Conceived by Time+Tide, the new FounderFest event dedicated to independent watchmaking will debut on September 19 and 20, 2026, simultaneously at the Watch Discovery Studios in Melbourne, London, and New York, bringing together seven independent brands, their founders, collectors, music, and a series of live events.
The concept behind the initiative is quite simple, but that is precisely what makes it so interesting: it starts with the people who created the brands and the passions that shaped their journeys. Not a traditional watch fair, then, but a festival in which watches serve as the starting point for exploring culture, design, and identity. For the occasion, Time+Tide collaborated with the seven brands to create seven exclusive Studio Editions, all inspired by the music and culture that accompanied the founders during the early days of their respective projects.
The featured brands are Awake, Baltic, Beaucroft, Dennison, echo/neutra, Furlan Marri, and Serica. These seven brands are very different in terms of their origins, aesthetics, and design approaches, but they are united by their ability to embody one of the most fascinating transformations in contemporary watchmaking: the gradual emergence of a new generation of independent watchmakers capable of forging a strong identity without necessarily adhering to the conventions of the traditional industry. Let’s take a closer look at them right away.
Awake Sơn Mài – Frosted Leaf “Ultraviolet” Time+Tide Studio Edition
Among the participants at FounderFest is Awake, a French fashion house that has distinguished itself in recent years for its ability to combine contemporary design, craftsmanship, and a unique sensibility toward materials.
For its collaboration with Time+Tide, Awake chose the Sơn Mài collection, drawing on one of the most fascinating decorative techniques in Vietnamese craftsmanship. The Studio Edition Frosted Leaf “Ultraviolet” features a dial created using the traditional Sơn Mài lacquer technique, applied by hand over a silver leaf base. The surface is created by layering several coats of translucent black and purple lacquer, which are then polished to achieve ever-changing depth and texture.
The 38 mm case houses the Swiss automatic La Joux-Perret G101 movement. But the technical details, in this case, almost take a back seat to the craftsmanship of the dial: Awake uses the watch as a canvas onto which to transfer a sensorial experience. It is precisely this research, suspended between watchmaking, art, and culture, that makes the French maison particularly suited to the spirit of FounderFest.
Baltic Heures du Monde “Horizon Line” Time+Tide Studio Edition
If there’s one brand that can demonstrate just how vintage aesthetics can be reinterpreted without devolving into mere nostalgia, it’s Baltic.
The French brand has built its identity around compact proportions, references to the watchmaking traditions of the past, and an almost scholarly attention to certain aesthetic codes of the 20th century. At the same time, Baltic has managed to avoid becoming merely a retro venture, gradually building a recognizable identity and an international community of enthusiasts.
For FounderFest, the starting point was the Heures du Monde, the brand’s compact world timer. The “Horizon Line”represents a slight departure from the brand’s tradition: for the first time, Baltic is using a forged carbon dial, featuring a random pattern of black and gray fragments that makes each piece unique.
The 37 mm steel case retains the brand’s trademark compact proportions, while the dial introduces orange and blue accents. Powering it is the automatic Soprod C125 , which displays the hours, minutes, GMT, and world timer. The choice is significant: a watch inspired by the themes of travel, movement, and discovery seems almost a perfect metaphor for the path Baltic has taken over the past ten years.
Beaucroft “The Punk” Time+Tide Studio Edition
With Beaucroft, it’s a completely different story. This young British brand has built its identity around design, proportions, and a desire to offer a recognizable aesthetic without necessarily relying on the more conventional codes of watchmaking.
The Studio Edition“The Punk” takes this philosophy as its starting point and pushes it to the extreme. The musical reference is clear from the name alone, but its translation onto the dial is anything but literal: a translucent pink sapphire dial offers a glimpse of the Miyota 90S5 automatic movement, while the sapphire case back allows for a further view of the mechanics.
The 38 mm case, derived from the architecture of The Arc collection, is coated in black PVD and paired with a black FKM rubber strap. The result is a striking contrast between the pink dial and the black case, a deliberately nonconformist aesthetic that interprets punk not so much through graphic symbols as through the idea of individuality.
This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of Beaucroft: using design as a tool to challenge the expectations of those who wear a watch.
Dennison ALD Dual Time “Carnaby Blue” Time+Tide Studio Edition
Dennison’s participation adds an important element of British heritage to FounderFest. The brand is reviving the name of a historic British watchmaking company, reinterpreting it through a contemporary lens.
The Studio Edition ALD Dual Time“Carnaby Blue”draws inspiration from 1960s London and that extraordinary cultural era that transformed the British capital into one of the world’s most important creative hubs.
The focal point is the blue mother-of-pearl mosaic dial, whose geometric pattern evokes the Union Jack. The shades shift between navy blue and cobalt blue depending on the angle of the light, creating a particularly dynamic surface.
Inside the slim, cushion-shaped stainless steel case are two Ronda quartz movements, necessary for displaying two time zones. It is an extremely practical solution that allows Dennison to maintain compact dimensions and an elegant profile without sacrificing the Dual Time function.
The denim strap completes the nod to 1960s British culture. In this case, music is not just an aesthetic inspiration, it becomes the means through which an entire era is brought to life.
echo/neutra Rivanera Piccolo “Rosa d’Epoca” Time+Tide Studio Edition
Of the seven protagonists, echo / neutra is probably the one that most directly brings an Italian design sensibility to FounderFest.
The brand has built its identity around the relationship between watchmaking, architecture, and the Alpine environment, developing a minimalist aesthetic in which proportions and readability take center stage.
For FounderFest, the brand chose the Rivanera Piccolo, reinterpreting it through the“Rosa d’Epoca”Studio Edition. What immediately stands out is its size: the Grade 5 titanium case measures just 26 mm in diameter. This is a bold, countercultural choice in a market where the trend toward ever-larger watches now seems to be a thing of the past, yet where men’s watch sizes often remain above 38–40 mm.
However, the small diameter does not mean sacrificing complexity. The dark gray dial features a textured surface, framed by lacquered elements and antique pink details. The watch is powered by the compact Sellita SW1000 automatic movement.
“Rosa d’Epoca” is probably one of the most delicate designs in the entire FounderFest collection and demonstrates how a small watch can have a presence far greater than its size.
Furlan Marri “Songlines” Editions — Time+Tide Studio Edition
Furlan Marri is one of the most interesting examples of the new wave of independent watchmaking. The brand, founded by Andrea Furlan and Hamad Al Marri, has built a significant part of its success on an extremely refined reinterpretation of the aesthetics of vintage chronographs.
The collaboration with Time+Tide, on the other hand, takes a slightly different direction.“Songlines”draws inspiration from “Outback Elegy” and transforms its character through a more versatile and contemporary approach.
The chocolate-brown dial features a unique lacquered finish and has a textured surface that shifts from deep brown to bronze tones when held up to the light. For the first time, this design is paired with a three-link stainless steel bracelet, a combination that accentuates the watch’s everyday appeal.
The movement is the automatic La Joux – Perret G100 , visible through a hunter-style caseback that still retains an element of surprise. The result is an elegant yet sportier watch, demonstrating how Furlan Marri is progressively expanding its vocabulary beyond simple reinterpretations of the past.
Serica Ref. 7505 “Sunburst” Time+Tide Studio Edition
Rounding out the selection is Serica, one of the most recognizable names in contemporary French independent watchmaking.
The brand has built its reputation through a highly personal reinterpretation of the “tool watch” concept: compact, functional, and robust watches featuring design details that are easily distinguishable from those of other brands.
The Ref. 7505 “Sunburst”takes this concept in a decidedly more emotional direction. The enamel dial fades from a tobacco-brown center toward an almost black edge, echoing the sunburst effect typical of the finishes on the most iconic guitars in rock history.
In terms of aesthetics, it remains a true Serica: the distinctive dial layout, compact dimensions, and field watch design are all still present. Beneath the dial, however, lies the Soprod M100 automatic chronometer-certified movement, while the Bonklip bracelet with Safe-Lock clasp enhances its utility as a tool watch.
With a water resistance rating of 200 meters, the 7505 proves that a watch can feature a sophisticated finish without losing its functional essence. It is perhaps one of the best embodiments of the spirit of FounderFest: taking a musical culture, transforming it into an aesthetic language, and incorporating it into an object designed to be worn in real life.
Our Thoughts
When viewed as a whole, the seven Studio Editions reveal an element that goes beyond a simple commercial collaboration. Awake, Baltic, Beaucroft, Dennison, echo/neutra, Furlan Marri, and Serica belong to different worlds, but they share one common trait: each has its own distinct voice.
And this is probably precisely why FounderFest could prove to be more interesting than just a showcase of new products. Time+Tide didn’t choose seven brands simply to create a diverse collection, but to highlight seven different approaches to independent watchmaking.
Music thus becomes the central theme of a project in which the true protagonist is not just the watch, but the person who conceived it. FounderFest was thus created as a celebration of individuality: that of the founders, designers, artisans, and, of course, the collectors who choose to follow them.
The seven Studio Editions will be showcased in person during FounderFest on September 19 and 20. They will then be available through a 24-hour global online sales window on September 22, after which they will be available exclusively at Time+Tide’s three Watch Discovery Studios in Melbourne, London, and New York.
Rather than just another trade show, FounderFest seems to be positioning itself as an experiment. It’s a different way of talking about watches at a time when independent watchmaking is no longer a niche reserved for a select few enthusiasts, but one of the most dynamic and creative sectors in the entire industry. And if the future of watchmaking also depends on the ability to tell stories, Time+Tide has chosen to start with music.
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