Frequently Asked Questions

Locke & King is an independent Canadian watch company based in Hamilton, Ontario. We design ruggedly elegant automatic watches with a focus on distinctive design, enduring materials and accessible luxury, watches made to be worn every day and kept for years.

Below are answers to some of the questions we receive most often about Locke & King watches, where they are made, the materials and movements we use, servicing, and what makes our approach different.

Is Locke & King a Canadian watch company?

Yes. Locke & King is an independent Canadian watch company founded and based in Hamilton, Ontario.

Our watches are designed here, our specifications and product development are created here, and our operations, fulfilment, marketing, partnerships and customer service are all managed from Hamilton.

Hamilton also plays an important role in the personality of the brand. Its combination of industrial heritage, architecture, craftsmanship and reinvention has helped shape the way we think about Locke & King: refined without being precious, hard-working without being utilitarian, and designed to be worn rather than simply admired.

Where are Locke & King watches made?

Locke & King watches are designed and developed in Hamilton, Ontario and manufactured through specialist watchmaking partners in Asia.

We work with a closely vetted manufacturing partner in Southeast Asia, with specialist component production and processing taking place across the region. Our automatic mechanical movements are made in Japan by Miyota, part of the Citizen group and one of the world's most established movement manufacturers.

Every Locke & King watch is designed in-house in Hamilton and manufactured to our specifications. We determine the case architecture, dimensions, dial layouts, typography, hands, indices, colours, finishes, materials, movements, straps and overall character of each model.

We do not purchase generic finished watches and simply add a Locke & King logo.

All operations and fulfilment are managed from Hamilton, and our Canadian servicing partner is Empire Group in North York, Ontario.

As Locke & King grows, we continue to explore opportunities to bring more parts of the watchmaking and production process home to Canada.

Why aren't Locke & King watches manufactured entirely in Canada?

We would love to see more watchmaking capability develop in Canada, and we hope Locke & King can play a role in that over time.

Modern mechanical watchmaking relies on a highly specialized global supply chain. Producing a watch involves precision case machining, dial manufacturing, crystal production, hands and indices, mechanical movement manufacturing, finishing, assembly, testing and other specialist processes. Much of that industrial infrastructure simply does not currently exist in Canada at the scale required by an independent watch company.

Working with experienced international specialists also allows us to achieve something that has always been central to Locke & King: exceptional materials, distinctive design and heirloom-worthy construction while keeping our watches within reach of the people we actually design them for.

We often describe that idea as rugged elegance.

Our goal is not to create watches that feel inexpensive. It is to create watches that can stand comfortably beside much more expensive brands in design, materials and character, while remaining attainable for the everyday people doing remarkable things.

We think of them as watches for everyday heroes.

As we grow, we continue to investigate opportunities to bring more production, assembly and watchmaking capability to Canada, but we want to do that in ways that genuinely improve the product, rather than simply creating a marketing claim.

Who designs Locke & King watches?

Every Locke & King watch is designed in-house in Hamilton, Ontario.

Founder Ryan Moran leads the design and product-development process directly, from the first idea through prototypes and production.

That includes the overall concept of a watch as well as the details that define it: case architecture, dimensions, dial layout, typography, indices, hands, colours, finishes, materials, movements, straps and how all of those elements work together.

In many ways, Locke & King remains a very founder-led company. The same person sketching out a new watch or obsessing over a dial colour may also be answering a customer's question, packing an order or thinking about what the brand should make next.

That hands-on approach is an important part of what being an independent watch company means to us.

Are Locke & King watches private-label watches?

No.

Locke & King watches are designed in-house and manufactured to our own specifications.

We are not selecting completed watches from a catalogue and applying our logo to them.

Our models begin with an idea and are developed through decisions about their case design, proportions, materials, movements, dials, typography, colours, hands, indices, finishing and straps. Prototypes are reviewed and revised before a design goes into production.

We work with specialist manufacturers because they have the equipment and expertise required to turn those designs into precision mechanical watches.

That is very different from private labelling an existing product.

What movements do Locke & King watches use?

All current Locke & King watches use automatic mechanical movements made by Miyota in Japan.

Miyota is part of the Citizen group and is one of the world's most established manufacturers of mechanical watch movements.

Depending on the model, Locke & King watches use Miyota movements including the 8215 and 9015 families.

We chose Miyota because its movements offer a combination of reliability, serviceability, proven engineering and global parts availability — qualities that matter if a watch is intended to be worn for years rather than treated as a disposable accessory.

The specific movement used in each watch is listed on its product page.

Is Miyota a good watch movement?

Yes.

Miyota is a respected Japanese movement manufacturer owned by Citizen and supplies mechanical movements to independent watch companies around the world.

Its movements have developed a strong reputation for reliability, durability and serviceability.

For Locke & King, that last point matters. We want to build watches that can be maintained and kept in use, rather than relying on obscure movements that may be difficult to repair or replace years from now.

Are all Locke & King watches automatic?

Yes.

All current Locke & King watches are automatic mechanical watches.

An automatic watch is powered by a mechanical movement that winds itself through the motion of the wearer's wrist. Unlike a quartz watch, it does not rely on a conventional disposable battery.

Automatic watches are small mechanical machines, so they behave differently from quartz watches. They will normally gain or lose some time during everyday use, and their power reserve will eventually run down when they are not worn or wound.

For many owners, that mechanical character is part of the appeal.

What materials are used in Locke & King watches?

We choose materials based on durability, appearance and how a watch will actually be worn.

Across the Locke & King collection, our specifications include:

316L stainless steel cases

Domed sapphire crystals

Anti-reflective coatings

Japanese Miyota automatic movements

Swiss luminous material on selected hands and indices

Stainless steel bracelets and hardware

Leather, textile and other interchangeable strap options

Material specifications are established by Locke & King and produced to those specifications by our manufacturing partners.

Individual models vary in construction and finishing, so complete technical specifications are also listed on each product page.

Do all Locke & King watches use sapphire crystal?

Yes.

All current Locke & King watches use domed sapphire crystal.

Sapphire is widely valued in watchmaking because of its excellent scratch resistance compared with conventional mineral glass.

We particularly like domed sapphire because it combines practical durability with the depth and character associated with vintage watch crystals.

Our watches also use anti-reflective treatment where specified to improve visibility and reduce distracting reflections.

Are Locke & King watches good quality?

Quality has been central to Locke & King from the beginning.

Our manufacturing partners have been carefully vetted, and every watch is produced according to specifications we establish for materials, components, construction and finishing.

Our watches use materials including 316L stainless steel, domed sapphire crystal, established Japanese Miyota automatic movements and Swiss luminous material on selected models.

But quality is not simply a list of specifications.

We care just as much about proportions, finishing, how a crown feels, how a watch sits on the wrist, whether the colours work in changing light and whether the overall design still feels interesting years after you bought it.

Our objective is to create watches with the materials and character of considerably more expensive pieces without requiring the price tag that often accompanies them.

Where are Locke & King watches serviced?

Our Canadian servicing partner is Empire Group in North York, Ontario.

That gives Locke & King customers access to watch servicing and repair support here in Canada rather than requiring them to deal directly with an overseas manufacturer.

Mechanical watches are machines, and like any mechanical product they may eventually require maintenance. Having an established Canadian servicing relationship is an important part of our commitment to supporting our watches over the long term.

Can a Locke & King watch be repaired?

Yes.

One of the reasons we exclusively use established Miyota mechanical movements is their reliability and serviceability.

Depending on the issue, a Locke & King watch can often be regulated, serviced or repaired rather than simply replaced.

If your watch requires attention, contact us with the model and a description of the issue and we can help determine the appropriate next step.

Are Locke & King watches water resistant?

Yes. The level of water resistance varies by model and is listed in the technical specifications for each watch.

Water resistance is normally expressed in ATM or metres.

It is also worth remembering that water resistance is not necessarily permanent. Gaskets and seals can age over time, particularly in a watch worn regularly.

If a watch is frequently exposed to water, periodic pressure testing is good practice.

What is a Canadian microbrand watch?

“Microbrand” is a term commonly used for smaller independent watch companies that design their own watches and work with specialist manufacturers to produce them.

Locke & King began very much within that tradition: an independent Canadian watch brand creating watches that we wanted to exist but couldn't find elsewhere.

Being independent gives us room to make decisions that larger companies might not.

That can mean an unusual dial colour, unconventional case architecture, a limited production run, a watch inspired by a very particular place or story, or simply pursuing an idea because we think it is interesting.

As the company has grown, we tend to think of Locke & King simply as an independent Canadian watch company, but we're proud of the independent watchmaking community we came from.

What makes Locke & King watches different?

We aren't interested in making anonymous watches.

Our goal is to create watches with enough character that another watch enthusiast might recognize one across the table.

That has led us toward industrial details, mid-century influences, unusual colour combinations, distinctive case construction and designs inspired by Canadian places, architecture and stories.

The James, for example, became recognizable for its unusual two-piece case construction and industrial character.

As the collection grows, each new Locke & King model begins with the same basic question:

Does this watch have a reason to exist?

If the answer is simply that another brand already makes something similar and we could too, it probably isn't interesting enough.

Our broader philosophy is summed up in three words:

Make Your Own Time.

Why are some Locke & King watches made in limited quantities?

As an independent watch company, we produce watches in considerably smaller quantities than major international brands.

Sometimes that is simply part of operating at our scale.

But limited production also gives us creative freedom.

It allows us to explore unusual colours, stories, partnerships and ideas without requiring every watch to appeal to everyone.

Some editions may therefore be produced once and never repeated in exactly the same form.

For us, that is part of the appeal of independent watchmaking.

Does Locke & King make Canadian watches?

We make Canadian-designed watches, but we don't believe being Canadian requires covering everything in maple leaves.

We're more interested in the places, people, landscapes, architecture, institutions and stories that make Canada interesting. And beyond that, we are interested in the Canadian spirit, of openness, exploration, acceptance, patience and respect. Down the road, some of our watches may even bear names from places around the world, but the spirit will remain the same, and feel more like spotting a Canadian flag patch on a backpack in France, than say, feeling exclusive.

Hamilton has been particularly important to the Locke & King story, but our designs have also drawn inspiration from other Canadian cities, communities and experiences.

Being Canadian is part of the perspective behind the brand rather than simply a graphic applied to the dial.

Where is Locke & King located?

Locke & King is based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Hamilton is where the company was founded and where our watches are designed, developed and specified.

Our operations, order fulfilment, customer service, marketing and partnerships are also managed from Hamilton.

The city's industrial history, architecture and ongoing reinvention have had an outsized influence on the character of the brand.

Who owns Locke & King?

Locke & King is independently owned and operated in Hamilton, Ontario.

The company was founded by Ryan Moran and remains founder-led today.

We have grown organically rather than becoming part of a larger watch group, allowing us to remain closely involved in everything from the design of a new watch to the experience of the person receiving it.

Where does Locke & King ship from?

Locke & King orders are fulfilled from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Canadian customers are purchasing directly from a Canadian company rather than importing a watch from an overseas marketplace or factory.

We also ship internationally and Locke & King watches have made their way to customers around the world.

Is Locke & King a good choice if I want to support a Canadian business?

We certainly think so.

“Buying Canadian” can mean different things depending on the product.

Very few modern consumer products, and particularly mechanical watches, are created entirely within a single country from raw material through finished product.

When you purchase a Locke & King watch, you are supporting an independent Canadian company headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario.

The design and development of our watches, operations, fulfilment, customer service, marketing, partnerships and continued investment in the brand happen here.

We then work with specialist international manufacturers where the required watchmaking expertise and infrastructure exist.

We would rather be transparent about that global supply chain than pretend it doesn't exist.

Our ambition is to build one of Canada's distinctive independent watch companies while continuing to explore ways of bringing more of the process home as we grow.

Is Locke & King trying to manufacture more in Canada?

Yes.

We continue to explore opportunities to bring additional parts of the watchmaking and production process to Canada.

We also think there is an exciting opportunity for Canadian watchmaking capability to grow more broadly.

But we want to approach that responsibly.

A component should not be made in Canada simply so that we can print “Made in Canada” more prominently on a website. It has to meet the quality, durability and value standards we have established for Locke & King.

If we can increasingly build that capability here while maintaining the quality of the watch and keeping our products accessible, that is absolutely something we would like to do.

What does “rugged elegance” mean at Locke & King?

Rugged elegance is our shorthand for the kind of watches we want to make.

A Locke & King watch should feel refined enough to wear with a jacket, distinctive enough to start a conversation, and robust enough that you don't feel the need to leave it at home when real life begins.

We are drawn to objects that become better through use rather than objects that demand to be protected.

That philosophy also shapes our approach to price.

We want to create heirloom-worthy, high-quality automatic watches with a strong point of view without turning them into inaccessible luxury objects.

The people we imagine wearing Locke & King watches are not necessarily collectors keeping them in safes.

They are entrepreneurs, teachers, tradespeople, artists, parents, builders, professionals, travellers, underdogs and trailblazers, and people making something of their own time.

In other words, everyday heroes.

I have another question. How can I contact Locke & King?

We like hearing from people.

If you have a question about a particular watch, sizing, specifications, servicing, an existing order or simply want to know more about how our watches are made, send us a message through our contact page.

Your question may even end up here.