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Results for Mother of Pearl Dial

34,440 articles · 160 videos found · page 451 of 1154

Hands On: Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur SJX Watches
Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur 6h ago

Hands On: Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur

Louis Erard has become adept at translating the design language of pricey independent watchmaking into affordable watches, and the best proof of that is the Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur. Modelled on the Vianney Halter Antiqua perpetual calendar, the Futur Anterieur is a regulator-style watch powered by two separate automatic movements. Named after Vianney Halter’s collection of steampunk watches, Futur Antérieur is Louis Erard’s third outing with the independent watchmaker, and is arguably a more sophisticated version of the preceding collaboration. While both share the same inspiration, the Futur Antérieur tangibly embodies the Antiqua, reproducing the feel of the original at a fraction of the price. Initial thoughts The Futur Antérieur is clearly an affordable watch that is not an Antiqua, but it is appealing. It captures the ambience of the Antiqua well. The shape is similar, and even the feel on the wrist. In this price segment this stands out as one of the more interesting offerings. Though this costs more than preceding collaboration editions, this is arguably better value. More broadly, the Futur Antérieur illustrates the growing sophistication of Louis Erard’s collaborations. They started as stock models with a new dial superimposed, while the Futur Anterieur is a new model conceived from the ground up. It’s also worth noting the details that replicate the Antiqua, like the chamfered edges on the case and bezel, and the stepped, two-to...

The First Patek Philippe 3970 Resurfaces at Sotheby’s SJX Watches
Patek Philippe 3970 Resurfaces 11h ago

The First Patek Philippe 3970 Resurfaces at Sotheby’s

The first numbered Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 3970 returns to Geneva on November 8 as part of Sotheby’s Important Watches sale. Originally sold at the brand’s Geneva salon on Rue du Rhône on January 14, 1987, this example represents a pivotal moment in Patek Philippe’s recent history. The launch of the ref. 3970 ended the 30-year run of its predecessor, the ref. 2499, and began a new era for Patek Philippe chronographs. This example was born from that transition, bearing the lowest-numbered Lemania-based Patek Philippe movement: no. 875’000. Had this watch come any later, the brand may have kept it for the museum, as it did the first ref. 3971 (no. 875’030). Today, Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar chronographs represent something of an entry point into the brand’s Grand Complications collection, but they were once the most complicated wristwatches on the market, with the brand building as few as 10 per year. But the market for high-end complicated wristwatches, which historically varied between none and niche, exploded during the 1980’s, transforming Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar chronograph from a halo piece to a staple. That transformation began with this watch. A closer look This watch is no stranger to the auction block, having sold at Antiquorum in 2005 and 2015, with no apparent change to its condition throughout that time. Fittingly, it comes with its original box and certificate of origin. In most cases these deta...

Stopping Time: Rare Rolex Chronos with Pucci Papaleo Provenance SJX Watches
Rolex Chronos 14h ago

Stopping Time: Rare Rolex Chronos with Pucci Papaleo Provenance

This November, Phillips will present Stopping Time, a selection of 16 Rolex chronographs owned by collector and publisher Pucci Papaleo, as part of The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV, taking place on November 7 and 8 at the Hotel President Wilson. The selection is the first instalment of Mr Papaleo’s collection of approximately 70 Rolex chronographs, dating from the 1930s to the 1970s – and all in outstanding condition and some can even be rightly described as “unpolished”. Phillips presents these 16 watches as a compact survey of the Rolex chronograph: early pieces made before the Oyster chronograph was established, the waterproof chronographs of the 1940s and 1950s, and finally the Cosmograph Daytona. The Rolex ref. 6239 of about 1969 with the “Paul Newman Musketeer” dial, lot 22. Image – SJX composite/Phillips The publisher becomes a collector To say that Mr Papaleo loves vintage Rolex is an understatement — he even gave his children watch-inspired names. Besides building an impressive collection of vintage Rolex, Mr Papaleo contributed to horological knowledge as a publisher and has produced a number of reference books regularly cited in auction catalogues. Pucci Papaleo and his Rolex ref. 3233 being offered by Phillips. Image – SJX composite/Phillips His interest in watches grew out of his work in publishing. He began his career managing a small publishing house of his own, making guidebooks to Rome, Venice, and Milan, always with fine photographs. By hi...

Introducing - Citizen Brings Damascus Steel and Forged Carbon to a new Series 8 GMT Monochrome
Citizen Brings Damascus Steel 21h ago

Introducing - Citizen Brings Damascus Steel and Forged Carbon to a new Series 8 GMT

With its Series 8 collection of mechanical watches, Citizen has been delivering rather impressive models over the years, with the GMT collection being possibly the most appealing of them. Not only is it powered by a true GMT automatic movement (something rare in this price range), but Citizen has dared to bring singular designs, colours […]

What is a Microbrand? Worn & Wound
Ming ly as 22h ago

What is a Microbrand?

What is a microbrand?  I think about this a lot, never more than in the days and weeks after a Windup, and particularly the days and weeks following the New York City version of our fair, which is the largest and most diverse in terms of the types of brands represented. We often hear people describe Windup as “the microbrand show” or something similar. Not in a pejorative way, necessarily, but as a way to distinguish it from an event like WatchTime (which is more focused on traditional luxury brands) or IndiesNYC (which, yup, is focused on “indies,” another hard to define term when you step back and actually try).  I don’t have an answer for what a “microbrand” actually is. Defining it gets more complicated when you consider all of the other small niches that pop up in the space. Terms like “micro-indie” and “challenger brand” have been thrown around a lot in the last few years, seemingly as an attempt to subvert a negative connotation with the microbrand moniker. But these terms have their own issues. Micro-indie implies, at least in how this publication has used it, that an element of the watch has some handmade craft or traditional watchmaking techniques behind it, but maybe uses a shortcut (like a case made in China, or an off-the-shelf movement) to save money. Not all brands and makers want to be seen as making compromises, even though essentially everyone short of, I dunno, Roger W. Smith and Philippe Dufour are making something about the proc...

Farer Introduces the Stratton II Moonphase Worn & Wound
Farer Introduces Yesterday

Farer Introduces the Stratton II Moonphase

Maybe “trend” was always the wrong way to frame the watch industry’s collective obsession with stone dials? I don’t know about you, but I certainly feel like we might have reached a point where the stone dial is essentially just another colorway. Just as brands are expected to offer dials in blue, black, and white, perhaps we’ve reached that point where it should just be expected that they’ll offer an option (or several) in stone as well.  I like the look of a stone dial, but I admit I’m getting quite bored of seeing them invade my inbox on a daily basis. This is the perspective of a guy with a very particular view on all the stone dial action. I’m not a casual observer. I work in the industry and I see, at least to some extent, how the nuts and bolts of the business works, and at the moment brands are simply cashing in on an unprecedented interest in stone (and mother of pearl) dials. Stone dials were never actually “rare” but they felt special before this boom because they were so infrequently used. Access to these dials is now virtually unlimited and, presumably, pretty affordable. So the rush continues, to the point I think where it’s just a static part of our ecosystem.  And it’s that environment in which the newest member of the Farer Moonphase collection arrives. This is the Stratton II, the latest edition of what Farer says is their most popular moonphase model.  The centerpiece (literally) of the Stratton II is a new moonphase disc made ...

Introducing - Glashütte Original Unveils the New Senator Aventurine Collection Monochrome
Glashütte Original Unveils Yesterday

Introducing - Glashütte Original Unveils the New Senator Aventurine Collection

Glashütte Original’s Senator collection is largely defined by classic German watchmaking conventions and the brand’s signature Panorama Date. However, the manufacture has also used the Senator to showcase its more artistic side, with hand-painted Meissen porcelain dials. Joining the brand’s Atelier commissions is a new time-only duo of Senator models in precious metal cases with […]

A Long Overdue Encounter With The Impressive Sinn U50 Dive Watch Fratello
Sinn U50 Dive Watch Sinn Yesterday

A Long Overdue Encounter With The Impressive Sinn U50 Dive Watch

Sinn has no shortage of great watches. That became clear again last weekend at the brand’s stand at the WatchTime show in Düsseldorf, Germany. The big news was the new limited-edition 140 A S Anniversary chronograph, and it was a pleasure to try it on. Yet it was far from the only highlight. I was […] Visit A Long Overdue Encounter With The Impressive Sinn U50 Dive Watch to read the full article.

(Hands-On) Is The King Seiko VANAC HKF002 Triumphant In Titanium? WatchAdvice
Seiko VANAC HKF002 Triumphant Yesterday

(Hands-On) Is The King Seiko VANAC HKF002 Triumphant In Titanium?

The retro-futuristic lines of the King Seiko VANAC give it character, but does the titanium frame elevate it to modernity? Let’s find out! What We Love: Angular, geometric case Strong but lightweight presence Finishing makes titanium interesting What We Don’t: Accuracy still a touch behind modern standards Thickness could have been toned down Is loud design ostentatious? Overall Rating: 8.25/10 Value for Money: 8/10 Wearability: 8/10 Design: 9/10 Build Quality: 8/10 “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” is one of the most commonplace sentiments of modern life. It governs almost everything, from the clothes we wear and the careers we pursue to the books we read, the media we consume, and the food we eat. In this chapter of modern watchmaking, the sentiment is much the same. We love a watch that can go anywhere and do anything, removing the burden of decision from our already overcomplicated lives. But is the burden of choice really such a bad thing? Is it truly more valuable to have broader appeal than a deeper one? Some say no. Thus, there’s been an uptick in maximalist design principles throughout the watch world. Being good at everything doesn’t have to be the only selling point anymore; Rather, watch designs are turning back towards specialisation in form and function to make for a more compelling case. That’s exactly what Seiko did when they revived the King Seiko VANAC collection in 2025. A model line d...

Hands-On: The Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo Hodinkee
Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo Yesterday

Hands-On: The Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo

"The first two days, almost nobody came to see us. We were very anxious," Carlo Crocco, the founder of Hublot, tells us, casting his mind back to Baselworld in 1980, when he stood in a booth with a single window displaying a single gold-cased watch on a black rubber strap. "On the third day, we realised that everyone was speaking about us, because it was really something different from all the other watches." We are sitting together in Milan on the eve of the Classic Fusion Tributo launch, which Hublot presents as a return to that very first design. After spending time with it in the metal, I would argue the most interesting thing about it is how firmly it refuses to be a reissue. At a time when brands can reproduce their back catalogues down to a 3D-scanned dial, Hublot has presented an evolved expression of its first watch, combining it with a design language that's taken shape over four decades. That decision makes more sense when you consider where Hublot stands today and why this watch is arriving now. Since Julien Tornare took over as CEO in late 2024, the brand has been working through a deliberate reset, investing in its Nyon campus and its movement strategy and reworking the Big Bang twice this year, with Tornare signaling early on that a Classic Fusion built around the Italian elegance of its founder would follow. The two things Crocco focused on for the Tributo, the twelve screws and the black rubber strap, are precisely what make it read as the original at a gl...

First Look - The Girard-Perragaux Laureato Fifty Three Gold Bridges, with New Gold Accents Monochrome
Girard-Perregaux released Yesterday

First Look - The Girard-Perragaux Laureato Fifty Three Gold Bridges, with New Gold Accents

Girard-Perregaux released the Laureato collection in 1975 to meet the growing demand for integrated-style sports watches. Debuting just three years after the 1972 blueprint for the genre, it remains one of the earliest examples of a luxury sports watch. Following the classic time-and-date Laureato Fifty released to celebrate the watch’s 50th anniversary in 2025, Girard-Perregaux […]

The New CIGA Design Time Cipher Gold Opts For A Classy Colorway Fratello
2 days ago

The New CIGA Design Time Cipher Gold Opts For A Classy Colorway

At the start of this year, CIGA Design released the Time Cipher in two case variations — one in black and one in bare steel. Both have mirror-polished contours with capsule-shaped micro-sandblasted recesses. Also, both feature black dials with silver index tracks and steel “hands” with green inlays. Today, the brand adds a third version, […] Visit The New CIGA Design Time Cipher Gold Opts For A Classy Colorway to read the full article.

Why I Bought My Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding Fratello
Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding You may 2 days ago

Why I Bought My Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding

You may congratulate me on finally becoming an adult. I always thought things like getting married and buying a house were signs of adulthood. I was wrong. You’re only really a grown-up if you own a dress watch. The problem was that my mind and taste hadn’t matured enough to look for one. Once I […] Visit Why I Bought My Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding to read the full article.

Hands On: A Historical Audemars Piguet Triple Calendar Wristwatch from 1927 SJX Watches
Audemars Piguet Triple Calendar Wristwatch from 2 days ago

Hands On: A Historical Audemars Piguet Triple Calendar Wristwatch from 1927

The early days of the wristwatch were interesting for the variety of forms and functions that were conceived as watchmakers were experimenting with a nascent device. One such watch is the Audemars Piguet triple calendar with moon phase in platinum from 1927 that’s one of the top lots in Monaco Legend’s upcoming sale. Now almost 100 years old, this triple calendar exemplifies the period when wristwatches, particularly complicated ones, were expensive and cutting-edge objects. Form cases in general seem to have been fashionable when wristwatches were a novelty. Leaving aside the round “trench” watches used by soldiers, many of the landmark wristwatch designs for civilians were in form cases. Examples include the Cartier Tank, Santos, and Tonneau. Many such wristwatches were time only, but there was clearly a tiny handful of clients for complicated wristwatches. Calendar watches, many in form cases, were also in vogue. Most prestigious watchmakers produced such watches, albeit on a tiny scale in a near-artisanal manner, making each of these watches almost unique. Breguet, for example, sold a tonneau-shaped retrograde perpetual calendar in 1935 to Coco Chanel’s romantic partner. Audemars Piguet made fewer than 50 such rectangular triple calendar wristwatches in the 30 years from 1924, and this is the one example known in platinum. All of these watches were powered by the cal. 10GHSM, as this one is, save for the very first example that was made in 1924 and now reside...

Sinn Announces their Autumn Novelties Worn & Wound
Sinn Announces their Autumn Novelties 2 days ago

Sinn Announces their Autumn Novelties

It’s finally autumn (even here in California), which means changing leaves, tasty hot beverages, and a smattering of new Sinn novelties. Like the coziest cafe array of apple ciders, hot chocolates, and pumpkin spice lattes, this latest trio of pieces from the German independent are as diverse as they are classically Sinn-flavored. You may not be surprised by the clean and efficient designs that the brand is known for, but Sinn has a rather colorful surprise up their sleeve—read on to find out more.  556 I FAZ II Green and Orange Limited Editions Love your watches simple and tactical, but want a little more color on the wrist? The new 556 I FAZ II may be for you. Made in collaboration with respected Sunday newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), it comes in two appropriately fall-flavored colors—orange and green—but maintains the reliable pilot watch legibility and functionality to keep the design subtle and professional. The stainless steel and satinized case has a diameter of 38.5mm with a thickness of 11mm (including the sapphire crystal), making it solid but not big, which should bode well for the vast majority of wrist sizes. In classic Sinn fashion, the dial is kept free of distraction, with just the Sinn logo at 12 o’clock, and a date window at 6.  The dial itself is crisp electroplated silver to match the off-white hue of newsprint, providing excellent contrast with the orange and green accents respectively. Depending on which color model you cho...

Hands-On: The Alto ART 02 Hodinkee
Cartier 2 days ago

Hands-On: The Alto ART 02

Only a few degrees of separation separate the worlds of watches and cars. A passion for vintage motorsports first brought together Alto founder Thibaud Guittard and Raphaël Abeillon, now the brand's creative director, who spent a decade designing watches at Cartier. Contemporary art is perhaps slightly more removed from watches, but it's an inspiration and theme that has run through most of Alto's early pieces, particularly the limited-edition collaboration of its ART 01 with renowned French sculptor Bernar Vernet. Now Alto is going (just) a touch more mainstream and slightly less avant-garde with the launch of its ART 02, an important piece for the nascent marque that heralds the first watch in its permanent collection. The ART 02 continues the themes and design of the ART 01while refining and updating the original piece at a more approachable price. Available in an initial run of about 150 pieces in Grade 5 Titanium with a new matching bracelet, the watch signals that Alto is ready to play in the big show, and it debuted at Geneva Watch Days 2026 alongside more than 70 other brands. It was my favorite new watch of the show.  It's damn hard to stand out in the crowded integrated-bracelet sports watch category, but Alto has done this from the start and has furthered its distinctive design elements in the ART 02. Almost no one presents a faceted sapphire glass like Alto does. Severe angles and beveled edges make the crystal a standout feature for the Alto 02. There isn't ...

In Partnership - Dialed In: Swiss-Made, Mid-Century Inspired: Meet the Fossil Signature CS-1 Hodinkee
Hamilton Elgin 3 days ago

In Partnership - Dialed In: Swiss-Made, Mid-Century Inspired: Meet the Fossil Signature CS-1

Few brands have done more for American watch culture than Fossil. That may seem like a bold claim, but hear us out. When they launched in Texas in 1984, American watchmaking had all but vanished. The big names like Hamilton, Elgin, and Waltham had either moved to Switzerland or shut down entirely, and the quartz crisis had permanently changed the landscape. Then, this little company came along and showed a whole generation of Americans that watches can be affordable, fun, and highly collectible. Each watch came in a decorative, themed tin, and the designs leaned into a retro Americana vibe. For many of us, a Fossil was the first watch we actually picked out for ourselves. Now in 2026, Fossil begins a fresh chapter with their new collection of thoughtful and restrained designs, aimed at reintroducing Swiss watchmaking to the brand. Say hello to the Fossil Signature CS-1 collection. It consists of two brand new references inspired by the famous Case Study Houses, the experimental architecture program that ran in California from 1945 to 1966. It gave us icons like the Eames House and the Stahl House, both of which have become recognizable landmarks in Los Angeles. Those homes were built around simple materials, open floorplans, and the idea that good design should be accessible and not exclusive. It's a fitting reference point for Fossil. The CS-1 collection builds upon the key ideas of mid-century modern aesthetics while developing a cohesive design language all its own. Fir...

Discovering Vertigo Watches : Three Timepieces That Caught Our Eye at WARO WatchRider
3 days ago

Discovering Vertigo Watches : Three Timepieces That Caught Our Eye at WARO

Attending the WARO (Watching Romania) event in Bucharest is always an exciting experience for anyone who genuinely loves horology. It is one of those watch gatherings where you do not just admire timepieces through display cases, you actually get to talk to creators, feel the weight of the cases, and discover microbrands that rarely get the mainstream spotlight. During our latest visit, one brand in particular caught our attention at the tables: Vertigo Watches. Hailing from Rome, Italy, Vertigo is an independent microbrand focused on delivering solid mechanical design, distinctive aesthetics, and strong value for money. While browsing their collection, three specific models stood out. Here is our grounded, hands-on look at what Vertigo brings to the wrist.  Vertigo Pilot One V2 Full Lume The Pilot One V2 Full Lume immediately catches your eye, even in normal ambient light. Flieger and pilot-style watches usually focus on stark legibility, but Vertigo took it a step further here by coating the entire dial surface in luminous material.  It comes in a 41mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 14mm, giving it a solid presence on the wrist without feeling overly cumbersome.  Inside, it houses the manual-wind Seagull ST1901 mechanical chronograph movement. Watching the hand-wound movement through the display back adds that tactile connection many collector enthusiasts crave.  VERTIGO Tornante Black: Vintage Motorsport Energy Moving away from aviation and into th...

Sinn Celebrates 65 Years With The 140 A S Anniversary Chronograph Limited Edition Fratello
Sinn Celebrates 65 Years 3 days ago

Sinn Celebrates 65 Years With The 140 A S Anniversary Chronograph Limited Edition

Sinn commemorates 65 years in business with the 140 A S Anniversary, a chronograph inspired by the brand’s spaceflight history. Limited to 300 pieces, the watch continues a model line that demonstrated the reliability of a mechanical automatic chronograph in zero gravity. The story goes back to 1985, when physicist and astronaut Reinhard Furrer wore […] Visit Sinn Celebrates 65 Years With The 140 A S Anniversary Chronograph Limited Edition to read the full article.

Fratello On Air: Sébastien Chaulmontet On Sellita, Albishorn, And Vintage Watches Fratello
Albishorn 3 days ago

Fratello On Air: Sébastien Chaulmontet On Sellita, Albishorn, And Vintage Watches

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, I am alone in the driver’s seat while Mike enjoys his much-deserved birthday time off. Join us in wishing a happy (belated) birthday to “Mike Stockton from London, England.” Instead, we invited our friend Sébastien Chaulmontet, Sellita’s head of innovation and the man behind […] Visit Fratello On Air: Sébastien Chaulmontet On Sellita, Albishorn, And Vintage Watches to read the full article.

This Rolex Submariner 1680 Belonged To An Oscar-Winning Hollywood Sound Engineer Fratello
Rolex Submariner 1680 Belonged 3 days ago

This Rolex Submariner 1680 Belonged To An Oscar-Winning Hollywood Sound Engineer

A few weeks ago, this vintage Rolex Submariner Date ref. 1680 landed on my desk. The owner, a low-profile but dedicated Rolex collector, came across it several years ago during one of his hunts. A prime example of provenance, this watch has quite an intriguing backstory. Rolex Submariner Date ref. 1680 This Rolex Submariner Date […] Visit This Rolex Submariner 1680 Belonged To An Oscar-Winning Hollywood Sound Engineer to read the full article.