Brew - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Brew is a watch brand founded in 2015 in New York City (USA) by designer Jonathan Ferrer; born from a project sketched in cafés, it translates coffee rituals and espresso-machine aesthetics into compact, colourful contemporary watches.

Espresso chronographs and ’70s-inspired cushion cases

Brew’s visual language blends compact cushion cases, integrated bracelets and multi-level dials with a dedicated 25–35-second espresso scale on the chronographs; the idea is to anchor a real-world timing cue (the espresso shot) within an everyday chrono.

From Retrograph to Metric and Retromatic: the core families

The range revolves around clear lines sharing the same grammar (soft-edged squares, bold colours, immediate legibility) while covering different use cases; each family extends the coffee-workshop aesthetic with its own temperament:

• Brew Retrograph — Meca-quartz chronograph with a 25–35 s espresso timer and 60-minute totalizer; proudly retro-tool in spirit.
• Brew Metric (Chronograph / Super Metric) — 36 mm with integrated bracelet, Seiko VK68 meca-quartz; readable extraction scale and vivid colourways.
• Brew Metric Manual Wind (10th Anniversary) — 36 mm × 8.5 mm, Sellita SW210-1 hand-wound caliber, limited runs (blue/25 pcs, grey/100 pcs).
• Brew Retromatic — 36 mm rectangular automatic three-hand/date; depending on version, Sellita SW200 or Seiko NH35A movements.
• Brew Metric Lite — A 30 mm vintage-charm footprint powered by a compact automatic caliber (Miyota 6T27 family), sized for smaller wrists.

NYC studio-boutique, short distribution and approachable pricing

Brew sells primarily direct (official website) and through a New York Nolita studio-boutique, with limited runs and periodic restocks; recent public prices cluster around USD 375–395 for Retrograph, USD 475–495 for Metric Chronograph, ~USD 525 for some Metric Automatic, and USD 875 for the Metric Manual Wind (annual volumes not disclosed).

Compact wear and day-to-day legibility

Most models prioritise contained footprints (roughly 36 mm for Metric, ~41.5 mm overall length, 50 m WR) and high-contrast dials that move easily from office to weekend; dial depth and crisp indices aim for instant reading without sacrificing personality.

Conclusion

Brew suits enthusiasts seeking characterful yet easy-to-live-with watches: compact design, a clear story (espresso timing) and joyful colours. You spot the brand by its integrated cushion cases, the 25–35-second chrono scale and a recent step up toward hand-wound mechanics. Deciding between an easygoing Brew Retrograph, a more expressive Brew Metric (meca-quartz or manual), or an automatic Brew Retromatic comes down to dimensions and style for daily use; to refine your choice, rely on Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)