From Aerospace Engineering to Watchmaking
Islander didn't begin in a corporate boardroom. It grew out of a problem its founder understood better than most people in the watch business.
When we spoke with Marc Frankel in October 2026, he walked us through the story of Long Island Watch and how Islander came to be. Marc was working as a mechanical engineer in the aerospace industry when he began selling watches online as a side business. He loved watches, understood their engineering, and believed a well-built timepiece didn't need an extravagant price tag.
What began on the side grew into Long Island Watch, an independent retailer known for introducing enthusiasts to watches they might never see in a typical jewelry store. Along the way, Marc spent years learning what customers appreciated, what frustrated them, and which features they wished their watches had.
The Seiko That Changed Everything
Marc told us about attending a watch show and learning that Seiko was discontinuing the SKX, a model that had been one of his biggest retail drivers. The news presented a genuine business problem: a beloved affordable mechanical diver was going away, and the watches poised to replace it weren't necessarily giving enthusiasts everything they wanted.
Rather than simply look for another brand to fill the shelf, Marc recognized a hole in the market. He knew the watch, knew the customers buying it, and had heard their wish lists firsthand. Why not build a watch that delivered the upgrades collectors had been asking for?
That idea led to the original Islander ISL-01 and ISL-02. Marc described the early concept to us as a kind of “spec monster”: take a proven, accessible dive-watch formula and make it more capable. Sapphire crystals, ceramic bezel inserts, solid bracelets, dependable movements, and practical everyday details became part of Islander's value proposition rather than expensive add-ons.
Those early watches became important sellers and helped establish Islander as a brand in its own right. A product that began by filling a gap went on to create opportunities for something bigger.
Quality Without the Unnecessary Markup
One part of our conversation with Marc stood out just as much as the origin story: his approach to price.
Marc spoke about wanting to make genuinely good watches at prices enthusiasts can feel comfortable paying. The goal isn't to see how much a buyer can be persuaded to spend. It's to offer compelling quality and specifications for the money, price the product fairly, and build a relationship that lasts beyond a single sale.
That's a philosophy you can see across the Islander catalog. The brand has expanded beyond its original dive watches into GMTs, field and pilot-inspired designs, dress watches, and distinctive everyday pieces. Some honor the watches that inspired Marc in the first place; others have developed their own look. What connects them is an emphasis on useful features and attainable value.
More Than a Watch on a Shelf
Marc has also spent years explaining watches to the people who buy them, including through Long Island Watch's educational “Watch and Learn” videos. That willingness to share knowledge reflects something we appreciate about independent makers: the people behind the brand aren't always hidden behind a marketing department.
They can tell you why a movement was chosen, why a bracelet matters, or what motivated an entire collection. In Islander's case, the founding story is unusually straightforward. Marc saw that customers were about to lose something they loved and used his experience to build an answer.
Why We Feature Islander at Blackland
Blackland Watch Co. is built around a belief that more people would appreciate independent watchmakers if they had the chance to discover them and understand the people and decisions behind the products.
Our conversation with Marc reinforced exactly why we wanted Islander here. He's an engineer who became a retailer, then a watchmaker, by paying attention to the people wearing the watches. He cares about putting quality within reach, not just moving merchandise.
That's the kind of story—and the kind of watch—we want people to find at Blackland.