Two Broke Watch Snobs
Our Top 5 Affordable Watch Releases of 2026 So Far
Our top 5 affordable watch releases of 2026 so far, all under $500, featuring standout picks from microbrands, G-Shock, and more.
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
Fratello
Hands-On With The New Merci Instruments Beaumarchais Collection - A Sextet Of Thoughtful And Affordable Watches
A decade ago, Arthur Gerbi, founder of the Merci concept store at 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais in Paris, introduced the first watch under the Merci Instruments name. Like John Mayer at the time, he felt that traditional watchmaking houses no longer adequately accounted for the expectations of true enthusiasts. The watches under the Merci Instruments brand […] Visit Hands-On With The New Merci Instruments Beaumarchais Collection - A Sextet Of Thoughtful And Affordable Watches to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Behind the Curtain: A Conversation with Mark Braun, Designer of the Nomos Metro
We live in a (watch) world where brand names reign supreme and terms like “in-house” carry a lot of weight. However, I find it much more interesting when a watchmaker is willing to peel back the curtain and highlight the great minds and hands that go into crafting the watches we love. Recently, Nomos gave us one of those unique opportunities to sit down with the man behind the design of one of its core collections: the Metro. The Metro first came into the Nomos catalog back in 2014. At the time, it made waves thanks to its debut of the brand’s proprietary swing escapement system, which was developed over seven years with the Fraunhofer Institute and TU Dresden. The structure notably features a tempered blue balance spring and offers superior precision, efficiency, and compactness with a thickness of approximately 3.2mm, which perfectly lends itself to Nomos’ sleek and effortless timepieces. While perhaps considered secondary at its initial introduction, the form of the new collection was given just as much attention as the function. In typical Nomos fashion, the caliber was housed in a modern and minimalist design echoing the tenets of German watchmaking but with a twist. This creation was the brainchild of industrial designer Mark Braun. The project marks Braun’s first and only foray into the watch space. The artist has worked in nearly every medium under the sun from furniture to kitchenware and birdhouses to shaving kits, light fixtures, jewelry, calligraphy p...
Fratello
What Are 10 Of The Best Dive Watches Under €1,000? - Featuring Citizen, Seiko, Baltic, Doxa, Certina, And More
Dive watches remain the most democratic category in watchmaking. While certain icons now cost several thousand euros, the truth is that the core DNA of the dive watch, robustness, legibility, and reliability, is still alive and well in far more accessible territory. In fact, €1,000 might just be the sweet spot. At this level, you’ll […] Visit What Are 10 Of The Best Dive Watches Under €1,000? - Featuring Citizen, Seiko, Baltic, Doxa, Certina, And More to read the full article.
Fratello
Introducing: The Final Versions Of The Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe S²
Goodbyes are never easy. Nevertheless, after five years in production, Greubel Forsey is removing the Balancier Convexe S² from the catalog. The brand follows this strategy to maintain extreme exclusivity, preserve high secondary-market value, and ensure a focus on innovation and hand-finished quality over mass production. The two farewell creations - one in black ceramic […] Visit Introducing: The Final Versions Of The Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe S² to read the full article.
Video
Watch Brands You Should Never Pay Retail for - Watch Brands That Lose a Ton of Value
Monochrome
First Look – The Watch Ho & Co x Selten Jui Bauhinia in Pink and Purple Mother-of-Pearl
The original Jui came out last year as a collaboration between Hong Kong-based Watch Ho & Co(mmunity) and microbrand Selten, and it did not stay under the radar for long. It was one of those watches that quietly hit the sweet spot, with a detailed dial and a strong concept at a price that felt […]
Deployant
Skeletons in the closet: our pick of the top six watches with openworked dials
We are not particularly big fans of openworked dials. But every once in a a while, one does come along which tugs at our heartstrings. We pick our top six.
Monochrome
Buying Guide – The Joy of the Snap, With 5 of Today’s Finest Retrograde Watches
I’ve always been a big fan of watches that have something moving on the dial, other than the smooth and consistent running of hour, minute and second hands. Whether it’s a dial-mounted balance wheel, a tourbillon escapement or even a winding rotor, I just love to see some type of action that goes beyond pure […]
Fratello
Sunday Morning Showdown: Tissot Visodate Vs. Baltic Hermétique - The Battle Of The Mid-Century Everyday Watches
Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown. Blink twice, and another seven days have flown by, bringing us to our favorite moment of the week. This time, Daan and Thomas take to the ring to defend two mid-century-inspired everyday watches. Daan represents the Baltic Hermétique, while Thomas defends the new Tissot Visodate. These watches are more […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Tissot Visodate Vs. Baltic Hermétique - The Battle Of The Mid-Century Everyday Watches to read the full article.
Quill & Pad
Clash of the Titans: A Comprehensive Guide to Blancpain vs. Jaeger-LeCoultre
On one path stands Blancpain, a brand wrapped in the romance of antiquity and contemporary defiance. On the other path stands Jaeger-LeCoultre, the intellectual powerhouse frequently revered as the watchmaker of watchmakers. Which do you choose? The post Clash of the Titans: A Comprehensive Guide to Blancpain vs. Jaeger-LeCoultre appeared first on Quill & Pad.
Video
Celebrating in the city of secrets | OMEGA
Fratello
Introducing: The Jack Mason Palmera Skin Diver And A New Way Of Bringing Watches To Market
This introduction article is a bit different from the majority of release articles. Sure, I will go into the watch, the Jack Mason Palmera Skin Diver. However, it is the sales model that I find most interesting about this release. Jack Mason introduces this watch alongside a new program called Born & Raised, a “founder […] Visit Introducing: The Jack Mason Palmera Skin Diver And A New Way Of Bringing Watches To Market to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Citizen Celebrates 50 Years of Eco-Drive with a Hand-Dyed Washi Dial
I've come close to pulling the trigger on a few of Citizen's higher-end Eco-Drive watches over the years, and each time I talked myself out of it. Not because the watches weren't impressive, but because the right one never quite lined up with the moment. Now, Citizen is making the decision a little harder. The brand has just announced "The Citizen" Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary Edition (ref. AQ4091-56W), marking five decades since it introduced the first solar-powered analogue watch back in 1976.
Teddy Baldassarre
Watches Of The SAS: What British Special Forces Pilots Wear
It’s easy to think of watches as falling purely within the accessory realm, valued for their aesthetic and their finish detail. Sure, they fulfill a practical utility by telling the time, but that could be considered a redundant byproduct these days, as most of us are rarely outside of reach of any number of devices that provide the same utility. How watches serve their purpose today is very different from how they were used in the past. While much of that is out of necessity for the sake of self-preservation, the humble, purpose- built tool watch carries a deep history of use as just that, a vital tool used by servicemen and women. The stories that these watches tell serve as a reminder of the role watches once played, and connect with a new generation of enthusiasts. Every military across the globe has a history of using specialized tools in their endeavors, and watches have been a big part of that kit - from UDT divers and their dive watches, to pilots relying on their wrist-bound timers to calculate fuel flow rates. These watches enjoy an enviable lore that inspires many of the designs we see today from brands large and small. One particular outfit known for its use of spec-built watches is the British Special Air Service, or the SAS. While much of the information about the SAS is highly classified, we do know a thing or two about the watches these specialized service members have employed throughout the years. [toc-section heading="A (Brief) History of SAS"] P...
Worn & Wound
Seiko Launches a Pair of Updated Marinemasters with their Higher End 8L45 Movement
A common critique leveled at Seiko over these last few years is that they’ve abandoned the affordable enthusiast dive watch market and have been creeping toward a higher priced product. Honestly, it’s fair. Those of us of a certain age can fondly remember the days when an SKX diver could be had for a few hundred bucks, and it basically stood alone in the Venn diagram of pedigree, dive watch bona fides, enthusiast credibility, and affordability. The fact is, there’s a lot of competition for affordable divers these days, much of it driven by the popularity of a handful of key Seiko references. So it’s no wonder that they’ve sought to expand their footprint elsewhere and make a higher end, more expensive product. What often gets lost in these conversations is that the higher priced Seiko divers are actually very good dive watches that still cover much of that hypothetical Venn diagram, perhaps leaning a little further away from affordability. Seiko recently announced a handful of new references and while many of us hoped a truly affordable SKX alternative might be in the mix, they’ve once again debuted a new diver at a higher rung of their pricing ladder. The highlight for collectors and serious Seiko fans will likely be the Seiko Prospex Marinemaster 1968 Heritage Diver’s Watch (the official Seiko naming conventions are always a bit cumbersome). Yes, this is yet another mostly historically accurate take on the first ever diver rated to 300 meters of water r...
Hodinkee
Introducing: Citizen's New 'Photon' Celebrates 50 Years of Eco-Drive With An Attractive Physics Demonstration
With a Super Titanium case and bracelet and an eye-catching dial, Citizen brings a new design and 12-month power reserve to the lineup.
Video
This Watch Brand Is Underrated Affordable & Historic - Some of the Best Bargain Swiss Dive Watches
SJX Watches
Citizen Marks 50 Years of Solar with Japanese Paper Dial
Citizen invented the first solar-powered analogue watch way back in 1976, and now it’s marking 50 years of its signature timepiece with “The Citizen” Eco-Drive 50th Anniversary. Five decades on Citizen’s solar technology is amongst the most advanced, and the anniversary edition is equipped with a movement that runs within five seconds a year, and will last 18 months on power save mode. But the dial, on the other hand, is traditional Japanese craft: it’s made of washi, a paper that’s dyed by hand, and translucent enough to allow solar charging. Initial thoughts The combination of washi, Super Titanium, and high-end quartz is a familiar one, with Citizen having applied it to past limited editions. Although Citizen is repeating the formula, this remains impressive from both a technology and materials perspective. The ultra-accurate A060 is one of the most sophisticated analogue quartz movements on the market, while Citizen’s proprietary hardened titanium, first polished by hand then hardened, is equally impressive. Tech aside, the anniversary edition stands out for the washi dial that adds a little bit of traditional Japanese craft to all of the cutting-edge tech in the watch. The dial is made of Japanese paper that’s dyed by hand with old school dyes obtained from plants. That said, this anniversary edition is still a relatively niche product for enthusiasts who appreciate high-end quartz technology packaged well. All of that tech and finishing comes at a pri...
Hodinkee
Wei Koh Appointed President Of GPHG Jury For The 2026 Edition
The founder of Revolution and The Rake takes on one of watchmaking's most influential roles ahead of this November's awards in Geneva.
Fratello
Introducing: The New Out Of Order Watches Casanova 38 MOP Automatic Collection
It was a couple of years ago at the annual WatchPro event in London when I first met the folks from Out of Order. The upstart Italian brand was showcasing fun, affordable, cocktail-inspired GMT watches. Since then, the company has expanded its lineup to include pieces with automatic and quartz movements. Today, though, we take […] Visit Introducing: The New Out Of Order Watches Casanova 38 MOP Automatic Collection to read the full article.
Time+Tide
CIGA design celebrates the Year of the Horse with a new limited edition Central Tourbillon
CIGA design celebrates the Chinese New Year of the Horse, with a diamond-encrusted, tourbillon-powered limited editionThe post CIGA design celebrates the Year of the Horse with a new limited edition Central Tourbillon appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
First Look – The Final Editions of the Greubel Forsey Balancier Convexe S² now in White or Black Ceramic
Within Greubel Forsey‘s modern catalogue, the Convexe collection has become one of the brand’s most recognisable showcases of its approach to watchmaking. Revealed in 2019, the Convexe case introduced a double-curved construction, designed to follow the natural shape of the wrist and presenting the movement as a sculptural object. The Balancier Convexe S² first appeared […]
Video
In the City of Secrets | OMEGA
Hodinkee
Talking Watches: With Jean Todt – Ferrari Formula 1 Boss, President Of The FIA, Philanthropist, And Passionate Watch Collector
From Dakar to Le Mans, WRC to Formula 1, to road safety and spinal cord research, Jean Todt's collection of watches reflects the remarkable and multifaceted passions that have defined his life.
Deployant
New: the closing chapter of the Greubel Forsey Convexe S2
Greubel Forsey releases the final two editions of the Convexe S2, one in black ceramic with 5N red gold and the other in full white ceramic.
Hodinkee
Introducing: Kollokium Projekt 02 Variant B Gets Deeper And Darker With First Public Sale Of Sophomore Model
Kollokium's first public sale of its topographical, multi-layer dialed three-hander gets a darker, brutalist bent.
SJX Watches
SJX Podcast: State of the Industry 2026
Episode 31 of the SJX Podcast digs into two major industry reports - one from Vontobel on the primary market and one from EveryWatch on the secondary - and what they reveal about where value is concentrating in the watch industry. SJX and Brandon discuss the K-shaped nature of the market, the dominance of F.P. Journe among independents, and Cartier’s remarkable ability to sell across every price tier. The discussion also touches on the role of emotion in driving purchase decisions, the financialisation of the hobby, and why market reports have limited utility for collectors. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Monochrome
The ABCs of Time – Why Are Some Watch Cases Filled with Oil?
Wristwatch manufacturers focus on keeping cases air and watertight so the movements can operate trouble-free in daily use. This started in earnest in 1926 with Rolex’s robust Oyster case, but even delicate dress watches today have a degree of water and dust resistance for splashes, rain and so on. However, a small handful of brands […]
Video