Hands-On: The Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin Dive Watch
As I diverged from the steep ravine that some friendly locals referred to as a path to let through a group of tourists coming up from the beach, I made a critical error. Leaving the safety of the path exposed me to loose sand and gravel. As I pivoted on my right foot and shifted my weight onto the left, I experienced the kind of gut-wrenching vertigo that you do as the expected grip gives way to a lack thereof. Everything happened in a flash. Due to my instinctual backward-leaning stance, countering the sheer steepness of the rocky descent, I went down on my back. The forward momentum carried me a couple of meters downhill, pushing my backpack up towards my shoulders, leaving the space just ...
Calling Out Brands That Still Focus On Large-Size Watches
I always thought that I had relatively small wrists at around 17cm. After all, there are quite some popular watches out there that I find are too big for my wrist. For example, the Explorer II, Omega Seamaster 300M, and almost any watch in IWC’s lineup. But actually, according to what I could find online, I have a very average wrist size. So why is it, then, that some major brands tend to launch their flagship pieces with a size way above 40mm?All right, one of the online sources was a poll on the Dutch Horloge Forum from 2021. Admittedly, that might not be the most scientific source of information, and I think the majority of respondents are men. But out of the 518 participants, the ...
Auction: The OAK Collection Part I
In May 2022, 168 pieces of the over-600-strong OAK Collection - a bewildering, one-of-a-kind collection that reflects French businessman Patrick Getreide's 40-year horological passion - were presented for all to see at the British Design Museum in London. It was quite the event with around 700 watch business VIPs, fellow collectors, and press coming in from around the globe to meet the man behind the collection and inspect the watches. And guess what? The show was a warm-up for the auctioning of the OAK Collection in several stages. Part I, featuring 142 watches, will take place at Christie's auction house and is scheduled for November 26th in Hong Kong. Will the Patek Philippe Nautilus quar...
The Best Watches Under $5,000: Mike's Picks
It seems that they’ll let anyone in here, even a vintage curmudgeon like me! That’s right, it’s my turn to pick four watches under $5,000. It’s a challenge because many of my teammates have already chosen and I’m only allowed to pick one pre-owned piece. Tough work indeed, but I’m ready to bring you options from Seiko, Nomos, Breitling, and even Breguet!It’s pretty wild how prices have changed in the watch world. It doesn’t feel like that long ago when less than $3,000 scored a new Speedmaster Professional. These days, watches like the Speedy, the Seamaster 300M, and every are now above $5,000. So while it’s easy to find watches under to...
Czapek Unveils The Antarctique For GMT Great Masters Of Time
Whenever Czapek announces a new Antarctique, I am all ears. The brand’s take on a modern sports watch with an integrated bracelet and a touch of ’70s flair is one of my favorite models in this genre. The design, the movement, and the craftsmanship that goes into creating these watches make them stand out immediately. Over the past four years, we have seen several stunning dial variations that give every Antarctique a distinct look. With the Antarctique for Milan-based retailer GMT Great Masters Of Time, the brand adds a striking gold-plated dial. It’s another special take on a fantastic watch.The event that sparked this new release is not merely a collaboration with the Mil...
Hands-On: Atelier Wen Perception Titanium Millesime M
Atelier Wen has enjoyed a meteoric increase in popularity over the past two years. The independent brand has shed a positive light on Chinese watchmaking while producing attractive watches with finishes and materials normally found on more expensive pieces. To celebrate the fans who have brought so much success to the company, a limited-edition Perception Titanium Millesime M is available for order.Since meeting Atelier Wen co-founder Robin Tallendier in London and trying on a Perception, I’ve avidly followed the brand’s every move. What I’ve witnessed is a commitment to continuous improvement. Small changes to the case shape, bracelet design, and other tweaks have improve...
Reunited With The Blancpain Villeret Quantime Complet
Three years ago, I had the pleasure of wearing the Blancpain Villeret Quantime Complet for a little while. The combination of a 40mm steel case with a characteristic stepped bezel, a classic white dial, and a complete-calendar caliber proved an impressive watch at a competitive price. I wrote that the watch that bucks the retro trend is a timepiece for a time-transcending, trend-breaking, and style-savvy individual with a taste for the more refined things in life. What do I make of a version in exclusive red gold paired with an exotic deep green dial?In warm red gold, the Blancpain Villeret Quantime Complet ref. 6654A 3653 55B is a completely different creature from the much cooler-looking...
The IFL Watches Timex Q Space Dunk Slams It Home!
IFL Watches modifies watches by adding wildly creative, handpainted dials. The brand has used several watches as a canvas for its creations. Each release is limited, and a quick look at the company’s website shows plenty of “sold out” signs. Let’s see if the new IFL Watches Timex Q Space Dunk strikes the same chord with fans.We’ve covered many IFL Watches releases and launched a collaboration with the brand using a CasiOak as the foundation. Overall, we’ve enjoyed the brightly colored watches that cover an endless array of subjects. Models from G-Shock, Seiko, Citizen, Tissot, and Timex are the typical choices for IFLW. The new Space Dunk uses the Q from T...
Hands-On With Artem Nylon Watch Straps
Due to my smaller wrists, I tend to wear custom-size straps and adjusted bracelets. However, there are other options. The Artem nylon watch straps are a cut above typical offerings. I’ve paired one with a vintage Tudor Submariner for today’s review, and I’ll answer why it’s worth selecting a premium nylon strap over a flimsy model.I remember milling around in Paris back in 2013 with my then-future wife. Somehow, we bumped into a small watch accessories shop with a large bin of “NATO” style straps. They were $12 each and included leather and nylon options. These were hip and tough to find, so I bought a few. Over the next year, I wore these straps heavily a...
The Story Of The Jack Mason Brand
In 2025, the Jack Mason brand, established by Peter Cho, will have been around for a decade. Peter is a watch designer by trade and always has been. Among other positions, he was a designer at Fossil in the US and Movado in Switzerland. Jack Mason started as a fashion brand available in department stores all over the US. However, after a few years, the owner began to focus on better watchmaking rather than just an attractive appearance.The story of Jack MasonJack Mason is proudly based in Dallas, Texas, USA. Its logo is based on the Texas Lone Star, while color details in Jack Mason’s watches often refer to colors standard to Texas. A relative of the founder provided the brand name as ...
Cartier Santos 100th anniversary
A small cite from the Alberto Santos-Dumont article on WordIQ.com:“Santos-Dumont and the wristwatchThe wrist watch had already been invented by Patek Philippe, decades earlier, but Santos-Dumont played a important role popularizing its use by men in the early 1900s. Before him they were generally worn only by women, as men favored pocket watches. As a result, especially in Brazil, Santos-Dumont is considered by some to be the “Father of the Wristwatch”.The story goes that in 1904, while celebrating his winning of the Deutsch Prize at Maxim’s Restaurant, Alberto complained to his friend Louis Cartier about the difficulty of checking his pocket watch to time his perform...
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo (b.1957) was one of European’s best golf players in the 1980s and 1990s, and recently honored with nighthood (Sir Nick Faldo) in recognition of an incredible sporting career by the English queen. What most golfers probably do not know (with the exception of the watch connoisseurs amongst them), is the long time partnership between Nick Faldo and Audemars Piguet.Audemars Piguet, King of special editions, created three different Royal Oak watches to honor golf legend Nick Faldo. The first model showed up in 1992, with reference 14790. A rose gold Royal Oak, limited to 325 pieces. In 1997, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Nick Faldo edition ref.15090, limited to 150 pie...
Jaeger-LeCoultre's AMVOX2 Grand Chronograph Limited Edition
News from the? Vallee de Joux in Switzerland. Jaeger-LeCoultre proudly presents their AMVOX2 Grand Chronograph Limited Edition (ref?Q1972473) in 18 carat pink gold. Restricted to 50 pieces only and inspired by race driver?Adrin Fernndez who started his racing?career?in 1973. Why?Adrin Fernndez? Good question. In 2010, he became official driver for the Aston Martin Works Team and as you probably know by now, Jaeger-LeCoultre has a long term relationship with Aston Martin.Just like the first AMVOX chronograph, this limited edition Grand Chronograph also features the vertical trigger chronograph, which means you have a single-pusher system by using the sapphire crystal. That’s right, ...
Speedy Tuesday Differences in Speedmaster Bezels
Collectors of vintage watches will probably agree with me that it is all about the details. Although the most frequently asked question about collecting Omega Speedmasters are about the dial and hands, the bezel seems to get some attention as well. Through the years, the bezel of the Speedmaster (pre-)Professional changed quite a bit, which makes it difficult to give straight answers most of the time.For example, the above Speedmaster Professional ACP (which we discussed here) from approx. 1965 has a bezel that seems time correct, but you could also identify this as a bezel from the 1970s. But what gives it away? How to identify the correct bezel for a particular Speedmaster?How to identify ...
MeisterSinger Circularis With New MSH01 Movement
MeisterSinger is pretty well-known among watch aficionados, so there is no need for an introduction on this German brand. However, last week MeisteSinger unveiled their Circularis collection that does need an introduction. The MeisterSinger Circularis is an entirely new collection – consisting of three watches – that carry a bespoke movement, caliber MSH01.It is not an in-house movement nor does MeisterSinger claims it to be one, but it has been developed in very close cooperation with a Swiss partner. This uniquely designed hand-wound movement has a power reserve of 5 days and can act as the base caliber for MeisterSinger watches in the future. Can be, we write, as nothing is ce...
#TBT Heuer Carrera 2447S
I started thinking about this almost a year ago. Last autumn, my Dad turned 64 and it immediately drew my attention to the big 65 that was coming a short twelve months later. I honestly had no idea of what to get him but I knew that it needed to be a watch. It was one of those what do you get the person who has everything conundrums and while my Dad certainly doesn't have everything, he's like most guys in the sense that he generally procures what he wants/needs without waiting. Anyhow, I knew I wanted the watch to be special, sporting, and, of course, vintage. Additionally, I wanted to somehow blend in the love of cars and racing into the purchase as my Dad instilled this within me from a v...
Tutima Saxon One: Statement in Steel
Flagship model from Tutima Glashutte creates a new style in the world of German watches.Highlight of the new collection: SAXON ONE chronograph, with alligator leather strap, ref-no 6420-04.For more information please visit the Tutima websiteTutima presents the flagship model of its new watch family to the public: the SAXON ONE symbolizes sportiness and toughness and also delivers unmistakable esthetics.Tutima SAXON ONE chronographEven the name SAXON ONE heralds the start of a new timekeeping era: this striking chronograph exudes the immense vitality of the relaunch of the traditional brand that was founded in Glashutte in 1927. The unique design and 44 millimeter diameter of this watch have ...
Kickstarter- US$499 Real Flying Tourbillon Modern Minimal Design Watches by LENVINO
With the success of the first two projects (First project, total funded HK$ 427,860; Second project, total funded HK$ 1,344,752) LENVINO returns to Kickstarter to introduce their Third collection to you.Tourbillon is a historic complication originally designed to improve the accuracy of pocket watches which was invented by the famous watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795. It is the term of a complex feature of traditional watch craftsmanship and present in a classic design of the high-end timepieces.LENVINO would like to let most of the watch-addicts can appreciate and enjoy for the tourbillon remarkable watch craftsmanship and complication, they used the most premium materials, reliable ...
#TBT vintage Tissot Antimagnetique Jumbo and Antimagnetique History
The beauty of collecting vintage watches is that there's a fanbase for everything. Vintage chronographs from the 1940s and 1950's are one of the hottest areas. Just think of how vintage Seiko's popularity grew in recent years though. The brand did not have the following base in 2014 like it has today. Roughly the same happened to vintage Doxa divers as well. Another area that has always been around but collectors were kind of low-key about them were time-only watches. Three-handers if you want to call them, and especially jumbos. Jumbos are simple time-only watches that have exceptionally large cases for the time they are coming from. In vintage terms, this could be anything from 35.5-36mm u...
An Extra Dose of Adrenalin: The TAG Heuer Carrera from 2000 to Today
The chronograph was given its own manufacture caliber in the new millenniumNow under the aegis of LVMH, TAG Heuer intensified its commitment to motorsport in the new millennium. After eleven years as the Formula One's official timekeeper, TAG Heuer took over the timekeeping for IndyCar, the most popular American racing series, and thus timed the famous 500-mile race in Indianapolis, where the racers' performance is measured to an accuracy of 1/10,000th of a second. TAG Heuer is also active in rally championships. And it's the watch brand with the most cumulative wins in Monaco (15) alongside McLaren, with whom it has maintained the longest partnership in F1 history (30 years). The partnershi...