I’ve always found microbrands fascinating. They tend to take creative risks that larger companies avoid in the form of experimenting with colors, textures, and ideas, while still keeping prices relatively accessible. Not to mention many of them represent corners of the world that don’t always get much attention in watchmaking. Through them, you don’t just discover new designs, you discover new places and stories. That’s exactly what drew me to Zealandic, a brand rooted in New Zealand, a place whose landscapes and atmosphere feel almost made for storytelling through objects.

That said it is also challenging to find information about the new brands, where did they come from who is behind the brand and so on. I think the human story matters and is important to share and with Zealandic, that is deeply connected to home, passion, and a moment of frustration that turned into something much bigger.

To satisfy my own curiosity as well, I have sent several questions to Derek to learn more about his story and about his brand. I am truly grateful he answered all my questions! So here’s how it all began.

Meet Derek Chuan founder of Zealandic

He grew up in Auckland, always curious about how things worked (especially about cars). That curiosity led him to study mechanical engineering at the university. Today, he still works as a project manager, Zealandic wasn’t built from quitting everything overnight. It was built after hours.

Interestingly, watches weren’t always front and center in his life. Wore them as a kid, but the spark reignited in 2020 when he bought himself a Seiko Alpinist. That purchase pulled him back into the hobby and from there, into the world of microbrands.

What pushed him to start his own brand though? Waking up at 2AM to try and secure a limited-edition microbrand watch… and still missing out.

Sounds familiar? Most watch lovers and collectors know that feeling all too well, the anticipation, the rush, and then the frustration when it slips through our fingers.

But instead of deep delving into some sort of depression or sadness over missing out on the desired piece an idea appeared:

“Why not create my own watch?“

Important to mention, at that time, he was feeling unchallenged in his day job, working on autopilot, lacking fulfillment. Again, that is something many of us can relate to in our daily life.

The growing fascination with microbrands combined with that frustration became the push he needed. Instead of just collecting, he decided to create something new.

The design inspiration and the manufacturing

The inspiration struck during a road trip with his friends from Auckland to Queenstown. Along the way, they stopped near Lake Pukaki, on the road to Mount Cook. Derek was mesmerized by the lake’s almost unreal, electric blue, a color that hardly seemed natural. Later, he discovered that Lake Pukaki is fed by the Tasman Glacier, and that connection ultimately became the spark behind the Iceborn’s design.

Digging deeper, he discovered the glacier’s ice caves, the tunnels and chambers carved by summer meltwater and that was the last piece of the puzzle.

That texture. That depth. That natural unpredictability. Then it became the dial.

Designing the watch took around six months, including time spent on research. Derek’s engineering background played a huge role here, especially his ability to design in CAD. But everything happened after hours, while still maintaining a full-time job. Amazing isn’t it?

The real challenge? Prototyping, which took nearly a year.

Perfecting the dial’s texture and color took several rounds of revisions, and each adjustment stretched the timeline more than anticipated. Delays in communication, constant follow-ups, and concerns about quality all added to the challenge. At one stage, the prototype’s finishing simply didn’t meet the standard he was aiming for, which meant making the tough decision to change manufacturers entirely. Through recommendations within the microbrand community, he eventually partnered with a new producer who helped carry the project successfully across the finish line.

The watches are manufactured in China, but Derek personally traveled there to conduct quality control himself.

The three musketeers, meaning 3 dial versions

The Iceborne is available in three color variations, all sharing the same wave-pattern dial inspired by the ice caves of the Tasman Glacier on New Zealand’s South Island.

The green version draws inspiration from Pounamu, the precious greenstone deeply connected to Māori culture and traditionally carved into symbolic ornaments. The light blue model takes its cue from Lake Pukaki, whose striking turquoise color comes from finely ground glacial rock particles suspended in the water.

And finally, the burgundy — the one I have — is inspired by Central Otago, the southernmost wine-producing region in the world, famous for its rich Pinot Noir.

Unboxing and first impressions

I have to start here because the experience genuinely surprised me. Checkout my unboxing video at the end of the review.(below the Gallery)

The box is one of those rare ones that just… works.
You lift the lid and it opens effortlessly with one hand. Yes, it’s that smooth, slow release you usually associate with Apple’s packaging. No fighting with it, no awkward pulling, just a clean reveal of the box inside. It sounds like a small thing, but it sets the tone right away: thoughtful design, attention to detail, and a brand that understands presentation.

It feels premium without trying too hard.

After the unboxing, the next thing that truly grabbed my attention was the dial — especially the texture sitting beneath the sapphire crystal. It’s something you don’t just look at, you experience. It’s beautiful.

The highly polished applied indices introduce an extra layer of dimension, enhancing the depth against the richly textured dial. Just look at that mesmerizing surface, it truly draws you in and refuses to let go. When I first saw it, I was genuinely surprised by how legible it is despite all that texture(more on that a bit later).

I also really love how clean the dial is. There’s no date window interrupting the texture, no unnecessary lines of text cluttering the surface. Just the brand’s applied logo sitting neatly under 12 o’clock.

So as I mentioned the watch is very legible from almost any angle and the time is easy to read despite the textured surface and the way it plays with light. And thanks to the generous application of BGW9 Super-LumiNova, it performs confidently in low-light conditions as well, glowing brightly and evenly when the lights go down.

One thing worth noting, especially from a photography perspective, is that the Burgundy version isn’t the easiest to photograph accurately. Depending on the lighting, the dial can appear noticeably darker, sometimes muting that rich reddish tone that makes it so special in person. So if that matters to you, probably the light blue version is a better choice.

The fully brushed fixed bezel fits perfectly within the overall design language of the watch, subtly directing all attention toward the dial and frames it nicely.

The case itself is well executed, with a pleasing profile at around 12mm thick. It sits comfortably on the wrist, and the drilled lugs are a practical touch that makes strap changes easy, something most watch collectors always appreciate.

Under the decorated screw-down caseback sits a Miyota 9039 movement, beating at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) with a 42-hour power reserve. The Miyota 9000 series has become a popular choice among microbrands and independents thanks to its reliability, robustness, slim profile, and solid accuracy. Complementing the screw-down caseback with a laser engraved decoration of New Zealand, is a mid-sized screw-down crown(also laser engraved), giving the Iceborne a 200-meter water resistance, more than enough for everyday adventures and then some. The crown is easy to grab and operate to set the watch.

The Iceborne is incredibly easy to wear thanks to its universally friendly proportions: 39mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 12mm thick, and a 20mm strap width. On paper, those numbers already sound right and on my 17cm wrist, they absolutely are.

Weighing 74 grams on the strap and 150 grams on the bracelet, it strikes a great balance. Substantial enough to feel solid and well-built, yet never heavy or cumbersome. The overall presence is composed and confident, making it feel completely at home on the wrist from the moment you put it on.

Mine came on the bracelet, which is made from 316L stainless steel and features a triple center-link design with a fully brushed finish that matches the case perfectly. It tapers nicely from 20mm to 16mm, giving it a balanced and comfortable feel on the wrist.

Thanks to the screw links, sizing it to your wrist is straightforward and secure. Add to that the quick-release spring bars and the signed clasp with five steps of on-the-fly micro-adjustment, and you get a bracelet that’s both practical and very easy to live with day to day.

Final thoughts

The Iceborne is one of those watches that grows on you the more time you spend with it. At first, it’s the dial that pulls you in, the texture, the depth, the way the light constantly changes its character. But after the initial fascination settles, what remains is a very well-balanced, thoughtfully designed field watch.

The proportions are spot on. The finishing feels honest and cohesive. The bracelet is practical and comfortable.

What I appreciate most, though, is the intention behind it. This isn’t a design created just to follow trends. It’s rooted in a real place, a real experience, and a genuine passion for watches. You can feel that in every aspects of the watch from the unboxing experience through wearing it everyday on your wrist. For 548 USD this model is a great value!

It is an impressive debut model from Zealandic and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next!

Unboxing the Iceborne.

Specification:

• Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
• Case Diameter: 39mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 47mm (drilled lugs)
• Thickness: 12mm
• Weight: 74.1g (on strap) / 150g (on bracelet)
• Water Resistance: 20 ATM
• Lume: Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9, grade A
• Glass: Double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
• Movement: Miyota 9039
• Power Reserve: 42 hours
• Vibration Frequency: 28,800 VPH (4Hz)
• Crown: Screw-down
• Price: 548 usd

Website: https://www.zealandic.co.nz