz, mechanical, and other movements from renowned world providers like Japan and Switzerland, MWC designs and produces each item at its local headquarters. If you prefer a classic casual watch with contemporary features, the Melbourne Watch Company is worth exploring further.
2. Adina
Adina is among the best Australian watch brands today. Additionally, Adina is among the oldest Australian watchmakers. A timepiece brand that emerged in 1971, Adina is one of the most successful pioneers. The founder of Adina, Bob Menzies, his son,Grant, and five watch artisans offer the world at least 30,000 timepieces every year.
Headquartered at Woollangabba, Brisbane, Australia, Adina also makes other clock types, including alarm, desk, and grandfather clocks. Known for various timepiece models, such as the Amphibian, Kensington, Country Master, and Oceaneer, Adina has weathered many storms over the decades.
It is now among the most renowned watchmakers with a global and local fan base. Adina’s watches mostly feature the original Swiss-quartz Ronda movements, but upscale models offer the most advanced automatic options.
Adina has a timepiece for every fan. If you are a diver, you can get a top-quality, waterproof timepiece from its Amphibian and Oceaneers collections. The Country Master line includes everyday utilitarian timepieces that fit tough work.
3. Bausele
Bausele is another of the key Australian watch brands that has put the continent’s horology industry on a global map. It emerged in 2011 via Christopher Hoppe. Similar to the Melbourne Watch Company, Bausele is a small Australian brand. Based in Sydney, Australia, Bausele means Beyond Australian Elements.
Christopher, a Swiss native, is an innovative watchmaker and entrepreneur who moved to Australia in 2011 with his family and began a watch factory. The company’s flagship watch collection was OceanMoon, a series for professional divers.
The watches had built-in 200-meter waterproof steel anti-magnetic cases on their straps. They also featured Swiss automatic calibers, hollow glass crowns, and recycled ocean waste straps.
The series became so famous that even the Royal Australian Air Force’s centenary and other renowned entities made Bausele their official watch brand. Today, Bausele offers notable watch models, including the Endless Sunrise and Field Good. If you need the most available watches, you cannot go wrong with Bausele.
4. Curtis Australia
Among the most notable Australian watch brands is Curtis Australia. The brand boasts good craftsmanship and high expertise in watch production. Curtis Australia also manufactures classy jewellery and writing instruments. Glenn Curtis is the founder of the renowned watch producer.
He began the enterprise back in 2002, making Curtis Australia one of the strongest and oldest watch brands. He chose a high-end niche that included upscale writing instruments. Gradually, Glenn expanded his product lines to jewellery and luxury watches.
Today, Curtis Australia is an expert in all these production domains. Its timepieces feature striking colours and luxurious construction materials. Although these watches exploit the renowned Swiss movement, their distinctive designs are purely Australian.
One of the top models is Motimer RT, but the company has many other top-notch options. Curtis Australia’s designer watches feature premium quality and high prices.
5. Nicholas Hacko
Australian watch brands with local and international fame include Nicholas Hacko. It emerged in 2011 and had humble beginnings. Nicholas Hacko, the founder, began his watch production journey soon after the Swiss suppliers refused to export spare parts to Australia.
No matter the efforts he and his son, Josh Hacko, made to get Swiss spare parts, the plan failed due to this strict restriction. It became impossible to repair watches anywhere on the continent because of Switzerland’s monopolistic behaviour. Determined to resolve the matter, Nicholas Hacko began a small watch workshop.
The workshop produced its first timepiece, the 0/9, using unique materials that the owners sourced independently. This was a limited watch collection that entailed only nine products. Regardless, it got a positive reception and maximum support.
Then, the first line facilitated the production of other limited-series watches. These drew inspiration from the original masterpiece. The high profit margins the workshop got from selling the limited watch collections allowed it to expand. Instead of importing parts, it became a producer and assembler in Australia.
While Nicholas Hacko relies on imported machinery and tools from Japan, Switzerland, and Germany, the company is among the original Australian watch brands. Its top models today include the 2018 NH1 Series, Mark 1, and Mark 2.
The NH1 watches have the “Manufactured in Australia” stamp, representing the brand’s expertise and courage. Nicholas Hacko strives to deliver innovative watches within Australia. However, the handcrafted watches with original designs are costly. The company invests more time, money, and brainwork in its sophisticated timepieces.
6. Ocean to Orbit
One of the most renowned Australian watch brands is Ocean to Orbit. It is a micro watch brand that emerged in 2020. Ocean to Orbit is a brainchild of two individuals with an automotive background.
David Dewitt and Siddharta Kazami are auto designers who have made big strides in the local horology industry in less than a decade. Ocean to Orbit draws inspiration from different terrains and extreme activities.
Its timepieces offer the best features and functions, just like great cars. The watches are colorful and have many straps. Most people, particularly, love the Mission Green watch series.
7. Bow and Stern
One cannot forget Bow and Stern when mentioning the top Australian watch brands today. Bow and Stern began its operations in 2014 under the watch of three founders: Adam, Bianca, and Vanessa.
The three came from separate career backgrounds, including fashion modeling, professional athletics, and entrepreneurship. These founders grew up on Australia’s East Coast beaches. Their love for their childhood tropical environment is evident in their watch labels, including Baltic and Havana.
Bow and Stern’s headquarters are in Cronulla, Sydney, Australia. While it imports crucial parts from Switzerland and assembles watches in Hong Kong, its products boast the adventurous Australian spirit. The unique, minimalist designs are why the company is one of the top Australian made watch brands.
8. Second Hour
Among the leading Australian watch brands is the Second Hour. The fans adore its classic watch designs that offer many subtle details and contemporary features. The Second Hour micro watch brand emerged in 2019 via the efforts of a couple, Peter and Shakira Sargison.
Peter Sargison worked for the government for forty-five years as an IT person. Shakira Sargison was a professional in fashion design and entrepreneurship. The micro watch company gets top-quality raw materials and mechanical movements directly from vendors. However, they use their design acumen to create timepieces that Australians love.
The Second Hour’s most renowned model is the Sattelberg Field Watch. Named after the Battle of Sattelberg, this is an affordable everyday watch you can wear to work. It delivers durable features and original craftsmanship. The young brand remains one of the most loved and futuristic Australian watch brands.
9. Galvin Watch Company
The Galvin Watch Company is an original Australian manufacturer. However, the owner and founder, Susan Galvin, hailed from Sweden. She settled in Sydney, Australia, after working for giant companies such as Omega and TAG.
Susan Galvin had to crowd-fund to release her first watch model, named the Alku, in 2020. It was a beautiful and stylish dress watch. She had humble beginnings. She was on maternity leave and facing the effects of the coronavirus like everyone else.
10. Reuben Schoots
Would you like a rare timepiece that blends conventional techniques with contemporary aesthetics? That is what you get from Reuben Schoots, another young Australian brand that began in 2018. It appears in this list of the top Australian watch brands for good reasons.
Reuben Schoots, an autonomous Australian watchmaker, began his technical career journey in his childhood. He was a child when he repaired his first wristwatch. Reuben sharpened this skill when undergoing a long-term illness.
Later, he learned the George Daniels method and gained experience from the two years he spent building a tourbillon pocket watch. Reuben started his watch company in 2018 in Canberra, Australia. He launched a limited edition of the Series One watches.
The self-made watch artisan creates an upscale timepiece at a time. Each handmade timepiece requires more time and money to produce. No wonder Reuben Schoots’ watches appear in limited, costly editions.
Final Thoughts
Australian watch brands are in a highly competitive market. However, they stand out because their products are fresh and different. They have a perfect timepiece for every customer. If you adore diving and marine life, most companies on this list offer durable and elegant dive watches.
They also provide everyday dress watches for anyone in business or employment. The Australian watchmaking industry is expanding. Some brands are already enjoying international recognition.