Two Broke Watch Snobs
Orient Mako II vs Kamasu: Which Affordable Japanese Dive Watch Wins?
Orient Mako II vs Kamasu: two near-identical Japanese divers, one classic and one sharper. Here's which affordable automatic diver to buy and why.
23,067 articles · 101 videos found · page 287 of 773
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Orient Mako II vs Kamasu: two near-identical Japanese divers, one classic and one sharper. Here's which affordable automatic diver to buy and why.
SJX Watches
Next month Citizen’s The Citizen collection brings a new look to its exceedingly accurate high-end quartz watches. Still accurate to five seconds a year, or better, with a perpetual calendar and scratch-resistant titanium case, this limited edition introduces an indigo-dyed washi paper dial, produced using traditional craft methods. Initial thoughts Citizen’s The Citizen collection, which celebrated 30 years of questionable naming just last year, remains somewhat obscure even amongst watch enthusiasts. That’s unfortunate, as it has nothing to do with the quality of the watches, which are excellent and often handsome. And while the line now includes mechanical watches, high-end quartz is where The Citizen really shines. No two examples are the same. Though frequently compared to Grand Seiko’s cal. 9F movement family, I would argue The Citizen’s A0 line of solar quartz movements are of a different breed, more comparable to Seiko’s cal. 3X Astron movements or even Casio’s high-end G-Shocks. These share solar charging, a perpetual calendar, and a power-save made that pauses the hands to save energy when the watch is not in use. However, The Citizen’s aesthetic differs widely from those of the Astron and G-Shock, favouring the sharply reserved style that has defined chronometry-focused Japanese watchmaking for decades. The other key difference is autonomy. Unlike Astrons and G-Shocks, which can vary by as much as 15 seconds per month without network synchronisat...
Fratello
Artisans de Genève is an independent watchmaking workshop offering handcrafted timepiece customization and restoration services. AdG is neither associated nor affiliated with the makers/brands of those timepieces. Artisans de Genève carries out work at the sole request of its customers, on their timepieces, for their private use only. The Artisans de Genève are a group […] Visit Video: Meet The Artisans De Genève And Discover Their Exceptional Craft to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
We compare the Casioak and GW6900 on design, comfort, functions, timekeeping, and the one question that matters: which gets worn more?
Two Broke Watch Snobs
We compare the Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive and NY0040 hands-on to see which affordable dive watch offers the better ownership experience.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
We compare the Seiko Turtle vs Orient Kamasu after extended hands-on wear to see which affordable diver offers better comfort, value, and long-term appeal.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Two vintage-inspired divers, two very different approaches. We compare the Squale Sub 37 Legend and Baltic Aquascaphe to see which one works better.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Explore this hands-on comparison of the Sinn 104 vs Archimede Pilot 39. See which German pilot watch offers better versatility, comfort, design, and daily wear.
Monochrome
With origins going back to 1888 in Grenchen, Switzerland, Certina has earned a reputation for producing robust, reliable Swiss watches built for everyday adventure. The introduction of the Double Security (DS) concept in 1959 established the brand as a pioneer in shock and water resistance, qualities that have defined its watches ever since. Today, as […]
Fratello
Ask me for a list of my favorite affordable dive watches, and the 38mm DS Action Diver in titanium will be on it every time. When Certina released the lightweight 38mm version of its popular diver, it stood out immediately, and not just for its great dimensions, solid specs, and attractive price. It’s also not […] Visit Certina Updated The Popular DS Action Diver 38mm Titanium, But Did It Get Better? to read the full article.
SJX Watches
FVF Genève founder Franc Vila has created a unique piece of his flagship tourbillon for a noted European collector of independent and complicated watches who goes by @thedeadwatchsociety on Instagram. The FVF1 Tourbillon “Seven Poets” is a romantic twist on the day complication that assigns a daily reading from one of seven historical poets. Initial thoughts Franc Vila is a man of many passions. His atelier in central Geneva is packed with art, and each piece has a story — I can’t think of anyone better to create a poetry-themed watch. Neither, it seems, could the lucky owner who commissioned the Seven Poets. The watch is fundamentally similar to the standard FVF1 C2 Tourbillon Superligero, with its 42.5 mm case, titanium monocoque construction, seven-sided day roller, and flying tourbillon architecture. Even in its basic configuration, the FVF1 is a distinctive offering that relaunched Mr Vila’s career after he parted ways with his eponymous brand. But the Seven Poets is anything but basic. Like the “Today” edition reviewed last year, the Seven Poets deviates from the norms of traditional watchmaking. Instead of indicating the day of the week, the day roller has been repurposed to feature the hand-engraved names of seven poets that are personally meaningful to the owner who commissioned the watch. I liked the conceptual, philosophical statement made by the “Today” edition, and the Seven Poets takes it one step further. This simple change to an indicat...
Hodinkee
If there's one brand that remains near and dear to the heart of Hodinkee, it's Universal Genève. In some ways, my own love of watches may not have flourished the way it did without the incredibly broad range of designs and concepts from Universal in that period. Simple chronographs, calendar chronographs, calendar watches, dress watches, oversized Aviator watches, and even convertible watches were all part of the Universal story. It just did SO many things back then, and when it was announced that the House of Brands (the parent company of Breitling, and now Gallet and Universal) would be re-launching it in full force, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. And I think it's fair to say that many felt that way. But Mr. Kern, who led the project along with a great team of young enthusiasts, knew they needed feedback from the long-standing group of collectors to ensure what they made hit all the right notes. So they assembled a group of advisers to give feedback along the way. The group included Mr. Fred Mandelbaum, Mr. Eric Wind, myself, Mr. Alessandro Fanciulli (Mr. A), Mr. Auro Montanari, and many more die-hard Universal lovers. You can see some photos of one of our meet-ups right here, dating back more than two years ago. The advisory board would give notes, and the internal team would process them accordingly – mostly in design details. And in the end, Universal Genève was fully reborn with an astonishingly wide range of watches just last month in Geneva. It includes tw...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
After reviewing the Seiko Turtle, Citizen NY0040, and Orient Kamasu, we compare which affordable dive watch has the best mix of character, value, and staying power.
Monochrome
Audemars Piguet launches the Atelier des Établisseurs, an ambitious project that resurrects the collaborative “établissage” system of late 18th-century watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux. Marking a novel way for the brand to produce remarkable watches using time-honoured traditional crafts, the Atelier des Établisseurs is a twofold enterprise that fosters creativity and collaboration while preserving […]
Fratello
“Chronometer” is one term that frequently comes up in watchmaking. We see it stamped on dials, highlighted in marketing materials, and often used as a synonym for “high quality.” But how much does chronometer certification actually matter to us as collectors? In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined by Daan and RJ to […] Visit Fratello Talks: How Much Does Chronometer Certification Matter? to read the full article.
Time+Tide
When a brand that carries as much prestige in the collecting community as Universal Geneve comes back, there will be some questions.The post The how and why of Universal Genève’s revival, or the ramblings of a UG romantic appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
As part of the brand's relaunch, we have the resurrection of one of its most iconic models, flanked by a few fun iterations. The post Nina is back in spirit with the revived Universal Genève Compax collection, complete with a micro-rotor movement appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Finally, after two years of teasing, Universal Genève is back. Yes, the brand is back in a tangible way with four collections and a soon-to-open flagship store in the heart of Geneva, its city of origin. From the 1940s through the 1960s, Universal Genève stood among the most respected names in high-end Swiss watchmaking. The […] Visit Universal Genève Is Back! Introducing Four Collections, With The Famous Polerouter Leading The Way to read the full article.
Time+Tide
The Polerouter is finally back and with a bang of 11 references across the newly launched range, with plenty of variety to discover. The post The Universal Genève Polerouter relaunches in force, with no less than 11 new models appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
When we published the first part of this exploration into 1,000m-rated dive watches, the response was immediate and enthusiastic. That didn’t surprise me. Watches capable of surviving a kilometer beneath the surface occupy a fascinating niche. They go well beyond everyday practicality and venture into the realm of over-engineering, professional utility, and, often, obsession. These […] Visit Which 1,000m-Rated Dive Watch Is Right For You? - Part II to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Andrew O'Connor gets a bit philosophical on us.The post What does it mean to participate in horology? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
When you talk about dive watches rated for the sort of depths only a handful of human divers - let alone cameras, regulators, or submersibles - will ever see, you cross the border from sporting gear into mechanical heroics. Dive watches are built to match these endeavors. In this article, I’ll explore five extraordinary timepieces […] Visit Which 1,000m-Rated Dive Watch Is Right For You? to read the full article.
Fratello
We’re closing in on a new year and rounding off 2025. RJ will shine his light on the past year in an article tomorrow. However, I thought it would be nice to take a look at which posts became the most popular of the year on our Fratello Instagram account. Besides, while writing this article, […] Visit Fratello Instagram Favorites 2025: Which Watches Received The Most Likes, Comments, And Views? to read the full article.
Quill & Pad
The post Livestream 2025 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG): Follow Watchmaking’s Biggest Night Here appeared first on Quill & Pad.
Time+Tide
Universal Genève's recently-released Tribute to “The Nina” Compax collection has us musing about the future of this soon-to-be revived brand.The post Will third time be the charm for a revived Universal Genève? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Vacheron Constantin has followed up its boatload of Les Cabinotiers La Quête piece uniques with additional Chinese Zodiac novelties.The post New releases from Universal Genève, Minase, Vacheron Constantin and more appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
At around US$3,000, the Hanhart 415 ES Panda offers favourable specifications for its price.The post Does the Hanhart 415 ES Panda deliver top spec for money? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Petermann Bédat has just unveiled its third model, the Reference 1825, which arrives two years after the Reference 2941 Split-Seconds Chronograph. The brand’s simplest watch to date, the 1825 is three hands but far from basic. In fact, the 1825 illustrates the cliche that less is more. Founded by duo Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat, the brand departs from current fashion with the 1825, which has a restrained aesthetic front and back, though the movement incorporates enough subtle flourishes to make it distinctive and distinguished. The proliferation of open-dial time-only watches with overwrought finishing makes the quiet presence of the 1825 stand out. The cal. 233 of the 1825 Initial thoughts The recent enthusiasm for independent watchmaking has tended to focus on time-only watches of a specific sort, with open dials, exposed movements, and lots of finishing techniques. Naturally, independent watchmakers and brands have delivered in response to that demand. In comparison, the 1825 is old school in style and form, almost plain in fact, but I like it precisely because of that. The 1825 is appealing on two levels. One is tangible – it is an appealing watch on the wrist and clearly executed to a high level. The other is philosophical – I applaud Petermann Bédat for not going with current fads. The 1825 isn’t imaginative or radical, it is simply a simple watch of high quality that feels like it was conceived and executed by sincere, competent watchmakers. All ele...
Time+Tide
Zach gets hands-on with the Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01595 and PAM01596 in steel and the PAM01232 in Carbotech.The post Which of these Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro pieces would you pick? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Since 2020, ID Genève has produced watches with a more sustainable and equitable future in mind. The brand’s 100% Swiss-made timepieces feature innovative components, such as self-healing carbon fiber, reprocessed stainless steel, and leather-alternative straps. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, ID Genève launches the […] Visit ID Genève Introduces The Circular SDG Timepiece At Climate Week New York to read the full article.
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