4,331 articles · 15 videos found · page 5 of 145
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Rolex Submariner vs Seiko Marinemaster: Our hands-on experience reveals the differences in craftsmanship, comfort, movement performance, and everyday wear.
Fratello
Contrary to what many watch enthusiasts think, a watch’s design usually starts with the caliber, not the case or the dial. Most of the time, the movement is the limiting factor that a creative team needs to build a design around. But there are multiple ways of solving the puzzle. One involves creating a different […] Visit Hands-On: The New Christopher Ward C1 Loco Classic Continues The Loco Series In Style to read the full article.
Fratello
This is not the first time you’ve read about cônillons. Do you still remember what a cônillon is? Let me jog your memory. It is a tilted tourbillon regulator with a tilted balance that follows a conical path rather than a conventional flat plane. It’s not a new concept. The American watchmaker Andrew Holden Potter […] Visit Hands-On With Two Cônillons: Trying Out The ArtyA Complexity Métiers d’Art to read the full article.
WatchAdvice
I take the new Raymond Weil Millésime Jubilee hands-on to see how the bi-compax anniversary edition compares with the existing Tri-Compax Chronograph! What We Love: Bi-compax layout gives the signature Millésime sector dial more room to shine The model retains the exceptional wearability of the Millésime chronographs Carries defining traits of “The Fifty” into a more accessible format What We Don’t: No date display for those who may prefer the added practicality No steel bracelet option! 12.9mm thickness may be substantial for those who prefer slimmer chronograph proportions. Overall Rating: 9/10 Value for Money: 9/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 8.8/10 Build Quality: 9/10 Raymond Weil, like many other watchmakers, went through some turbulent times during the COVID-19 era. However, as is often the case, periods of adversity can inspire some of the most creative and important work. This was certainly the case with Raymond Weil, as it was during this period that the Millésime collection was born. While the collection was introduced in 2023, its development and design began a few years earlier. The brand wanted to create a new expression of its watchmaking identity, bringing together its history with accessible contemporary watchmaking. The word “Millésime” literally translates to “vintage” or “vintage year” in French, directly reflecting the collection’s inspiration from watches produced between the 1930s and 1960s. View this post on Instagram A pos...
Fratello
One of the most common complaints in the watch community concerns current pricing. Indeed, the COVID-19 period affected the prices of luxury items. Meet Deutsche Uhrenmanufaktur Glashütte GmbH, or DUG, which claims to bring the traditional craftsmanship of Glashütte watchmaking without charging the traditional high prices. This is a bold claim, so let’s find out […] Visit Hands-On With The DUG Purist Typ 1 And Typ 2 to read the full article.
Fratello
What is rarer, a shooting star or two Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph 2026 Limited Editions? That’s an easy question, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, but maybe not. Shooting stars or meteors aren’t rare at all; roughly 25 million visible meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere every day. Unfortunately, artificial lights obscure […] Visit Back In Black: Hands-On With Two New Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph 2026 Limited Editions to read the full article.
Fratello
It was April 2024 when I saw some of the Albishorn models — prototypes at that stage — for the first time. At Watches and Wonders, it’s easy to get watch overload already on the first day. I remember sitting at the table between two meetings, holding the Type X and thinking, “Wow, I’ve never […] Visit It Doesn’t Get Any Better: Hands-On With The Albishorn Type X-Graph to read the full article.
WatchAdvice
Bvlgari shrunk the Octo Finissimo down, and let’s just say it ticks a lot of boxes! And to see how many, we’ve gone hands-on with both the Titanium and the 18k Gold models. What We Love The 37mm case wears closer to a 40mm while being more comfortable on the wrist. The titanium model is exceptionally light and easy to wear all day The Octo Finissimo still stands out from the usual integrated-bracelet sports watches What We Don’t The titanium takes some getting used to The Octo Finissimo is a unique design that will not appeal to all people The full 18k yellow-gold construction makes it far less discreet, which may not be for everyone Overall Rating: 8.75 / 10 Value for Money: 8.5/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 8.5/10 Build Quality: 9/10 When Bvlgari first announced it was getting a 37mm Octo Finissimo, I feel there was a lot of the watch community that was quietly optimistic about what this would mean for the Octo Finissimo collection. I first heard about these back at LVMH Watch Week at the start of the year, where we were given a bit of a teaser on the new collection. And having reviewed the larger 40mm model last year, I was one of those who were quietly anticipating what the new Octo Finissimo 37mm range could mean for the brand. Then, back in April, walking into the Bvlgari booth at Watches and Wonders and being able to slip these on my wrists for the first time, it wasn’t long before I was sold that this new size was a perfect sweet spot for the Roman brand...
Hodinkee
We're on the eve of one of Patek Philippe's biggest events every few years: the October 2nd to the 18th presentation of the brand's Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Milan. On Monday, I'll be flying there for a preview of the exhibition, so stay tuned for stories from that trip coming in the near future. Another story, which has been waiting in the wings and in progress for some time now, was a hands-on look at two of the most surprising (and potentially divisive) releases from Patek this year: the Cubitus perpetual calendar and the Celestial ref. 6105G. While all eyes were on the Nautilus's 50th anniversary, I thought Patek Philippe had a very interesting Watches & Wonders, at least from the perspective of bold releases and brand strategy. Truthfully, they could have done just about anything with the Nautilus, and those lucky enough to get a watch would have been happy. The Celestial alone was a wristwatch with a complication only four other brands have created. But just take a look at the two watches above and the two below. While I didn't get to see the ref. 7047G in person, it raised eyebrows for the very unusual blue tire tread-style dial (à la ref. 6007G) and remarkably strong orange accents and luminous hands and dial placed on a minute repeater that retails north of $570,000. It was perhaps so aesthetically surprising that it distracted people from the fact that Patek was honoring its past with a Calatrava-cased minute repeater reminiscent of the unique ref. 3652 and ...
Fratello
Although Nivada Grenchen re-entered the market in 2020 after decades of absence, its roots date back to its original establishment in 1926. To celebrate the 100th anniversary, Nivada is releasing seven new dial variations for one of its most popular models, which also underwent a facelift. I was lucky enough to put my hands on […] Visit A Sumptuous Centenary: Hands-On With The New Nivada F77 MKII Stone Dials Collection to read the full article.
WatchAdvice
I take the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronomètre Perpetual Calendar hands-on to discover how the Maison has combined an ultra-thin complication with its first integrated bracelet design! What We Love: Impressively slim perpetual calendar architecture Beautifully executed integrated bracelet design Excellent proportions to suit a range of wrist sizes What We Don’t: Pink gold and toffee dial lack contrast Calendar adjustments still require a corrector No factory strap alternative currently offered Overall Rating: 9.5/10 Value for Money: 9.5/10 Wearability: 9.7/10 Design: 9.5/10 Build Quality: 9.5/10 Jaeger-LeCoultre has created a bold new direction for its Master Control collection with the introduction of the Master Control Chronomètre family. This new collection brings an integrated bracelet to the Maison for the very first time, while taking the traditional elegance of the Master Control and presenting it through a more contemporary design. Did Jaeger-LeCoultre Perfect The Integrated Bracelet Watch? (Hands On) Hands On With The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Date Power Reserve The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronomètre Date and Master Control Chronomètre Date Power Reserve Reviews! The Master Control Chronomètre family introduces three new models: the Chronomètre Date, the Chronomètre Date Power Reserve and, lastly, the most complicated of the three, the Chronomètre Perpetual Calendar. Jaeger-LeCoultre first introduced the Master ...
Fratello
Can beauty be put into numbers? The surprising answer is “yes, it can.” The Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio have been turning up in discussions about beauty, proportion, and design for centuries. They are said to explain why certain things in nature look pleasing to the eye, from sunflower heads and pinecones to shells […] Visit Mathematical Horological Beauty: Hands-On With The Bianchet Tonneau UltraFino Ceramic Skeleton Deep Blue And White to read the full article.
Deployant
We got a preview of the new MB&F; SP One Pavée at GWD26 up in their suite. Here is my hands-on impressions handling the novelty in Geneva.
Fratello
If you’re looking to express your chic side but don’t want to give up your sportiness, these dive watches might be for you. The two-tone Favre Leuba Deep Raider Day Date, featuring gold-colored elements, comes in three dial colors — black, blue, and green. The black and green versions made it to Fratello HQ. I […] Visit Chic Deep Down: Hands-On With Two Bicolor Favre Leuba Deep Raider Day Date Models to read the full article.
Deployant
I went to visit my friend Vahé Vartzbed, CEO of Kerbedanz, and he showed me the new 65'27". Here is my hands-on impressions.
Deployant
M.A.D. 3 Vincent Calabrese is one of the stars of this year's show. I handled both Tribe version as well as the Raffle version. Hands-on impressions.
Deployant
I dropped by the David Candaux suite and handled their latest creation - the DC6 Wildfire. Here are my hands-on impressions.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
See how the Mido Ocean Star 200 stacks up against the Rolex Submariner after hands-on testing, and whether the Rolex is really worth $9K more.
Deployant
Next up, also an video interview session with Hugo Lessiza, CEO of L.Leroy. Here is my hands-on impressions on the Vox Temporis Minute Repeater.
Deployant
Perrelet releases more new watches with stone dials in their Weekend collection. Here is our hands-on impressions. We will do a detailed review later.
Deployant
Perrelet releases more new watches with stone dials in their Weekend collection. Here is our hands-on impressions. We will do a detailed review later.
Deployant
Hands-on Review of the Greubel Forsey Balancier GMT Convexe released in WWG26, with Michel Nydegger, CEO of Greubel Forsey introducing the novelty.
Deployant
I also dropped by Girard-Perregaux and was presented the Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor. Here is my hands-on impressions.
Deployant
At the Speake Marin suite, we were introduced to the Tourbillon Royal Blue. Here is our hands-on impression after handling the watch at the Beau Rivage.
Deployant
Day -1 of GWD began with an impromptu visit to the Rexhep Rehepi Ateliers and had hands-on with the Chronograph Flyback Prototype No.1.
Fratello
Omega is introducing a new Speedmaster 38 collection. For a long time, Omega offered a serious alternative to the famous Moonwatch for those who wanted a smaller automatic version. The Speedmaster Reduced 3510.50 was in production from 1988 to around 2010. In its final years, demand for the 42mm hand-wound Speedmaster Professional was simply higher. […] Visit Finally A New Speedmaster Reduced? Hands-On With The Redesigned Omega Speedmaster 38 to read the full article.
Fratello
Why use a traditional, coiled balance spring when you can use a 14-micron-wide and 120-micron-“thick” silicon blade instead? With the latter, Girard-Perregaux set out to overcome the inherent challenge of fluctuating power delivery in mechanical watches. The goal for the 235-year-old Swiss watchmaker from La Chaux-de-Fonds was to achieve consistently superior precision. The quest involves […] Visit Hands-On With The Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement — Could We Catch The Purple “Butterfly” Inside? to read the full article.
WatchAdvice
We go hands-on with the new Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver, and see why this is the watch Grand Seiko fans and watch enthusiasts have been wanting! What We Love The new case size and dimensions That dial, I mean, seriously?! The new bracelet and clasp design What We Don’t The lack of a date window The full titanium construction may not be to everyone’s liking The anti-magnetism could be increased to accommodate modern life Overall Rating: 8.75 / 10 Value For Money: 9/10 Design: 8.5/10 Wearability: 9/10 Build Quality: 8.5/10 This year, Grand Seiko upped the ante and took the fight to the swath of other luxury dive watches on the market with the release of its new Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver, which was released at Watches & Wonders 2026. It was the dive watch Grand Seiko enthusiasts had been wanting and waiting for. A smaller, more wearable diver that was a little more contemporary than the models it replaced. With a raft of changes, including a smaller, better-proportioned case, a redesigned bracelet, new micro-adjustment and a more modern dial aesthetic, the new Ushio 300 Diver ticked so many boxes. Plus, Grand Seiko decided that steel was too heavy for a sports watch, so they made it from High-Intensity Titanium instead. The 2026 Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Diver models We had the privilege of previewing it before Watches & Wonders, and while the article I wrote up for the Grand Seiko Spring Drive U.F.A 300 Ushio Diver was a ...
Worn & Wound
As I expand my knowledge of microbrands, I was super excited to receive a sample from Vario, a Singapore-based company that’s been going strong for a decade. The brand’s latest offering builds on its Navi collection, which first joined Vario’s catalog in 2021. The line holds firm to its nautical roots with its sleek and refined interpretation of a porthole throughout the case and dial along with its compass and anchor hands and sailor-cap crown. Over the past five years, the Navi has taken a few forms, from the inaugural jump-hour to special editions like the Popeye and Vario’s collaboration with Watch Enthusiasts India (WEI). In 2024, we saw the introduction of a single-hand version, offering a slow-time display with an Engine Order Telegraph (EOT) 12-section dial in which each of the 12 sections is broken down into 15-minute intervals for a general reading of the time rather than one to the exact minute. Now, Vario builds on this design with five new colorways and, for the first time, new languages. With this extension of the Navi collection, Vario is taking the line into international waters starting regionally with Chapter One: Europe. The foundation of the models remains the same as what we saw in the original and now sold-out single hand version. The case is rendered in 316L stainless steel and executed in highly wearable proportions at 38mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness. The lugs strike a good balance of geometry and curvature that allows the model to si...
Fratello
The man who brought the Louis Moinet watch brand to life sadly died very recently. Jean-Marie Schaller, the owner and creative force behind Louis Moinet, passed away peacefully on May 16th at the age of 66. The watch industry lost one of its brightest characters, but the brand continues, and it does so in its […] Visit Uncorking the Louis Moinet 1816 Chronograph Champagne: A Hands-On Experience to read the full article.
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.