In this episode of The Micro Collector, I’m joined by Ray Lin, Co-Founder of Sunrex, for the podcast’s first in-person interview, recorded in Hong Kong from the Sunrex office and showroom.
Sunrex has a fascinating story that traces back to Ray’s father, who started the business in Taiwan in the 1970s before later moving to Hong Kong and building a long-running OEM watch manufacturing business. After years of making watches for other brands, Ray and his brother Chi decided to bring Sunrex back as a brand of their own.
In this conversation, Ray shares the family history behind Sunrex, the transition from OEM manufacturing to independent brand building, and what it has been like learning the brand, marketing, and collector side of the watch industry after decades spent behind the scenes making watches for others.
We also talk about Sunrex’s approach to product design, quality, and materials; why the brand has focused on solar-powered watches; what collectors may still underappreciate about solar technology; and the stories behind the current Sunrex collection, including the Banana Reef, vintage-inspired divers, motorsport chronographs, and the small design details that make the watches distinctive.
If you enjoy the episode, be sure to subscribe for more conversations with the founders and operators behind microbrands and independent watch companies.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Sunrex and Ray's Background
04:10 The Journey of Sunrex: From OEM to Brand Creation
06:48 Identifying Market Gaps and the Solar Watch Concept
10:04 The Unique Features of Sunrex Watches
12:50 Building a Brand: Challenges and Community Support
15:31 Understanding Solar Technology in Watches
18:03 Exploring the Sunrex Collection
21:02 Future Plans and Upcoming Releases for Sunrex
23:36 How to Connect with Sunrex
Learn More About Sunrex:
Website: https://sunrexwatches.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrexwatches/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095213314238
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunrexwatches
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sunrexwatches
#sunrexwatches #microbrandwatches #independentwatchmaking #solarwatches#watchcollecting
