Caliber's TT: Three Shades of Green — 3 Microbrand Watches Collection

For years, I bounced around collecting whatever caught my eye — dress watches, divers, field pieces, the usual “collector’s journey”. But somewhere along the way, I realised I didn’t want more watches. I wanted meaningful ones. I started to limit what I would get and that was when I decided to have "collection rules". (Of course the wallet was another major limiting factor)

So I set a rule:

Build a three-watch collection entirely from microbrands, all with green dials, all chronographs.

A self-imposed limit. A bit of discipline (or so I tell myself). And finally — the trilogy is complete.

The Lineup

1. Kurono Tokyo Chronograph 3: nicknamed HISUI:翡翠

White-green Itoigawa jade | 38mm | Automatic (NE86)

Kurono is a brand I’ve admired since day one — Hajime Asaoka’s way of mixing classic proportions with Japanese flair always hits different. I have previously written a post about the Kurono Tokyo Chronograph 3, you can find it here.

I paired this one with a handcrafted crocodile strap by HRTG by Hides&Thread to enhance its slightly dressier character. The strap tapers beautifully, and the glossy scales mirror the polished case perfectly.

2. Furlan Marí Sage Green

Mechaquartz Hybrid Movement | 38mm | Brushed Bezel

Furlan Marí has that vintage charm — almost like discovering a forgotten watch from the 1940s, but brand new. The green dial here leans towards olive, warm and understated.

I kept it casual with a Nubuck leather strap, again made by HRTG. The soft matte finish tones down the watch just enough. This combo feels relaxed, almost Italian in attitude — unbothered but stylish. You may also read more about it here.

3. Studio Underdog “Avocado”

Hand-Wound Seagull ST-1901 Movement | Gradient Green Dial | Sandwich Subdial

The wildcard. The watch that refuses to be serious — and exactly why I love it. Only Studio Underdog would think to turn guacamole into a chronograph. The dial has texture, depth, humour — it’s impossible not to smile when you look at it. And because it’s such a playful piece, I went bold with the strap choice: a hand-dyed ostrich leg leather strap from HRTG.

The scales on the strap almost echo the seeds of an avocado. Completely unintentional… or maybe totally meant to be.

The Custom Strap Trio — Brought Together by HRTG by Hides&Thread

A big part of making this collection feel complete was ditching stock straps. I knew I wanted all three watches to share a common thread — craftsmanship. There were only 2 people I'd approach for such needs, Jonathan and Gary from HRTG by Hides & Thread, local strapmakers I’ve worked with before. Yet again, they went above and beyond. So what I have for each timepiece,

Nubuck for Furlan Marí — soft, vintage vibe

Crocodile for Kurono — classic and refined

Ostrich Leg for Studio Underdog — wild and textured

And I have to highlight this — HRTG’s new packaging is seriously impressive. Elegant, structured, premium. It honestly feels like unboxing a luxury accessory.

The Final Touch — Stored in the Tri-Hexa Watch Box

All three watches now sit together in my Tri-Hexa 3-slot watch box — a hexagon-shaped case with button closure. It’s compact but solid, and somehow makes the trio feel like a unit rather than three individual watches.

So… Is the Collection Complete?

Realistically, collectors never truly stop. But this little project taught me something — curation feels more satisfying than accumulation.

Three watches | One theme | Each with character, colour, and a story.

If this is how this collection stands for now, I’m happy. Then the question will be, what's next? A few ideas I have been thinking about, white dial collection, gold (vintage-like), etc. This never ends, can it?