One of things we look forward to the most about WatchTime New York each year is getting to work with the independent brands that aren’t always visible to the horological mainstream. From an American watchmaking rockstar hell-bent on returning Pennsylvania to its former horological glory to a Finnish luminary operating at the peak of his powers, we welcomed more independents than ever before to Gotham Hall this year. Here are five of our favorite watches from these autonomous brands that we saw at WatchTime New York 2017.
 
RGM Watch Company is a favorite for many of us in the WatchTime office, and it isn’t just because we’re all a sucker for founder Roland G. Murphy’s charming disposition. No, it’s because RGM is the only watchmaker that is focused on revitalizing horology in what used to be the home base for American watchmaking in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This year, RGM celebrated its 25th anniversary and released several new timepieces but this was our first chance to go hands on with the Model 222-RR, a tribute to railroad watches from America’s past. The most obvious design feature is the tilted Grand Feu enamel dial that is laid out to be easily read without having to take your hands off the train controls. It is meant to evoke the classic Box Car style design that Ball Watch Company introduced in 1925 and was subsequently used by Elgin, Hamilton, and Waltham in their railroad timepieces. Inside the watch, a Hamilton 1...