Is there a brand that more completely blurs the line between the definition of “microbrand” and “independent brand” than Brew? It depends, of course, on how you define each term. If a brand needs to exist in the haute horlogerie space and craft movements or other components from scratch in an artisanal way to be considered “independent,” then Brew will probably never qualify under those terms. But if your criteria is an intentional, well defined point of view on watchmaking with a clear, instantly recognizable design language, all executed according to the singular creative vision of the brand’s founder, Brew easily fits. I’ve never been one to see microbrand as a pejorative or diminishing label, but in Brew’s case I might argue that it doesn’t necessarily reflect the brand’s growth over the last decade, and the widespread recognition and popularity they’ve found outside of the enthusiast space.
Importantly, Brew continues to find interesting ways to iterate on the themes established since the brand’s founding by Jonathan Ferrer, the founder and designer behind the brand. It would be easy for Brew to simply pump out new colorways for successful models, but instead they’ve taken steps (sometimes, admittedly, slower than some collectors and enthusiasts would like) to gradually expand what people think of when they consider what Brew actually is. To that end, their latest watch is a new version of their manually wound Metric (with a Swiss movement) and a dial execution that is just a little more complex than what we’re used to seeing from them.
The new Metric Copper expands on the Metric Manual Wind platform introduced last year. This is the familiar Metric case that has proven to be a juggernaut for Brew since its introduction, stripped of its chronograph functionality and replaced with a simple Swiss hand wound caliber (a Sellita SW210). This format just really works for the Metric, and plays into the strengths of the case itself, which is compact, thin, and fun to wear. This case measures 36mm, 41.5mm from lug to lug, and just 8.5mm thick. The integrated bracelet gives the Metric a little bit of additional wrist presence, making this size about as universal as it gets – this is a watch that almost anyone can wear.
The dial is a riff on the copper theme that Brew has played with on and off for years. We’ve seen the espresso inspired copper tone and guilloche pattern previously, but this new watch plays with depth in a way that is new for Brew, with a subtly raised minute track along the dial’s perimeter and black outlined hour markers that draw the eye and provide additional contrast. It’s not a revolutionary upgrade, but has a subtly more contemporary and refined appearance that could lay the groundwork for future work from Brew.
The new Metric Copper is available now via Brew’s website, with a retail price of $875. Brew
