Independent watchmakers are in many ways different from other watch companies. But in the end they all make wristwatches we enjoy wearing and collecting. Watch lovers who frequent watchforums like Horomundi, The PuristS Pro, Timezone and Watchuseek may have seen or read something about independent watchmaking. But?for most of them (you?) the independent watchmakers might still be unknown. Let’s be real, it’s already hard to keep track of all existing big name brands and their watches. Let alone some small independent watchmakers whos watches are in a special section for independent watchmaking and whos names don’t sound familiar.Independent watchmakers don’t have an advertising budget ?like Breitling or …. Ad - Scroll to continue with article Independent watchmakers do make very beautiful and interesting watches… and are far more exclusive than the well known brands. To help you in finding your way to these watchmakers (and their watches) a Dutch wristwatch website?categorized?most independent watchmakers into three categories.Kari Voutilainen’s Observatoire with classic looksCompiling this list and categorizing the watchmakers,?was a result of a discussion going on in the Passion for Watches LinkedIn group about ‘ultra haute horlogery’. The Dutch website Horlogenieuws has compiled a list with Independent watchmakers and categorized them as ‘Extravagant’, ‘Intermediate’ or ‘Classic’.Extravagant: Andreas Strehler – www.astrehler.ch Blu – www.blu.ch Cabestan – www.cabestan.ch DeGrisogono - www.degrisogono.com DeWitt - www.dewitt.ch Franc Vila – www.francvila.com Gruebel Forsey - www.greubelforsey.com HD3 – www.hd3complication.com Harry Winston - www.harrywinston.com Hautlence – www.hautlence.com Jean Dunand - www.jeandunand.com Ladoire - www.ladoire.ch Maitres du Temps - www.maitresdutemps.com MB&F - www.mbandf.com MCT - www.mctwatches.com Richard Mille – www.richardmille.com Urwerk - www.urwerk.com Vianney Halter – www.vianney-halter.comIntermediate: Antoine Preziuso – www.antoine-preziuso.com Beat Haldimann – www.haldimann-horology.ch Cvstos – www.cvstos.ch De Bethune – www.debethune.ch Gronefeld – www.gronefeld.nl Ludwig ochslin – www.ochsundjunior.ch McGonigle – www.mcgonigle.ie Parmigiani Fleurier – www.parmigiani.ch Pierre Kunz – www.pierrekunzgeneve.com Roger Dubuis – www.rogerdubuis.com Sarpaneva – www.sarpanevawatches.com Thomas Prescher – www.prescher.chClassic: Christiaan v.d. Klaauw - www.klaauwwatches.nl Montres Delaloye – www.montresdelaloye.ch F.P. Journe – www.fpjourne.com H. Moser & Cie. – www.h-moser.com Kari Voutilainen – www.voutilainen.ch Lang & Heyne – www.lang-und-heyne.de Martin Braun – www.martin-braun.com Paul Gerber – www.gerber-uhren.ch Philippe Dufour – www.philippedufour.fr Roger W. Smith – www.rwsmithwatches.co.uk Romain Gauthier – www.montres-rg.com Speake-Marin – www.speake-marin.com Svend Andersen – www.andersen-geneve.ch Urban Jurgensen – www.urbanjuergensen.com Volker Vyskocil – www.vyskocil.deVianney Halter’s Antiqua with more extravagant looksAnother excellent soucre to get?more information is?the website Tempered Online. ?Watch connaisseur Curtis Thomson has put together information and photos of several independent watchmakers. There’s even a forum dedicated to independent watchmaking where you can share your passion or ask your questions.