Tres Grados Watches
Tres Grados means “three degrees” in Spanish, a name drawn from the three aspects of a watch at the heart of the brand: case, dial and complication. It is a new watch brand from Alex Burns, a Boston-based horology enthusiast, collector and former authorized dealer. Before the first second ticks, the idea takes shape here.
A lifelong fascination
I’ve been fascinated by watches for practically my entire life. As a child, I was already fantasizing about niche brands like Cuervo y Sobrinos.
A little over ten years ago, that changed from a fascination into a true passion and a collection, thanks to a James Bond Omega Aqua Terra: a gift from my incredible parents that I will cherish forever.
Brand-agnostic, always
As I’ve gotten older and more refined in my collecting, I’ve come to prefer things that are unique, limited and eye-grabbing. I love the major houses, and I love watches that no one has heard of, for the same reason: both are wearable art.
Independent brands are the most fun part of it all. They bring the innovation that bigger names are too apprehensive to chase.
“You can’t call yourself a collector if you don’t wear the watch.”
Written by hand, every Tuesday
On Instagram as @burnswatches, I post on Tuesdays at 12. Every post is hand-written, because each watch deserves real thought. The watches go where I go, from Boston Harbor to Barbados, Medellín and Victoria Falls.
Along the way, this hobby has given me real friendships with the dealers, founders and collectors who share it. Spending time with them has shown me that the passion behind this industry is authentic.
From the wrist to the workbench
Years of wearing, selling and studying watches have taught me what makes one worth the wait: the small design choices, the quality you can feel on the wrist, and the people who stand behind it. Tres Grados is where I get to put that into a watch of my own.