Vannin Watches and the Isle of Man
Vannin Watches began with a deep, lifelong connection to the Isle of Man. We are Peter Jones and Andy Pickett, two friends whose shared passion for watchmaking eventually converged with our love for the island we call home. We founded Vannin to create an independent watch microbrand rooted in the landscape, character, and changing colours of Ellan Vannin (the Manx name for the Isle of Man).
Our first collection, the Vannin Field Watch, reflects this environment through colour and naming. Irish Sea Blue, Mountain Green, Western Sky Orange and Manannán’s Cloak Grey each draw on a different part of Manx life.
What a Manx Watch Brand Means
Being a Manx watch brand means more than just a name. It is about a distinct identity and a transparent approach to design and development. Vannin was created on the Isle of Man by two founders whose homes, careers and families are rooted here.
The island shapes the names, colours and character of the first collection. We will publish confirmed information about component origins, assembly and quality control as those details are finalised, rather than making origin claims before they can be supported.
An Island with an Extraordinary Watchmaking Story
It is impossible to discuss the Isle of Man and horology without acknowledging the absolute giants of watchmaking who have lived and worked here. For a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea, its contribution to the global history of timekeeping is vastly disproportionate to its size.
John Harwood
John Harwood established a watch-repair business on the Isle of Man in the 1920s and developed an early self-winding wristwatch there. His patented system used a moving weight to wind the mechanism, connecting the island to an important chapter in the development of the automatic wristwatch.
George Daniels
Decades later, Dr George Daniels worked independently on the Isle of Man and developed the co-axial escapement. His approach demonstrated how one watchmaker could pursue design, engineering and hand-making outside the structure of a large manufacturer.
Roger W. Smith
Roger W. Smith, who trained with Daniels, continues to make watches in his Isle of Man workshop using the Daniels Method. His work belongs to a very different part of horology from Vannin's accessible microbrand journey, but it reinforces the island's continuing association with independent watchmaking.
Vannin Watches does not claim this illustrious heritage as our own. Our path as an accessible, modern microbrand is entirely different. However, we share a profound, enduring respect for the island's horological significance.
Further reading: the Isle of Man Government’s constitutional overview and Roger W. Smith’s account of the Daniels Method.
Modern Independent Watchmaking
The watch industry is currently experiencing a renaissance of independent watchmaking. Enthusiasts are increasingly looking beyond massive corporate conglomerates, seeking out brands that offer distinct points of view, transparent processes, and direct connections with their founders.
Independent brands and microbrands are able to engage directly with their communities, react swiftly to feedback, and produce designs that don't need to satisfy the lowest common denominator.
Follow Vannin's Present-Day Journey
We are writing our own modest chapter on the Isle of Man. Through our development Journal, we document the reality of building a new watch brand from the ground up—from selecting the robust Miyota 9039 movement and refining the 38mm case proportions, to matching Pantone references for our dials.
We invite you to follow along as we continue to develop the Vannin Field Watch, test our prototypes across the Manx landscape, and build an independent brand with purpose.