Two Broke Watch Snobs
Aquastar Benthos Professional Review: The Version I’d Wear Every Day
A hands-on review of the Aquastar Benthos Professional, exploring its slimmer case, bright lume, ISOfrane strap, and real-world wearability.
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
Monochrome
Introducing - The Vacheron Constantin Overseas Self-Winding 35mm Gets A Full Gem-Set Touch
Vacheron Constantin’s luxury sports watch, the Overseas, has come a long way since its 1996 debut as the spiritual heir to the iconic 1977 reference 222. Now in its third generation, the Overseas is a versatile unisex collection with a wide range of case sizes, complications, and the brand’s winning DIY interchangeable strap/bracelet system. Just […]
WatchAdvice
My Father’s Longines HydroConquest GMT, Two Years On (Owner’s Perspective)
The Longines HydroConquest GMT is one of Longines’ most modern references, but has it stood up to two years’ worth of my father’s ownership standards? Let’s ask him! Purchasing Expectations: A utilitarian watch, fit for my dad’s lifestyle Clever micro-adjustment system A Flyer-style GMT, helpful for international travel Ownership Reality: Some design elements we disagree with Durability of the rubber strap Can you see the date? Overall Rating: 8.5/10 Value for Money: 9/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 8/10 Build Quality: 8/10 When it comes to dive watches, very few can genuinely be called underrated. It’s a thoroughly complete subgenre of horology, filled with some of the most iconic collections in watchmaking history. Submariner, Fifty Fathoms, Seamaster, Aquaracer, Black Bay… these are just a few names that define the dive watch enthusiast’s vocabulary. But more often than not, the price-to-performance ratio is heavily skewed. These collections carry not only cultural weight but a sense of luxury as well, and their prices rarely reflect their intended purpose. Tangentially, I told a friend earlier this year that I believed Submariners are the most mistreated watches in history: built to withstand extreme pressures, yet typically left to gather dust in a safe. Diving Into The New Longines Hydroconquest GMT 43mm One dive watch that avoids this fate is the Longines HydroConquest. Luxurious yet fairly priced, high-performance without pretension, it has consis...
SJX Watches
The Pink Panther for the Seiko 5 Sports
Seiko pinks out its affordable bestseller with the Seiko 5 Sports SKX Series 38 mm Pink Panther, a tribute to the award-winning animated short staring the vexatious feline. In addition unique dial, bezel, case back, and crown, the 9,999-piece limited edition is delivered in themed packaging along with a pink nylon strap – complete with pink paw prints. Initial thoughts Since its launch in 2019, the Seiko 5 Sports has served as a platform for seemingly countless co-branded limited editions. These collaborations span streetwear labels, anime franchises, consumer brands, artists, and American cartoon characters, from Snoopy to the Pink Panther. The “5KX” base makes commercial sense for such projects, offering the mass appeal of an easy-wearing diver-style watch that remains affordable enough for an impulse buy. While Seiko’s entry-level mechanical watches are arguably not as cost-competitive as they once were given the rise of micro-brands (many of which rely on Seiko-sourced movements), they remain a better value than most mass market watches given the brand’s in-house know-how and storied history. Editions like this Pink Panther model add extra appeal, both in terms of the theme as well as the (relatively) limited run. The Pink Panther The Pink Panther debuted in the 1963 detective comedy film of the same name as an animated embodiment of the titular pink diamond. Created by American animators Hawley Pratt and Friz Freleng, the character soon eclipsed the film its...
Monochrome
Introducing - New Reverie and Roam Editions of the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer
Nomos hit the bull’s eye with the release of its Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer last year. With its resilient case build, slim profile, fun dial colours, user-friendliness and in-house movement, the Worltimer is a very complete travel companion without a first-class ticket price. Originally available with an interchangeable steel bracelet or textile strap, the two […]
Worn & Wound
Clemence Introduces the Photic MKII Dive Watch
My love/hate affair with dive watches almost always comes down to sizing: too big, and it feels like a handcuff, requiring tightening the strap or bracelet to an uncomfortable degree. So, when a brand makes a concentrated effort to slim down a dive watch, my ears perk up. While the Clemence Photic MKII is not exactly tiny at 38.5mm in case diameter and 46.5mm lug-to-lug, it touts an impressive 9.9mm case thickness, while still promising 200 meters of water resistance. Top that off with vibrant colorways, a precision bezel, and an automatic movement, and Clemence has a tempting dive option on their hands. At a glance, the new Photic MKII has a lot in common with its predecessor, which was released in 2021. With case shape and dimensions, the MKII functions more as a continuation than it does total reinvention. In fact, the original Photic colorway-with a blue sunray dial-is still available here, and lifts the dial design from the original, setting it apart from the rest of the MKII lineup. The new colorways shake things up a little more, introducing a second track inside the indices that gives the watch a more segmented and complicated look, without distracting from the chunky numerals and hands. The Nemo model wears a Munro yellow dial and a black bezel, while the Kraken switches the two shades for a more subtle take on the sunny colorway. Similarly, the Shoal edition’s slate gray bezel and light warm gray dial are contrasted by a black bezel, while the Moray keeps...
Fratello
Introducing: The Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V
The C1 Jump Hour Mk V marks the return of Christopher Ward’s mechanical jump-hour complication, now housed in a 39mm stainless steel case. It comes in two variants - Noon and Dawn - each available either on a steel bracelet or a leather strap. I got a chance to play with the blue Noon version […] Visit Introducing: The Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Omega Seamaster vs Rolex Submariner: After Our Testing, Who Wins?
We tested the Seamaster and the Submariner on wrist, comparing finishing, movement, strap/bracelets, and availability to name the better buy.
Deployant
New: Sinn U50B
Sinn releases a new variant of their U50 dive watch, now in a blue dial with 3 strap options, and now feature a beautiful matt-blue dial.
Fratello
Fratello Talks: What Makes A Watch Elegant?
Longines famously says, “Elegance is an attitude.” But let’s be honest; there’s probably more to it than that. On today’s episode of Fratello Talks, we’re asking the big question: what makes a watch truly elegant? Is it the proportions, the case material, or the strap? Maybe it’s how the watch sits on your wrist, or […] Visit Fratello Talks: What Makes A Watch Elegant? to read the full article.
Deployant
New: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Monoface Small Seconds
Jaeger-LeCoultre releases a new Reverso Classic Monoface Small Seconds, now in a stainless steel case and leather strap, with a guilloche dial.
Fratello
This Is Chronoswiss: The Independent Brand That Defied The Quartz Crisis
It’s not exactly a secret that I love my Chronoswiss Timemaster. It’s a love that won’t die. When you own a watch for over 25 years and still feel a spark when you strap it on, you know this is the real deal. It also means I closely follow what the brand is up to. […] Visit This Is Chronoswiss: The Independent Brand That Defied The Quartz Crisis to read the full article.
Monochrome
Introducing - The New MeisterSinger Kaenos DLC Editions
MeisterSinger’s new Kaenos DLC editions build directly on the debut model from earlier this year (integrated steel bracelet, sport-chic geometry) and give it a bolder, graphic look. Two limited references bring a black DLC case, a luminous golden-yellow sandwich dial, and the first leather-strap fitment for the Kaenos line. And while a combination of yellow […]
SJX Watches
Full Throttle at H. Moser & Cie. with the Streamliner Tourbillon Pierre Gasly
A relatively small brand in the big world of international motorsport, H. Moser & Cie. continues its collaboration with the Alpine Formula 1 team with the Streamliner Tourbillon Pierre Gasly, which takes the brand’s distinctive sport watch and adds a warm red gold colourway favoured by Mr Gasly, a French driver racing for Alpine. The Tourbillon Pierre Gasly is offered in two configurations – a 100-piece edition on a rubber strap, and an even more special edition of 10 pieces that features a full 18k red gold bracelet and a subtle baguette ruby at ten o’clock, a detail based on the racing driver’s number. Notably, both were conceived by Mr Gasly himself, who is a fan of the brown-and-red-gold aesthetic. According to Moser chief executive Edouard Meylan, Mr Gasly already owns other watches in this livery. Initial thoughts Celebrity endorsements can, at times, come across as inauthentic, but this type of marketing has been part of the fabric of the luxury watch industry for decades. In fact, it was another Formula 1 star, Jim Clark, who was one of the first official celebrity brand ambassadors for a watch brand, signing on to represent Enicar back in 1966. But while Clark promoted the standard collection of Enicar watches, Mr Gasly had the chance to put his own spin (pun intended) on Alpine team sponsor H. Moser & Cie.’s top-of-the-line sport watch, the Streamliner Tourbillon. Edouard Meylan (left) with Pierre Gasly In many ways the Tourbillon Pierre Gasly is a typ...
Worn & Wound
Watches, Stories, and Gear: Peak Design x Sitka, Spinnaker’s Nessie, Polyagonal Turning, and a Cool New F1 Merchandise
Rereleased: The Peak Design x Sitka Optifade Marsh Slide Lite Peak Design has once again collaborated with Sitka, hunting and outdoor experts, on a limited edition Slide Lite camera strap. Crafted in Sitka’s Optifade Marsh pattern, this strap blends comfort, versatility, and Peak Designs quick-connection system with the unique aesthetics and outdoors benefits of Sitka’s legendary concealment know-how. Wether you’re trying to blend in, or stand out, this camera strap might just be the perfect accessory for you. Full specifications of the strap and details on how this collaboration came to be are available on Peak Design’s website. Spinnaker and Scottish Watches release the Nessie Pear Diver Spinnaker Watches has announced its newest rendition of the Fleuss Automatic Nessie Pearl Diver Limited Edition, created in collaboration with Scottish Watches. This timepiece plunges into the depths of Loch Ness, drawing inspiration from Scotland’s legendary waters and its most mysterious inhabitant. Powered by a Miyota 8245, this collaborative piece features a mother of pearl dial, and Nessie illustrations on the small seconds dial and rotor. Limited to 650 pieces, the Nessie Pearl Diver was released on September 65, and retails for $425. For more details on the release, check out the official release page here. Tactile Turn Polyagonal Collection While Tactile Turn might be known for their cylindrical, machine finished writing devices, they’re unlocking a new machining...
Hodinkee
Introducing: The Nodus Sector II Field Titanium Goes 'Tropical'
Not going to lie, that invisible strap goes kind of hard.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
This $150 Timex Pilot Watch Nails the Basics
Discover the Timex Waterbury Ace, a $149 pilot-style watch featuring a 41mm recycled stainless steel case, clean black dial, and eco-friendly leather strap.
SJX Watches
Seiko Upcycles Leather for the Latest Presage
Seiko adds a new limited-edition to its line of affordable dress watch with the Presage Classic Series Upcycled Leather Strap that sports knurled bezel, golden-brown gradient dial, and with a leather strap made from shoe leather offcuts supplied by Regal, a Japanese shoemaker best known for its leather dress shoes. Initial Thoughts Though strange on the surface, the Seiko Presage and Regal tie-up makes sense. Both are affordable, solid offerings in their respective segments, and also distinctly Japanese. Notably, Regal is launching the saddle shoes that produced the offcuts later this week. The watch itself is a good looking iteration of Seiko’s familiar entry-level dress watch. The bezel and smoked dial are a pleasing combination that set this apart from most Presage models. Seiko didn’t mention the impetus for this collaboration in press materials; I suspect geography was a part. Regal builds its top of the line shoes in the town of Morioka, near Morioka Seiko Instruments, the heart of Seiko’s domestic mechanical watch production. That proximity lends a lot of authenticity to the collaboration for me, and I wish it were part of Seiko’s messaging, though I understand most consumers don’t care. At the same time, Regal is little known outside Japan, but its shoes are a fixture in major Japanese department stores. The transient nature of leather straps is arguably a shortcoming in watches like the new Presage, or the Kodo Constant Force Tourbillon at the other en...
Worn & Wound
MB&F; Debuts the LM101 EVO
There’s a style of watch that I’ve grown particularly fond of over the last few years, and I sometimes find it hard to articulate why. The high end, exotic independent on a rubber strap calls to me like the Sirens. There’s something about the mix of high and low that appeals to me, I think, as it does with everything else I like, from Monty Python to the films of Bong Joon-ho. I also just find a good rubber strap to be one of the most comfortable ways to wear a watch, particularly (but not exclusively) in the warm weather months. And so I’ve nursed a years-long appreciation for Hublot (who basically invented this idea) and have a watch box disproportionately tilted to watches that give me the same feeling (a pair of Arcanauts, and a Bel Canto that lives on rubber year round spring to mind). It should not be surprising, then, that MB&F;’s EVO line has become a personal favorite. The EVO series of watches take Legacy Machine pieces (conceived as MB&F;’s collection inspired by classical watchmaking) and give them a sporty treatment, replacing leather straps with rubber, and adding water resistance and screw down crowns. It makes a ton of sense to create “everyday wear” versions of these watches (if you’re spending into the six figures on these pieces, I imagine you’d want to wear them more frequently, right?) and making them more casual and sporty in appearance is such a natural idea it’s almost hard to believe these haven’t existed from the beginning. N...
Fratello
Introducing: The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529 - Like Slipping On A Loafer
Upcycling, the process of transforming materials that would otherwise be discarded into new products of higher value through thoughtful design and creativity, is a current theme, and that’s a good thing. You’ll get my point by looking at the new Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529. The elegant 40.2mm watch features a strap made of […] Visit Introducing: The Seiko Presage Classic Series “Shiracha” SPB529 - Like Slipping On A Loafer to read the full article.
Monochrome
First Look - Three New Models in the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Collection
Hamilton’s latest models from the Khaki Pilot Pioneer collection have been updated with new bezels, dials and strap colours to bring a “civilian” touch to the more conservative, military-inspired watches. The collection is (loosely) based on the World War II Model 23 pocket watch for U.S. Air Force navigators and splinters off into modern 43mm […]
Time+Tide
Chronoswiss celebrates the 30th anniversary of their Opus chronograph with a wild Purple Rain limited edition
A purple CVD case, skeletonised dial and UV-reactive strap make this 30-piece limited edition chrono pretty hard to miss.The post Chronoswiss celebrates the 30th anniversary of their Opus chronograph with a wild Purple Rain limited edition appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
New: Swatch Mission to Earthphase - Moonshine Gold
Swatch's laterst release: the Mission to Earthphase in Moonshine gold, and now with a blue bloceramic case and blue NATO strap.
Monochrome
Just Because - The Classic Fusion Essential Taupe, The Stylish Hublot That Makes Me Reconsider the Brand
A lot can be said about Hublot, but first and foremost, the brand is renowned for shaking things up with its daring designs and bold use of materials and colours. It has been doing so since 1980, when Carlo Crocco was the first to combine a gold case with a natural rubber strap (in itself […]
Worn & Wound
Hanhart Expands the Aquasphere Line with the New Ocean Fade Edition
These days, it can feel like the watch world is drowning in dive watches, making it increasingly difficult for brands to create standout pieces. Should you, as a designer, break diver conventions and risk sacrificing some of the core functionality that defines the category? Or should you tweak the finer details-like dial text, strap materials, or case sizing? There isn’t a definitive answer, but the Hanhart Aquasphere Ocean Fade attempts to rise above the tide of new dive watch releases in a few key ways. The German brand, known for its history as a maker of stopwatches and chronographs since 1882, sticks with a classic blue and black color scheme for the Aquasphere Ocean Fade, a theme that remains hard to argue with in the dive watch category. The “Fade” refers to the dial’s soft gradient-bright ocean blue to deep black-with a matching blue or black bezel that mimics the change in light as one descends underwater. Legibility is maintained through bright white indices and text, and the stencil-style Arabic numerals contrast nicely with the more elegant Hanhart script just below 12 o’clock. Red accents at the tip of the seconds hand and around the bezel’s triangle marker add a layer of visual clarity to the overall package. Measurements on the Aquasphere Ocean Fade are typical for a tool-focused dive watch, though large by general watch standards. It comes in at 42mm in diameter with a 49mm lug-to-lug, dimensions that emphasize its purpose-built nature. Th...
Deployant
Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph - new colour
Montblanc's Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph gets a new look with an elegant green aesthetic and a newly designed strap.
Monochrome
First Look - The Colourful and Fun Baltic Hermétique Summer Collection
French brand Baltic has really been on a roll lately with several standout models, including the best-selling MR micro-rotor series, and the popular Hermétique Tourer field watch just got a fresh dose of summer colours inspired by the 1970s California vibe. While the design and specs haven’t changed, the new dial and strap colours really […]
Time+Tide
Christopher Ward brings the summer heat with the new C60 Trident Reef
With five summery colours, two different sizes, and two strap options to choose from, this diver has something for everyone.The post Christopher Ward brings the summer heat with the new C60 Trident Reef appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
WatchAdvice
The New Breitling SuperOcean Heritage Collection Time Only Review
Breitling has updated their SuperOcean Heritage Collection, and with a range of seemingly small but big changes, we’ve taken the time-only models and put them to the test! What We Love The case refinements across the range The small nods to the vintage 1957 model The new in-house B31 Calibre What We Don’t The overlapping of the rubber strap under the wrist Fewer choices when it comes to the colour combinations in rose gold The domed crystal can reflect the light on the darker dials a little Overall Rating: 8.9 / 10 Value for Money: 8.5/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 9/10 Build Quality: 9/10 Earlier this month, Breitling released the new look SuperOcean Heritage Collection with a suite of changes that, while looking like small incremental changes, all added up to noticeable differences across the entire range. We had a first look at these upon release, and were fortunate enough to get our hands on them for some time prior, so the whole team was able to see the changes themselves in person, and what they meant for the wearer of the new models. Sam and I flipped a coin to see who would review the time only and who would review the new chronographs. This was a coin toss with no loser, as each was a good a choice as any, and I scored the time only. So stay tuned for Sam’s review of the Chronograph in a few weeks time. Breitling’s New SuperOcean Heritage Collection Kicks Up A Swell! Initial Thoughts I’ve always said, press photos and renders don’t always do the wat...
Monochrome
Introducing - The Return of the Oris Aquis Date Relief, with Textured Bezel
The latest Oris Aquis Date Relief is a reintroduction of the model with new dial and strap colours and the always cool steel bezel in relief. The Aquis Date Cherry (and others) in 43.5mm from a few years ago is very similar, but this follows the recent Aquis redesign and brings a new strap and […]