If you’re already started looking, you’ll have discovered that it’s hard to find American-made watches. Despite that, there are still brands worth shopping from out there.
If you’re looking for a new timepiece, you want one that’s going to last.
Most of these brands use traditional methods, designing and assembling their watches in the USA. You’ll find that most combine American and Swiss parts, to create timeless, accurate, and impressive watches.
In this guide, we’ve collected some of the very best American watch brands on the market. From vintage to modern, you’re covered.
Our American-Made Watch Picks [show]
- Vortic
- Weiss Watch Company
- DuFrane
- Detroit Watch Company
- Kobold
- Pelton
- Shinola
Let’s jump straight in.
Our Favorite American Made Watches
1. Vortic
Based in: Fort Collins, Colorado
Pricing: $5,000+
Styles: Vintage
Vortic Watch Company is a Northern Colorado based small batch and custom watchmaker. They also restore vintage pocket watches, giving them a new lease of life, turning them into wearable, classically designed watches.
They’re on a mission to preserve American-watch-making manufacturing traditions, that began to fade out in the mid-1900s.
Vortic creates watches in a variety of styles. But, what runs through each piece is a feeling of timelessness and durability. Vortic often sells out, but you can get on their waiting list on their website to be notified when they release new watches.
Shop Vortic
2. Weiss Watch Company
Based in: Nashville, Tennessee
Pricing: From $1,450
Styles: Classic
Weiss Watch Company is a family-owned business, with a team of detail-obsessed watch makers behind them.
They have Swiss-trained and certified American watchmakers overseeing every watch, combining traditional techniques with new technology.
Every movement in the watches are reviewed, jeweled, and finished by hand in Weiss’ studio, designed to last for generations.
Shop Weiss
3. DuFrane
Based in: Austin, Texas
Pricing: From $499
Styles: Vintage, Diving, Modern styles
DuFrane is an American watch brand based in Austin, Texas. Every watch is named after landmarks and historical figures, with each one featuring a hand wound Bergstrom.
The watches have genuine Swiss movements, and are assembled in Texas.
You’ll find a selection of styles, including Diving watches, tool watches, and pilot watches.
Shop DuFrane
4. Detroit Watch Company
Based in: Detroit, Michigan
Pricing: From $998
Styles: Classic
The Detroit Watch Company has been creating and assembling timeless, high-quality watches, in their Michigan-based studio since 2013.
The watches use Swiss Eta and Sellita automatic movements, so you can be confident your watch will tick for years.
Every component in the watches are designed based on the specific movement and components, and the watches are carefully assembled by hand.
Shop Detroit Watch Company
5. Kobold
Based in: Pennsylvania
Pricing: From $3,650
Styles: Classic, Diver, Tactical
Founded in 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as part of an entrepreneurship class at Carnegie Mellon University.
In 2006, the brand released their Spirit of America watch, which was the first serially U.S.-assembled mechanical watch in a generation.
By 2014, Kobold were making all of their watch cases in Merry Oaks Farm, near Pittsburgh. They finish every watch case by hand.
Kobold also produce some of their watch cases are also produced in factories in other countries, including Italy and Switzerland.
No matter where their watches are made, you can find every last bit of information about the watch you buy on their website or by talking to their team.
Shop Kobold
6. Pelton
Based in: Detroit, Michigan
Pricing: From $1,499
Styles: Classic, Modern
Since 2016 Pelton has been making luxury Made in the USA watches from their Detroit-based headquarters.
The brand’s philosophy is simple: create timeless, high-quality watches that their customers can keep for generations.
Pelton watch cases start as a block of metal, and are carefully crafted into the final piece. They also produce the only Made in the USA metal watch bracelets on the market.
Shop Peleton
7. Shinola
Based in: Detroit, Michigan
Pricing: From $395
Styles: Chronographs, sport, minimalist
Shinola’s watches are designed and assembled by artisans in Detroit.
Every watch that comes out of Shinola’s Detroit factory is crafted by skilled artisans, using the highest quality Swiss and other imported parts.
The team behind the brand are so confident in the quality that they offer a limited lifetime warranty on all of their core watch styles.
The leather straps are also cut, sewn and painted in their Detroit factory.
Shop Shinola
Recap: American Made Watches
Hopefully you’ve found your perfect American made timepiece. Each watch is an heirloom you can cherish for generations.
If you’re looking to discover more great American made brands, we recommend checking this post, which features over twenty amazing made in the USA brands.
Plus, if you want to discover other watch brands outside the USA, check out our favorite sustainable watches here.
