Vaer
San Francisco, USA · Est. 2016
Founded by Cameron Weiss, Ryan Torres
Vaer is an American direct-to-consumer watch brand founded in 2017 by Chris Ramsey in Los Angeles, California. The brand specialises in field and diver watches assembled in the USA using Swiss and American-made components, with a focus on honest value and transparency.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, USA
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- A-Series (Anchor) — Vaer's flagship American-made collection, featuring 38 mm cases and clean, no-date dial designs that draw inspiration from vintage American military and field watches. The A-Series is assembled in the United States using Swiss and Japanese movements, and embodies the brand's ethos of quality watchmaking without the luxury markup. It is available in several dial colour options and bracelet configurations.
- C-Series (Cascade) — A versatile everyday collection offering a slightly larger case with date function, designed to appeal to a wider range of wearers. The C-Series uses Swiss automatic movements and is finished with the same rigorous quality control as the A-Series, positioned as Vaer's most accessible fully Swiss-movement option.
- D-Series (Delta) — Vaer's dive watch line, featuring 200-metre water resistance, rotating bezels, and bold, legible dials in the tradition of classic American diver aesthetics. The D-Series is built to handle genuine underwater use while maintaining Vaer's direct-to-consumer value proposition, offering professional-grade tool watch features at a competitive price.
Timeline
- 2016 — Cameron Weiss and Ryan Torres found Vaer in Los Angeles, California, with a mission to produce honest, quality watches at fair prices.
- 2017 — Vaer launches its first collection via crowdfunding, quickly gaining a following among consumers frustrated by inflated luxury watch prices.
- 2019 — The brand introduces its American-assembled A-Series, becoming one of the few watch companies to offer watches with American assembly at accessible price points.
- 2021 — Vaer expands its line to include diving watches and solar-powered quartz options, broadening its appeal to different watch enthusiasts.
- 2023 — The brand continues to grow its direct-to-consumer model, partnering with select retailers while maintaining competitive pricing through its website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vaer
- Are Vaer watches truly made in the USA?
- Vaer's A-Series watches are assembled in the United States, which is the core of its American-made claim. However, like virtually all American watch brands, Vaer sources components internationally — movements from Switzerland or Japan, cases and dials from Swiss suppliers — as the infrastructure for full domestic production no longer exists in the US.
- How does Vaer keep its prices competitive?
- Vaer sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its website, eliminating retailer mark-ups that can add 30–50% to traditional watch retail prices. The brand also focuses on functional, no-frills designs without extensive marketing budgets, passing the savings on to customers.