The Singapore Edition, host of IAMWATCH 2026, is ground zero for independent watchmaking this weekend as watchmakers and enthusiasts flock in boldly printed shirts to see some of the latest and greatest releases in the rapidly codifying category of Independent Artisanal watchmaking. While Singapore is currently a smorgasbord of releases, here are five that stood out to us.

The Mickaël Gaspar Souscription

One of the most exciting watches revealed at IAMWATCH is Mickaël Gaspar’s debut creation, the Souscription. The 29-year-old began working on this concept as his school watch, and it has been refined over the last decade into the piece unveiled today.

With a dial-side movement and retrograde date, the movement is built on a modified Swiss base plate and gear train, with the retrograde mechanism designed by Gaspar. Some components are cut in Les Brenets, and all told, the machining and finishing comprise some 250 hours of work.

The watch will be produced in a numbered series of 20, and has a price of 69,000 CHF (ex. VAT). Interestingly, it’s also the first watch backed by Ateliers Associés, a business incubator founded by industry veterans William Massena and Louis Westphalen-Lemaitre, dedicated to growing independant watchmaking.

The Garrick S8

British independent Garrick’s latest, the S8 is surprisingly complex for a time-only watch. With no dial and a new skeletonised S8 calibre, it’s a watch with nowhere to hide and, if we’re honest, nothing to hide. As with every Garrick watch, it’s built to order (which means there’s a degree of customisation that is possible) and not only that, it’s assembled by a single watchmaker over around eight weeks. In a very literal way, it’s a celebration of the watchmakers who work at the bench, rather than the name on the dial. The prototypes were made by Stuart Smith and Alex Downing, and the S8 is priced from £59,500.

The Franc Villa FVF2 Intrepido Openwork

Franc Villa’s unique journey into contemporary haute horlogerie continues with the FVF2 Intrepido Openwork FVF2OWDOC, made specially for IAMWATCH, and available exclusively in Singapore. The Intrepido Openwork offers an unprecedented view of the in-house movement revealed both front and back. The angular, modern architecture is finished to a demanding level. But beyond the unmistakably avant garde style of the watch, it’s the bold design choices that really make it stand out. The 39.5mm case boasts a baguette diamond-set bezel, boldly contrasted with the rose gold dial (what little dial there is) and a cognac-toned calibre. Production of the FVF2 Intrepido Openwork will be limited to a maximum of 50 pieces across all editions.

The Urwerk UR-101 Green Mamba

Urwerk returns once more to its original design, the saucer-like UR-101 in this vivid green variation. The Urwerk UR-101 Green Mamba is a visually simpler version of the brands legendary satellite display, with two satellites mounted on a carousel displaying the hours forming the basis of the wandering hours. The time display aperture is realised in vivid green, while the mostly closed case is 41mm of matte-black steel, mounted on a textured rubber strap. The watch is limited to 50 pieces and priced at 33,300 CHF, excluding taxes.

The Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel

Ulysse Nardin continues to celebrate 25 years of its iconic Freak with the Freak S Purple Enamel. As its base, it takes the crownless, handless and dial-less Freak S that debuted some years ago. But clearly the lack of these fundamentals hasn’t stopped the watch from being one of the most mechanically complex and visually arresting releases of recent years. This new version adds a tyrian hue, in the form of an enamelled purple hour disc that, unlike more traditional enamel dials, presents an added layer of complexity, as it is a functional component. This latest Freak is limited to 50 pieces and has a retail price of 153,00 CHF (incl. VAT).