Höglund & Sons Mark V: Ideal $299 Everyday Watch?

There's another Kickstarter watch on the scene, and it's from a familiar name if you spend any time in the microbrand world. Höglund & Sons, the brand from brothers Brandon and Zachary Höglund of the WatchesOnYou YouTube channel, is back with their sixth project: the Mark V.

This time, they're aiming to create what they call "the ideal three-hand watch." It's a classic formula: the thin profile of a dress watch meets the go-anywhere specs of a sports watch. With a price of $299, they're swinging for the fences in a very crowded field.

Let's break down what you're getting for the money and see if this is the one to back.

The Höglund & Sons Mark V: A New Kickstarter Contender

The core proposition of the Mark V is versatility. It’s a simple, clean, automatic three-hander designed to be a reliable daily companion. This isn't a wild, experimental design; it's the brothers' take on a tried-and-true genre, honed by their experience reviewing hundreds of other watches.

They’ve clearly sweated the details on the dimensions. The stainless steel case comes in at 38mm in diameter with a 46mm lug-to-lug. That's a sweet spot for a huge range of wrists, and it hits the modern preference for more classic sizing.

At just 10.45mm thick, it should wear slim and disappear under a cuff. This thinness is made possible, in part, by the choice of movement, but we'll get to that in a minute.

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A Closer Look at the Mark V Dials and Case

The watch is being offered in five different dial colors: white, gray, black, green, and blue. All of them feature what the brand calls an "enamel-like glossy finish." This finish, combined with applied indices instead of printed ones, should give the dial a real sense of depth.

From the campaign photos, the finish looks rich and gives the watch a more premium feel than a simple matte or sunburst dial might. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in how a watch presents itself.

The case itself has some interesting touches, most notably the scalloped lugs. This bit of carving on the case side adds a touch of texture and visual interest, preventing the watch from looking like just another slab-sided design.

Thoughtful Details

Other details include a signed "H" on the crown and sapphire crystals on both the front and the display caseback. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters, and the brand states each watch is individually tested to this depth prior to shipment. That's enough for daily life, splashes, and rain, but you won't be taking it diving.

Interestingly, the lug width is 19mm, an odd number that can sometimes make finding straps tricky. However, Höglund & Sons includes both a genuine leather strap with a pin buckle and a steel mesh bracelet, both equipped with quick-release spring bars for tool-free changes. It’s a nice touch that adds to the value.

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The Minds Behind the Mark V: From YouTube to Watchmaking

The story behind Höglund & Sons is a big part of its appeal. Brothers Brandon and Zachary Höglund started the popular YouTube channel WatchesOnYou back in 2017. After hundreds of watch reviews, tens of thousands of subscribers, and over 12 million views, they decided to leverage that experience.

This isn't just a brand with a marketing story; it's a brand run by genuine enthusiasts. Brandon is a neurosurgery resident with degrees in biomedical engineering, and Zachary is a medical student with a degree in bioengineering. They design these watches out of a clear passion for the hobby.

The Mark V is the culmination of five previous successful Kickstarter campaigns. This experience provides a level of confidence that you don't always get with first-time crowdfunding projects.

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Under the Hood: Höglund & Sons' Choice of the Miyota 9039

For the Mark V, the brothers chose the Miyota 9039 automatic movement. This is a smart and increasingly popular choice for microbrands, and for good reason. It’s essentially a no-date version of the workhorse Miyota 9015.

Why does "no-date" matter? It means there's no phantom date wheel or dead crown position. It's a true three-hand movement, which is exactly what a clean, time-only watch like this needs. It also helps achieve that slim 10.45mm case height.

The 9039 beats at an ultra-smooth 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz, or 8 ticks per second). It features a 42-hour power reserve, hacking seconds for precise time-setting, and can be hand-wound or wound via the rotor on the wearer's wrist. It's a reliable engine with an extensive track record.

A Solid Foundation

The campaign page shows the movement decorated with Geneva stripes, visible through the sapphire caseback. While it's a mass-produced caliber, it's a high-quality one that proves you don't need a Swiss movement to get solid performance.

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From Sketch to Steel: The Mark V Design Process

The Kickstarter campaign offers a peek into the design process, which began with hand-drawn sketches. This initial stage allowed the founders to explore different shapes for the case, dial, bracelet, strap, and packaging to find a harmonious balance.

Once the design was finalized on paper, it was translated into technical drawings. These detailed blueprints guide the CNC milling process that carves the watch cases from blocks of stainless steel. It’s a fascinating look at how an idea becomes a physical object.

The final step shown is the assembly of the components into complete prototypes. This transparency is part of what makes backing a project from enthusiast-creators so rewarding. You get to follow along with the journey from concept to finished product.

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Reward Tiers & Value Proposition

Let's pull all the specs together. For a pledge of $299, you are getting a lot of watch. The combination of a solid movement, sapphire crystals, and a well-proportioned case is compelling. Delivery is estimated for October 2026, and the brand promises free worldwide shipping. Here is how the reward tiers break down:

• One Mark V Watch ($299): Choose your preferred dial color. Includes the watch, genuine leather strap, stainless steel mesh bracelet, instructions manual, and box.
• Two Mark V Watches ($539): Choose any two dial color combinations via a post-campaign survey. Save $59 compared to buying individually.
• Three Mark V Watches ($807): Choose any three dial color combinations via a post-campaign survey. Save $90 compared to buying individually.

Case	38mm × 10.45mm, Stainless Steel
Lug-to-Lug	46mm
Lug Width	19mm
Crystal	Sapphire front and caseback
Movement	Miyota 9039 Automatic (24 Jewels)
Power Reserve	42 hours
Frequency	28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Water Resistance	50m
Straps	Leather strap and steel mesh bracelet included
Price	$299 USD

When you add up the parts, the story, and the price, the Mark V presents a strong argument. It’s a handsome, wearable watch that gets the fundamentals right, backed by creators with a proven track record and deep knowledge of the watch world.

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