Farer

The microbrand watch industry has been growing steadily and has continued to gain popularity over the last 10 years. While the earliest microbrands were established in the mid-2000s, it is over the past decade that the industry has truly matured. One brand that has ridden this wave successfully is Farer. Today, it stands as one of the most recognised and successful microbrands of modern times.

Farer was established in London, UK, in 2015 — a time when microbrands were rapidly gaining popularity. The brand was founded by a four-member team consisting of Stuart Finlayson, Paul Sweetenham, Jono Holt, and Ben Lewin. Since then, they have not looked back. Over the years, Farer has grown into an established and well respected modern microbrand, offering a large catalogue that spans a wide variety of watch styles and collections.

Alongside British brands such as Studio Underd0g and Christopher Ward, Farer is a name that most microbrand fans have heard of, especially if they are based in the UK or have been following the British watch industry. Every successful brand has its own unique formula. For Studio Underd0g, it is their playful and unconventional approach to watchmaking, highlighted by creations such as the Pizza dial Watch. For Christopher Ward, much of its success comes from offering exceptionally high-specification watches at highly competitive prices. Farer's success, on the other hand, comes from a combination of two key strengths. First, Farer makes well designed watches. Through the use of visually appealing dial designs, thoughtful colour combinations, and a willingness to experiment, its watches managed to have a distinctive identity in a crowded market. Secondly, Farer produces high-quality watches. Although the watches are designed in Britain, they are manufactured in Switzerland and powered by well-known Swiss movements, giving buyers confidence in both their build quality and mechanical reliability.

Farer Design: Colour meets character

Designing a good-looking watch is not easy. While many brands rely on vintage inspiration or create watches that closely resemble established classics, Farer has taken a different path. Rather than following a single design inspiration, the brand has built a catalogue of watches that each have their own design, character and purpose. Whether it's a GMT, chronograph, or dive watch, Farer managed to consistently get the details right — from the proportions and typography to the textures and finishing of the dial.

Perhaps the most recognizable aspect of Farer watches is their use of colour. The brand doesn't simply make brightly coloured watches to grab attention. Instead, colour is treated as an important part of the overall design. Farer has a knack for choosing beautiful colour palettes for its dials. Every shade appears carefully considered, creating watches that feel cohesive rather than loud.

This thoughtful use of colour extends beyond the dial colour itself. It can be seen in the hands, minute tracks, and small accent details throughout the watch. Colours have a remarkable influence on how a watch makes us feel. Farer seems to understands this exceptionally well. For example, as seen on the Lander GMT model, A sea-green dial paired with a burnt orange seconds hand, adds just enough vibrancy to give the watch a intriguing personality without overwhelming the overall design.

Some of Farer's Most Interesting Collections and Models

Since its debut in 2015, Farer has built an impressively diverse catalogue. What makes its collections interesting is that the watches are far more than simple colour variations of the same design. While models within a collection often share the same case dimensions, they frequently differ in their dial colours, textures, hour marker styles, and overall character. This gives buyers a much wider range of personalities to choose from, even within a single collection.

Racing Chronograph Collection

Farer's Racing Chronograph collection is its interpretation of the classic racing chronograph. The collection currently consists of three models—the Libre, Gara, and Volante—all sharing the same compact 38.5 mm case diameter and 44 mm lug-to-lug measurement. Inspired by racing cars from the 1960s and 1970s, these chronographs stay true to its racing inspirations while showcasing Farer's signature use of colour.

GMT Bezel Collection

As the name suggests, the GMT Bezel Collection is Farer's take on the modern GMT watch. Designed with travellers and adventurers in mind, the collection combines well-proportioned cases with rotating bezels that give the watches a sporty, tool-watch character. Available in both 38 mm and 40 mm case sizes, the collection caters to a variety of wrist sizes. While each model features its own distinct colour palette and dial design, they all share the same Swiss-made Sellita SW330-2 Top Grade GMT movement, which provides a dependable 56-hour power reserve. The collection's sporty character extends beyond its appearance, with 200 metres of water resistance, making these watches well suited to travel, outdoor adventures, and everyday wear alike.

GMT Collection

The GMT Collection is one of Farer's most talked-about collections. While the GMT Bezel Collection leans towards a sporty tool-watch aesthetic, the GMT Collection takes a more classic approach. Designed for travellers who need the convenience of a second time zone, these watches combine everyday practicality with Farer's sense of style. The collection's best-known model is arguably the Lander, but another watch worth highlighting is the Lander Kano, with its striking pink dial. Pink is an unusual choice for a men's GMT watch, yet Farer makes it work remarkably well. It reflects the brand's confidence in its design language and its willingness to move beyond conventional colour choices.

Aqua Compressor Collection

The Aqua Compressor Collection is Farer's interpretation of the classic compressor-style dive watch. Inspired by vintage compressor divers, the collection is available in three dial variants. My personal favourite is the Hecla Hunter Green, whose textured green dial and internal rotating bezel give it a distinctive character. The Aqua Compressor features a Grade 2 titanium case measuring 41.5 mm in diameter, 45 mm lug-to-lug, and 12.5 mm thick. Beyond its attractive design, it is a genuinely capable dive watch, offering 300 metres of water res

Integra Collection

With their clean lines, angular cases, and seamlessly integrated bracelets, this collection blends the sporty appeal of an integrated bracelet sports watch with a refined and luxurious aesthetic. The watches offer 100 metres of water resistance and are powered by the Swiss-made Sellita SW300-1 Top Grade movement, delivering a dependable 56-hour power reserve when fully wound. The collection currently consists of four models, with prices starting at £1,450 and rising to £1,550, depending on the dial configuration.

World Timer Collection

The World Timer Collection is one of Farer's flagship collections. Designed for frequent travellers and those, like me, who have family, friends, or colleagues spread across different time zones, it allows the wearer to keep track of the time in 24 cities around the world. The collection is available in five dial configurations, all housed in a stainless steel case measuring 39 mm in diameter, 45 mm lug-to-lug, and 11 mm thick. Powering the watches is the Swiss-made Sellita SW331-2 Elaboré movement, which delivers a dependable 56-hour power reserve. Each model features an exhibition caseback, allowing the wearer to admire the movement within.

Manufacturing, Build Quality and Movements

Across its catalogue, the brand relies on proven and well-respected calibres from Swiss manufacturers such as Sellita and La Joux-Perret, giving buyers confidence in their reliability and long-term serviceability.

One criticism occasionally directed at the microbrand industry is that, in the pursuit of offering competitive prices, some brands compromise on build quality. While many microbrands deliver excellent value, not all meet the same standard of finishing and overall execution. However, Among enthusiasts, Farer has earned a reputation for producing watches that feel well made. The quality of its cases, dials, and overall construction are often highlighted as one of the brand's strengths.

Another indication of Farer's confidence in its products is its warranty. While a two-year warranty is common among many microbrand and independent watch brands, Farer backs its watches with a five-year warranty. That longer coverage offers additional peace of mind for buyers who are not familiar with the brand.

A Brand Worth keeping an eye on

For those who appreciate the Swiss Made label and enjoy watches with colour and character, Farer is a brand well worth considering. Its success comes from a simple formula: original well-thought-out designs, Swiss manufacturing, reliable Swiss movements, and sensible pricing, with most models starting from around £950.

What impresses me most, however, is the breadth of Farer's catalogue. With currently around 14 collections, the brand has consistently demonstrated its ability to come up with well-designed watches across a wide range of archetypes. Alongside other design-led brands such as Baltic, Farer has firmly established itself as one of the leading names in today's microbrand industry.