# WatchPolice > The definitive microbrand watch intelligence platform — 24,000+ watches from 670+ independent brands. Real-time pricing, grey market data, availability tracking, restock alerts, and brand intelligence for independent horology. - **Data updated**: Retail prices and availability refreshed daily per brand; grey market prices (eBay secondary market) refreshed every 24–48 hours; brand health metrics updated weekly. - **dateModified**: This document is updated whenever the platform's data coverage or capabilities change. For live data, fetch `https://watchpolice.com/api/facts.json` which includes a `generated_at` ISO timestamp. ## What this site is WatchPolice is two things: 1. **A public watch discovery platform** at watchpolice.com — searchable by brand, movement, case size, price, and availability. Each watch and brand has a dedicated page with structured data (JSON-LD `Product`, `Organization`, `FAQPage`, and `BreadcrumbList` schemas). 2. **A REST API** at watchpolice.com/api — for developers who need structured watch data, grey market pricing, brand analytics, value retention scores, and drop/release tracking. ## Machine-readable summaries (for AI crawlers) Per-brand AI summaries with watch counts, top models, pricing, and specs are available at: - **Brand summary**: `https://watchpolice.com/api/llm-summary/:slug` — e.g. `/api/llm-summary/baltic` - **Brand index**: `https://watchpolice.com/api/llm-summary/` — all brands in markdown These endpoints return `text/markdown` with live data. Add `?format=json` for machine-readable JSON. ## Key content areas - **Watch events calendar**: watchpolice.com/events — 300+ watch events worldwide in 2025–2026: trade shows, fairs, collector meetups, NAWCC shows, RedBar meetups, watch auctions, and exhibitions. Each event has a dedicated page at watchpolice.com/events/:slug with dates, venue, ticket links, admission price, and confirmed exhibiting brands. Searchable by region, event type, and location (with distance radius). Covers Watches & Wonders Geneva, Windup Watch Fair (SF + NYC), HSNY events, Salon QP London, and 290+ regional and collector events. - **Individual event pages**: watchpolice.com/events/:slug — full event details with structured Event schema (Schema.org), GeoCoordinates, BreadcrumbList, FAQ, and Offer schema for tickets - **Browse watches**: watchpolice.com/watches — filter by 20+ attributes - **Brands directory**: watchpolice.com/brands — 670+ independent brands with country, founding year, and social links - **Individual brand pages**: watchpolice.com/brands/:slug — full model catalog + brand metadata - **Individual watch pages**: watchpolice.com/brands/:brandSlug/:modelSlug — specs, pricing, grey market data, images - **Calibers index**: watchpolice.com/calibers — movement calibers used across the catalog - **Drop calendar**: watchpolice.com/drops — upcoming limited edition releases - **Market report**: watchpolice.com/market-report — weekly data-driven market intelligence report - **Health Index**: watchpolice.com/health-index — brand health scores (trends, Reddit, social, press) - **Cheat sheets**: watchpolice.com/cheat-sheets — quick-reference buying guides by category - **Popularity rankings**: watchpolice.com/popularity — watch and brand popularity scores - **Watch comparison**: watchpolice.com/compare — side-by-side spec comparison - **Public collection profiles**: watchpolice.com/u/:handle — user-curated watch collections with valuation - **Wrist fit guide**: watchpolice.com/wrist-fit — interactive tool to find watch sizes that fit your wrist (5"–9.5" / 12–24cm); recommends case diameter, lug-to-lug, and lug width based on wrist circumference; shows live filtered watch results - **Best-by-country series**: Five SEO pages each pulling live brand data by country of origin — watchpolice.com/best-british-watches, /best-french-watches, /best-german-watches, /best-japanese-watches, /best-american-watches — each shows all brands from that country (sorted by hot + watch count) with editorial intro, "why buy" strengths, and live stats - **UK & EU import duty guide**: watchpolice.com/import-duty — static reference guide to UK and EU watch import duty rates by country of origin; HS codes (Chapter 91), VAT stack, de minimis thresholds (UK £135 / EU €150), rules of origin, worked landed-price examples, and EU VAT rates by member state; companion to /tariffs (US-focused) - **US tariff guide**: watchpolice.com/tariffs — US import tariff rates by origin country; Liberation Day tariff regimes (domestic/FTA 0%, standard ~17%, elevated ~30%, restricted ~42%); per-country breakdown with live per-watch duty estimates; FAQ on de minimis, HTS codes, DDP, and the 90-day tariff pause - **Watch landed cost calculator**: watchpolice.com/tariff-calculator — interactive calculator for US buyers; enter a watch price and origin country to see base HTS duty, Liberation Day tariff component, shipping, and all-in landed cost; supports 20+ origin countries - **What is a Swiss Made watch?**: watchpolice.com/what-is-swiss-made — complete legal and practical guide to the Swiss Made designation; governed by SR 232.119 (Swissness ordinance, in force 1 Jan 2017); three requirements: Swiss movement (assembled in Switzerland, ≥60% manufacturing value Swiss), movement cased in Switzerland, final inspection in Switzerland; the 60% rule explained with worked CHF example (movement/assembly/case/dial/encasing = Swiss; strap/crystal/markup/distribution = excluded); what counts (movement manufacturing, assembly, casing, dial, encasing, final inspection); what does NOT count (strap/bracelet explicitly excluded, crystal, retail markup, import, marketing, VAT); Swiss Made vs Swiss movement distinction; unregulated claims ("designed in Switzerland", "Swiss parts", "Swiss quality" — all unregulated); movement Swiss Made status table (Sellita SW200-1/SW510/ETA 2824/ETA 7750/STP 1-11 = qualifies; Miyota 9015/NH35A/Seagull ST19 = does not qualify); microbrand context (Sellita-movement brands can qualify; Miyota/NH35A brands cannot); history timeline (1971/1992/2013/2017); 8-item FAQ with FAQPage schema - **Seiko 5 Sports alternatives**: watchpolice.com/alternatives-to-seiko-5 — entry automatic watch comparison guide covering SRPD core (£200–£260, 4R36, 100m, Hardlex), Turtle SRPC91 (£270–£320, 4R35, 200m), Samurai SRPB51 (£280–£360, 4R35, 200m), Street GMT SSK001 (£340–£420, 4R34 GMT); alternatives tagged cheaper/same-price/step-up; covers: Orient Mako II (~£120), Phoibos Eagle Ray (~£200, 500m sapphire), Baltic Aquascaphe (~£420, Miyota 9015 domed sapphire), Nodus Sector (~£350, sapphire), Zelos Hammerhead (~£380, 500m), Marloe Trident (~£420), Baltic GMT (~£480), Monta Skyquest GMT (~£600), Yema Superman GMT (~£580 in-house); "what spending more buys you" section (sapphire crystal, 28800 BPH, hand-winding, case finishing); "what Seiko does that microbrands can't" section (£30 service/parts, resale simplicity, colour variety, Japanese reliability track record); price ladder from £80 to £750; 7-item FAQ with FAQPage schema - **Microbrand alternatives to Omega**: watchpolice.com/alternatives-to-omega — per-model microbrand alternatives to five Omega references with grey market pricing context; covers: Seamaster Professional 300m (£5,200, grey ~£3,900) vs Baltic Aquascaphe/Halios Seaforth/Phoibos Wave Master/Nodus Trieste; Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch (£5,650) vs Baltic Bicompax 001/Farer Chronoscope/Boldr Odyssey/Monta Atlas; Aqua Terra (£4,900) vs Baltic MR01/Farer Lander/Oak & Oscar Humboldt/Autodromo Intereuropa; Planet Ocean 600m (£6,450) vs Zelos Hammerhead/Phoibos Eagle Ray/Zelos Hammerhead 1000m; Seamaster 300 Heritage (£5,100) vs Baltic Aquascaphe/Halios Seaforth/Marloe Trident/Nodus Sector; each alternative: movement, WR, case diameter, crystal, similar, different; "what Omega does that microbrands can't" section (co-axial engineering, Moonwatch NASA heritage, Master Chronometer 15000 gauss, grey market value equation, extended service intervals); price comparison dark card with grey market prices; 6-item FAQ with FAQPage schema - **Microbrand alternatives to Rolex**: watchpolice.com/alternatives-to-rolex — per-model microbrand alternatives to six Rolex references with full spec comparison and honest trade-offs; covers: Submariner (£9,150) vs Baltic Aquascaphe/Halios Seaforth/Zelos Hammerhead/Nodus Sector; Oyster Perpetual (£5,550) vs Baltic MR01/Halios Puck/Farer Lander/Autodromo Motus; Explorer (£7,500) vs Farer Cobb/Boldr Journey/Nodus Sector Field/Marloe Navigator; Datejust (£7,250) vs Baltic Aquascaphe Date/Oak & Oscar Humboldt/Farer Stubb/Autodromo Intereuropa; GMT-Master II (£11,500) vs Baltic GMT/Monta Skyquest/Nodus Trieste GMT/Yema Superman GMT; Daytona (£14,150) vs Baltic Bicompax 001/Farer Chronoscope/Monta Atlas/Boldr Odyssey; each alternative: movement, WR, case diameter, crystal, what's similar, what's different; "What Rolex does that microbrands can't" section (status, in-house cal. 3235, resale, 904L steel, AD network); price summary dark card; 7-item FAQ with FAQPage schema - **Watch case materials guide**: watchpolice.com/watch-case-materials — complete guide to every case material used in microbrand and mainstream watches; nine materials covered with Mohs hardness, density, corrosion/scratch/machinability ratings, pros/cons, care guide, notable brand examples, and microbrand usage context; materials: 316L stainless (Mohs ~5.5–6.3, 8.0 g/cm³ — 90%+ microbrand standard), 904L stainless (Rolex exclusive, higher alloy), Grade 5 titanium (Ti-6Al-4V, 4.5 g/cm³, ~45% lighter than steel), Bronze (Cu-Sn, Mohs ~3.0, patinating, 8.9 g/cm³), Ceramic/ZrO₂ (Mohs ~8.5, colourfast, brittle), DLC-coated steel (amorphous carbon, Mohs ~6.5–7.5, edges vulnerable), PVD-coated steel (0.5–5 microns, wears at contact points), Carbon composite/NTPT (1.6–1.8 g/cm³, ultra-light, ultra-premium), Solid gold (Mohs ~2.5–3.0, luxury/prestige); side-by-side comparison table for the 6 microbrand-relevant materials; 6 buyer-profile recommendations; 8-item FAQ (titanium vs steel, bronze staining, PVD lifespan, DLC vs black PVD, refinishing, 316L meaning, dive watch material, why microbrands use 316L); expandable accordion UI per material; FAQPage schema - **Watch terminology glossary**: watchpolice.com/watch-glossary — searchable A–Z glossary of 70+ watch terms in plain English; six categories (movement, complication, case & dial, material, strap & bracelet, trade & collecting); alphabet jump links; entries include: Automatic, BPH/VPH, Chronometer, Co-axial escapement, Crown, Ebauche, Escapement, Hacking, Hand-winding, In-house movement, Jewels, Mainspring, Manual winding, Miyota 9015, NH35A, Power reserve, Rotor, Sellita SW200-1, Service interval, Swiss lever escapement, Tourbillon; Complications: Annual calendar, Chronograph, Date, GMT, Moon phase, Perpetual calendar, Power reserve indicator, Retrograde; Case & dial: Applied indices, Bezel, Case back, Crown guards, Cyclops lens, Dial, Exhibition back, Fluted bezel, Guilloché, Lug-to-lug, Lugs, Luminous, Rehaut, Sapphire crystal, Screw-down crown, Tachymeter, Water resistance; Materials: 316L, 904L, Bronze, Ceramic, DLC, FKM rubber, Grade 5 titanium, Mineral glass, PVD; Strap & bracelet: Butterfly clasp, Deployant clasp, End links, Horween leather, NATO strap, Quick-release spring bar, Spring bar, Tang buckle; Trade & collecting: AD, BGW9, C3, Catalogue case, COSC, DDP, Flip, Grand feu enamel, Grey market, Microbrand, Patina, Tropical dial, Tritium; includes DefinedTermSet schema for SEO - **Are microbrand watches worth it?**: watchpolice.com/are-microbrand-watches-worth-it — honest value analysis of the microbrand category; full spec comparison table at the £300–£500 price point (microbrand vs mainstream on case, crystal, movement, water resistance, crown type, bracelet, finishing, recognition); four real-world price examples (Baltic Aquascaphe, Zelos Mako, Farer Lander, generic catalogue-case brands) with estimated savings vs equivalent mainstream Swiss; six scenarios where microbrands are worth it; five scenarios where they are not; six buyer-profile verdicts (spec hunter/collector/status buyer/investor/gift buyer/first-timer); resale reality (most lose 20–40%, cult models up to 3× retail); QC variance notes; overall verdict card; 8-item FAQ covering Seiko comparison, longevity, accuracy, resale value, scam detection, and pre-owned Swiss alternative - **What is a microbrand watch?**: watchpolice.com/what-is-a-microbrand-watch — definitive guide to the microbrand watch category; covers the definition (small independent team, direct-to-consumer, limited production, outsourced NH35/Miyota movement), six defining characteristics (small team, DTC sales, community-funded, outsourced case+movement, limited runs, value-first pricing), 10-row microbrand vs mainstream comparison table, history timeline (2003–present: forum era, Kickstarter era, Instagram explosion, pandemic boom/bust, consolidation), movement breakdown (NH35A, Miyota 9015, SW200-1, NH38A, Miyota 8215), four price tiers (£100–£250 entry / £250–£600 sweet spot / £600–£1,200 upper / £1,200+ haute indie), six buying-safety tips, and 8-item FAQ; live brand and watch counts from the index - **Strap vs bracelet guide**: watchpolice.com/strap-vs-bracelet — interactive guide to watch band types for microbrand watches; covers leather, rubber/FKM, NATO/nylon, canvas, mesh/milanese (straps) and stainless steel oyster/jubilee, titanium, PVD/DLC, integrated, and beads-of-rice (bracelets); each entry has pros/cons, occasion guide, care notes, and notable brand examples; live data from the WatchPolice index on band material distribution and lug width prevalence; occasion matrix (formal/office/sport/dive/hiking); quick-release vs spring bar explainer; 10-row comparison table; 7-item FAQ - **Microbrand discontinuation tracker**: watchpolice.com/discontinued-brands — live database of every microbrand watch brand that has closed, gone dark, or been discontinued in the WatchPolice index; sortable/searchable table of defunct brands with country, founding year, approximate lifespan, and archived model count; bar charts for closures by country (top 10) and by founding decade; 6 warning signs of imminent brand closure; lifespan severity guide (under 3y / 3–7y / 7y+); practical guide to post-closure ownership (servicing, warranty, grey market value, community parts); 7-item FAQ - **NH35 dominance report**: watchpolice.com/nh35 — data report on the Seiko NH35A movement's dominance in the microbrand sector; live watch counts and brand rankings pulled from the WatchPolice index; movement market-share bar chart (NH35A vs Miyota 9015/8215, SW200-1, ETA 2824-2); full NH35A specs (21,600 bph, 24j, 41h PR, ±20 SPD, hacking, hand-wind, 25.6mm diameter); NH35 family tree (NH35A date, NH36A day-date, NH38A no-date, NH34A GMT, NH70/NH72 skeleton); six-factor analysis of why NH35A dominates; NH35A vs alternatives comparison table (BPH, PR, jewels, accuracy, hacking, hand-wind); 7-item FAQ; CTA to browse NH35A watches - **Watch lume guide**: watchpolice.com/lume-guide — interactive reference for all watch luminescent compounds: BGW9 (blue-green SLN), C3 (bright green SLN), X1 (premium SLN), C1 (ivory SLN), Chromalight (Rolex blue), tritium GTLS (Ball Watch / Traser), and radium (historical, hazardous); each entry has brightness/duration ratings, daylight and glow colour swatches, safety classification, notable watches, and charging notes; also covers how photoluminescence works (strontium aluminate, europium doping, trap states), vintage lume (tropical patina, T Swiss Made mark, tritium-to-LumiNova transition timeline), and 7-item FAQ - **Watch crystal guide**: watchpolice.com/watch-crystal-guide — interactive comparison of sapphire, mineral glass, and acrylic (Hesalite/PMMA) watch crystals; Mohs hardness ratings, scratch/shatter/clarity/UV/repairability scores, replacement costs, notable watches for each type (Omega Speedmaster Hesalite, modern microbrand sapphire), AR coating explainer (single vs double-sided), and a decision guide mapping use-case to crystal recommendation; 7-item FAQ - **Watch service cost estimator**: watchpolice.com/watch-service-cost — interactive estimator for UK watch service costs; select service type (full overhaul, basic service, crystal replacement, pressure test, bracelet service, crown/stem repair, regulation), movement type (quartz, auto, manual, auto-chrono, manual-chrono, high complication), and watch tier (microbrand/mid-range/luxury) to get a realistic cost range with what's included, turnaround time, and tips; includes FAQ on service intervals, independent vs brand watchmakers, and microbrand movement serviceability - **Water resistance guide**: watchpolice.com/water-resistance — interactive tool explaining what WR ratings actually mean; pick an activity (daily wear, swimming, snorkelling, recreational scuba, technical diving) and get the minimum rating required plus live watch results filtered from the index; includes myth-busting, ISO 6425 explainer, and full reference table - **Watch finder (gift finder)**: watchpolice.com/gift-finder — guided quiz recommending watches by budget, style, and occasion - **Movement comparison**: watchpolice.com/calibers/compare — side-by-side spec comparison of common watch movements (ETA, Miyota, Sellita, Seiko, etc.) - **Promo code vault**: watchpolice.com/promo-codes — brand discount codes (email-gated) - **Embed widgets**: watchpolice.com/embed — self-serve embed generator for bloggers; individual watch widgets at watchpolice.com/embed/watch/:id - **Dashboard**: watchpolice.com/dashboard — manage API usage, billing, restock alerts, and brand follows - **Articles / Data Stories**: watchpolice.com/articles — data-driven reports, brand deep-dives, and curated buying guides backed by live data from 24,000+ models (e.g. "10 Microbrands That Make 42mm or Bigger Watches"). Formerly at watchpolice.com/blog — 301 redirects in place. Notable articles include: crowdfunding delivery tracker (28 campaigns, 2013–2022, sortable delay data) at watchpolice.com/articles/crowdfunding-delivery-tracker; grey market authentication guide (red flags, scam patterns, verification checklist) at watchpolice.com/articles/grey-market-auth-guide. ## Notification & alert features Users can subscribe to alerts (email only, no account required): - **Restock alerts** — email when a sold-out watch comes back in stock - **Price drop alerts** — email when a watch price falls - **Brand follows** — email when a followed brand drops or restocks any model - All managed via watchpolice.com/dashboard (email-based, no login required) ## Embed widgets Any watch page can be embedded as a `