Ontic began out of frustration with watches that spend more time showing off than showing the time. Too needy, too delicate, or just a bit too pleased with themselves. I wanted something different. Something you can rely on without babying it, winding it, or asking it nicely to sync with your phone.

I live in the hills above Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, where the weather doesn’t mess about and neither do the people. I used to volunteer with Mountain Rescue before life pulled me in other directions, and I’ve got huge admiration for the people who still head into the wild when everything else has to wait.

My time on the team taught me what kit you can trust and what’s just along for the scenery. When you’re in a storm halfway up a hill, you don’t want something ornamental on your wrist. You want something that works. No drama. No distractions. No updates.

That’s why I started Ontic. Not to make a statement piece, but a proper tool. Built tough. Built with purpose. Built in Britain.

Every Ontic watch is designed, assembled, tested and supported here in the UK by a small team who care about getting it right. Not because it’s easy but because we’re stubborn enough to do it properly, even if it takes longer and costs a bit more.

We’re not for everyone. Just the people who know good kit and expect it to outlast the marketing.

Why the name? The word Ontic comes from philosophy. It means real and tangible, not imagined or abstract. It felt right for a watch built to be used, not dressed up in myths or marketing.

Real watches, made properly.