Results for Watch Dial Text Conventions

Which Rolex Movement Takes the Top Spot? A Watchmaker’s Comparison of Rolex Calibers 3135 and 3235, plus Which is Better? - Reprise

Ask any watchmaker about the Rolex 31 family of calibers and the story will be the same: it has stood the test of time. Ashton Tracy hasn’t met a single watchmaker who doesn’t love working on these workhorse Rolex movements. They are easy to service, keep great time, and stand up to abuse. Put simply: they work. So how does it stand up to big brother, Find out right here!

Opinion: Selling Points that Don’t Sell Me Part II - Deal Breakers, Pet Peeves, and Collecting Authentically

What makes watches so expensive? It’s a question enthusiasts ask themselves at the beginning of their horological journeys, and later on, a question we find ourselves answering from curious friends and family. The answer comes down to options. Not all watches are powered by in-house movements, but some are. And if that’s what you’re into, companies will ask you to chip in for the research and development required to develop a new caliber. Likewise, not all watches go through extra testing to confirm accuracy to a few seconds per day. But if that level of reliability is a priority for you, plenty of brands are willing to provide that service for a fee. With enough rationalizing, it’s easy to see how even six digit price tags offer fair value. On the other end of the spectrum, if those options that increase MSRP don’t excite you, then maybe a one watch collection of a single $15 Casio F91W makes the most sense…but where’s the fun in that? For most of us, myself included, the sweet spot lies somewhere between the Casios and the Urwerks of the world. In the previous installment of Selling Point that Don’t Sell Me I explored what options excite me on my personal quest for quality on a budget. But enjoying watches at modest price points doesn’t mean I can’t still be picky. And so, for this installment of Selling Points that Don’t Sell Me, I’ve compiled my personal list of deal breakers and pet peeves. This list is less focused on keeping costs low, and mo...

Tool/Kit: Road-tripping France with the Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer

Ten years ago, my wife and her sisters planned a trip to Paris for her mom’s 60th birthday. To prepare for that trip she signed up for French lessons with a couple from the Western Alps temporarily living in the States. We became fast friends. Finally, 10 years later, it was my turn to head not only to the City of Lights, but this time, to visit our friends in the mountains of France as well. Earlier this year, I was catching up with my friends Gabriel Vachette and Jérôme Burgert, the co-founders of Serica Watches, based in Paris. Serica is a relatively new watch brand, but they’ve managed to quickly establish themselves as an enthusiast favorite by creating clean, badgeless, modern watches that nod to vintage references, yet they also have a design language that’s all their own. I, of course, let them know of my pending visit to Paris and the roadtrip that would follow. I was thrilled to learn they’d be opening a new boutique right around the time when I’d be in town. The wheels instantly started cranking. I felt it’d make for a fun edition of Tool/Kit and they quickly agreed to lend me a model that I could pick up at the boutique toward the beginning of our excursion. I knew that they’d just released a CSOC version of their popular 5303 diver, so I naturally assumed that’s what they’d want to feature. But Gabriel, insightfully suggested, “You are traveling, you need a traveler’s watch.” He picked up their 8315 GMT Chronometer released at the Wi...

Buying, Selling, & Collecting: A Yellow Gold Lover's Foray Into Tool Watches

Not all that glitters is gold. It can be Oystersteel, too.

Tool/Kit: Surfcasting on Long Island’s South Shore with the Recycled Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Calanda

Surfcasting is one of those things that took over a lot of my free time, and fast. My most frequent form of fishing is typically with a fly rod, standing in a relatively calm river somewhere gently presenting flies to willing trout. Surfcasting is the opposite. You’re standing in the ocean, waves crashing around you, often in the hours after sunset or before dawn. It feels a little crazy packing up and heading down to the beach at some absurd hour that you’d usually be sound asleep, but if the tides look good, you text your fishing buddy, pound a cup of coffee, and fight off the tired for a few hours hoping you’ll end up with a fish on the end of your line. For this trip that we documented, the watch on my wrist was the Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Automatic Calanda. Its angular case is crafted from a unique 100% recycled steel that is sourced primarily from the maritime shipping industry. It’s interesting how the watch starts off serving one purpose in the ocean, and ends up back where it started, this time it’s on your wrist. The dial features a glossy black finish with applied indices, each filled with old radium lume that glows nice and bright while the sun is still below the horizon. The seconds hand is accented with a bright red triangle that picks up on the “SEASTRONG” text on the dial. Surrounding the dial is a unidirectional rotating bezel with a brushed finish. The textured edge is easy to grab and turn, even with a thick pair of neoprene gloves on. T...

Just Because: In Which I Dream Up Vintage Rolex Watches That Never Existed

From the ref. 1675 GMT "Batman" to a 36mm Sky-Dweller, hop in the Hodinkee time machine (aka Photoshop) because this is a fun one.

Which Rolex Movement Takes The Top Spot? A Watchmaker’s Comparison Of Rolex Calibers 3135 And 3235, And Which Is Better? - Reprise

Ask any watchmaker about the Rolex 31 family of calibers and the story will be the same: it has stood the test of time. Ashton Tracy hasn’t met a single watchmaker who doesn’t love working on these workhorse Rolex movements. They are easy to service, keep great time, and stand up to abuse. Put simply: they work. So how does it stand up to big brother, Caliber 3235? Find out right here!

Weekend Edition: A Primer on Dress Watches (Which Are Coming Back In Style Right About...Now)

There's more to life than steel sport watches.

Scurfa Watches Review: Wish I Tried This Watch Brand Sooner

For under $300 is Scurfa Watches the full package? Get all the facts, details, and unique photos you need to make the best choice right here!

Hands-On: The New Kurono Tokyo 34mm Is A Vintage Inspired Daily Driver

The long-awaited release from the sister brand of the independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka is a marriage between vintage style and modern quality.

Hands-On: Japanese Microbrand Mirco Uses Color To Tell A Story

Chances are you've never seen these traditional kimono colors used in watchmaking before.

Introducing: Montblanc Dives Into Watches & Wonders With Two New Tool Watches

One for diving, one for flying.

Event Invite: Watchland comes to Singapore - The Franck Muller Museum and Exhibition now on till Mar 2022

Franck Muller brings Watchland and their museum to Singapore. Details of this extraordinary exhibition and experience within.

Auctions: Three True Tool Watches From Antiquorum's Upcoming November Geneva Auction

These watches give new meaning to the word "used."

The Greatest of the Tool Watches: The Rolex Explorer

Tell Us Your Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève-Worthy Contenders: The 2020 GPHG Nominating Academy Members (Well At Least A Few Of Them) Are Listening

The GPHG Academy will soon be making its submissions for the 2020 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. As Ian Skellern began putting rough lists of watches together, he realized that he was likely only aware of a fraction of watches that are both eligible and noteworthy. And as his favorite niche sectors are likely to be different than yours, many of you will know about watches that he, and perhaps other Academy members, don’t. So please let us know your favorite new watches in the categories here and we'll take them into consideration.

Sinn, Maker of Military and Tool Watches, Debuts a Dressier Collection for 2020

Divers, pilots and … drinks? Sinn’s 2020 releases appeal to a broad range of tastes.

The Importance of a Daily Routine in the Age of COVID-19

A breakdown of how our Founder spends his day in the age of COVID-19, and the essential role time, and watches, play in it.

Throwback Sundays: Six Independent Watchmakers which you should know, but may not

Six Independent Watchmakers who you may not know: Ch. Frodsham, McGonigle, Petermann-Bédat, Sylvian Pinaud, Tulloch and James C. Pellaton.

Ep. #104 Black Friday Wish Lists & 2 Years of TBWS

Kaz and Mike celebrate 2 years of TBWS and share a handful of watches they hope to see discounted during the wave of Black Friday sales. What do you have your eye on this year? Be sure to share the watches you're hoping to hunt down this holiday season.

Review: A Tale of Two Bell & Ross Watches: BR03-94 RS18 and BR-X1 RS18

We take a look at two Bell & Ross novelties: the BR03-94 RS18, and BR-X1 RS18. Click here to find out how does the two watches stack up.

Baselworld 2018 Chief Editor’s Choice: Top 5 watches which may blow your budget.

The Chief Editor makes his picks from the crop of Baselworld 2018 watches. All likely to cause heart palpitations from your bank manager. Selection from Rolex, Grand Seiko, Andreas Strehler, H. Moser and Patek Philippe.

New Release: A Tale of Two Pepsi GMT Watches - Rolex GMT-Master II and Tudor Black Bay GMT

We take a quick look at the two Pepsi GMT watches launched in Baselworld 2018, from Rolex and Tudor. Click here to find out what are the reasons that makes these two GMT watches tick!

Why this Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar make a great daily wear: Part 2

We feature the @Glashütte Original #senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar in a latest 3 part series dedicated to watchmaking and artisanal craft. Part 2 on Steinway & Sons.

Ep. #2: The Hodinkee + Dobel Event, Pre-Wind Up NYC 2016 Talk, and Our Daily Beaters

Mikes shares his experience attending the Hodinkee + Dobel Tequila event in Miami, breaking down the watches he saw there and how he doesn't know shit about tequila. The guys are also getting ready for Wind Up NYC 2016 and Kaz shares that one time he ate kale stems... he doesn't like kale stems. You know, because he's not a gerbil.

High End Watches: Tell Me Why?!

First Look At Bulgari’s Stunning New L’Ammiraglio Del Tempo [VIDEO]

For some absurd reason, there are some people who still don’t think of Bulgari as being a company that produces technical watches. This is despite the fact that they have created - with the aid of their assimilated workshops from Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta - watches such as the automata repeaters “Il Giocatore” and […]

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731: review and the tale of the short lived crown of thinnest minute repeater

The VC Patrimony Comtemporaine Minute Repeater, measuring a mere 8.09mm thick held the crown for the thinnest minute repeater from Sep 2013 to Jan 2014. Introduced in Watches & Wonders in Hong Kong, this slim, hand wound repeater was surpassed by the Jaeger LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica 11, by a tiny sliver of just 0.19mm. SuchRead More

Hands On: Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage Regulator

One of the most appealing releases of Geneva Watch Days was the Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage Regulator. While not an altogether new model, the watch incorporates a number of welcome updates, including a smaller case and a more refined dial that resembles an instrument panel on the wrist. The L.U.C 98.02-L movement remains in service, and is both COSC and Poinçon de Genève-certified. Moreover, the calibre achieves an impressive nine days of power reserve and is neatly finished, as is typical for Chopard’s higher-end offerings. Initial thoughts Chopard has long been a steward of the regulator format. In fact, the 1963 Heritage Regulator marks 20 years since the brand’s first contemporary regulator wristwatch. The regulator format is strongly associated with precision clocks, but Chopard’s interpretation reminds me of an automotive dashboard — perhaps intentionally, since the brand’s co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is known for his affinity for vintage cars. The latest example is substantially improved over prior generations, with several nips and tucks that result in a move wearable and less busy package overall. The watch is tangibly well made, with an expensive bill of materials and refined execution. The 1963 Heritage Regulator is priced at about US$50,000, and is limited to a concise run of 25 pieces in (ethically sourced) 18k white gold. By current standards, it’s a reasonable proposition, but still slightly above the going rate for a Patek Philippe...

Czapek returns to its Geneva roots with two very different shades of blue

Czapek celebrated its new flagship at Quai des Bergues 27 by releasing two limited editions during Geneva Watch Days 2026. The Quai des Bergues Midnight in Geneva pairs a 40.5mm steel case with a dark blue aventurine dial and Czapek’s seven-day, manually wound Calibre SXH1. The Place Vendôme Complicité Glacier Blue places its open-worked double-escapement … Continued