In a high-rise overlooking Hudson Yards, far from the polished halls of traditional trade shows, a quieter revolution in watchmaking unfolded on April 28, 2025. Indies.NYC, a carefully curated gathering of independent watchmakers and collectors, returned to New York with its Spring edition—drawing over 250 enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and industry insiders eager to discover a different rhythm in timekeeping.
Designed more as a cultural salon than a trade fair, Indies.NYC offered an intentionally intimate experience, showcasing nine brands from across the globe, including Switzerland, France, the U.S., and China. These were not the usual names gracing global billboards or duty-free counters. Instead, they were emerging voices in a centuries-old craft—watchmakers driven by philosophy, passion, and a relentless pursuit of originality.
The event was the brainchild of Jon Cruys, a Belgian watch enthusiast known for founding RedBar Group Shanghai and for his forthcoming revival of Chronofixe Watches. His inspiration for Indies.NYC came from the world of fine art. “We looked to the salons of early modernism,” Cruys explained, referencing Berthe Weil, the pioneering gallerist who first exhibited Picasso. “Indies.NYC was created out of the desire to provide a free, dynamic space for independent watchmakers, much like the creative salons of the art world a century ago. New York is the perfect place for this. It’s less a watch fair, more a cultural salon—where collectors connect over stories, not just specs.”
Co-host James Kong, known within the watch collecting world as Waitlisted and currently serving as COO and Art Director at Fleming Watches, helped orchestrate the event’s immersive environment. With an eye for aesthetics and a reputation for community building, Kong was integral in shaping the experience from commercial showcase to meaningful dialogue.
Among the exhibitors, Shona Taine stood out as both a technical and cultural highlight. At just 27 years old, Taine is the only female candidate member of the prestigious Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) and has already earned France’s Meilleurs Apprentis distinction for her craftsmanship. “Exhibiting my very first creation in New York is a defining moment,” Taine shared. “It’s a recognition of the artisanal work I do in Switzerland and an opportunity to share my vision of watchmaking with the world. This marks my very first presentation outside of Europe.” Her presence underlined the shifting dynamics in watchmaking—where heritage and innovation, diversity and tradition now intersect more than ever.
The participating brands for this edition were: Awake, Atelier Wen, Baltic, Byrne, Jean Rousseau, MEC, Pragma, Shona Taine, and SpaceOne—each offering a unique perspective on mechanical craft. Whether through sustainable design, avant-garde aesthetics, or reinterpretations of classical complications, each maker brought a sense of authorship rarely seen in mass-market horology.
Indies.NYC’s power lies in this human connection. These aren’t booths or pitches—they are conversations. The venue, a luxurious private residence with sweeping views of the New York skyline, played host not just to watches, but to ideas and community. In an industry often dominated by scale and heritage, Indies.NYC celebrated the singular, the emerging, and the intimate—factors increasingly cherished by the next generation of collectors.
As the sun set over Manhattan and guests moved between showcases with wine in hand, one thing became clear: this wasn’t just about timekeeping—it was about storytelling. A new language is being written in watchmaking, and it speaks not only through polished dials and ticking escapements, but through the people bold enough to forge a path outside the mainstream.
Indies.NYC will return in October 2025, during New York’s Watch Week. While the scale may grow, its founding ethos remains intact: authenticity, artistry, and a shared appreciation for watches as more than instruments—they are expressions.
