Locke & King: Best Microwatch Customer Service Brand

Today I'm looking again at another Microwatch Brand, this time out of Ontario Canada called Locke & King. I so happened to chance across a thread that spoke about good customer service for Microwatch brands, and Locke & King's name was mentioned in laudatory fashion. 

About the brand

Founded in 2020, Locke & King hails from Hamilton, Ontario - the industrial capital of Canada. What is a Canadian minute? It's Northern Time. 

In Canada, a lot can change in a single minute. Summer becomes winter, asphalt becomes mud, rivers become rapids and grassy fields become rocky mountains. As a result, Canadians know not only how to make the most of their time, but to own it.

What I like about the brand

I do like the reputation of good personal service, but more importantly, I like a brand that likes to promote the place it hails from. According to this Reddit thread, the watch is assembled and manufactured in Hamilton, Ontario. 

Editor's Pick 

Ossington Avenue led to the inspiration for the design of this timepiece. More specifically from the subway station in Ossington street in Toronto Canada. Originally established as a military route by colonial settlers, Ossington has grown from those early days, through industrial times and challenging periods in the late 20th century, to now one of exciting experimentation and taste-making. 

This has been referred to as the Casual Dress Banger. I'm not entirely sure what that means but I like the fact this can be an everyday watch. It has a vintage appeal, and is a smart, eye-catching, yet minimalistic watch at first glance. 

It has a fixed bezel, polished ring that is sloped towards the outside edge of the case and runs into the sapphire crystal. It comes with anti-reflective coating which is a plus for someone like me that will look to take many photos of this watch. 

The watch looks sleek enough to be unisex which might not be every guy's cup of tea, but I don't mind having the odd watch in my collection that Tuula can also help herself to if she feels like sporting something different. The Ossington comes in different colourways too, Copper and Oxidized Blue, White and classic Silver (highlighted) and smoked steel with silver lining. 

Some neat details are worth mentioning as you may not catch this at first glance. The white dial has two half-moon sections grooved in different directions; one vertical one horizontal. The cardinal numbers are slightly bigger than the others, and are all in arabic numerals. There is a date just on the six with an O frame as opposed to the typical square or oblong. 

I'm a big fan of the 3 hands, stick style with a circle accent and a red triangle on the second hand, referencing the needle on a compass, indicating Northern Time. 

Some notes on the Spec

• Crystal: Sapphire Crystal Domed

• Movement: Miyota 9015 Automatic Mechanical

• Case: Two-halves, affixed with screws, 316L Stainless Steel

Feedback from Reddit thread

The owner, Ryan is a solid guy and threw in extras when I was undecided. I picked up their James - Pitch Green & Copper, and I am so, so glad I did. The build quality and face color was far better than I expected. Many of the smaller microbrands will truly appreciate reaching out for interest in their products. There's never any harm in a quick email requesting more details etc. on their merch.