Swedish watch brands have found it more difficult than their Scandinavian siblings to grab fame in the watchmaking industry. However, there is some momentum gaining.
Sweden homes some up-and-coming brands you should look out for. They offer just as much style. We’re going to dive into the best Swedish watch brands to look out for in 2023; we think you’ll be amazed at how they all offer something unique whilst honouring the traditional Scandinavian style.
Halda
The first Swedish watch brand we are going to look at is Halda, and they boast a colourful history. They were founded in the late 1880s in Sweden by a chap called Henning Hammarlund. He had some extensive horological training, which he used to develop pocket watches, producing his first in 1889. Unsurprisingly, they were a total hit, and he won awards for his work at the World’s Fair in Chicago of 1889. Sadly, the need for pocket watches died out after WWI, and his company went into liquidation.
Now you might be wondering why we’re talking about the history of this brand? This Swedish watch brand came back to life under the new name Halda and is again proving itself in the watch industry.
Halda combines traditional craftsmanship with modern tech. The brand makes three models: Trackmaster, Race Pilot and Space Discovery (approved by NASA); three high-performance watches. If you like highly-precise watches with the ability to serve the intense demands of very clever people, you’ll want to check these two models out.
Prices range from $9,000 to $32,000.
Bravur
Bravur is a brand founded by two friends in Stockholm in 2011. They agreed on three priorities; high-quality, great design and catering to those living an urban lifestyle.
The brand offers Quartz and automatic movements on the inside and a simple but elegant design on the outside. The automatic range is a little more retro in style, but both stay true to Scandinavian minimalism. For most models, you can also change the strap if you’d like.
They try to use as many locally-sourced materials and parts as possible. Design work is done in-house at their headquarters in Sweden. Every part of their watches is made both exclusively and in limited quantities.
Bravur watches are designed to be everyday watches that will last many, many years.
The Quartz range costs $565 upward whereas the automatics will cost you closer to $1,300.
BOOM
You might guess from the name, but BOOM is a more fun option on this Swedish watch brands list. It comes directly from the fashion world when the founder, Niklas Dahlgren, wanted to offer people a new way to interact with their watches.
He created an interactive system that allows customers to create their own timepieces. Literally, you put this Swedish watch together yourself (though this takes seconds and doesn’t require any specialist knowledge). Choose your own case, strap, dial and bezel for starters. Pick from 3 sizes, 36mm, 41mm or 44mm and take it from there.
These watches are all Quartz and, technically speaking, are pretty basic. The idea behind them is choice and customisation.
Ready-made watches are much cheaper, around $100 and up.
Boxes to make your own watch are more expensive at around $300.
Daniel Wellington
Daniel Wellington watches have an instantly-recognisable design; they’re slim and elegant. Most typically, you’ll see a nylon NATO strap; however, you can also get metal or leather straps.
All models offer a round face, the DW logo just below the 12 position, and you’ll never see Arabic numerals. There are no complications, not even a second hand.
The founder, Filip Tysander, met a British gentleman whilst on a round-the-world trip. This gentleman had a penchant for vintage watches, and Tysander became obsessed with his style. This gentleman’s name was Daniel Wellington, and the brand was founded in 2011 after Tysander began making watches to honour Daniel’s unforgettable style.
Prices are budget-friendly, ranging from $100 – $300.
Sjöö Sandström
Sjöö Sandström came about in the mid-late 1980s. In fact, both Sjöö and Sandström were Swedish watch enthusiasts and engineers. They knew how to design and construct a high-end timepiece. As such, they worked together to create a small company based on expert craftsmanship and established design.
Their first timepiece, the Automatic S1 was launched in 1993 and their work since then has earned them a spot in the best Swedish watch brands for 2023.
Though you’ll find the parts and movements are from Switzerland, the design, construction, quality control and marketing are still rooted in Stockholm.
In their collections, you’ll only find round dials. Though there is a face design for everyone, be it uncluttered and simple hour markers to more complications like a date window, a digital timer window. You can get chronograph models and much more.
Prices float around $675.
GoS
GoS is an acronym for the founders’ surnames, Gustafsson and Sjogren. Their unique partnership produced some incredibly hand-forged Damascus steel watches. Every GoS watch is unique as this forging process leaves its own pattern on the watch case.
Their designs have a nod to the Vikings, and they are mystical-looking indeed. No numbers, no complications. Just a second, minute and hour hand to allow for the almost alive and flowing pattern on the face to be seen. GoS watches look like no other brand you’ve ever seen.
Each watch is a unique piece, and you’re part of the process, so you must enquire about the specific model within a collection you’re interested in so they can discuss manufacturing it.
You get what you pay for, as prices are around $11,800.
Epoch Stockholm
Remember Sjöö and Sandström? In 2001 they sold their company to start a new Swedish watch brand with a different focus. Originally, their watches were high-end and had the price tag to show for it. So they began making quality watches for a much lower cost.
Epoch watches cost around $600 – $1,500.
You still get the glorious design, Swiss movements and careful craftsmanship. They make models for men and women, all from their workshop in Stockholm.
They offer four collections: President, First Lady, Jubilee Gold and Automatic Calendar.
Knut Gadd
Knut Gadd has roots in design and entrepreneurship. Inspired by a long line of sophisticated lovers of style, the Knud Gadd brand is dedicated to vintage-inspired watches of beauty.
The men’s ranges are the Cult Chrono and Cult Diver, Decagon (which features an unusual hexagon dial) and Arctic Circle.
All the women’s watches feature the hexagon dial and various materials, colours and strap options.
All models have a quartz movement.
Prices are sub $250.
Larsson and Jennings
This brand is quite similar to Daniel Wellington. Larsson and Jennings is a fashion-conscious Swedish watch brand offering slim watches, uncluttered dials and Quartz movements for men and women.
Worth noting that this is the first brand on the list so far to offer a rectangular watch, and if you like that style, we’ve got more suggestions for you in our article here.
You can get a beautiful metal watch that looks far more expensive than what it is. The watches are all under $200.
[amzon box=”B07YVGYBQ3″]
Miró
Miró offers minimalist elegance sat on a supple leather strap and protection from sapphire crystal. Founded in 2021, the brand is younger than most on this list of Swedish watch brands, but they’re already growing rapidly and globally.
Joan Miró hugely inspires the brand, and its whole aesthetic is an ode to the designer. They feel a watch should do more than tell time; it should make a statement.
The brand does not release new watches every season; they believe in taking the time to create something new and release it when it’s ready.
These slimline, round face and simple watches come in beautifully-contrasting colours in materials of your choice.
The whole range is under $175.
VERK Watches
VERK also do not stray from Swedish minimalism. Here we get Swedish design and German manufacturing inside.
Currently, there are just two collections to choose from; the ETT, which is their best-seller and the TVÅ, which features a one-handed 24-hour face. Amusingly, ETT and TVÅ mean ‘one’ and ‘two’ in Swedish.
They cost under $200.
TRIWA
TRIWA means “transforming the industry of watches”. It’s an independent Swedish watch brand from Stockholm, founded around 2007.
This brand has a core focus on creative and playful watches; they love to help you show off your individuality. As such, no two watches are the same. You can get metal bracelets, leather and silicone and nylon straps. Different faces to suit your style and needs, from matte black to pearlised. There’s even a tongue-in-cheek nod to Trump on the ‘Comb-Over.
The range is really sensational, good looking and all under $200.
Tusenö Göteborg
An even younger brand, starting only 6 years ago by another group of Swedish watch lovers. They began by crowdfunding and became the most funded in the site’s history.
Today, they offer three lines; the First 42, First 48 and Blackwater for men and women. Mostly, you’ll find a mecha-quartz or hybrid movement known for reliability. They use high-quality materials like stainless steel and sapphire crystal. You’re also able to quickly change the band on many models if you want to change your look.
TID Watches
Finally, we get to TID. Another young brand (2012) was created in the name of fun. In this collection, you’ll find unique Swedish watches that stand out.
They’ve numbered their collections from one to four. One was made to reduce a watch down to only the bare essentials. Two adds to that with better quality materials, including sapphire glass and has a 10ATM water-proof rating. Three is based on durable and lightweight plastics with a classic look in various colours (including a transparent case). Finally, four has a more heritage vibe with the signature TID look.
Prices float around $210.
Conclusion
This list of the best Swedish watch brands to look out for in 2023 covers everything from smaller, more affordable and fun designs to totally bespoke luxury watches made to your exact expectations. It’s quite interesting what this country has to prove, and there’s no denying that they’re bringing the big guns.
If you’d like to know more about traditional and affordable Swiss automatic watches, head to our article here.
     |
Last Updated on December 12, 2022
Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader, and experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.
We appreciate her work, contribution to our blog, marketing skills, editing, and expert writing abilities which are second to none.
Truly adept in content strategy and content creation which has immense contribution to our blog.