Teddy Baldassarre
Rolex Yacht Master II Review: A New Era of Legibility for the Crown's Regatta Chronograph
The next generation Yacht-Master II boasts a dial design overhaul for new Oystersteel and yellow gold references. More
Results for Master Chronometer (METAS)
1,467 articles · 13 videos found · page 3 of 50
Teddy Baldassarre
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Better Rolex GMT-Master II Alternative? Imperial Oceanguard vs. Steinhart Ocean 39
We reviewed the Imperial Oceanguard GMT and Steinhart Ocean 39 GMT hands-on to see which affordable Rolex GMT-Master II alternative is easier to live with.Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Affordable Rolex GMT-Master II Alternatives Showdown: Imperial vs Vaer
Compare the Vaer G2 Meridian GMT and Imperial Oceanguard GMT as affordable Rolex GMT-Master II alternatives, with hands-on notes on wearability, movements, value, and daily use.
Fratello
Fratello’s Top 5 Alternatives To The Rolex Yacht-Master II
Another Friday, another list. This week, we decided to dive into the world of regatta timers. Rolex’s big introduction this year during Watches and Wonders was the updated Yacht-Master II. In itself, the updated watch proved to be a huge improvement compared to the previous generation of The Crown’s regatta timer. In both usability and […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Alternatives To The Rolex Yacht-Master II to read the full article.
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In-Depth - The New Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 126680 & 126688 - the Regatta Instrument Reimagined
There’s always been something slightly paradoxical, if not vague, about the Rolex Yacht-Master II. In the brand‘s catalogue, year after year defined by a slow-paced evolution (quite unpredictable recently, though, as we have learned from experience) and exceptional commercial clarity, this watch has consistently stood apart. A large, complex and highly specific model, it is […]
Video
Could This Be Longines' Classiest Chronograph?
Longines’ Master collection is known for combining traditional watchmaking with modern mechanics. The Master Chrono Monopusher takes that formula in a particularly classic direction.
Time+Tide
The Rolex Yacht-Master II returns in 2026 with a new movement and updated design
With a new movement, a new way of operating the countdown timer, and an updated design, the Rolex Yacht-Master II is a thoroughly new watch.
Monochrome
Introducing - Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Mechanica Ultra Thin Minute Repeater
When it was unveiled in 2014, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Calibre 362 stunned the horological world as the slimmest automatic minute repeater with a tourbillon regulator. For 2026, Jaeger revisits its high-complication masterpiece with the new Master Hybris Mechanica Ultra Thin Minute Repeater, a ten-piece limited edition with an openworked dial reaffirming the Maison’s dominance in chiming mechanisms, […]
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Introducing - Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Jumping Date
Jaeger-LeCoultre revisits one of its most important contemporary tourbillon movements with the new Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Jumping Date. While the underlying Calibre 978 is familiar to collectors, the latest iteration restructures the movement’s architecture. Featuring a partially openworked dial, the tourbillon, signature jumping date mechanism, and 24-hour display come to the fore. Paying homage […]
SJX Watches
The Rolex Yacht-Master II Returns for an Encore
In a rather surprising move, Rolex unveiled a revamped and re-engineered version of the Yacht-Master II. Although the original was discontinued in 2024 the Geneva-based brand decided to give the quirky watch another chance at life, while also making the user’s life much easier with a more practical interface enhanced by a more appealing design. Initial thoughts The original Yacht-Master II was undoubtedly a polarising timepiece. People would either love the bulky aesthetics or instantly dismiss it as an unpalatable timepiece. Add to that the complicated Command Ring bezel programming sequence for the regatta timer and the result is a perhaps the quirkiest Rolex creation in modern times. Apparently the timepiece was performing well enough to warrant an encore. The Yacht-Master II was thus updated to include both Rolex’s latest innovations (such as the Chronergy escapement) and a revised user interface. In terms of aesthetics, the 44 mm timepiece is still hard to love at first, but definitely not as excessive as past versions. The biggest change was perhaps the shift to a regular bi-directional 60 minute click bezel, which replaced the cumbersome Command Ring system used previously. The ten-minute countdown markings were moved to a raised flange on the dial. The regatta minutes and seconds hands now turn counterclockwise, a suggestive way of approaching countdown. Although few Yacht-Master II pieces will realistically be used for yacht race timing, the complicati...
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Introducing - Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Inventiva Gyrotourbillon a Stratosphere
Any watch bearing “Hybris” in its name represents the pinnacle of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mechanics and craftsmanship. Representing the third pillar of the elite Hybris family, the new Inventiva series is dedicated to single, groundbreaking complications. The first in line is the extraordinary Master Hybris Inventiva Gyrotourbillon à Stratosphère Calibre 178. Building on two decades of multi-axis […]
Video
The Perfect Vintage Rolex? 🤔
Is the early 1980s two-tone Rolex GMT-Master the perfect vintage watch? From its gorgeous gilt nipple dial to the perfectly matching tritium hands, this classic proves that two-tone watches are incredible and making a...
Monochrome
Introducing - The new Generation of Rolex Yacht-Master II, Reference 126680 & 126688
After an absence from the catalogue for two years, one of Rolex’s most complicated watches makes a return: the Yacht Master II. And it’s not just an update in looks, as the new ref. 126680 and Ref. 126688 carry forward the torch of this unique collection set in motion in 2007 and redefined in 2017, […]
Fratello
Introducing: The New Rolex Yacht-Master II 126680 And 126688
In 2007, Rolex introduced its Yacht-Master II. It wasn’t a new version of the 1992 Yacht-Master but an all-new model with a regatta countdown chronograph function. By using the bezel (Rolex dubbed it “Ring Command”), you could set the watch to act as a countdown timer. Though it was a very clever system, it was […] Visit Introducing: The New Rolex Yacht-Master II 126680 And 126688 to read the full article.
Teddy Baldassarre
One of the Most Complicated Watches for the Money - Longines Master Co
Since launching in 2005, the Master Collection has been the home of some of Longines' most versatile men’s and women’s models in their entire catalog. With elegant case and dial designs, this collection leans more towards the dress watch style yet there are design nuances that make many of these models adaptable for di
Fratello
Fratello’s Top 5 Rolex GMT-Master II Alternatives In 2026
Another Friday, another list! This week, we continue our series looking for alternatives to some of the world’s most popular watches with five alternatives to the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II. The Crown’s iconic GMT watch set the standard for travel watches. While its legacy is undeniably grand, the modern GMT-Master II is not always the […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Rolex GMT-Master II Alternatives In 2026 to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Rolex GMT-Master II Alternatives We’ve Ever Reviewed
We reviewed these Rolex GMT-Master II alternatives for wearability, reliability, design, and value to help you avoid the waitlist and the markup.
Video
NOMOS Just Released THE Watch of The Year... And I Was Invited!?
NOMOS invited me to Glashütte for Forum 2026! I go inside NOMOS HQ, Product Design, manufacturing + Chronometrie assembly, R&D swing system, and get hands-on with THE watch of the year - Club Sport Neomatik Worldtime...
Fratello
Introducing: The Maurice Lacroix 1975 Master Grand Date Retrograde With The Brand’s 26th Masterpiece Caliber
When you type in “retrograde” in the search box on the Fratello homepage, the results are watches in the upper echelons of high horology. The presence of a Longines is the exception that proves the rule. However, there is a brand that can be categorized as “affordable luxury watchmaking” and has quite a reputation for […] Visit Introducing: The Maurice Lacroix 1975 Master Grand Date Retrograde With The Brand’s 26th Masterpiece Caliber to read the full article.
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First Look - Maurice Lacroix 1975 Master Grand Date Retrograde
For more than a quarter of a century, mostly through its Masterpiece collection, Maurice Lacroix has delivered pretty appealing watches based on single or multiple retrograde indications – a design statement that somehow became a signature style for the brand. Following the recent launch of the Aikonic Master Triple Retrograde, a watch with retrograde displays […]
Fratello
Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Classic
It’s gifting season, and Jaeger-LeCoultre serves up a tantalizing prospect in the form of the Master Control Classic. Despite the 1950s aesthetic, the “Classic” in the name pays homage to early Master Control watches of the 1990s. This era is becoming a burgeoning nostalgia kick in the watch industry for buyers entering their 50s. Okay, […] Visit Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Classic to read the full article.
Teddy Baldassarre
Rolex Yacht-Master Titanium Review: Their Most Underrated Sport Watch?
Before getting into the Rolex Yacht-Master Titanium here, we have to address the collection as a whole. The Rolex Yacht-Master is one of the most unsung in the brand’s catalog, with owners who either opted to be left-of-center relative to their other Crown-loving friends, or those who wandered into a watch store one day and said “I want a Rolex, and I’ll take what you got!” While the latter manifests itself on a daily basis and also accounts for the lion’s share of Sky-Dweller and two-tone Daytona purchases, the former has made the Yacht-Master something of a cult classic for those who don’t necessarily need to be submerged in water and would rather just be chilling beside it (with a lunch prepared below deck and a glass of dealers choice in hand). One doesn’t need to be a literal yacht master to own a Yacht-Master. Heck, you don’t need to own a yacht or have a friend that owns one. Instead – at least traditionally – the Yacht-Master was for the ones who took things less seriously, who wanted a watch that toes the line between tool watch and…um, fancier tool watch. It was and still remains – also – for the one that burst through the boutique door without a clue what they're after so long as that coronet is on the dial. But the Yacht-Master has changed. In 2023, Rolex took what had typically been an at least partially precious watch and turned the toolish knobs way up. This is how we ended up with the Yacht-Master Titanium, 42mm of sports wit...
Monochrome
First Look - The New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Classic 36mm, The Return of a 1995 Timeless Watch
Since its debut in 1992, the Master Control collection by Jaeger-LeCoultre has embodied the brand’s refined approach to timeless design and precision. The line was introduced as the first to undergo the Manufacture’s 1000-Hour Control testing, a rigorous in-house certification of accuracy and reliability applied to the complete watch, not just the movement. Decades later, […]
Fratello
Introducing: Two New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Watches In Distinctive Copper Hues
Jaeger-LeCoultre has a reputation for revered watchmaking, all within a single facility in Le Sentier, in the Vallée de Joux. For 2025, La Grande Maison unveils two new Master Ultra Thin timepieces. Both feature a soft, almost terracotta-like shade of copper. The grainy texture also lends the aesthetic a touch of ruggedness. Yet, the playful […] Visit Introducing: Two New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Watches In Distinctive Copper Hues to read the full article.
Monochrome
First Look - A New Grained-Copper Dial for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Collection
Designing a classic dress watch is probably the most challenging assignment for any designer, as it requires striking a balance between top-quality materials and finishes, an elegant yet understated dial and a slim profile. Ticking all the boxes is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s classic Master Ultra Thin collection, a classy lineup of dress watches for men and women […]
Fratello
The Rolex GMT-Master That Flew Around the World - Cliff Tait’s Extraordinary Journey
When pilot Cliff Tait took off in 1969 to fly solo around the world in a tiny aircraft, he carried with him a Rolex GMT-Master 1675 - a watch that became as vital as any flight instrument. This is the story of the man, the machine, and the timepiece that circled the globe together. On […] Visit The Rolex GMT-Master That Flew Around the World - Cliff Tait’s Extraordinary Journey to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Why the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” is the only steel Rolex I’d pay over retail for
Jason Lee is a gold Rolex man, but there's just something about the Crown's iconic travel watch that has him smitten.The post Why the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” is the only steel Rolex I’d pay over retail for appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Introducing: New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Artistica And Master Grande Tradition Models
When Jaeger-LeCoultre applies the Hybris Artistica and Grande Tradition labels, expectations rise. These watches are complicated, sure, but they are also theatrical displays of mechanical skill and decorative artistry. Today, the brand introduces two new creations under these banners, the Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 945 and the Master Grande Tradition Calibre 948. Each interprets the […] Visit Introducing: New Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Artistica And Master Grande Tradition Models to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control Calendar Goes Granular Two-Tone
Jaeger-LeCoultre has just introduced the Master Control Calendar Limited Edition, the latest addition to a long line of triple calendar watches going back decades. Packaged in the 40 mm Master Control case we’ve become familiar with, this new 500-piece stainless steel limited edition is all about the dial, which features a richly textured silver and grey livery on a “sector” layout. Despite the classical aesthetic, the Master Control Date is thoroughly modern on the inside with the cal. 866 featuring a silicon escapement that supports a 70-hour power reserve. Initial thoughts The triple calendar moon phase has long been a staple of the Jaeger-LeCoultre line-up; Pablo Picasso famously wore one. Add to this lineage the brand’s unique jumping date pointer, which jumps in a wide arc from the 15th to the 16th of the month to avoid confounding the moon phase display, and the result is a watch that manages to be both charming and technically distinctive. It’s also easily wearable in a 40 mm case, that, while larger than the vintage originals, gives the indicators on the dial plenty of space to breathe. Of course, the movement is the cal. 866, effectively a cal. 899 with a triple calendar module, which helps keeps the overall package quite sleek at 10.95 mm – on par with many simple time-and-date watches in this category. Upgraded a few years ago with a silicon escapement, the movement now runs for 70 hours when fully wound, adding convenience to wearability. Naturall...
Monochrome
First Look - The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar now with Handsome Grained Sector Dial
Launched in 1992, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control collection is inspired by the brand’s classic round timepieces of the 1950s, focusing on technical rigour, certification (JLC’s in-house “1000 Hours” Control), and stylistic restraint. The Master Control Calendar was part of the refreshed collection in 2020, equipped with a triple calendar and moon phases inspired by movements developed […]