Two Broke Watch Snobs
Top Affordable Luxury Watch Brands We Tested and Stand By
After years of hands-on testing, these are our favorite luxury watch brands that we trust for real value and lasting craftsmanship.
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3,885 articles · 382 videos found · page 126 of 143
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Teddy Baldassarre
Tissot Telemeter 1938 Review
The Tissot Telemeter 1938, which joined the Swiss brand's vintage-influenced Heritage collection in summer 2022, has garnered enthusiasts' attention with its charmingly retro design, optimized chronograph movement, and enticing price-to-value ratio. We had a chance to go hands-on with both versions of the Tissot Telemeter 1938; read on for the results from our in-depth review. Overview and History By just about any historical standard, 1938 was generally a pretty dark year, marked by the lingering economic woes of the Great Depression, the violence of Kristallnacht, and the slow march to war in Europe, with Germany annexing Austria and partitioning Czechoslovakia in the ill-fated Munich pact. One of the few areas in which forward-thinking creativity and energetic optimism still prevailed in that pre-war era was the world of art and design, which was still showing the influence of the Art Deco movement that had taken root in the 1920s. Wristwatches, which had largely supplanted pocket watches as the go-to portable timekeepers for both civilian and military use, displayed this enduring design ethos while also often incorporating a useful array of functions geared toward the timing of the era’s popular sporting events, many of which involved racing - on horseback, in automobiles, and on skis. Tissot, founded in 1853 in the Swiss Jura, was one of the watchmakers that specialized in making these sport-timing instruments. One of the company’s earliest forays as an offic...
Time+Tide
INTRODUCING: The William Wood Fearless collection delivers enhanced wearability and a sense of fun
One of my first hands-on reviews for Time+Tide in early 2020 was the William Wood Red Watch, and I was definitely a fan. The way that the brand were able to weave in Easter eggs that told their story and built an identity was unlike anything I’d seen from other companies at the time, and … ContinuedThe post INTRODUCING: The William Wood Fearless collection delivers enhanced wearability and a sense of fun appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Piaget & Phillips Introduce the Altiplano Origin China Edition
Piaget typically relies on a conventional palette for its signature ultra-thin dress watches, but its latest Altiplano livens things up. A collaboration between Piaget and auctioneers Phillips, the Altiplano Origin China Special Edition is based on the watchmaker’s wafer-thin watch equipped with its in-house, super-flat automatic movement. Ordinarily found with a sedate silver dial, the Altiplano gets gradient green dial with pink gold hands and markings in a 21-piece limited edition available only in China. Initial thoughts Piaget’s typical formal watches with silver dials are classic, but they can be too plain. Excepting a handful with dials in unusual materials or finishes, I find many of them overly formal and visually flat. The China edition, in contrast, instantly stands out. Though it changes nothing in terms of the basic design, the gradient green lacquer and pink gold accents give the dial a vibrance absent in the standard models. Green, however, is today’s fashionable colour, which means it’s more common than it should be. Even so, the China edition has minor design tweaks that give it a more appealing aesthetic than the standard version, like the elimination of the numerals from the seconds register. Priced at 10% more than the standard model in white gold, the China edition is more appealing. Elegantly flat In contrast to similar Altiplano models that are almost uniformly kitted out in silver dials, the China edition has a dial that’s a deep, shaded...
Deployant
Review: the new Urwerk UR-120 aka Spock
Hands-on review of the new Urwerk UR-110 Spock with insider notes direct from Felix Baumgartner, featuring our own live photographs and release pics.
Time+Tide
Heads or tails for your Rolex? Kicking a ball into a skip for a £15K watch? Sportsmen’s crazy watch bets
You might blame it on the betting culture within professional sport. Or the competitive personalities of top sportsmen that make them that much more willing to take on the bookies. Or maybe it’s simply the fact that many professional athletes are young men on huge wages with far too much free time on their hands. … ContinuedThe post Heads or tails for your Rolex? Kicking a ball into a skip for a £15K watch? Sportsmen’s crazy watch bets appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
This new IWC Portugieser duo are more wearable, more affordable and a lot more green
The IWC Portugieser is a staple in the Schaffhausen watchmaker’s collection, with its signature Arabics, feuille hands and railroad minute track designs originating in 1939, before its reinvention in the early ’90s. Andrew went hands-on with two of its latest iterations – the Portugieser Automatic 40 and Perpetual Calendar 42. Both of these represent their … ContinuedThe post This new IWC Portugieser duo are more wearable, more affordable and a lot more green appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Going wild with Norqain and reimagining a ’60s classic with Rado…
This week, both Luke and I made the journey to Switzerland to get hands-on with some exciting, new releases. With a case shaped like a flying saucer, the Rado DiaStar Original always wore its 1960s heritage very conspicuously indeed. Made from tungsten carbide, the DiaStar ushered in a new era of material experimentation in the … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Going wild with Norqain and reimagining a ’60s classic with Rado… appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Dive Watches That Won’t Break The Bank
Discover the best affordable dive watches chosen for standout design, real-world performance, and hands-on reviews by watch experts
Time+Tide
The Author Clock is a (literally) novel way to read time
Mechanical analog timepieces are loved due to their romanticism and emotion, holding connection to a tradecraft and art form centuries old. Digital timekeepers often lack that level of emotion. With traditional timekeepers, certain rules have to be followed – hands and indices or numerals conveying the time. It is hard to deviate from such tradition, … ContinuedThe post The Author Clock is a (literally) novel way to read time appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Review: new Bovet 19Thirty in red gold green dial
Here is our hands-on comprehensive review of the new (2021) Bovet 19Thirty in red gold case and a brilliant dark green dial.
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New and Reviewed: MB&F; LM Split Escapement EVO
MB&F; continues to extend their EVO lineup, with the new LM Split Escapement EVO. We got a hands-on and photography session with this novelty, and bring this you review as the embargo lifts for this watch. This novelty is the extension in two directions, so to speak. It extends the earlier LM Split Escapement andRead More
Time+Tide
Time+Tide Weekend Watch Crossword: #19 “Handsets”
Fully back in the saddle, after a brief vacation hiatus we are back with another crossword for you to tackle. While perhaps not among the top of the list in regard to glamorous watch components, hands are crucial for conveying various indications on a dial (even a movement in certain cases). So, let’s test your … ContinuedThe post Time+Tide Weekend Watch Crossword: #19 “Handsets” appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Quick Takes: the new (W&W;22)Montblanc 1858 GMT Automatic Date
Montblanc offers an intuitive way of keeping track of time in different time zones without hands. One of the most practical complications, the Montblanc 1858 GMT watch function limit of time in two different places at the same time. So, wherever you are on the planet and whatever you are doing, your watch can indicateRead More
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Review: the new Reservoir Sonomaster Chronograph
Hands-on comprehensive review of the new Reservoir Sonomaster Chronograph which is inspired by analog VU meters on vintage amplifiers.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko Turtle: The Perfect Affordable Diver Or Not Worth Your Time?
A detailed hands-on review of the iconic Seiko Turtle, featuring original photos, specs, pricing, and a rundown of all features.
Time+Tide
The Fortis Flieger F-39 is a capable alt-take on a pilot’s watch
Fortis has taken inspiration from the heavens for years, whether that be via space flights, or through creating impressive pilot’s watches. Starting in the late 80s, the first Fortis Flieger had a classic type-B layout, sword hands and no-nonsense case architecture. By 1994, Fortis’ functional approach already saw light of day, as they introduced a utilitarian … ContinuedThe post The Fortis Flieger F-39 is a capable alt-take on a pilot’s watch appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Review: the new Bovet 1822 Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two
Our hands-on, detailed review of the new Bover 1822 Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two in a sand blasted titanium case and Super-Luminova dial.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Bremont Supermarine S302 GMT Review
A detailed hands-on review of the Bremont Supermarine S302 GMT, featuring original photos, specs, pricing, and a rundown of all features.
Quill & Pad
Visiting anOrdain In Glasgow
Most people know anOrdain because of its stunning handmade enamel dials. Elizabeth Doerr's own hands-on experience occurred because her interest was piqued by the nature of these tiny made-in-Glasgow works of art. Here she shares a personal visit to the anOrdain studio in Glasgow.
SJX Watches
Rune Bakkendorff Introduces the Moonwork Pendulum Clock
The result of a collaboration between a Danish clockmaker and design studio , the Moonwork is a tall, sculptural clock that stands almost two meters high. It’s an old-school pendulum clock in function but entirely contemporary in expression, from the thin, minimalist frame to the clever time display without hands. Danish clockmaker Rune Bakkendorff worked together with fellow Danes of design studio Ahm&Lund; to create the clock, which made its debut late last year at the Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibit 2021, a Scandinavian furniture fair that took place in Copenhagen. The Moonwork at the furniture exhibition. Photo – Scandinaviandesign.com Initial thoughts A thoughtfully designed object, the Moonwork is attractive on several levels. At first glance, it is slender, simplistic, and hardly resembling a clock save for the pendulum. But paradoxically it is a clock, making the featureless time display is immediately intriguing. It is a clock, but not quite. The Moonwork does away with the conventional telling of the time and instead displays the lunar cycle – the moon phase is projected onto the white porcelain dome that forms the dial. An impractical but beautiful solution, this makes the Moonwork more of a sculpture that indicates the passing of the time. Remove the white porcelain dome and the entirely mechanical workings of the clock are revealed, although moon phase projection relies hundreds of LED bulbs that are hidden behind a silver sphere that rotates slowly to ca...
Time+Tide
FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Yankee Stadium, Billion Oyster Project, and the best of Oris
This week is a special edition of the Friday Wind Down, dedicated to all things Oris. Ricardo and I had two action-packed days with Oris earlier this week, spending one day at Yankee Stadium and another getting hands-on with the work of the Billion Oyster Project on Governors Island. As a New Yorker, I have … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Yankee Stadium, Billion Oyster Project, and the best of Oris appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
The Tissot PRX Chronograph is finally here, and (spoiler alert) we love it
When Tissot broke the news of a PRX Chronograph, the internet went into a frenzy - we finally got our hands on one after a long wait.The post The Tissot PRX Chronograph is finally here, and (spoiler alert) we love it appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
English Independent Garrick Introduces the S5
Having debuted an elaborately open-worked watch in 2014 and then applied its trademark style to something more basic, Garrick has just unveiled its fifth model to date, the S5. Retaining the quintessential elements of Garrick, namely a guilloche dial with Roman numerals and hands with an uncommonly large counterweight, the S5 is essentially a smaller and simpler iteration of Garrick’s earlier models, but it’s an all-new watch in a technical sense. Equipped with a new, in-house movement, the S5 sets itself apart from its predecessors with compact dimensions that make it Garrick’s smallest to date. Initial thoughts The proportions of the S5 are its primary point of appeal. It’s only 39 mm wide and 8 mm tall, making it substantially smaller than the brand’s previous offerings. Those were all 42 mm in diameter, making them too large for the largely elegant and traditional aesthetic. And the large case size also brought to mind similarly styled but less expensive watches equipped with Unitas movements. Along with the reduced size, the S5 is also the brand’s most minimalist watch so far and the first with centre seconds. Given that Garrick’s earlier models all had subsidiary seconds, the centre seconds (and the smaller diameter) makes it clear that the movement within the S5 is different. It is indeed a new calibre, albeit one that wasn’t originally constructed with a centre seconds, which requires means a secondary train was required to reposition the second...
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New and reviewed: G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World
G-SHOCK announces the release of GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World, a new addition to the square full-metal 5000 series in titanium. Here is our hands-on review.
Time+Tide
OK, this might be the Tissot PRX you’ve been waiting for…
From online discussions to leaks, and most recently, our introducing post, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on the new Tissot PRX 35. We finally got the chance, and made the most of our time with these five gems. By this point, the PRX talk is probably coming out of your ears, so we’ll … ContinuedThe post OK, this might be the Tissot PRX you’ve been waiting for… appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Review: new Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date Green
aeger-LeCoultre extends the Polaris Date with a new edition in a dégradé green lacquer dial. Here is our hands on session review of this novelty.
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Review: the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team”
Hands-on review of the new IWC Pilot's Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition with a black dial and the team's signature colour.
SJX Watches
Hublot Introduces the Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Repeater Ceramic
Having unveiled a series of integrated-bracelet watches in candy-coloured ceramic at Watches & Wonders 2022, Hublot has followed up with a “high complication” in ceramic, the Big Bang Integral Cathedral Minute Repeater Ceramic. While complicated watches in end-to-end ceramic already exist, striking watches in ceramic are rare, with only Hublot and Audemars Piguet having made such watches. The Big Bang Integral is novel for combining both a tourbillon and repeater, one with longer-than-usual cathedral gongs in fact. And it manages to be water resistant in contrast to most striking watches that are merely moisture-proof, due to the challenge of sealing the slide while allowing maximum sound transmission. Initial thoughts The latest Big Bang Integral perfectly encapsulates Hublot as a brand, illustrating its strengths (and a few weaknesses). It’s powered by a complex, in-house movement contained matched with a case and bracelet that showcases the brand’s proficiency with unusual materials – all of which is possible thanks to the brand’s expansive yet agile manufacture. In typical Hublot fashion, the watch is loud – visually rather than acoustically – even in black. It looks like a Hublot, and the brand has essentially only one aesthetic. It has a technical, modern aesthetic that goes well with the open dial, a feature that’s uncommon in minute repeaters but useful since it reveals the entirety of the strikework. At almost US$300,000, the Tourbillon Repeat...
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Musings on the new and slimmer Grand Lange 1
The Grand Lange 1 went on a slimming trip, retaining the 41mm case diameter, but shedding 0.6mm in the process. Here is our hands-on take on the new piece.