Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Dive Watches Under $300 We’ve Ever Reviewed
We look beyond spec sheets to find dive watches under $300 that stay comfortable, reliable, and enjoyable long after the initial purchase.
Results for Vallée de Joux
25,175 articles · 178 videos found · page 376 of 846
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Monochrome
Introducing - Celebrating the Founder’s 200th Anniversary, Moritz Grossmann Releases the Tefnut 36 Silver-Plated by Friction Turquoise Blue
Moritz Grossmann continues to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its founder, Carl Moritz Grossmann (1826-1885), one of the key figures behind Glashütte’s rise as a powerhouse of German watchmaking. Following the Hamatic, the Tremblage, the Tefnut and the Backpage Tremblage, the brand honours its founder with yet another anniversary gift. Once again, a model from the […]
SJX Watches
Hands On: Grand Seiko “Hisen” SBGZ011
Grand Seiko’s excellent dive watches may have stolen the show Watches & Wonders, but the waterfall-inspired Masterpiece Collection “Hisen” SBGZ011 proves the brand hasn’t let its next-generation Spring Drive rollout outshine its fine watchmaking project — the Micro Artist Studio. While best known for the Credor Eichi II, and some of the finest chiming wristwatches yet made, the Micro Artist Studio’s work for Grand Seiko is perhaps even better, and though its resplendent movements can be found in more subtle watches, the “Hisen” is just as decadently decorated outside as it is within. Initial thoughts Last year, Grand Seiko kicked off a streak of hits, launching the compact and precise Spring Drive SLGB003, on a quick-adjust bracelet. This year the brand launched an even deadlier duo of mid-sized Spring Drive divers, and probably has another commercial success on deck for next year. But in the background, the Shinshu Watch Studio, where all Spring Drive watches are made, continues its fine watchmaking efforts with the stunning diamond and Mozambique garnet set “Red Lion” ref. SBGD228, and the “Hisen” SBGZ011 reviewed here. Aesthetically, it is my least favorite of the four engraved-case models the brand has produced in recent memory — my favourites being the SBGZ001 “Snowflake” the astral SBGZ007 — due to the dial being too busy. However, the engraved 44GS case is almost magical, reminding me of the Quartz VFA ref. 3823-7030 and 3820-6000. L...
Hodinkee
Introducing: The Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour 'Ultimus'
What We Know Fears just announced the final chapter of its Brunswick Jump Hour collection, and this appropriately named Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour 'Ultimus' might just be the collection's most interesting execution yet. Designed in collaboration with British watch content creator Andrew Morgan, the Ultimus takes the modern design cues from the Brunswick Jump Hour all the way to eleven, with a stark black-and-white sensibility in a very sleek "Phantom White" dial execution. The focal point is the new jump hour dial, and yes, it's very lumed. Rather than in typical Brunswick Jump Hour executions, which hide all inactive numerals, this dial execution uses sapphire to reveal the oversized hour disc beneath and leans into it as part of the design. A black outer ring holds minimal branding, and within are two luminous ceramic discs—the lower disc is for the rotating (and jumping) hours, and the other disc floats above, housing the printed minute track and the oversized black minute hand. That center lumed ceramic disc above is also connected to a frosted outer ring, which holds the printed minute numerals and offers a subtle peek at the inactive hour numerals on the rest of the dial. At twelve o'clock is a magnifier, which replaces the typical framed window we've seen on the other Brunswick Jump Hours to highlight the current hour and its numeral(s) in full. The steel case is unchanged in this edition, with a diameter of 40.5mm, a thickness of 12.8mm, and a lug-to-lug of 47mm. I...
WatchRider
CASIO A100WE: A Retro Digital Watch Under $100
If you are looking for a digital watch that combines vintage aesthetics with everyday practicality, the Casio A100WE series is one of the most interesting options on the market. Released as a modern tribute to a very specific piece of Casio history, the A100 line stands out because of its unique front-button layout and retro-futuristic case design. Whether you are a seasoned watch collector or someone who simply wants a reliable timepiece, the A100WE series offers variety, comfort, and affordability. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the history of this design, review every color and model available, highlight the standout green resin model, and explain all the technical features you need to know. The History Behind the Design: The F-100 Legacy To understand the Casio A100WE, you have to look back to 1978. That year, Casio released the F-100. It was a notable release because it was the first Casio watch to feature a case made entirely of resin, making it incredibly lightweight and affordable. However, the F-100 is best remembered today for its appearance in pop culture. A modified version of the Casio F-100 was worn by the character Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) in the 1979 science fiction movie Alien. The F-100 was eventually discontinued, making original models rare and highly sought after by collectors. Decades later, Casio introduced the A100WE series. This modern reissue keeps the exact case shape and front-button layout of the original F-100...
Worn & Wound
Introducing the Seiko 5 Sports MOTOCOMPO Limited Edition
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that children are either car kids or dinosaur kids. Personally, I was firmly in the latter category. But the older I get, the more I realize how much I’ve missed out on. Now, I’m not saying I’m interested in those flashy muscle cars (I haven’t hit my midlife crisis yet); instead, I’m interested in vehicles that look like toy cars, the miniaturized version of toys I would have played with as a toddler. A few weeks ago, I was very excited to hear the Fiat Topolino is coming stateside. Just last week, I was looking at import fees to get one of those cute little Japanese trucks into the U.S. And while I once took a class to learn how to ride a Harley-Davidson, I think the Honda Motocompo is much more my speed. For those who aren’t familiar with the Motocompo, this zippy little thing was released by Honda in 1981 as a folding motorcycle designed to fit inside the trunk of the Honda City. The handlebars, seat, and footrests folded into the body, creating a compact rectangular shape that could be stored in the car and used for short trips around town. It has since gained a bit of a cult following and is now the inspiration behind the Seiko 5 Sports MOTOCOMPO Limited Edition. For this release, Seiko used its Seiko 5 Sports Field series as the Motocompo’s base, with a compact 36.4mm case and a yellow dial pulled directly from the original vehicle’s color palette. The Honda logo runs through the black section across the center, wh...
Monochrome
First Look - The Maen Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin Stone Dial Collection
The Manhattan has become one of Maen’s defining collections, offering the angular aesthetics of 1970s integrated sports watches and increasingly refined execution at accessible prices. Building on the success of last year’s Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin, the Swedish brand is introducing natural stone dials to its permanent collection. Mechanically identical to the existing hand-wound model, the […]
WatchRider
We needed The Orange! TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph Limited Edition for Zandvoort’s Finale
TAG Heuer is sending the Dutch Grand Prix off with a pair of bright orange Formula 1 Solargraph limited editions. The rubber-strap reference WBY111H.FT8128 and steel-bracelet reference WBY111L.BA0042 share the same compact case, solar movement and colour scheme, but they offer two very different ways to remember Zandvoort. The timing is important. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix will be the last Formula 1 race at Circuit Zandvoort under the current agreement. TAG Heuer has therefore created a farewell watch that looks straight into the orange grandstands rather than simply placing a race logo on an existing model. The last Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort The Dutch Grand Prix returned in 2021 after being absent from the calendar since 1985. The narrow circuit between the dunes quickly became one of the most recognisable weekends on the calendar, helped by steeply banked corners and grandstands filled with Dutch fans wearing orange. The final race weekend runs from 21 to 23 August 2026. It will also include the first Formula 1 Sprint held at Zandvoort. Tickets for the weekend are already sold out, which says plenty about the event even as it prepares to leave the calendar. TAG Heuer returned as Formula 1’s official timekeeper in 2025. A special watch for the last Zandvoort race therefore makes sense, especially when the Formula 1 collection already has a long history of bold colours and racing references. The new orange Solargraph follows a colourful Formula 1 design story that be...
SJX Watches
In Depth: Louis Cottier’s Legacy
Sometime around 1949, in a workshop above a stationer’s shop in Carouge, Louis Cottier built a worldtime watch out of a piece of cardboard. Movado had asked him to fit their famous Ermeto — a small purse-watch that was wound by opening and closing its case — with a device to read the hour in any country. What Cottier delivered was a piece of card: two columns listing the 12 antipodal city pairs, with a sliding paper scale of hours. Open the case, slide the scale, read New York against Rome. It was ingenious to a fault. Movado’s verdict was blunt, and fair: it ignored the running of the watch entirely and “…could just as well be made on an address-book or a diary,” they wrote on February 4, 1950. The brand concluded that “Nobody would want to carry such a piece.” The 1949 World Time cardboard maquette proposed to Movado. Image – SJX composite/Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève The cardboard maquette survives, in an archive of some 260 items — letters, patents, notebooks, photographs, a school exercise book, a golf-scoring mechanism — that comprise the most complete record we have of the man the watch world calls the father of the worldtimer. But the story revealed by this evidence is more nuanced than Cottier’s reputation suggests. The legend, briefly The received Louis Cottier is easy to summarise, because everyone summarises him the same way. He was born in Carouge in 1894, and trained in Geneva. After losing his job in the aftermath of th...
WristBuzz
Singer Reimagined Heritage V72: A Restored Valjoux 72 Gets the Treatment It Always Deserved
Singer's latest Heritage piece pairs a new-old-stock Valjoux 72 with finishing work that puts the original factory job to shame.
Time+Tide
Lima’s GMT Transit puts design first without sacrificing function
The GMT Transit brings Lima's design language to the popular multi-timezone category and has clearly been a success for the brand.
Monochrome
Just Because - The Rising Creativity of China’s Independent Watchmakers
Despite Switzerland still being the epicentre of the industry, our love of watchmaking goes far beyond its borders. For years, we have been following the developments of other nations, virtually extending to all corners of the world. That always comes with the burden of stigmas, as changing one’s perception takes time and patience, and above […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Unimatic UT1-PD Dive Watch Pairs 300M With Seiko Quartz Toughness
The Unimatic Modello Uno UT1-PD brings a 300m rating, MIL-STD-810H durability, and a shock-housed Seiko VH31 movement to a 250-piece run.
Time+Tide
New releases from Trafford Watch Co, Seiko, Singer and more
Another seven days have passed, and we’re back here keeping you updated with the best of the past week. It’s always nice when a brand decides to expand its permanent collection, and this was the case for Trafford Watch Co. with a pair of perfect everyday watches. More on the tool watch side, we find … Continued
Monochrome
The ABCs of Time - When and Why Did We Start Measuring Seconds?
The seconds hand was a bit late to the party, as original pocket watches only featured an hour hand – movements were so inaccurate early on that even minute hands weren’t considered. Two key inventions changed the game in the mid-17th century, with one genius behind them. In 1656, Dutch scientist and horologist Christiaan Huygens […]
Worn & Wound
Watches, Stories, & Gear: Ideal Watch Size Survey, Matador’s Reinvention, and Myspace’s Return
“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear. Mark Cho’s Ideal Watch Size Survey is Back Co-founder of The Armoury and permanent resident on my own inspiration board, Mark Cho has once again put out his Ideal Watch Size Survey to the masses. For those unfamiliar, Cho first ran the survey from 2018 to 2021, asking participants about their actual wrist size, how they perceived their wrist size, and what they considered the ideal size for a watch. From this data, Cho and others, including ourselves, were able to glean information about industry trends, but also how those trends seem to affect the way we look at our own bodies. In fact, with nearly 1,000 respondents in the original survey, a significant percentage of people viewed their wrists as smaller than average, while Cho’s findings also pointed toward a growing interest in watches around the 37 to 39mm range (keep in mind, this was a time of Big Watch Supremacy in the marketplace). As with any data set, one can’t always say, “X equals Y,” but there is an interesting correlation (or is it causation? I always forget from my Statistics class) between what the industry makes, what collectors buy, and what we eventually convince ourselves we can wear. With...
Teddy Baldassarre Videos
Building A Watch Collection Without Swiss Watches (5 Collection Suggestions)
There is no other nation that has branded itself more around the craft of watchmaking than Switzerland. The country is unrivaled in the sheer depth of options and brands that call it home; that said, watchmaking is still very much a global game. In this video, we want to demonstrate it by building different watch coll
SJX Watches
Seiko Celebrates Honda’s Quirky Bike with 5 Sports Motocompo
Compact, affordable Japanese icons collide in the Seiko 5 Sports Motocompo Limited Edition ref. HDB010, a collaboration with Honda that celebrates a collectable and compact 1980s motorbike. It recreates the Motocompo’s Daisy Yellow paint, retro typography, and even its packaging. And at 36.4 mm in diameter, it too can fit in the back of the Honda Jazz. Initial thoughts The Honda Motocompo was an adorable folding scooter briefly offered as an option on the Honda Jazz/City during the early 1980s. When folded up, it was small enough to squeeze into the back of a subcompact car, or even an Acura NSX. Its retro styling is back in fashion, and low production numbers — due to weak sales — make it quite collectable today. Honda offered the Motocompo in three colors: Caribbean Red, Shetland White, and the Daisy Yellow you see here. Image – Honda Motor Company I find the colour choice odd, as to me Honda means red — from the NSX to the brand’s motorcycles. “Honda Red” is the brand’s corporate colour, after all. If this colourway makes me think of anything, it’s Kill Bill: Volume 1. The case back crystal, however, is classic Honda red, concealing the industrially finished workhorse cal. 4R36. Colour aside, the Honda wordmark is appealingly subtle, and the stylised “automatic” text at six, which echoes the original Motocompo branding, turns an otherwise unnecessary label into a defining element of the design. Bluntly speaking, Seiko typography fell off a cliff ...
Time+Tide
The echo/neutra Averau 42 Ceramic Sand Collection is built for the field, dressed for the dunes
Offered in both three-handed and chronograph form, echo/neutra's new sand-coloured dials bring a warmer look to its Averau range.
![Photo Report: Watch Spotting At The Hodinkee Happy Hour [July 2026]](https://hodinkee.imgix.net/uploads/images/5dfba5ad-98b7-49c2-9548-7c9967562168/_43A9288.jpg?ixlib=rails-1.1.0&fm=jpg&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&w=2000)
Hodinkee
Photo Report: Watch Spotting At The Hodinkee Happy Hour [July 2026]
Another Hodinkee Happy Hour, another evening well spent. Last week, we returned to the Watches of Switzerland boutique in SoHo for our monthly community meetup. Some attendees were meeting for the first time, while others picked up right where they left off. Before long, the room was buzzing with conversation over local beers from our friends at Grotta and slices from Nolita's Upside Pizza. As the night unfolded, attendees passed their personal watches around the room while sharing fond stories about them. From vintage gems to new releases like the DOXA SUB Army 200T for Hodinkee Limited Edition, there were more than enough interesting watches to get your hands on and talk about. Scroll through the photos below for a recap of the night and watches that made the rounds. If you joined us, thank you for coming. If not, we're hosting the next one at the end of August. Be the first to know when RSVPs open by following the Hodinkee Instagram! DOXA SUB Army 200T for Hodinkee Limited Edition. Right, Deputy Editor Tim Jeffreys wearing the DOXA SUB Army 200T. A first-generation A. Lange & Söhne Datograph, on Wellendorf bracelet, and an A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Chronograph. A Grand Seiko Elegance Collection "Skyflake" and a Christopher Ward C60 Trident GMT 300. The CWC x The Grey Nato Limited Edition. A vintage Rolex GMT Master "Pepsi." Movado Calendograf with a 14k yellow gold case. Head of Video David Aujero test driving the platinum A. Lange & Söhne Datograph. A Rolex GMT-...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko Turtle vs Omega Seamaster: Hands-On Budget vs Luxury Dive Watch Review
We wore the Seiko Turtle and Omega Seamaster Diver 300M side by side to see where their differences matter most and which dive watch actually earns its place.
Time+Tide
Famed artist Alec Monopoly rage baits the watch community with splashes of paint
Listen, I won’t pretend Time+Tide is not in the engagement business. Punchy, punny headlines and tasty watch photography and video drive clicks, likes, and shares, and allow us to keep doing what we are doing. But I am proud to say we have never really engaged in horological rage bait. Speaking just for myself here, … Continued
Monochrome
Portrait - The Philosophy and Influences of Bernhard Lederer; Watchmaker, Researcher, Inventor
For more than four decades, Bernhard Lederer has built a reputation on tangible achievements: remarkable timepieces, original escapements, and chronometric innovations. Yet the watches themselves reveal only part of the story. Behind each creation lies a way of thinking that has evolved over a lifetime devoted to independent watchmaking. Rather than retracing milestones or celebrating […]
SJX Watches
Hands On: Breguet Classique Tourbillon Sidéral
The Tourbillon Sidéral debuted last year to mark Breguet’s 250th anniversary. This year, the brand is celebrating the 225th anniversary of its founder’s best-known achievement: the tourbillon. For this occasion, Breguet released a quartet of new references, among them the Classique Tourbillon Sidéral ref. 7255PT, a 50-piece limited edition in platinum, once again featuring an in-house aventurine enamel dial. Initial thoughts Despite being the brand’s first-ever flying tourbillon, the Tourbillon Sidéral feels somewhat familiar. That’s because its cal. 187M1 is derived from the brand’s original wristwatch tourbillon movement, the cal. 558, released in 1989. That explains the familiar off-centre dial arrangement and full-plate architecture visible through the case back. Within this lineage, the Tourbillon Sidéral can be considered the spiritual heir and technical successor to the Classique Tourbillon Messidor 5335 released 2007, a watch that seemed to suspend its tourbillon in mid-air. In fact, this mystery tourbillon was driven by a sapphire crystal drive wheel, and its upper pivot was supported by a sapphire crystal bridge. The Tourbillon Sidéral elevates this concept to its natural conclusion, dispensing with the upper support bridge entirely, resulting in a true flying tourbillon. Unfortunately, the two-armed tourbillon cage itself spans almost the entire width of the opening, and at times resembles an upper support bridge, at least until the eye registers ...
WatchRider
The Lightweight Casio F-91WF Watch on Cloth-Strap
The Casio F-91W does not need a complicated introduction. It is one of the simplest digital watches you can buy and one of the easiest to recognise. The new F-91WF collection keeps that familiar formula but changes the part that has the greatest effect on comfort and character: the strap. Instead of the usual resin band, each watch comes with a lightweight cloth strap made from recycled PET. There are three models in the collection. The F-91WF-1A is black, the F-91WF-2A is navy blue and the F-91WF-3A is olive green. The case colour is matched to the strap on each version, so none of them looks like an ordinary F-91W with a random replacement strap. They feel like a complete collection with three clear personalities. Why the F-91WF is more than a strap change The cloth strap is the main news but it is not only a visual detail. Casio describes it as lightweight, comfortable, resistant to scratches and resistant to stains. It should also feel less rigid than a resin strap, especially during hot weather or when the watch is worn for a full day. Its recycled PET material gives the range a practical environmental benefit without changing the affordable and uncomplicated nature of the F-91W. The strap fits wrists from 145 to 215mm. That broad range matters because the case itself is very compact. It measures 38.2mm from top to bottom, 35.2mm across and only 8.5mm thick. Each version weighs just 21 grams. On the wrist it should almost disappear, which remains one of the strongest ...
WristBuzz
Patek Philippe 5140G vs 3940G: two ultra-thin perpetuals, one decision
Same movement, same 19mm lug width, same three-subdial layout. So why does the 3940G push over €92k while the 5140G sits closer to €51k, and which of the two is actually the smarter buy in 2026?
WatchRider
Timex 1976 Lexington Reissue Inspired Is a Sharp $149 Steel Cartier Tank Alternative
Timex has taken the 1976 Lexington Reissue Inspired in the direction I wanted most: away from gold tone and into polished steel. The new TW2Y88200 keeps the compact rectangular shape, vertically brushed silver dial and Roman numerals of the earlier model, then adds metallic blue hands for a little contrast. It is currently listed as a $149 pre-order in the United States, which puts it firmly in the part of the market where a good design matters more than a prestigious logo. A rectangular watch with the right instincts I am a fan of rectangular watches because they make even a simple time-only watch feel considered. A round case can hide lazy proportions. A rectangle cannot. Every line is visible: the width, the length, the dial margins, the shape of the numerals and the relationship between case and strap. That is why the Cartier Tank remains such a powerful reference point, and why an affordable watch needs more than Roman numerals to feel convincing. Timex’s silver dial, blue hands and Roman numerals look clean. This Timex is not trying to be a counterfeit Tank. It earns its place as a nice alternative because it uses the same broad language of a slim rectangular case, an orderly dial and a leather strap, then keeps a personality of its own. If you enjoy this corner of watch design, I have also ranked the Cartier Tank alternatives that have stayed in my collection. The Lexington belongs in that conversation because it offers a clean steel option at a price that makes o...
Hodinkee
Hands-On: The Parmigiani Fleurier 30th Anniversary Carillon Tourbillon
Parmigiani Fleurier is a brand that has long embodied the idea of quiet luxury — or "private luxury," as Parmigiani CEO Guido Terrini asserts — frankly, sometimes to a fault. Many of its models pair spectacular watchmaking with a radically simplified design language, and the unique execution of a mechanical chronograph in the brand's Tonda Chronograph Mystérieux earlier this spring quite literally hides its mechanical extravagance as part of the complication. We'll have more on the Chronograph Mystérieux soon, but there's another watch launched this year that also feels unmistakably Parmigiani in execution—the Carillon Tourbillon 30th Anniversary in white gold. To celebrate the brand's 30th anniversary this year, Parmigiani Fleurier launched a trio of limited-edition Toric models at Watches and Wonders, featuring hand-hammered gold dials. The Toric Petite Seconde in platinum, a Toric Quantième Perpétuel in rose gold, and a Toric Chronographe Rattrapante in platinum all got the new dial treatment. Then, a few months after the show, Parmigiani dropped this whopper of a watch. Let's get the not-so-fun part out of the way first—the Carillon Tourbillon 30th Anniversary is limited to 5 pieces, and priced at CHF 490,000. To most collectors, it might be an unobtainium watch in so many aspects, but that doesn't stop this thing from being an absolute joy to see in person. At a glance, the overall silhouette of the Carillon Tourbillon fits into the classic Parmigiani play...
Time+Tide
Christopher Ward Cleans Up with the Trident 30×30
In the brand's latest charitable push, it is again teaming up with Blue Marine Foundation to help save our oceans.
Deployant
New: Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01707 combines 1960s visuals with Carbotech
Panerai brings their carbotech case technology to the classical 1960s visual code signature of the tritium filled markers of the Luminor Marina.