In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Austin Lee and Henry Kwong, co-founders of Monbrey, a Hong Kong-based microbrand with one of the most distinct visual identities in the independent watch space.
Austin and Henry both spent years working behind the scenes in the watch industry before deciding to create something of their own. In this conversation, we talk about how they first got into watches, how they met, and what inspired them to start Monbrey after years of designing and developing watches for other brands.
We also get into Monbrey’s slogan, “Invent New Dimension,” and how that idea shaped the brand’s approach to design. Austin and Henry share the thinking behind collections like the MB1 Wedge Era, MB2 Kenkyū, and MB3 Trinova, and how each collection starts with a different sense of time, place, and visual inspiration.
Beyond the watches themselves, we discuss their design process as co-founders, why it matters for collectors to experience microbrand watches in person, the challenges and opportunities of building a brand from Hong Kong, and what comes next for Monbrey.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Monbrey and Its Founders
04:15 The Journey into Watchmaking
07:04 Inspiration Behind Monbrey’s Design
09:55 Exploring Monbrey’s Collections
12:46 Market Reception and Collector Insights
16:01 Design Process and Collaboration
18:44 Challenges in Manufacturing and Quality Control
21:32 Future Plans and New Directions
24:17 Community and Brand Presence in Hong Kong
27:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Learn more about Monbrey:
Website: https://monbrey.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monbrey_watches/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/project.monbrey
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe for more conversations with the founders, designers, and operators behind today’s most interesting microbrand and independent watch companies.
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