About Sabre

The Person Behind the Brand

I’m Matt, you’re talking to the owner, designer, builder, and regulator whenever you reach out to Sabre. By day, I’m a chemist working in the waste and recycling industry. My decade‑plus fascination with how things work, chemist’s curiosity, naturally grew into a love for mechanical watches. One Seiko 5 Pepsi kickstarted a journey: tear one apart, put it back together, tinker, break, rebuild. Before long, I was diving headfirst into Seiko modding and turning my hobby into craftsmanship.

A Legacy That Inspired Everything

It all clicked when my grandfather shared a story—and a watch. My great‑grandfather had brought back a Soviet Sekonda pocket watch while serving in the Royal Navy. That watch became a symbol: a rugged, working‑class piece that carried stories of service, history, and grit. Memories of growing up near an RAF aerodrome and in the industrial heartland of the North East of England added another layer—roots that demanded the watches reflect this legacy.

The Mission: Rugged, No‑Nonsense Watches

With Sabre, I wanted to create watches inspired by the no‑nonsense, utilitarian designs of 20th‑century military and industrial timepieces. The watches echo the steelworks of Teesside, the shipyards of Newcastle and Sunderland, the coal fields of County Durham. Each piece is assembled and regulated in my workshop here in the industrial North East. I insist on precision. There’s no point in building a rugged watch if it doesn’t keep accurate time.

The Goal: Telling the North East Story

I see each watch as a tribute each dial, each case, each strap tells a story of local history and connects to Britain’s broader industrial narrative. From metalworks to coal mines, aerodromes to shipyards, every model celebrates our region’s past while marking its place in modern watchmaking. I aim to offer more than just a mechanical timekeeper, I want every Sabre watch to feel rooted, meaningful, and built for purpose.

Why It Matters

This is a one‑man brand. I handle everything design, assembly, movement regulation, customer care, even shipping. My goal isn’t to grow big; it's to remain deeply personal and connected, responding to messages, swapping stories, sharing my enthusiasm for watches. Sabre isn’t just watches. It’s heritage, workmanship, and passion all on your wrist.