Two Broke Watch Snobs
Types of Watches: Pros and Cons to Help You Stay on Budget
Backed by nearly 10 years of hands-on review experience, explore the types of watches that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Backed by nearly 10 years of hands-on review experience, explore the types of watches that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Time+Tide
TAG Heuer's most recognisable watch has had a fascinating history, but which examples of it rank as the best?The post The iconic (TAG) Heuer Monaco and 7 of its best limited edition references appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Another Friday, another list! This week, we move on from the ongoing retrospective of the first six months of the year. It’s time to change the topic. This week, we kick off a trilogy of lists focusing on affordable watches. To be more specific, over the course of the next three weeks, we will look […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Favorite Watches Under €500 From Big Brands to read the full article.
Revolution
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Time+Tide
Russell took a tour of the fun-loving Mr. Jones workshop in South London to find out what makes this creative brand tick. The post Inside the artistic world of Mr. Jones Watches appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
While most of you are familiar with Sarpaneva, the indie watch company created by Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva, his other brand, S.U.F Helsinki, is slightly more confidential. Standing for Sarpaneva Uhren Fabrik, said to be “Finland, through and through,” S.U.F Helsinki is Stepan’s vision to explore simpler, sportier and more accessible watches… but still inspired by his […]
Fratello
HP Hercules watches, originally crafted in post-war Germany, made a comeback in 2022 under the leadership of Swiss watchmaker (of Dutch origins) Adriaan Trampe, formerly of EZA watches. The brand’s rebirth leans on nostalgia, but aims to recharge it with modern mountaineering efforts. I got a chance to go hands-on with the Hercules Hand-Wound Double […] Visit Hands-On With The Everest-Worn HP Hercules Hand-Wound Double Barrelled to read the full article.
WatchAdvice
After visiting the Bvlgari High Horology Manufacture in Switzerland this year, it was about time we reviewed one of their iconic pieces, so I’ve chosen the Octo Finissimo to wear for the week. What We Love The unique design The feel on the wrist A piece you won’t see at watch get-togethers very often, if at all! What We Don’t Lack of fine adjustment on the bracelet No luminescence on the dial The flatness may not suit or wrist types and shapes Overall Rating: 8.6 / 10 Value For Money: 8/10 Design: 9/10 Wearability: 9/10 Build Quality: 8.5/10 This year is probably one of the first times that I have really delved into the world of Bvlgari. Yes, I’ve tried on their watches and seen all the new releases, but I’ve not had the chance to dive into the brand – until this year. Luckily, we had the chance to visit the High Watchmaking Manufacture in Le Sentier back in April to see just one of the manufacturing arms of Bvlgari (they have three across Switzerland where different components are made), in this instance, as the name suggests, the Bvlgari Haute Horlogerie is where the most complicated watches are made, such as their ultra thin movements, minute repeaters, tourbillons, or in Bvlgari’s instance, all of these in one in some cases. A few images from our visit back in April, from the BVL 138 Calibre found in the Octo Finissimo (first two images), a tourbillon cage in the making, and two out of Bvlgari’s three highly skilled watchmakers who work on the high-...
Part I of our story on the evolution of hairspring materials covered temperature compensation along with the development of the first specialised balance spring alloy, Elinvar. The story brought us to the 1920s, when scientist and horologist Charles-Edouard Guillaume (1861-1938) finished his work on nickel-iron alloys and watchmakers begun embracing Elinvar springs paired with mono-metallic balances. In this second part we turn to newer hairspring alloys, like the now-ubiquitous Nivarox. Then we look at today’s landscape and the future, touching on research done by the Swatch Group with alternative, niobium-based alloys and also the specialised but obscure Seiko SPRON 610 hairspring. Lastly we discuss silicon springs, which are growing more prevalent across a range of timepieces. Elinvar’s weaknesses Elinvar was by far the greatest breakthrough in self-compensating alloy hairsprings at the time. Guillaume considered Elinvar good enough and not needing further improvement - unsurprisingly since he was its inventor - but other watchmakers and engineers continued to experiment with iron-nickel compounds because Elinvar’s inherent properties made it a good, but imperfect, material. Even though the alloy behaved predictably with temperature changes, its physical properties were not ideal to begin with. Elinvar was a soft metal, which posed its own suite of problems for spring applications. The importance of softness in terms of hairspring performance is not related ...
Hodinkee
The hype boom for vintage watches reached new peaks a few years ago, but even before that, a few watches had achieved outstanding, never-before-seen prices before disappearing into collections for over a decade. Some are so special that their market return could set a new bar.
Worn & Wound
It’s time to say goodbye. As the poet Rose once said, “nothin’ lasts forever, and we both know hearts can change.” That watch you once lusted after, saved for, and finally bought has run its course. It’s time to let it go, as sad as that might seem. You no longer reach for it in the morning. You no longer post it to Instagram. It has been absent from recent meetups, making room for newer pieces. It just sits there, reminding you of who you used to be. Once, you thought, this is it, I’ve found my one and only. A watch that represents me: my specific tastes and knowledge. It says, “I’m no casual watch fan,” but it isn’t flashy either. You’re an enthusiast, not a hype beast. This watch is for you, and those like you. A badge that says “I’m an insider.” You still like the watch and feel proud to own it, but you have to face the fact that you’ve outgrown it or changed altogether. you know the time has come You stop and think, “it’s not fair to the watch. A watch like this shouldn’t be collecting dust in a box or living its life in the darkness of a drawer.” You want to set it free. You say to yourself, “Hey, maybe there is someone who was just like me X years ago when I first bought it.” Younger, bright-eyed, still discovering who they are, horologically speaking. Maybe this watch can do for them what it did for you. After all, it wasn’t easy to get. You spent time finding it, waiting for the right reference in the right condition to ...
Time+Tide
Another stunning dial from Seiko and another accessible price point, this time with links back to the brand's origin.The post The Seiko Presage Classic Series Urushi dial pays homage to the brand’s origins appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Revolution
Monochrome
Montblanc, the renowned producer of luxury fountain pens since 1906, entered the watchmaking arena in 1997. Keen to enhance its horological credentials, Montblanc acquired the famous Minerva manufacture in 2006. While the brand’s vintage-inspired 1858 line takes inspiration from Minerva’s historical watches and is named after the year the fabled manufacture was founded, it would […]
Hodinkee
A downsized, 36mm remix of JFK Jr.'s favorite '90s classic.
Worn & Wound
Cosmically speaking, 150 years might not be a very long time, but in the relatively young scale of recorded human history, it’s a mighty long while indeed. Airplanes, space travel, personal computers, microchips, sliced bread, washing machines, and the Internet were all invented within the past 150 years or so, making it even more impressive when a brand reaches the same level of longevity. This year, Bulova has done just that. To celebrate their sesquicentennial, the American watchmaker has a new release based on an icon of their past: the Lunar Pilot Timascus. The new release calls back to the original watch of the same name-the Lunar Pilot Chronograph-which was created in 1971 and ultimately worn on the moon. In the futuristic year of 2025, Bulova has teamed up with Brazilian artist Thiago Rosinhole to put his signature astronaut character “Budii” on the new Lunar Pilot, furthering the space-faring theme and giving the watch a touch of quirky character on top of historical heritage. Still, the new Lunar Pilot leans less on the use of the character (who I was admittedly unfamiliar with until the collaboration announcement) and more on a creative use of color to spice up the classic chronograph style seen on other Lunar Pilot models throughout the brand’s history and current lineup. Nestled within a stainless steel case that measures 43.5mm in diameter is the “tiamscus” dial. If you, like me, were wondering what that means, it’s actually a fairly strai...
Deployant
Girard-Perregaux collaborates onc eagain with Aston Martin and releases a new openworked edition of their Laureato in a dark grey ceramic case and bracelet.
Time+Tide
Dimepiece, Foundwell and Timex are back with a new collaboration that remixes the Intrepid 1995 reissue in a new 36mm size.The post The new Timex Intrepid x Dimepiece Edition is a 36mm remix of their 1995 reissue appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
Mido has quietly established a strong reputation with its Ocean Star 200C collection, dive-ready timepieces known for their solid construction, stylish design, and remarkable value. Earlier variants, like the blue-dial 200C in steel with a ceramic bezel and the lightweight titanium edition, have earned well-deserved praise from enthusiasts for their design and execution. A carbon […]
Hodinkee
A deal could not be reached in time to prevent the tariff from being implemented. Here's what you need to know about the new levies that could impact how much you pay for your next watch.
Fratello
Introducing the S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pineforst, a new limited edition from the Finnish brand. This time, the pilot’s watch, inspired by a WWII-era Finnish fighter plane, comes with a lovely Pinefrost green dial. There is plenty to unpack here, so let’s dive straight in. The new S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pinefrost is limited to […] Visit Introducing: A Nod To Finnish War-Time Aviation In The New S.U.F. Helsinki Myrsky MY-G Pinefrost to read the full article.
Fratello
In 2024, Anoma introduced its first watch: the A1. The piece caused quite a stir among watch fans and sold out quickly. Subsequent releases with different dial colors have followed suit, with far more demand than supply. Now, there’s a new addition known as the A1 Optical, and from the photos, these pieces will likely […] Visit Introducing: The Anoma A1 Optical to read the full article.
Revolution
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