We know, we know: just get to the best American watch brands already! To which we might respond: you’re welcome to scroll down, buddy! For everyone else: a brief history lesson, and we say that because the main difference between US and Swiss watchmaking does indeed boil down to history.

What do you get when you combine modern 3D printing technology with vintage American designs? Vortic Watches, that’s what. Not only do they deliver a slate of classical, ready-made stunners, but they’ll even convert your old pocket watch into a unique original. It all goes down in the brand’s home town of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Like a number of European counterparts, Autodromo bridges the gap between motorsport and horology. Unlike a number of European counterparts, these watches are gimmick-free and affordable. Influenced by 1960s and 1970s dashboard gauges, each one sticks to the basics to superb effect. Opt for a quartz-powered model and you’ll get a signature timepiece for under $1000.

If absolute distinction is your thing, then Devon is your American watch brand. Occupying the higher end of the spectrum, this US-based manufacturer gets downright avant-garde in terms of form and function alike. In fact, the brand doesn’t even refer to some of its own products as “watches,” calling them “time belts” instead. Accordingly, models like the Tread 1D look and operate like micro-sized conveyer belts. Things only get funkier from there.

Martenero founder John Tarantino left his post in real estate to launch this top American watch brand in 2014. Thanks to the crowd-funding platform SeedInvest, Tarantino was able to secure the capital he needed. Jump ahead five years and the brand is still going strong by way of its minimalist designs and affordable prices. Classic!

We love pretty much everything from Shinola and the brand’s timepieces are no exception. If you’re looking for Detroit-made American watches, this is technically where you’ll find them. However, it should also be noted that despite having a factory in Detroit, Shinola (infamously) sources parts from Europe and Asia. Nevertheless, the brand has played a vital role in rejuvenating Detroit and that’s no small accomplishment. Plus, who can argue with Shinola’s clean designs and affordable price tags?

The American horological tradition lives and breathes at Weiss Watch Company, where exceptional field watches are made by hand. Picking up where its historic predecessors left off, the brand utilises premium materials and old industry methods. From the 316L stainless steel cases to the solid brass dials to the domes of sapphire crystal, these American mechanical watches emanate with pure craftsmanship.

One of the best American automatic watch brands you can buy, RGM first launched in 1992. That makes it a groundbreaking company of sorts, which emerged when there were no other start-ups around. Founder Roland G. Murphy injects his passion into every model and it shows. For prime movements and bold but classical designs, look no further.

Inspired by espresso machines and coffee breaks, former Movado intern Jonathan Ferrer launched his new microbrand on Kickstarter in 2015. Two years later, he began shipping his first units. However, it wasn’t until the release of the Retrograph collection that Brew Watch Co. really began to shine. Each rectangular model is powered by Seiko meca-quartz movement and-assembled by Ferrer in his Brooklyn studio.

Kobold Watches is an American brand that Aussies will love. Taking his penchant for adventure to extremes, founder Mike Kobold and his wife wore his watches on a climb up Mt. Everest. It was both a product test and money-raising campaign for the Navy Seals Fund, which shows you where Kobold’s heart is at. That these classic American watches are durable basically goes without saying. They’re also quite affordable.

Pairing his love of barrel-aged bourbon with a devotion to his dog (named Oscar), Chase Fancher left his job in real estate to found one of the best American watch brands. That was 2015 and Oak & Oscar has been killing it in the time since. There might be Swiss-made movements under the skin, but the brand’s signature designs clearly hail from the American tradition.

True to their name, Lüm-Tec watches pack bright dials and steadfast mechanics into cases of surgical-grade stainless steel. This family-run operation is a subsidiary of Wiegand Custom Watch, LLC, which has been hand-crafting watches out of Ohio for over a decade. Buy with confidence!

Despite its American name and origins, Hamilton is Swiss-owned and Swiss-made. Nevertheless, the “born in Pennsylvania” vibe persists. Speaking of which, the brand goes all the way back to 1892, when watchmaking was integral to the American tradition. Nowadays, each model represents a balancing act between Swiss mechanics and the American spirit and that definitely works for us.

A number of the best American watch brands popped up over the last decade or two, but not Bulova. Founded in 1875, it was an early pioneer of tuning-fork technology, among other things. Currently owned by Japan’s Citizen Watch Co., the brand remains nevertheless driven by its original core principles of American craftsmanship and innovation.

While on the subject of heritage brands, this list wouldn’t be complete without Timex. What began as the Waterbury Clock Company in 1854 went on to become one of the most iconic and powerful watch conglomerates in the world. To this day, these affordable American watches take a licking and keep on ticking. Fun fact: the name “Timex” was derived as a portmanteau of Time Magazine and Kleenex tissues.

Independent watchmaker Keaton Myrick is a quintessential American craftsmen, who lives and works in Portland, Oregon. His hand-crafted mechanisms and timepieces are quite simply the stuff of legend. Take the Caliber 29.30 for example, which is designed, manufactured, and finished in-house. This is what horological dreams are made of.

Austin-based Dufrane Watches prides itself on delivering an extra tier of aesthetic distinction, all while retaining a completely approachable edge. To that end, models like The Barton Springs 656 or Bergstrom Cinq strike a masterful balance between eye-popping uniqueness and seamless versatility.

Picture some dudes hand-making quality watch bands in a small East Village apartment in 2013 and you have a good idea of how Throne began. Experiencing a surge in demand, they relocated to a workshop and soon churned out their inaugural timepiece to massive success. Things have only improved in the time since, making this boutique operation one of the best American watch brands you can find. Throne is an American watch company to definitely keep your eye on.

Will Detroit become a hub of American watchmaking in the near future? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility, thanks to brands like this one. Indeed, Detroit Watch Company infuses every model with the spirit of the city itself, which is also where assembly takes place.