Latest watch news · Page 27

Seiko’s 145th-anniversary Edo Purple collection is not one watch in a new colour. It is five very different watches using the same dark violet palette and gold-coloured details: the Astron HAB011, Alpinist HBC006, Speedtimer HBJ005, Presage HCB006 and Seiko 5 Sports HDB003. All are limited editions scheduled for October 2026. Edo purple, five ways Edo purple is a traditional Japanese colour associated with historic Tokyo, once called Edo. Here, Seiko uses it with more restraint than the name “purple anniversary” might suggest. Dials shift between violet and near-black, while the gold-coloured accents give every model some warmth without making them look like birthday decorations. Astron HAB011: the technical flagship The HAB011J1 is the high-tech member of the Edo Purple collection. Image: Seiko. The HAB011 is the outlier because its 5X83 GPS Solar calibre receives time and time-zone information from satellites. It combines dual time, a 1/20-second chronograph, a perpetual calendar and 38-city world time in a 43.3mm titanium case. The ceramic-and-titanium bezel and dual-curved sapphire crystal help it look properly finished rather than merely busy. It is limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide. Seiko has confirmed Japanese pricing, but no U.S. price yet. The graduated purple dial and ceramic centre bracelet links set the Astron apart. Image: Seiko. Alpinist HBC006: compact and capable The HBC006J brings Edo Purple to the Alpinist’s compact case and leather strap. Image: ...

An oversized white-gold case inspired by space modules, paired with a seamlessly integrated X-patterned composite strap and a dial depicting the sky as seen from Geneva on a sapphire-crystal dial. The Patek Philippe 6105G-001 Celestial Sunrise and Sunset is a contemporary take on the eternal celestial theme. Inside the oversized case beats the caliber 240 […] Visit A Touch Of Watch Heaven: Patek Philippe 6105G-001 Celestial Sunrise And Sunset to read the full article.

I know it’s become a bit Seiko-heavy here these days, and I have the feeling we haven’t seen the end of it yet. This year marks Seiko’s 145th anniversary, and they’re making sure you are aware. This morning, we received another “drop” straight from Japan. Six new Seiko watches from different collections, all featuring a […] Visit Seiko Introduces A Purple Rotocall And Five Other New Watches For Its 145th Anniversary to read the full article.

Last year, I had the honor of testing the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty in bi-color prior to its release. It’s a tricky thing to walk around with a watch that isn’t out yet, but luckily, I live in a small village where the risk of it being spotted is rather low. Back then, I was […] Visit The Perfect Laureato? Hands-On With The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty With A Rose-Gold Dial to read the full article.

The Seiko Prospex HBB003K and HBB004K are two new Asia-Pacific exclusive editions, limited to 2,500 pieces each. The sand-textured yellow and orange dials are inspired by the visual transition from golden sunsets to tranquil nights along Asian coastlines. Priced at A$995, both models are available for pre-order exclusively through Seiko Boutiques and Seiko Online. Seiko … Continued

145 years ago, a young man known as Kintaro Hattori opened a shop in Tokyo’s Ginza district for the sale and repair of timepieces. This story, which started in 1881, is that of one of the most important brands incorporated in Japan: Seiko. In the years since, the company has grown alongside Japan’s largest metropolis, […]

Following its global relaunch in 2024 with Patrik Hoffmann at the helm, Favre Leuba retains the spirit of its historical tool watches but with a new focus on extreme wearability. Famous for engineering innovative, well-equipped tool watches, Hoffmann has revisited some of Favre Leuba’s vintage stars in a more contemporary key with slimmer cases and […]

About a week ago, I wrote an article about two classic Seiko divers. For many watch fans, including the majority of the Fratello team, Seiko divers hold a special place in their collections. If it wasn’t your first mechanical watch, it was often one of the first that helped grow your love for watches. After […] Visit Finding The Best Seiko Divers In The Brand’s Prospex Collection to read the full article.

What was the ultimate decade for watches? And if you had to choose just one and could only wear watches from that period, which would you pick? They may sound like two straightforward questions, but they quickly become more complicated once you start considering design, movements, innovation, and the sheer variety of watches produced over […] Visit Fratello Talks: The Ultimate Decade For Watches to read the full article.

Universal People Universal Dreams is a large-format book that explores, in great detail, a collection of 111 Universal Genève chronographs, and only chronographs. The 384-page book is also a record of the collecting journey of its author, Luca Mignini, who reflects on the lessons learnt and people encountered in his pursuit of watches across the world. A longtime watch collector who is now a professor at Milan’s Bocconi University, Mr Mignini had a long career in the consumer goods industry, culminating in a spell as chief operating officer at Campbell’s, the American food giant famous for its canned soups, after which he retired in 2019. The globe-crossing nature of his career took him from his homeland of Italy to Shanghai and New Jersey, giving him the opportunity to collect internationally, a phenomenon that professionals who travel extensively for work will find familiar. Having been interested in watches since he was a teenager, Mr Mignini made his way through the usual suspects like Rolex and Patek Philippe, before landing on Universal Genève during a trip to Tokyo in 2010. In the time since, he has accumulated the impressive collection of Universal Genève detailed in this book. I met Mr Mignini last year in Geneva and he is clearly obsessed with Universal Genève. His tremendous passion for the brand  makes it almost a given Universal People Universal Dreams will be laser focused on Universal chronographs yet exceptionally wide in scope within the narrow s...

Eight thousand pieces. One very specific shade of yellow. Seiko and Honda celebrate the Motocompo's 45th anniversary with a watch that's hard to ignore. The Seiko 5 Sports Honda Motocompo Limited Edition HDB010 packs a 4R36 automatic into a 36.4mm case dressed in iconic scooter yellow. Limited to 8,000 pieces.

A few years ago, my friends gifted me the Fossil Harwell ES5267. From the moment I opened the box, I was absolutely captivated. I have always loved the color green, especially when paired with gold, and this watch executes that combination flawlessly. But beyond its stunning colorway, it stands out for another reason: it is arguably the best affordable alternative to the luxurious Ralph Lauren Stirrup Small. If you love the quiet luxury and equestrian heritage of the Ralph Lauren Stirrup but can’t justify the designer price tag, the Fossil Harwell captures the exact vibe.  The Appeal of the Stirrup Shape The stirrup case design immediately draws the eye. Instead of traditional lugs, the strap typically passes through the upper loop of the case, integrating the watch seamlessly onto the wrist. It’s a silhouette that feels both vintage and contemporary, perfect for adding a touch of tailored elegance to any outfit. It is a bold, instantly recognizable case shape that acts as a piece of statement jewelry just as much as a timekeeper.  The Inspiration: Ralph Lauren Stirrup Small To understand the appeal of the Fossil Harwell, we first have to look at the titan that inspired this aesthetic: the Ralph Lauren Stirrup collection. Introduced at SIHH in Geneva in 2009, the Stirrup collection perfectly captures Ralph Lauren’s deep equestrian heritage. The Stirrup Small features an iconic stirrup-shaped silhouette, measuring 27.7 x 29.3 mm, and often houses high-end Swiss mov...

Why wear black when you can stand out in red? It’s a good question, and why we went hands-on with the Red Grape Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Tuxedo dial. What We Love The Red grape colour is different and gives the watch a talking point The vintage style isn’t too overt, and keeps the blend of modern and old The textures and contrasts used on the case and dial create a watch that has depth aesthetically What We Don’t The 39mm size wears nicely, but could get lost on larger wrists The grey can wash out the watch, especially on lighter skin tones The 41-hour power reserve could be improved for those who may not see this as an everyday watch Overall Rating: 8.7 / 10 Value For Money: 8.7/10 Design: 9/10 Wearability: 8.5/10 Build Quality: 8.5/10 Ever since Raymond Weil’s Millesime collection debuted in 2023, it has reshaped perceptions of Raymond Weil. Winning the GPHG Challenge Prize that year, it soon caught the attention of collectors and the general watch-buying public. The vintage style and value-driven proposition helped solidify this, not to mention the subsequent models in different colours and the addition of a chronograph. The Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Mario reviewed shortly after its debut The Millesime marked the beginning of a new direction for the independent, family-owned Swiss brand and gave it another feather in its cap, so to speak, and the latest additions to the collection launched earlier this year continue that momentum. Now,...

For the last three years, Citizen¹ has supported what has affectionately become known as Windup in a Lake—a diving event on Lake Michigan coinciding with Windup Watch Fair Chicago. We’ve celebrated Promaster¹ milestones with folk legends, and thrown ’80s-themed aquatic parties for Aqualand. But this year marked the 50th anniversary of Citizen Eco-Drive¹ innovation. To […]

Whether it’s shown briefly on a TV show, in a photograph, featured in an advertisement, or even programmed into a video game, as watch collectors, we’ve all had at least one time where we spotted a watch and felt almost forced to double-take. Because of the money associated with stardom, it’s often Rolex Submariners, Omega Speedmasters, and Patek Philippe’s galore that we find in popular culture productions and events. There are, of course, countless instances of this, but I find that catching a glimpse of an inexpensive and accessible watch on someone’s wrist is far more rewarding and worthwhile to the average watch collector. Few of us have the ability to spend thousands of dollars on a watch that has Hollywood provenance, so to spot and potentially own a piece of horological pop culture history for sometimes well under $100 is a dream come true for many movie and watch fans. To illustrate how identifying a watch can be quite fun and certainly approachable, we will be examining singer/songwriter Elliott Smith and his wristwatch. Its brand and model will be revealed later on as I will first walk you through each step of the process. I hope I can provide you with some pointers the next time you come across a watch you want to identify yourself. It can feel like a rather unnecessary skill at times, but it’s a good feeling to discover a popular culture tie to a wristwatch that no one else has noticed before. How to Identify and Research an Unknown Watch Using Pho...

Walking down the pit lane towards the Red Bull garage, I get chatting to a guy, thanks to the watch on his wrist (it was a Monaco), who tells me about his love for F1 and how special it is to stand close enough to these machines that you can feel their engines through your chest. At one point, I asked him, "Which race haven't you been to yet that you're dying to attend?" "I'd love to get to Spa one day, but honestly? This is it. Silverstone is the home of it all. It's hard to beat this place." Over the past five years, F1 has undergone a revitalization I don't think any other sport can match. Fuelled by Netflix's Drive to Survive, a crop of drivers who've opened up more of themselves than any generation before them, and no shortage of on-track drama, the fan base for the sport hasn't just increased; it's evolved in ways that have changed who actually shows up at races. It's that diversified, culture-conscious crowd that TAG Heuer's return as Official Timekeeper is clearly aimed at. TAG Heuer has timed Oracle Red Bull Racing since 2016, through all four of Verstappen's titles, but in 2025 the brand's role in F1 became much bigger. TAG Heuer became the sport's Official Timekeeper as part of a huge move by LVMH across the entire paddock, a ten-year partnership that also brought Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon into Formula 1. Silverstone earns its place at the centre of that story more than any other stop on the calendar. It's one of only four circuits still on the grid that...

Since its debut in 2019, the UR-100 Series has become one of Urwerk‘s most approachable and recognisable creations. “Approachable” is, of course, a relative term in terms of price, yet it is true regarding wearability. The UR-100 features the brand’s signature wandering-hour satellite display, but unlike the more extravagant EMC, UR-120 or UR-230, it packages […]

Most surf watches stop after telling you when the tide is coming in. The new G-Shock G-LIDE GBX-H5600KI-5 also checks your heart, studies your sleep and expects you to catch the next wave. Casio has released its fourth signature watch with Japanese professional surfer Kanoa Igarashi. The GBX-H5600KI-5 is based on the heart-rate-equipped G-LIDE GBX-H5600, but its brown marbled body and soft purple details give it a look that is easy to separate from the standard models. A colour scheme inspired by Portugal The mixed brown colour is inspired by the cliffs and rocky coast around Ericeira, Portugal, one of Igarashi’s training bases. Casio mixes different colours of bio-based resin during production, so the streaks and marks will not be identical on every watch. That gives each example a slightly different surface pattern without pretending that the watch is hand-finished. The lavender details are a smart contrast to the dark case. A purple vapor-deposited finish around the display is meant to recall the sea during the early morning and evening magic hours. Igarashi’s signature sits below the screen and also appears on the back. His World Surf League competition number, 50, is printed on the lower part of the band. Built for the water, but useful away from it The case measures 51.1mm long, 44.5mm wide and 17.3mm thick. That is a large watch on paper, although 47 grams is impressively light for a G-Shock with an optical heart-rate sensor. The carbon-fibre-reinforced resin ba...

This week on The Business of Watches, Collective Horology co-founder and Chief Executive Asher Rapkin joins us. He brought his lawyer.  While Collective is a Ventura, California-based retailer of independent watch brands, including Armin Strom, Czapek, Fears, Ming and J.N. Shapiro, Sara Albrecht is the chairman and CEO of The Liberty Justice Center. That's the non-profit litigation firm that led the legal fight successfully challenging President Trump's initial round of tariffs all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. They won in a surprise decision that ruled the President didn't have the authority to impose levies that increased the cost of importing goods into the U.S., including Swiss-made watches.  The government is now in the process of refunding the approximately $166 billion businesses paid out. Asher Rapkin, co-founder and CEO of Collective Horology in Ventura, California. Of course, the Trump administration found a workaround and immediately slapped on new tariffs and, on July 24, initiated levies of 10% and 12.5% on imported goods, including Swiss-made watches. That's the day that Collective Horology and another importer (dealing in exotic spices), filed a lawsuit against the President and various bodies and individuals in the administration including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.  Rapkin explains why his business decided to challenge the tariff laws and take on the President and his administration, while Albrecht lays out the legal...

Casio G-SHOCK launches a new G-LIDE watch in collaboration with professional surfer Kanoa Iragashi. Introducing the new G-SHOCK G-LIDE GBX-H5600KI.

Trafford Watch Co's new Core Collection focuses on unique looking travel watches, making use of the same Miyota movement in different ways.

Twelve on Time is a conversation series that invites leading personalities from the watch industry to step beyond their work and speak more personally about their relationship with time, creativity, and craft. Through a set of twelve questions, the column aims to lift the veil on both the individual and their perspective on watchmaking, revealing […]