West Chester native Neil Carpenter is helping Brooklyn take on Switzerland by making exquisitely designed watches that are much more affordable, writes Michael Clerizo for The Wall Street Journal.

Carpenter is one of a number of watchmakers who have flocked to New York City’s most populous borough to set up shop. Located in Park Slope, Carpenter creates handsome pieces with elegant leather straps that sell in the $500-$600 range.

Carpenter’s designer brand uses a stainless steel or brass finish. This radiates the kind of character usually found in many of Brooklyn’s speakeasy-style cocktail bars.

And while Carpenter designs the watches in Brooklyn, they are actually manufactured in China using Japanese movements. Later this month, Carpenter plans to introduce Swiss movements.

Last year, Carpenter partnered with watchmaker Jamie Brown to open the Brooklyn Watch Shop in the Prospect Heights neighborhood.

In addition to selling watches, the store also offers servicing and repairs, where customers can – as Carpenter puts it – “just a chat about watches.”

Read more about Neil Carpenter in The Wall Street Journal here.

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