"Microbrands", "independents" — however you want to label them, these small companies have never been more prominent in the horological sphere. There are a handful of fantastic timepieces from these often one-man brands that offer thoughtful design and functionality, incredible value, and a personal touch unmatched by larger firms. One newer microbrand that has made quite the first impression is Lorca Watches. Founded by Jesse Marchant, an established recording artist based out of the Big Apple, Lorca debuted the Model No. 1 GMT in 2023. Inspired by Marchant's endless search for the perfect travel companion while on tour, the Model No. 1 GMT encapsulates everything we adore about 1970s sport watch design in a compact silhouette that's rarely seen on the current market. This example, a silver-dial variant, features a tidy 36mm stainless steel case with a fixed, stainless steel 24-hour bezel, a double-domed sapphire crystal, and a screw-down crown. It’s accompanied by an awesome stainless steel bracelet featuring a pair of solid end links that transition into its 'beads-of-rice'-style architecture and culminate in a signed, push-button deployant clasp. Oozing with vintage charisma, the dial features applied hour indices, an open minute track, central crosshairs, a trapezoidal date window, a 'snowflake' GMT hand and a matching dauphine hour handset. Meanwhile, luminous plots and hands as well as a hefty 200-meter water resistance rating render it equally versatile and elegant. Powered by a self-winding Soprod C125 R4 movement with 'caller' (i.e. independently adjustable GMT hand) functionality, this example is part of a complete set. See this watch in person and its charm with speak for themselves!
