Microbrand watch maker: design and sell your own watches

Watch collectors and enthusiasts, gift buyers and fans of your design style, mostly buying online.

You sell each watch directly at a price well above your parts and assembly cost, often through pre-orders or small limited batches.

• Design and attention to detail
• Patient fine hand assembly
• Online marketing and community building
• Managing suppliers and stock

• Product safety and labelling rules for items sold in the UK, check with Trading Standards
• Trademark and design clashes, search existing brands and consider registering your own name
• Hallmarking rules if you use precious metals, check with the Assay Office
• Tying up cash in stock, consider pre-orders to test demand first
• Warranty and repair promises, work out how you will handle faults
• Distance selling rules on returns for online sales

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your design, the parts and movements you source and the size of your first run. These are estimates, so check supplier quotes.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £5,000, depending on how many watches you sell and your pricing. These are estimates, not guarantees, and stock and parts costs come out of that.

Check product safety and labelling rules with Trading Standards, and search for existing trademark or design clashes. Check hallmarking rules with the Assay Office if you use precious metals, and distance selling rules on returns.