Super Bumblebee Chrono
$700
London microbrand doing joyful, colorful Valjoux chronographs. Not serious in the best way. If the Junghans chrono is your refined pick, this one is its chaotic younger sibling — and it's brilliant for it.
About Studio Underd0g
A young British designer, Richard Benc, launched Studio Underd0g with a watermelon-dial chronograph that became the most talked-about watch of its year — at $500. The brand's manifesto is printed on every caseback: 'designed to put a smile on your face.' Pistachio dials, 'Desert Sky' gradients, tomato reds: each piece is a color study executed with shockingly good hand-finished detailing for the price.
In an industry that takes itself terminally seriously, Underd0g proved playfulness could be a legitimate design language — and the waitlists agree.
