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Pre-Owned Independent Watches

Discover rare and highly collectible pre-owned watches from the world's best independent watch brands. From technical innovation to artistic design, these pieces redefine what modern horology can be.

101 Watches
101 Watches

Independent Watchmaking: Creativity Beyond Convention

Independent watchmaking thrives on creative freedom. These makers, unbound by corporate constraints, pursue bold ideas in design, engineering, and mechanical innovation. Each piece is produced in limited quantities and reflects the singular vision of its creator. At The 1916 Company, our curated selection includes the most respected names in the indie watch world, from F.P. Journe to De Bethune.

Explore Pre-Owned Watches from Independent Watchmakers

Independent watchmaking represents horology's most dynamic frontier. These brands are known for pushing mechanical boundaries, introducing disruptive complications, and designing watches that feel more like wearable art than mass-market timepieces. Whether you're exploring the category for the first time or are deep into collecting, this is where you'll find standout pieces that spark conversation and admiration.

F.P. Journe

François-Paul Journe's eponymous brand exemplifies high-end independent watchmaking. Notable for groundbreaking innovations like the Chronomètre à Résonance and the Octa collection, each watch merges chronometric performance with artisanal craft. Explore our selection of pre-owned F.P. Journe watches , sought after by connoisseurs worldwide.

De Bethune

Avant-garde in both aesthetics and engineering, De Bethune combines traditional Swiss finishing with futuristic materials like blued titanium. Standouts include the DB28 and Starry Varius collections, known for their open dials and space-age profiles.

H. Moser & Cie.

Minimalist on the surface, complex at the core, H. Moser & Cie. fuses striking fumé dials with in-house escapements and modular complications. These watches appeal to collectors who appreciate subtle mastery and conceptual design.

Urwerk

Urwerk reimagines how time is displayed, using orbital satellite hours and dynamic minute tracks across its UR-100 and UR-220 series. These pieces are kinetic sculptures on the wrist, favored by those who embrace futuristic design.

Richard Mille

With a strong focus on technical resilience and ultralight materials, Richard Mille has become synonymous with high-performance luxury. Tourbillons, skeletonized calibers, and Carbon TPT® cases dominate this elite collection.

MB&F

Maximilian Büsser's MB&F is a laboratory of horological invention. The Horological Machines (HM) and Legacy Machines (LM) are marvels of design and movement, each telling time in a visually unorthodox, sculptural format.

Laurent Ferrier

Laurent Ferrier produces refined, classically inspired watches with top-tier finishing. Models like the Galet Micro-Rotor and Tourbillon Double Spiral showcase elegant restraint backed by mechanical excellence.

Ressence

Known for their oil-filled dials and orbital time displays, Ressence blends UX design with mechanical watchmaking. Their Type 3 and Type 5 models are true outliers in the indie category - tactile, readable, and technically novel.

Looking beyond mainstream luxury? Our pre-owned watch collection includes rare models from the world's most respected independent watch brands, carefully authenticated and available online or in-store.

Who Seeks Out Independent Watchmakers?

These watches are for horological freethinkers — collectors who value design risk, small-batch production, and uncompromising technical standards. If your taste leans toward the exceptional rather than the expected, indie watches deliver unmatched depth and personality.

Your Trusted Source for Independent Watches

Each watch at The 1916 Company is meticulously authenticated and backed by a two-year global warranty. With a curated in-store selection and white-glove concierge service, our team helps clients around the world acquire the finest independent timepieces available today.

An independent watchmaker is a brand or artisan producing watches outside large corporate groups. These creators focus on innovation, design, and artisanal quality.
Indie watches are made in limited runs with unique complications, high-end finishing, and inventive designs - making them prized among serious collectors.
Top names include F.P. Journe, MB&F, De Bethune, Urwerk, H. Moser & Cie., Richard Mille, Laurent Ferrier, and Ressence.
Yes. Our pre-owned independent watches are fully authenticated and include a two-year global warranty for peace of mind.
These brands often produce fewer than 1,000 pieces annually, allowing for greater attention to detail, innovation, and collector community focus than large-scale manufacturers.