Fratello’s Top 5 Small-Brand Watches Of 2025 — Featuring Echo/Neutra, Laventure, Berneron, And More

Another Friday, another list! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day with plenty of delicious food and refreshing drinks. As you recover from potential late-night celebrations, we offer some light entertainment today. For our series of best-of-2025 articles, it’s now time to look at some of this year’s best small-brand watches. After last week’s list of complicated heavy hitters from some of the industry’s big names, we’d like to highlight the smaller brands that are making waves in the watch world.

Before we dive into our list of five favorites, I’d like to make a disclaimer regarding the term “small brands.” We could have lengthy debates about what that term entails, but we won’t. Whether you call them “microbrands,” “independent brands,” or “small brands,” you probably have an idea what we were going for when we compiled this list. It’s a feeling that is not always easy to pinpoint exactly, just like the Christmas spirit… All jokes aside, you get the point. This is not a list to spark debate about what “small brands” are. Rather, it’s to celebrate five watches that were among the highlights of 2025. With that out of the way, let’s get started.

Echo/Neutra Rivanera Piccolo

While the Echo/Neutra Rivanera Piccolo is not the brand’s sophomore release, it is the second model in the Rivanera line. If you are a Fratello regular, you will be aware that the first Rivanera was a hit among our editorial team. As a result, it was on multiple year-end lists in 2024. So we were curious to find out what the second Rivanera release would be like. Would it be simply a smaller version of the first model? While that would have been easy, fortunately, that is not the route that Echo/Neutra founders Nicola Callegaro and Cristiano Quaglia chose.

Instead, they created a smaller Rivanera that looks and feels like a proper breath of fresh air. Indeed, the design and finish of the angular, lightweight titanium case resemble the original Rivanera. The case serves as a canvas that links the two, but the execution of the dials is completely different.

As I explained in my review, two Rivanera Piccolo models come with “Grain de Riz” guilloché dials in black or white, while the third model features a dial in Musou Black, the blackest acrylic paint ever created. Additionally, the dial design differs from that of its siblings. Lastly, for the new Rivanera Piccolo, the brand opted for an automatic caliber rather than the manual-winding movement from the original Rivanera.

A different aesthetic all around

The three Rivanera Piccolo models have a Grade 5 titanium case with a 26mm diameter, a 6.9mm thickness, and a 33mm lug-to-lug. While the case is only slightly narrower than the inaugural Rivanera, the 7mm reduction in length is substantial.

As a result, the shape becomes more square than rectangular, and the presence changes drastically. Inside the case, you will find the Sellita SW1000. The automatic caliber is another notable change that adds daily convenience. On top of that, the caliber has a date window at 6 o’clock and offers a 46-hour power reserve.

When it comes to the dial, the Rivenara Piccolo with the Musou Black dial looks brilliantly minimalist. The deep black paint absorbs light, shifting the focus to all the different details that make this model stand out. The sharp lines of the case, with its contrasting finishes and faceted crystal, are all brought to the forefront. It is the one model that we collectively adore here at Fratello.

The Musou Black version next to last year’s gray-dial Rivanera

Especially on the black rubber strap, this Rivanera Piccolo (€1,640) is a brilliant modern dress watch. However, Echo/Neutra also provides a black leather strap for variety. The black and white “Grain de Riz” guilloché-dial versions feature significantly more detail and offer a much different look. This trio of watches offers something new for the brilliant Rivanera line, so it is the perfect opener for this list.

Laventure Marine Type 3

Our second pick, the Laventure Marine Type 3, is another widely adored watch among the Fratello team. Laventure founder Clément Gaud has consistently surprised us with various models. The best thing is that Gaud has a distinct and recognizable design style, so there’s a clear visual connection between the different watches.

However, when the first images of the Marine Type 3 were unveiled, I had to adjust to the watch’s design. The wide, flat bezel and the smaller dial initially looked odd. Then again, I should have known better than to doubt anything because Gaud is great at designing watches that have character and are perfectly balanced.

Laventure’s Marine Type 3 was available in two versions. The first had a black dial with white markings, while the second had a white fully luminous dial with black markings. The latter is the one that we all adore, and it looks super cool when paired with the mint-green rubber strap.

Both of these 38mm watches have a 46.2mm lug-to-lug and an 11.2mm thickness. But that last dimension includes the 2.3mm-thick domed acrylic crystal, meaning the Grade 23 titanium case itself has a svelte 8.9mm profile. Not only does the crystal add a ton of character, but the lightweight, slim case also makes this Marine Type 3 a joy to wear.

The Marine Type 3 has a smart two-part dial

Underneath the crystal, you will find a two-part dial, as Daan explained. The upper part is the visible one, with its recessed center that houses the minute track and Arabic numerals for the hours. At first, this circular layout seems small compared to the numerals placed on the outside of the minute markers. But zoom in, and you will see that the entire creation is perfectly balanced in terms of size and thickness of the printed elements. The second part of the dial is a non-visible soft-iron bottom plate, which protects the movement from magnetic fields.

Inside the case is the Sellita SW300-1-based Laventure Cal. 4. This customized automatic movement features a 3N gold plating and a beautiful finish. Additionally, it operates 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 56-hour power reserve. Despite looking gorgeous, the caliber lies hidden behind an all-titanium case back.

On the wrist is where the Laventure Marine Type 3 really shines. Thanks to its spot-on proportions and lightweight case material, it’s so enjoyable to wear. With the comfortable rubber strap, the Marine Type 3 becomes hard to take off the wrist, especially once you have seen the magic of the fully luminous dial, which lights up brightly in the dark. All these things make the Laventure Marine Type 3, particularly the white-dial version, another small-brand highlight of this year. It is no wonder that all 200 pieces sold out at CHF 4,200. The watches are simply fantastic.

Beda’a Angles Mecaline

More dress-watch goodness came from Beda’a. This young Qatari brand has quickly gained traction over the past two years with a series of beautifully designed watches. Among them was the Beda’a Angels series, which debuted last year. The angular dress watch came in a select number of variants with classic dial designs and a quartz caliber inside.

This year, the brand’s CEO and chief designer, Sohaib Maghnam, surprised us with two mechanical versions that also feature new dials. The result is the Angles Mecaline, which displays the great power of the original Angels design.

It took Maghnam 15 months to redesign the case of the quartz model, keeping the design and proportions similar. By slimming down the bezel, dial, and crystal, he created a beautiful version that looks stunning. Additionally, he opted for an all-steel case back to keep the watch slim. As a result, the Angles Mecaline models are only 0.7mm thicker than last year’s quartz models.

The new 37mm stainless steel case has a 6mm profile and a 19mm lug spacing. It is matched with either a glossy black dial with a circular-finished sub-seconds register or a glossy warm gray dial with a semi-matte sunray sub-dial. Additionally, it only features the brand name on the upper half. Lastly, the polished dauphine hands add character and complement the angular case perfectly.

The Beda’a Angles Mecaline wears like a dream

Inside the slim case, you will find the ETA (Peseux) 7001 caliber. This manual-winding movement is super thin, making it a perfect fit for the new case. The caliber operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, has 17 jewels, and offers a 42-hour power reserve. The hexagonal push-pull crown is another standout design element, with its knurled, circular ring. Additionally, the design facilitates easy winding and setting of the watch.

Both versions come fitted with super-comfortable leather straps that feature a branded buckle. The large B-shaped buckle might seem excessive at first, but as soon as you strap the watch to your wrist, it makes perfect sense. These slim watches wear like a dream. On the wrist, they also make you appreciate how nicely designed the stepped case is.

It has a ton of character, and while it’s rooted in the tradition of classic dress watches, it offers a perfect modern spin on the genre. Additionally, the clever finishing adds more detail to these minimalist watches, which are available for US$1,456. It makes the Beda’a Angles Mecaline another brilliant addition to the growing number of affordable dress watches available today.

Berneron Quantième Annuel

The fourth pick for our top five small-brand watches of 2025 is another impressive release that flew slightly under the radar. However, the Berneron Quantième Annuel is a wonderful follow-up to the brand’s Mirage models, which impressed many watch enthusiasts. For this new watch, Sylvain Berneron decided to go in a completely different direction.

He decided to skip the asymmetrical cases, go for a more conventional shape, and create a new take on the practicality of a calendar watch. More specifically, Berneron took the idea of a calendar watch and attempted to make the most logical and legible display possible.

Additionally, the new caliber 595 features a quick-set procedure, making it easier to adjust the calendar. Lastly, the movement has a safety mode that eliminates the practical issue of potentially setting the watch incorrectly and having to send it to the brand for resetting/repair. It took Berneron two years to tackle all the challenges and come up with the wonderful caliber 595, which lies behind a hunter-style case back that is a nice twist on a more conventional-looking watch.

Luxurious practicality inside and out

Going back to the wonderfully finished 18K gold caliber, let’s discuss practicality. As mentioned, it has a quick-set system that allows the wearer to set the time and date by rotating the crown forward and backward. The day and month are controlled with two pushers that are neatly integrated into the case flanks. Additionally, the integrated safety system brilliantly resets the date to the first day of the following month when necessary. This ensures that you don’t pick a nonexistent date when adjusting the calendar, which could lead to mechanical issues.

The wonderful manual-winding caliber is housed in a beautifully proportioned 38mm case made from platinum with an innovative 904L steel layer. It has a nice 10mm thickness and a 45mm lug-to-lug measurement, making it a joy to wear. The case is combined with either a black dial with a gray center or a silver dial with a blue center.

Both have a vertical time display and a horizontal calendar display, which makes it easy to navigate. I could continue singing this song of praise, but I suggest you read Thomas’s introduction article. Berneron will produce 24 pieces per year and per variant. The price for those to be made in 2026 is CHF 120,000. What buyers get in return is an excellent watch from an impressively grown company with a remarkable business model.

Dennison ALD Dual Time

Our fifth and final pick is the new series of Dennison ALD Dual Time watches. The young British brand surprised us last year with its inaugural ALD series, designed by industry veteran Emmanuel Gueit. This year, we were treated to a fun follow-up. For the new series, Dennison decided to expand the ALD series with a model that displays the time in two time zones using two sets of hands on one dial made of stone.

You can choose from two layouts. The first has a split-screen style with two contrasting stones. The second has a single natural stone and a sunburst sub-dial for one set of hands. We prefer the simpler layout using one color, but if you prefer something more colorful, the dials with contrasting stones are great.

The redesigned case is still very wearable

For the new ALD Dual Time, Gueit redesigned the case. Obviously, it is wider because it has two time displays. However, the proportions are still spot on. The new 37 × 35.6mm case has a slim 6.1mm profile and is available in regular 316L stainless steel or with a PVD gold-tone finish. When it comes to dial options for our favorite layout, the brand offers aventurine, tiger eye, malachite, or lapis lazuli with a color-matched circular sunburst sub-dial.

Inside the case of each ALD Dual Time, you will find two Ronda quartz movements, as Mike explained. They are a logical choice to make both the special layout happen and ensure the watches are nice and slim. The thinness makes them super wearable, especially in combination with the Epsom calfskin straps that have a case-matching pin buckle. For just under €765, the Dennison ALD Dual Time is a fun and affordable final pick for this list.

Honorable mention: Straum Jan Mayen Fratello Limited Edition Titanium

So, there you have it — our five favorite small-brand watches released in 2025. As you can see, from the high-end Berneron Quantième Annuel to the more affordable Dennison ALD Dual Time, it’s a diverse range of options representing the broad spectrum of small watch brands. It truly is an exciting time for those who love creativity in the watch world.

Before we conclude this list, we would also like to include an honorable mention. When we released the Straum Jan Mayen Limited Edition in stainless steel in 2023, several people missed the opportunity to purchase one. As a result, we received numerous requests to bring back the watch with its signature red lava-like dial.

Together with Straum, we decided to release a titanium version with the same dial on a black rubber strap. Not only were we delighted to work with Straum again on a follow-up release, but we also want to thank the people who purchased this watch, which we are very proud of! It is the perfect closer for this list.