CHP Caliber Brands
The coolest new(ish) kids on the block.
(I mean, not really "new", but you get it.)
These brands have been doing great work for a while, but ya know, maybe new to you if you haven't heard of them yet.
And trust us - They're worth knowing (and owning).
Venezianico is redefining modern independent watchmaking through a distinctly Italian lens — blending architectural inspiration, refined finishing, and mechanical craftsmanship rooted in the heritage of Venice. Founded by brothers Alberto and Alessandro Morelli, the brand was born from a passion for watches and a deep connection to Venetian art, history, and engineering, with each collection reflecting the elegance and character of the city itself.
From the sleek sophistication of the Redentore to the sport-driven Nereide and Arsenale collections, Venezianico delivers exceptional mechanical value with a highly design-forward approach.
Combining rich textures, elevated finishing, and increasingly ambitious technical development, the brand has quickly become one of the most compelling names in modern independent horology for collectors seeking originality, craftsmanship, and timeless style.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Japanese Miyota, Swiss Sellita SW200. Venezianico also debuted its first in-house caliber (V5000), designed and manufactured in Italy
Movement Types: Automatic
Materials Utilized: 316L stainless steel cases, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, tungsten bezel inserts, ceramic bezels on select models, BGW9 Super-LumiNova, and specialty dial materials (genuine meteorite, malachite, tiger's eye, lab-grown opal, aventurine)
Median Price Range: $ 625–1,750
Limited Edition Notes: Numbered, serial-certified limited runs are a defined part of the brand (e.g. Redentore Utopia series at $5,500, a 69-piece Bucintoro powered by the historic Lemania 1873 caliber
Tsar Bomba is redefining modern watchmaking with dynamic, transformative design. Featuring patented interchangeable bezels, straps, and crowns inspired by the choreography of atomic motion, each watch adapts seamlessly to any mood, style, or occasion.
A global team of in-house experts and international freelance designers ensures a continuous flow of on-trend, innovative creations, keeping the brand at the forefront of design evolution.
Recognized with multiple international awards, Tsar Bomba has firmly established its reputation for excellence and innovation. With a presence in more than 50 countries, partnerships with over 300 retail outlets, and a growing Travel Retail footprint, the brand enjoys strong global visibility.
Tsar Bomba – YOU have the power.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Japan — Citizen/Miyota and Seiko-affiliated Caliber. Germany-linked design.
Movement Types: Automatic, meca-quartz, Quartz
Materials Utilized: 316L stainless steel, carbon fiber, ceramic, sapphire crystal (Mohs 9), interchangeable bezels/crowns/straps in rubber and silicone.
Median Price Range: $500 - $2,500
Marathon doesn't build watches for people who want to look prepared. They build for the ones who actually get the call. Every SAR series watch carries the name for a reason — Search and Rescue — because these are the timepieces issued to the technicians who go find people when things have gone wrong. GSAR. TSAR. The kind of watch that's already been rated, tested, and trusted by militaries and government agencies before it ever reaches a retail case.
The story goes back to 1904, when the Wein family started making precision timepieces in North America. By 1939, Morris Wein had founded Marathon Watch outright — and by 1941, the company was already supplying timing instruments to the Allied Forces. Proudly Canadian, purpose-built, and married to Swiss engineering: Marathon combines military-grade durability with the precision craftsmanship of a Swiss manufacturing facility, so every watch that leaves the case earns the "Swiss Made" mark honestly. Marathon is s a company that still makes the exact instruments it's always made — for pilots, for divers, for soldiers, for anyone who needs a watch that will not let them down when the stakes are real.
Authentic military heritage, modern military design, and a reputation built one rescue at a time. These are watches built to save lives.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Swiss, Sellita & ETA
Movement Types: Automatic, Quartz, Mechanical (hand-wind)
Materials Utilized: Stainless Steel (316L), High-Impact Composite Fibreshell, Tritium Tubes, Ballistic Nylon Straps, Maraglo
Median Price Range: $240 – $2,230 (core lineup) limited/flagship pieces run up to $4,700.
Briston is an independent French watch brand blending refined watchmaking with a relaxed, sporty-chic spirit and a distinctly British-inspired aesthetic—casual yet elegant, playful yet precise.
Marrying French design flair with genuine horological credibility, Briston creates accessible, expressive timepieces for those who value individuality, craftsmanship, and a touch of irreverent charm. Its designs evoke Oxford campuses, polo fields, and rowing regattas, balancing sophistication with approachability.
Known for its creative use of materials and shapes—most notably the tortoiseshell acetate cases of the iconic Clubmaster and the new Streamliner square case—each collection reflects a thoughtful evolution of style and function, guided by a founder with 15 years’ experience at major houses including Cartier and Zenith.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Japan, Swiss
Movement Types: Mix of quartz (Miyota OS21, Miyota 2035) and automatic (Miyota 82S5, Seiko NH35/NH38, Sellita SW200)
Materials Utilized: Signature Italian tortoiseshell cellulose acetate paired with stainless steel, sapphire or domed mineral crystal, PVD gold treatments, quick-release (à presto") strap system.
Median Price Range: $ 320–1,700
SEVENFRIDAY was built to disrupt traditional watchmaking — blending industrial design, street culture, music, art, and machinery into watches with unmistakable attitude. Since launching in Zurich in 2012, the brand has built a global cult following by rejecting convention and creating pieces that prioritize individuality, presence, and bold design over quiet tradition.
Known for their layered dials, rugged square cases, and instantly recognizable aesthetic, SEVENFRIDAY creates watches that feel raw, modern, and unapologetically expressive.
These aren’t watches designed to blend in — they’re built for collectors who want personality on the wrist and gravitate toward brands willing to challenge the norms of luxury and design.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Japan, Case design and brand HQ based in Switzerland
Movement Types: Automatic, primarily Miyota 8215, 82S5, 82S7, and 8219 calibers
Materials Utilized: 316L stainless steel cases (polished, brushed, sandblasted, and PVD finishes), sapphire or mineral crystal depending on model, leather and rubber straps, signature multi-layered/skeletonized dials, integrated NFC chip for authentication
Median Price Range: $ 1000 – $1,900
Hampden Watch is a proudly independent, family-owned watchmaker rooted in Chicago. Now in its fourth generation, the business traces its American lineage back to 1922, when immigrant Hyman Wein founded the original company in Chicago. Over the decades the Wein family has maintained continuous operation, making Hampden the oldest family-run watch company in the U.S.
Hampden’s modern incarnation revives a long heritage. The “Hampden” name itself, originally from a 19th-century American watchmaker, was acquired by the Wein family in 1958. Through world events and changing markets the company adapted, and today it blends American heritage and design with high-quality Swiss movements.
All watches tell time. Hampden watches tell stories.™
What truly distinguishes Hampden is its emphasis on personalization and storytelling. Each timepiece is more than a watch; it’s meant to carry memories.
Their flagship Model 1 features the patented “Casecap®” system, a world-first innovation that makes it possible to swap between a sapphire exhibition caseback (showing the movement) and a deeply engraved back, turning the timepiece into a personal heirloom.
Brand
Stats
Movement Origins: Switzerland (Sellita + Ronda), US HQ
Movement Types: Automatic, Quartz
Materials Utilized: Stainless steel cases, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, sapphire exhibition casebacks, patented removable "casecap" system, brushed steel bracelets
Median Price Range: $600 – 2,200
