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Results for Vallée de Joux

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Rolex Wimbledon Review: The Tennis Dial Datejust Teddy Baldassarre
Rolex Nov 26, 2025

Rolex Wimbledon Review: The Tennis Dial Datejust

The Rolex "Wimbledon" Datejust is a relatively recent fan-favorite among Rolex enthusiasts, with a distinctive design blending classical elegance with the spirit of sporting competition - much like the game of tennis that it celebrates. Here is what you should know about the Rolex Wimbledon watch, from the history behind it to the modern elements that can help you recognize one Wimbledon version over another.  [toc-section heading="Datejust Origins"] The Datejust model that underpins the Rolex Wimbledon editions is not only one of the oldest and most enduringly popular models from Rolex but also one of the most significant and influential wristwatches in the world. When it debuted in 1945, the Rolex Datejust was the first watch that combined the robustness of the Crown's waterproof Oyster case (introduced way back in 1926) with the user-friendliness of its self-winding "Perpetual" movement (unveiled in 1931) - hence ushering in the telltale descriptor "Oyster Perpetual" that is now a ubiquitous presence on many Rolex watch dials.  The Datejust was also the first watch to feature the now-widely adopted date display at 3 o’clock, the first automatic (i.e. self-winding) watch with a quick-change function for that date display, and the first to be mounted on Rolex’s now-famous five-row Jubilee bracelet. A few years later, in 1948, came the first Datejust with the bubble-shaped “Cyclops” lens directly above the date aperture, which magnified the date numeral by a ...

Clemence Introduces the Photic MKII Dive Watch Worn & Wound
Nov 26, 2025

Clemence Introduces the Photic MKII Dive Watch

My love/hate affair with dive watches almost always comes down to sizing: too big, and it feels like a handcuff, requiring tightening the strap or bracelet to an uncomfortable degree. So, when a brand makes a concentrated effort to slim down a dive watch, my ears perk up. While the Clemence Photic MKII is not exactly tiny at 38.5mm in case diameter and 46.5mm lug-to-lug, it touts an impressive 9.9mm case thickness, while still promising 200 meters of water resistance. Top that off with vibrant colorways, a precision bezel, and an automatic movement, and Clemence has a tempting dive option on their hands.  At a glance, the new Photic MKII has a lot in common with its predecessor, which was released in 2021. With case shape and dimensions, the MKII functions more as a continuation than it does total reinvention. In fact, the original Photic colorway-with a blue sunray dial-is still available here, and lifts the dial design from the original, setting it apart from the rest of the MKII lineup. The new colorways shake things up a little more, introducing a second track inside the indices that gives the watch a more segmented and complicated look, without distracting from the chunky numerals and hands. The Nemo model wears a Munro yellow dial and a black bezel, while the Kraken switches the two shades for a more subtle take on the sunny colorway. Similarly, the Shoal edition’s slate gray bezel and light warm gray dial are contrasted by a black bezel, while the Moray keeps...

Maurice LaCroix Aikon Review Teddy Baldassarre
Maurice Lacroix Nov 26, 2025

Maurice LaCroix Aikon Review

The watch industry only gets more and more competitive each year. Some brands have managed to thrive, and independent watchmakers are more game for the challenge than ever. Others, still, get somewhat lost within the mix. Today, I’m taking a deeper look at a brand that I honestly don’t hear much about, and, through the vehicle of its current flagship model, exploring what it has to offer. As you’ve already guessed from the title of this here article, the subject at hand is the Maurice LaCroix Aikon collection. Characterized by classic integrated bracelet style with a few specific quirks to the mix, the Aikon collection hasn’t managed to go mainstream like some similar competition. Down below, I’ll be walking you through a primer about the brand, the key ingredients of the Maurice LaCroix Aikon, and some personal ramblings on what the collection has to offer, and what it’s lacking.  [toc-section heading="Context"] Like many Swiss watch brands, Maurice LaCroix has a history that can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. However, that historical journey is among the more atypical out there. This 19th-century connection is the Maurice LaCroix ties to its parent company, Desco von Schulthess, which was founded in Zurich in 1889, and for many years, had nothing to do with watches. Initially starting in the silk trade, after WWII, Desco von Schulthess expanded into luxury goods and acted as a distributor for Swiss watches to the Asian market. In 1961, the co...

Hands-on – The Frederique Constant Classics Premiere Cloud Blue (Incl. Video) Monochrome
Frederique Constant Classics Premiere Cloud Blue Nov 26, 2025

Hands-on – The Frederique Constant Classics Premiere Cloud Blue (Incl. Video)

Frederique Constant already impressed us with the salmon dial version launched as a Europe-exclusive model. The recent blue-dial Frederique Constant Classics Premiere on bracelet is another proof that “accessible luxury” doesn’t have to mean “generic.” It’s still the same compact, classically styled three-hander launched in 2023, but the move to a differently styled dial and […]

Complicated Collectors: Gerd Ahrens SJX Watches
Breguet pocket watch No 4763 Nov 26, 2025

Complicated Collectors: Gerd Ahrens

In the autumn of 1948, at Galerie Fischer’s auction house in Lucerne, a young Swiss watchmaker secured Lot 155, a Breguet pocket watch, No. 4763, circa 1848, with a straight-line club-tooth lever escapement. The case, fitted later by E. Brown at George Daniels’s suggestion to employ original movements and parts held in stock, aligned with his purpose. For most collectors, such a purchase might not have represented a pure Breguet. But for Gerd Ahrens, it was something altogether different: the first sentence in what would become a four-century narrative of mechanical ingenuity. Gerd Ahrens in his shop office on Schwanenplatz 7 around 1955. Image – Gerd Ahrens Foundation: a life built on wheels and springs Gerd Ahrens was born on September 18, 1920, in Hamburg, Germany, at a time when mechanical watches represented the pinnacle of portable precision. His father, Otto Ahrens, born in 1877, had already established himself as a highly respected watchmaker. Otto’s path, however, would be marked by the upheavals of the twentieth century. Before World War I, he had operated a successful shop in Paris and had built connections throughout the watchmaking centres of Inner Switzerland. The evidence of his skill was tangible: Otto personally built ten pocket watches, demonstrating not just commercial acumen but genuine mastery of the craft. Then the war came. Otto was forced to close his Paris shop in 1914, and the conflict left him penniless. A trained craftsman of the highest...

Slimmer, Sharper Seamaster: Omega Updates the Planet Ocean SJX Watches
Omega Updates Nov 26, 2025

Slimmer, Sharper Seamaster: Omega Updates the Planet Ocean

Omega marks the 20th anniversary of the Seamaster Planet Ocean with a full redesign, introducing a sharper, faceted case and a slimmer profile that addresses long-standing concerns about about the model’s thickness. The fourth generation design retains the headline 600 m water resistance and METAS-certified movement, but adopts a more contemporary silhouette that differentiates it from earlier generations. The anniversary launch spans three colourways - black, blue, and the signature orange - with the latter now priced in line with the Rolex Submariner. While the refresh enhances everyday wearability, it also moves the Planet Ocean slightly away from the recognisable aesthetic that has defined the collection since its 2005 debut. Initial thoughts The Seamaster Planet Ocean is a watch that carries a lot of nostalgia for me personally. The first generation model, launched in 2005, was the first mechanical watch I purchased for myself in my student days and while my watch, powered by the slim cal. 2500C, has seen the inside of the Omega service centre more times than I would have liked, it still has a place in my regular rotation, especially when the weather turns warm. The appeal of the Planet Ocean is its fresh interpretation of historical Omega motifs; it features details like the broad arrow hands without attempting to be a vintage remake. The collection was refreshed in 2011 and again in 2016, but it seemed to get chunkier with each new iteration, to the dismay of ...

How Bronze Watches Patina Teddy Baldassarre
Nov 25, 2025

How Bronze Watches Patina

The bronze watch patina is one of the most fascinating, naturally occurring phenomena in watch collecting. So much so that it seemed every horological player wanted to put its own spin on this rugged, sea-worn metal around a decade ago. A lot has changed in watchmaking since then. Manufacturers have pushed boundaries further than we ever thought possible, offering enthusiasts a vast array of proprietary materials to choose from, with bronze taking its place alongside classic favorites like stainless steel and gold. Bronze watches remain a compelling choice among collectors today.  Article by Nina Scally [toc-section heading="Bronze Watches Context"]  Despite its association with maritime history, this corrosion-resistant material has infiltrated the pilot-watch sphere and established a foothold in the category of field watches as well. Today, bronze continues to cast its rich, warm nuances over some of the world’s most beautiful and evocative neo-vintage dive watches as well. Indeed, this ancient metal of seafaring legends appears to have secured its place on the wrists of watch enthusiasts for the foreseeable future. So there seems no better time than now to delve into how bronze has come to settle within the watch-collecting landscape, and why its slow-burning patina and rugged charm have cemented it as a modern collector’s favorite.  [toc-section heading="How Patina Develops"]  Would you ever walk into a dealership and ask, “Do you have something that’s alre...

Inside the Hamilton x Worn & Wound Call of Duty NYC Pop-Up Event Worn & Wound
Hamilton x Worn & Wound Nov 25, 2025

Inside the Hamilton x Worn & Wound Call of Duty NYC Pop-Up Event

When our friends at Hamilton first approached us about teaming up for an event this year, we had no idea it would involve one of the most iconic gaming franchises of all time. Just last week, Hamilton released the Khaki Field Auto 38mm Call of Duty Special Edition alongside the global launch of Black Ops 7, and Worn & Wound was honored to help celebrate by hosting a special gathering for NYC-based enthusiasts at the Hamilton x Call of Duty pop-up in Manhattan. The space was fully immersed in Call of Duty atmosphere-gear, watches, and of course, gaming stations. At the center of it all was a stunning optical-illusion installation by artist Michael Murphy, immediately grabbing the attention of everyone who walked in. It set the tone: bold, immersive, and cleverly detailed. Knowing how much our audience loves pairing their watches with well-designed gear, Hamilton invited us to curate a supporting selection of EDC essentials that would complement the Special Edition Khaki Field both visually and functionally. We had a blast assembling a kit of items from OEG EDC, Able Carry, Maratac, Spring Made, and Big Idea Design. Midway through the evening-after a warm welcome from Hamilton’s new CEO, Francesca Ginocchio, and an overview of the watch-we presented the curated items… and then took things up a notch. Each item was individually gifted to lucky attendees, turning part of the night into a lively, watch and gear celebration. Guests were also handed a special mission: b...

The Greatest Horological Masterpieces of All Time: Breguet’s Marie Antoinette Watch and Its Impact on Horology Worn & Wound
Breguet s Marie Antoinette Watch Nov 25, 2025

The Greatest Horological Masterpieces of All Time: Breguet’s Marie Antoinette Watch and Its Impact on Horology

A series of features identifying the most extraordinary mechanical masterpieces in history, blending precision, innovation, and craftsmanship. We all have our favourite timepieces either in our collection or those incredible horological masterpieces that have been invented or created through the ages. This series will showcase examples from the previous centuries up to the present day and look at the importance and impact on modern day timekeeping. Few watches in history have captivated the world quite like Breguet No. 160, often referred to as the Marie Antoinette Watch. Commissioned in 1783, this masterpiece of horology was intended as the ultimate expression of luxury, precision, and mechanical complexity. Crafted by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the legendary Swiss watchmaker, it would take over 44 years to complete, long after Marie Antoinette’s tragic execution and Breguet’s death. Marie Antoinette was an Austrian princess and the wife of King Louis XVI. Born on the 2nd November 1755 in Vienna, Austria, she was the 15th child of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. She grew up in the lavish Schönbrunn Palace centre of the court of Vienna, surrounded by wealth, music, and political intrigue. Marie Antoinette with a Rose. Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 1783. Oil on Canvas. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Palace of Versailles was a major site of scientific thinking in the 17th and 18th centuries. It hos...

Introducing – The New Depancel Allure Black Tangerine Chronograph Monochrome
Nov 25, 2025

Introducing – The New Depancel Allure Black Tangerine Chronograph

A young French brand with a very clear mission, Depancel aims to produce mechanical watches inspired by classic motoring. Even the name is a contraction of Delage, Panhard and Facel Vega, three storied French carmakers. That automotive spirit runs straight through the Allure collection, the brand’s chronograph line, “imagined for gentleman drivers”. The latest model, […]

Audemars Piguet’s Intelligent Watch Winder Sets the Calendar SJX Watches
Audemars Piguet s Intelligent Watch Winder Nov 25, 2025

Audemars Piguet’s Intelligent Watch Winder Sets the Calendar

Audemars Piguet unveiled the unexpected at Dubai Watch Week: an intelligent watch winder created in collaboration with Dubai Future Labs. Designed specifically for the brand’s latest perpetual calendar calibre, the device uses computer vision, a motorised arm, and Bluetooth connectivity to wind the watch, read the dial, and set all calendar indications automatically. It’s a curious blend of haute horlogerie and consumer robotics. Initial thoughts Perpetual calendars have long bedeviled collectors and after-sales service departments alike. Often tedious to reset after non-use, they can break or bind if adjusted at the wrong time. In the past couple of decades, this problem has been largely solved by watchmakers like Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, Stephen McDonnell, Andreas Strehler, Greubel Forsey, F.P. Journe, and most recently by Audemars Piguet. Given that Audemars Piguet is among the names that have developed a fool-proof perpetual calendar, the intelligent watch winder seems like a solution in search of a problem. The choice of the launch platform is also puzzling. On one hand, I understand why Audemars Piguet would develop the winder for its new cal. 7138; it makes sense to promote the new product. But on the other hand, the box would be far more useful if it worked for the brand’s earlier generations of perpetual calendars, which are more liable to break from improper use and need to be adjusted using pushers in the case. There are also many more of them in circulation, ...

WU25 Panel: Kikuo Ibe, G-Shock, and the Origin of Toughness Worn & Wound
Nov 24, 2025

WU25 Panel: Kikuo Ibe, G-Shock, and the Origin of Toughness

There are few for whom this title is apt, but Mr. Kikuo Ibe is a certified living legend. The father of G-Shock, which has sold over 100 million watches worldwide, Kikuo Ibe graciously shares his journey through the conception, development, and journey of G-Shock. It’s a story of toughness and perseverance, not only of the watch, but also the man behind it. View the full presentation in the following video or follow along in text. The following conversation has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. Host: Welcome, Worn & Wound community. We’re honored to have you here today, and it’s a privilege to introduce Kikuo Ibe, the founder of G-Shock. Mr. Ibe will be available after the presentation for a meet and greet, and we have watches available for purchase and signing-truly collectible items. Please give him a warm welcome. Kikuo Ibe: Arigato. Good afternoon, everyone. I’m very pleased to be here in New York and to have this opportunity to meet you. Thank you very much for joining us this afternoon. My name is Kikuo Ibe, and I love the USA and New York. Thank you. This year marks the 42nd anniversary of G-Shock. G-Shock keeps growing thanks to great retail partners, media, and fans worldwide. Your strong support is a big reason why G-Shock has been so successful for so long. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m delighted to be here to share the G-Shock story with you. Forty-four years ago, on my way to work, I dropped a precious watch that had been ...

Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin are Back with a New Limited Edition in a New Case Worn & Wound
Louis Erard Nov 24, 2025

Louis Erard and Konstantin Chaykin are Back with a New Limited Edition in a New Case

If you read Worn & Wound with any regularity, you know that we’re pretty big fans of Louis Erard’s limited edition collaborative regulators around here. What can we say? There’s something incredibly fun and appealing about having a great independent watchmaker tied to a watch that’s on the accessible side. That said, there are fair criticisms of these limited editions, particularly as they’ve been “normalized” and we’ve all been conditioned to just kind of expect them two or three times per year. The one I hear most often is that Louis Erard is that each new collaboration effectively amounts to a dial variant, a skin grafted onto the the brand’s regulator format doesn’t necessarily reflect the creativity of the watchmaker being referenced. But on handful of occasions (like with Alain Silberstein and Vianney Halter) Louis Erard allow themselves to expand beyond the dial and add flourishes to the case as well. These editions, in my mind, are even more effective because they represent another rung of ambition in this ongoing project. The brand’s latest collaboration, another release with Konstantin Chaykin, follows this tradition with a reimagined case construction and dial layout while maintaining a real connection to Chaykin’s aesthetic. The Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin Unforgettable is based on the Slavic myth of the Frog Princess, and the dial looks like, well, a frog, with big reptilian “eyes” at 9 and 3. If you’re used to Louis Erard’...

Top 10 Sports Watch Brands For Every Budget Teddy Baldassarre
Nov 24, 2025

Top 10 Sports Watch Brands For Every Budget

So much of watchmaking history surrounds brands competing to make pieces for just about every hobby, sport, and lifestyle out there, competing for market share through a rigorous pursuit of innovation. All of that healthy competition (which, really, continues into the current landscape of watchmaking) has led to a truly astounding number of options when it comes to choosing even a brand to go with for a reliable sports watch, let alone a singular watch out of the seemingly endless amount of options available. It’s choice paralysis at its finest.  For anyone just dipping their toes into the wild world of watches, today, I’m making a quick and fast guide to what I believe to be the top 10 sports watch brands that have the most solid lineup of options on the market today. It wasn’t easy, narrowing the playing field, but I gave it my best. The term “sports watch” is kind of a tricky one in and of itself – are we talking purely about integrated-bracelet sports watches? Watches made for diving? Chronographs? Just an everyday-carry that is robust enough to stand up to some moderate activity? For the purposes of this article, I’m going to rock with all of the above, and also touch upon a bit of the history the brands bring to the table that are significant to the overarching theme of sports watches. And, because choosing just the top ten sports watch brands felt creatively limiting, I’ve actually thrown in a few more as an added bonus.  [toc-section heading="Unde...

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Worn & Wound
Marathon Nov 24, 2025

The Ultimate Black Friday Deals Guide Featuring Marathon

Wading through the sales emails this time of year is something of a Herculean feat. Whether you’re looking for the best outdoor deals, some new boots, or a fresh ‘fit, we’ve been on a mission to source the best deals to make your Black Friday worthwhile and your holidays merry and bright. A huge thanks to the Marathon squad for powering this operation. The post The Ultimate Black Friday Deals Guide Featuring Marathon appeared first on Worn & Wound.

In-Depth – Blancpain Unveils the Grande Double Sonnerie 15GSQ, a Chiming Watch With Two Selectable Melodies Monochrome
Blancpain Unveils Nov 24, 2025

In-Depth – Blancpain Unveils the Grande Double Sonnerie 15GSQ, a Chiming Watch With Two Selectable Melodies

Grande sonnerie watches are often regarded as the pinnacle of haute horlogerie and watchmaking complications – only a handful of brands, around ten or so, have ever produced them. By a twist of timing, after Chopard last week, it is now Blancpain’s turn to present a grande sonnerie watch. The Grande Double Sonnerie 15GSQ is […]

In-Depth: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie SJX Watches
Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie Blancpain Nov 24, 2025

In-Depth: Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie

Blancpain has just unveiled its most complex modern-day watch, the Grande Double Sonnerie, to mark its 190th anniversary. This CHF1.7 million grand complication signals Blancpain’s return to the highest tier of haute horlogerie. One of the most technically ambitious chiming wristwatches ever made, the Grande Double Sonnerie incorporates traditional complications: grande and petite sonnerie, minute repeater, flying tourbillon, and retrograde perpetual calendar, but also offers an unexpected twist with two distinct chiming melodies, a Westminster chime plus a a bespoke sequence composed for Blancpain by Eric Singer of rock band Kiss. Initial thoughts It has been some time since Blancpain unveiled a truly headline-grabbing complication. The manufacture made its name in this arena with the 1735 of 1991, but in the decades since, its output has leaned toward more conventional high-end offerings - perpetual calendars, tourbillons, carrousels, and chiming watches - while its commercial momentum has come largely from the Fifty Fathoms and Villeret triple calendar. The unexpected Grande Double Sonnerie is therefore a reminder of what Blancpain can do at the very top level of watchmaking. The Le Brassus-based manufacture tends to be overlooked when speaking of high horology today, but the Grande Double Sonnerie should remind enthusiasts how sure-footed Blancpain is in this regard. Even before considering the many complexities of the timepiece, the watch impresses from the fir...

Tudor Scales Down the No-Frills Ranger SJX Watches
Tudor Scales Down Nov 23, 2025

Tudor Scales Down the No-Frills Ranger

One of Tudor’s most affordable models equipped with an in-house movement (the base model costs under CHF3,000), the Ranger is functional watch with a design based on the 1960s model of the same name. Originally available only with a 39 mm case and black dial, the Ranger is now also available in a 36 mm that’s truer to the vintage original. Also new is the unusual “dune white” dial. The pale dial with black markings is a subtle reference to historical sports models with similar dials often nicknamed “albino” by collectors. Initial thoughts The larger Ranger was facelifted in 2022, and though good value, it was a little chunky for the style. And the black dial was traditional, but also a bit plain. The smaller size and beige dial add a bit more vintage flair to the model, which should resonate in particular for those who appreciate such things. The tweaks to the model won’t likely make it a watch with mainstream appeal like the Black Bay, but the Ranger remains a strong proposition at its price. An explorer’s watch The vintage Ranger was Tudor’s equivalent of the Rolex Explorer, and hence shares a similar design. This style has been ported over onto the modern remake. The new “dune white” retains the same style, but with adjustments for the colour. So the hour markers are printed in black, with the luminous markers being dots on the edge of the dial instead. The rest of the watch remains unchanged, except for the size. The steel case is entirely brushed...