It may seem like an odd starting point, but with this $1,000 budget, I'm making a concerted effort to put myself in the shoes of a budding watch lover. And to be honest, I have a lot of baggage with my value-driven collecting focus. Seiko watches still represent great value, so one of those will surely sneak in.On the other hand, my GADA watch is still a $600 steel G-Shock, so that brand still has

If you're already into watches, Japanese brands have a different design mindset and offer big value. Orient Star is a brand you’ll think of if you're a seasoned watch geek like me, especially if you actually remember watch forums (ask your dad or an uncle). Most brands have a lot to offer, but with microbrands on the rise and prices rising, it's a different market.Orient has maintained a gre

On February 1st, Fratello published the second chapter dedicated to Breitling's Then & Now Pop-Up Museum in Zurich. Today, we come to the final chapter, featuring Breitling's third universe - landborne watches. As mentioned in the previous chapters, under Georges Kern's leadership, Breitling has returned to the three universes of Air, Land, and Sea with an equal emphasis, while under the Schne

Once again, we find ourselves with an article by yours truly on an IWC. Oh well, I’ve bought another vintage watch from International Watch Company Schaffhausen. It’s starting to become a bit of a running joke. This time, though, I haven’t gone for steel. Instead, I bought my very first gold watch.I seem to gravitate to IWC. There are a few good reasons for this. First, I have a

Last week, I published an article on a newly received Mulco Escafandra in my #TBT series of articles. You'll note that the article is no longer online because I have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the watch. Actually, they're really no longer doubts. Readers, for this, I hope you accept my apology and lay off watching or buying these pieces. Mea culpathese are not good pieces.Buyer Beware!

Almost a year after the release of Apple's first watch, it is often said – and even on watch forums – that the succes of the Apple Watch is part of the?reason for the disappointing results of the Swiss watch industry, that has led to an immediate staff decline, at several large Swiss manufactures.To me this is very questionable, not to use the word non-sense. Any person who loves high

Visiting Seiko at Baselworld 2017 was, once again, an experience marked with numerous new releases and an exciting blend of technology mixed with retro cues. We showed a preview of the Grand Seiko releases the minute the press conference had concluded (which coincided with the embargo lift) and we'll show some more pictures of those here. The focus, though, will be on the watches from the parent b

Today's #TBT will be Baselworld 2017 focused as we're still basking in the afterglow of the show. And, even though we've covered it already, I'll use this column as a platform to discuss why I, a vintage diehard, ordered the Omega Speedmaster 1957 reissue. Maybe my purchase of this watch surprises you and maybe it doesn't, but let's discuss it anyhow.The trio of 60th Anniversary Pieces during our

For years now, one of my personal highlights of BaselWorld is to visit my friends?from Junghans for lunch. Their HQ for the week is just a stone throw away from the BaselWorld location in a nearby hotel. Junghans releases great watches year after year – just take a look at their last year’s lineup. As you know, design plays a key part in their product line, especially in their Max Bill

Would you ever turn to a Pepsi dial besides for a GMT-Master? Before I bought the Seiko Prospex SRPA21K1 PADI Edition, that thought had never even crossed my mind. Wearing my PADI Edition diver for this installment of? 52Mondayz is a good reminder of why blue and red is a great color combination for watches in general and why the “Turtle” is such an impressive watch.We have featured q

Earlier this year, I reported about the new Omega Constellation 39mm Gent’s collection. The lines of this model are a bit sharper than the previous model, and they are now all equipped with the in-house caliber 8800/8801 movements. My only concern, as I wrote in this article, is the thickness of the case. Let’s see if that has been addressed by Omega.I never really took notice of the C

In a world where differentiation is more important than ever, Genteel Handmade offers you the freedom to create your very own alligator watch strap for your timepiece. Made to order, made for you.Genteel Handmade is a business that distinguishes itself on the market through a passion for uniqueness. Through years of practice, they managed to perfect their craftsmanship and also to focus on quality

When we started the competition, we had 96 watches; now, we’re down to four. The remaining writers are now into their second head-to-head match-up. The winner moves on to the final; the loser goes home. At this point, it’s simply the best of the best. Your favorite four watches battle it out for eternal glory. Who will be crowned the winner of March Mania? It’s up to you to help

Today is, of course, #SpeedyTuesday. So what better time to talk about the Omega Speedmaster 38 in Sedna Gold? Don't be fooled into thinking that this is just another downsized version of a men’s watch. It really isn’t. The Speedmaster 38, which is clearly has a fondness for the now-defunct Speedmaster Reduce, has been designed specifically for its female customer base. As such, its no

Part of me was scared to over-hype this interview/podcast in case you’d feel let down by the end of it. Then I re-read the interview, listened to the Podcast (enduring an hour of my own voice), and revisited the Lapinist’s Instagram account and realized that, if you class yourself as a fan of vintage Seiko or Grand Seiko, you won’t possibly be disappointed. On the contrary, IR

At Watches and Wonders 2022, IWC dazzles your eyes with the snow-white ceramic Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition Lake Tahoe and calms you back down again with the camouflaged green “Woodland. Many people have told me that I have “gone beige lately. And that's right, I like a bit of beige in a watch - IWC's Mohave models, for instance, but also the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Sma

New Panerai releases are always a guilty pleasure for me. Whether it’s new materials, colors, or sizes, the bold brand always comes through with something that I like each and every year. Today, we break down a trio of new divers, the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro collection.The Submersible models are the “true divers” in the Panerai lineup. With their rotating bezels and m

Chopard is a brand that I truly believe is criminally overlooked in the watch landscape today. But for over 25 years now, the brand better known for its jewelry has taken phenomenal strides in truly in-house watchmaking. Chopard’s first manufacture movement, caliber 96.01-L, debuted in 1997 in the now-legendary L.U.C 1860. The 3.3mm-slim foundational caliber boasted a micro-rotor, double bar

It's time for a new GMT from Grand Seiko! This is exciting news because you, dear readers, have a thing for watches that measure more than one timezone and especially when they come from this upscale brand. Are you ready to check out the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT duo?It's true that Grand Seiko offers all types of watches from dress to sport. However, the brand’s GMT pieces are some of its

I'm always a bit ashamed when people ask me what movement is inside my own Cartier Santos Galbee XL from 2006. It houses a very reliable ETA 2893, which can be serviced by basically any watchmaker in the world. So it's certainly not something to be ashamed of, especially because the watch looks so good. But ever since Cartier launched its Collection Prive, Cartier Paris (CPCP) in 1998, the brand h