Albishorn might be one of the most overlooked independent brands right now. For the last few years, they have quietly been making striking chronographs using proprietary movements, riffing on the concept of “imaginary vintage,” at reasonable, though not entry-level prices. These aren’t watches meant to be mistaken for vintage; rather, they aim to create watches that “could have been,” slotting into history as if things had gone a bit differently, while offering complexity beyond brands using off-the-shelf movements.

Created by Sébastien Chaulmontet, a long-time industry veteran, highly experienced movement engineer, and thorough watch enthusiast, Albishorn’s watches are layered with history, clever design cues, and movement nerdery. While you can appreciate them on a surface level for their design, they also assume a certain familiarity with watch history.…