Teddy Baldassarre
Tudor Monarch Review: An Unexpected Take On Sports-Luxury
Tudor revives its Monarch just in time for its 100th birthday, complete with a California dial and METAS-Certified Manufacture caliber.
Results for Taste of Time 2026
34,637 articles · 174 videos found · page 649 of 1161
Teddy Baldassarre
Worn & Wound
Over the Hill: Understanding High-Tech Ceramic on the Material’s 40th Birthday
Material innovation is increasingly becoming a core pillar within the watch industry. Whether borrowing and reconfiguring materials from different industries or composing your own from the ground up, it is clear materials matter when it comes to both technical feats and aesthetics achieved in watchmaking today. Sometimes, I like to think of these cutting-edge materials as mile markers on the highway of horology. I am always considering the world 50 or 100 years from now, when the watches of the present will become the watches of yesteryear, when what we consider modern will become vintage. I believe that the application of new materials will be a mark of this era of watchmaking that will serve as a milestone moment in the ever-unfolding history of horology. For Rado, the story starts with a sapphire crystal. While the brand was not the first to use this in place of acrylic or other weaker options, it was among the early adopters. However, Rado took it a step further by patenting a sliding water-sealed mechanism with a tension-fit construction. Here, the thick, faceted sapphire crystal was secured under high pressure into the oval-shaped hard metal case with a specialized gasket, designed to be exceptionally tight. Its effectiveness sparked further curiosity – what if this same scratch resistance and robustness could be applied to other parts of the watch or the watch in its entirety? With that guiding principle, the quest that would lead to the creation of high-tech cera...
Monochrome
Introducing – California-Based Indie Brand Havid Nagan unveils the NH02 Collection
Aren Bazerkanian, founder and creative director of Havid Nagan, is one of the few new independent watchmakers who have generated much interest in recent years. Coming from an unconventional background and formed by early exposure to high-end horology, Bazerkanian introduced the HN00 as an inaugural statement in 2022, with bold architectural cases, followed by the […]
Monochrome
Introducing – The Squale SUB-37 Legend, Back to Essentials, Back to the Depths
Founded in 1959 by Charles Von Büren, Squale is a famed name amongst the fans of professional dive instruments; the company produced its own models and made cases for numerous brands during the golden age of underwater exploration. To mark the return to these origins, last year the brand introduced the Squale 2001, a late […]
Fratello
Holocaust Survivor’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual To Go Up For Auction
We have covered quite a few historical stories about Rolex here on the Fratello site. Today, we have another, this time about a special gold Oyster Perpetual that belonged to Holocaust survivor Kurt Kahn. Let’s dive in. Some watches merely tell time, while others tell stories. Very rarely, one encounters a piece that does both […] Visit Holocaust Survivor’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual To Go Up For Auction to read the full article.
Fratello
Hands-On With The Watch That Shouts My Name And The Other 100th-Anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual
Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. The special Jubilee dial of one of two anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches displayed the brand name repeatedly, but I just saw my name written over and over. This watch that literally had my name on it in a most obvious way. So, is the OP with […] Visit Hands-On With The Watch That Shouts My Name And The Other 100th-Anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual to read the full article.
SJX Watches
SJX Podcast: Geneva Auction Preview
The spring auction season gets underway in Geneva in just a few days. On episode 39 of the SJX Podcast, we look at some of the top lots that caught our attention at Phillips, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Antiquorum, including a cloisonné enamel Patek Philippe worldtime ref. 2523, an Akrivia AK-06, and several notable pocket watches from names like Frodsham, Kullberg, Ditisheim, Patek Philippe, and A. Lange & Söhne. Auction dates (in order): Phillips: May 9 & 10 Antiquorum: May 9 & 10 Sotheby’s: May 10 Christie’s: May 11 & 12 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
SJX Watches
Hands On: Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic 37 MM
One of the quieter hits from Watches & Wonders was Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Automatic 37 mm, a watch that would probably have grabbed more headlines were it not for its visual similarity to the well-known 40 mm model. In pictures, it’s difficult to tell the sizes apart, but on the wrist the difference could not be more stark. Available in three versions in two different case materials — all regular production models — the 37 mm Octo Finissimo is powered by a new micro-rotor calibre that, while smaller than its sibling, manages to stretch the power reserve to 72 hours. Initial thoughts I’ve always appreciated the unique aesthetic of the Octo Finissimo, especially the matte titanium look that debuted in 2017. In some ways, it feels like the Royal Oak or Nautilus of my generation — an elegant sports watch with a distinctive voice. It’s a contemporary design that feels like it has staying power. This aspect of the Octo Finissimo should not be understated. The deluge of generic-looking integrated bracelet sports watches we’ve witnessed over the past five years proves that it’s very difficult to create a differentiated design within this format. For Bulgari, the development of the Octo Finissimo — with its wide bracelet and short-pitched links — was like capturing magic in a bottle. Unfortunately, the square shoulders of the 40 mm case ride up over my ulnar styloid (wrist bone) causing the case to sit at an odd angle — never flat and straight as intended ...
Worn & Wound
Why this Watch: the Fears Redcliff Onyx for Collective Horology
“Why This Watch?” focuses on a member of the watch enthusiast community and digs into their decision making process for why they’ve collected a particular watch. We all have reasons, justifications, and sometimes even purpose behind our collecting decisions, and this series aims to identify them through watches that might be a little unusual, off the beaten path, or special in some way to the owner. Today, Fernando Cervantes tells about his Fears Redcliff Onyx for Collective Horology. Fears is a favorite among many of us here at Worn & Wound, so we were excited to hear Fernando dig into why and how this watch landed in his collection. Turns out, there’s a fun backstory to it that ties it directly to the Worn & Wound community. Who are you, and how’d you get into watches? My name is Fernando Cervantes, I used to be a Senior Software Engineer, but just last week I got promoted to Engineering Manager – what I thought would be a straightforward change turned out to be anything but – turns out managing is hard! My dad used to work for many, many years as a regional bank manager, he used to have many nice watches given as gifts by either the bank or fellow coworkers – as a kid, I vividly remember them going through them – Must de Cartier, Rolex, and closer to the end of his career, Raymond Weil. Surprisingly, the only one he kept was a Raymond Weil Tango. He was never too much of a watch guy, but it was enough to keep watches in the back of my mind as I gre...
Monochrome
Hands-on – The Revamped Tudor Black Bay 58 Black-Gilt
At first, this new version of the Black Bay 58 may seem like a minor update, mostly focused on introducing reworked bracelets and details to remain consistent with the rest of the BB collection. Yet, things can be deceptive. In recent years, as the Black Bay collection is more than well established, Tudor has been […]
Monochrome
Introducing – The New De Bethune DB27 Night Hawk for EsperLuxe
Over the past decade, the De Bethune DB27 collection has served as the independent brand’s most restrained yet highly technical expression of its watchmaking credentials. Introduced in 2012 with the Titan Hawk, later refined in V2 form and multiplied through editions such as the JPS or green dial variants, the DB27 has consistently combined lightweight titanium […]
Hodinkee
Introducing: De Bethune DB27 “Night Hawk" In Collaboration With EsperLuxe
What We Know For me, a De Bethune has to take a cue from Miles Davis. It better be "Kind of Blue." Over at EsperLuxe, the indie retailer outside of Boston, it seems like they agree with me. There are a few firsts in the new DB27 "Night Hawk," at least for the DB27 collection. Normally called the "Titan Hawk," it's previously come in a slightly more straightforward package, with concentric "microlight" circles engraved on the dial, the patented articulating lugs, and the crown at 12 o'clock. But there are many features here that the DB27 hasn't had before. For the first time, a titanium flame-blued "Starry Sky" motif appears on the dial, with stars laid out to mark the date and location where EsperLuxe finalized its partnership with De Bethune in 2021. Not new, but a good look, are the printed silver Roman numerals on the sloping middle dial, the printed railroad track, and the 5-minute intervals. The watch features mirror-polished flame-blued titanium hands with silver tips. The case is polished grade 5 titanium, with a midcase engraved in De Bethune's microlight style. But the kicker is the super-cool (again, first time ever) matte-blue titanium short, articulating lugs. I know that it's weird to go on and on about lugs, but some of you haven't had a chance to try on a De Bethune. Yes, the case is 43mm in diameter, 9mm thick (which is pretty good, considering it has an automatic movement), but with the hinge on the lugs, the lug can vary in range from about 50mm to 47mm...
Deployant
Detailed hands-on review with video: the new Candaux DC12 MaveriK
We were in Le Solliat, up in the Valée de Joux last November, and met up with David Candaux. Here is our hands on comprehensive review of the DC12 MaveriK.
Fratello
A Hands-On Introduction To The Updated Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Collection
It’s unbelievable to see how Christopher Ward has grown over the past decade. The brand evolved from an enthusiasts’ favorite to one of the leading affordable brands in the industry. The rapid growth has been backed up by an ongoing string of new releases that never cease to impress. But Christopher Ward has been around […] Visit A Hands-On Introduction To The Updated Christopher Ward C63 Sealander Collection to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Tudor Introduces the Black Bay Chrono Carbon 26
There are a small handful of events where you just know you’re going to see new watch releases. Watches & Wonders, obviously. Our own Windup Watch Fairs, as well. And, as of late, missions to space of one kind or another tend to inspire brands with watches themed to space exploration, usually in partnership with organizations that have a stake in the mission. Oh, and F1 weekends in the United States. You can pretty much count on at least one of any number of brands tied to an F1 team to uncork something as interest in the sport peaks around races in one of our local time zones. This past weekend saw the return of the Miami Grand Prix, and right on cue Tudor was ready with a new watch to mark the occasion. This one, the Black Bay Chrono Carbon 26 is a direct follow up to last year’s Carbon 25, and like that watch is also a bit of a coproduction with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 team. Tudor began their partnership with the team relatively recently, in 2024, and have already released two limited edition watches, as of this weekend. The Carbon 26 sees Tudor returning to the carbon fiber Black Bay Chrono case introduced last year, but in an updated dial color. This one borrows from the yellow, black, and white livery of the VCARB 03 car, with a white main dial, black subdials, and yellow accents throughout. The case remains the same, measuring 42mm in diameter with a fixed tachymeter bezel along with screw down pushers and crown. It has the familiar lines of a Black ...
Hodinkee
Announcements: Hodinkee Australia And New Zealand Is Live
At Hodinkee, we have always believed that watch collecting is a global language, but one that is spoken with many different local accents. From the paved paths of Geneva to the neon-lit boutiques of Ginza and the steamy streets of New York City, the love for a mechanical heartbeat remains the same, yet the way we live with our watches is shaped entirely by the world around us. Today, we are thrilled to announce the next chapter in our journey: the official launch of Hodinkee Australia & New Zealand. The ANZ watch community has long been one of the most sophisticated and passionate in the world. For years, we've watched from New York as the Aussies and Kiwis became some of our communities' most ardent enthusiasts, known for a taste profile that is as rugged as it is refined. To bring Hodinkee to the region, we have partnered with Switzer Media + Publishing. With over 30 years of history, Switzer is one of Australia's most trusted names in media, already stewarding iconic titles like Harper's BAZAAR, Esquire, and Men's Health. This partnership functions as a local element from day one. Speaking from my own perspective, with the continued success of Hodinkee Japan, I'm thrilled to be working with Jamie and the team at Switzer Media to offer a more locally relevant and engaging edition of Hodinkee for watch enthusiasts across Australia and New Zealand. The watch community in Australia and New Zealand is engaged, highly knowledgeable, and always an active part of the global c...
Monochrome
Introducing – The Union Glashütte Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase Skeleton in Steel & Blue
The latest evolution of the Union Glashütte Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase moves from classical to a more technical, contemporary appearance. One of the brand‘s most recognisable models, this new version introduces an openworked dial and a fresh “Steel Blue” colour, bringing modern dynamism and versatility to an otherwise familiar watch. The Belisar line has always […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Vaer G2 Meridian Is an Affordable Take on the Iconic Pepsi GMT
A review of the Vaer G2 Meridian GMT, exploring its lightweight wear, quartz-driven practicality, and how it fits into the world of Pepsi bezel GMT watches.
Fratello
Hands-On With The Patek Philippe Ref. 5236P-011 In-Line Perpetual Calendar With A New Warm Silver-Gray Dial
History (almost) repeats itself. One of my favorite releases from Watches and Wonders 2021 was the Patek Philippe ref. 5236P-001 In-Line Perpetual Calendar. One of my favorite releases from this year’s edition is the Patek Philippe ref. 5236P-011 In-Line Perpetual Calendar. The difference is a single number and a different dial color. The complicated yet […] Visit Hands-On With The Patek Philippe Ref. 5236P-011 In-Line Perpetual Calendar With A New Warm Silver-Gray Dial to read the full article.
Monochrome
Introducing – The Classic B&W; Mido Ocean Star GMT, Still a True GMT at an Accessible Price
When Mido released the Ocean Star GMT in 2020, it quickly became a sought-after GMT watch. One of the main reasons was its true GMT feature, offering easy entry into the world of jumping local hour watches, all for around EUR 1,200. Unlike an office GMT, where you adjust the 24-hour hand, a true GMT […]
SJX Watches
Hands On: Piaget Polo Signature Date
Ten years after the Polo S, Piaget reimagines the contemporary Polo Date with the brand’s signature gadroon motif. The Polo Signature Date is less a new watch than a clarification: a move to anchor the collection around a more explicit identity. This took place through a two-step process. First, the reinstatement of the historical reference with the Piaget Polo 79. Then, the diffusion of its codes – most notably the gadroons – into the contemporary line, now organised under the Polo Signature name. The result is a watch that remains technically unchanged, but conceptually more defined. The unchanged movement — the automatic cal. 1110P — remains in reliable service. Initial thoughts At first glance, the change is straightforward: the dial now carries the gadroon motif. But more importantly, it gives the watch a clearer and more distinctly Piaget presence. The overall architecture remains familiar – 42 mm case, cushion-shaped dial within a round frame, interchangeable bracelet – yet the visual impression is stronger. Where earlier Polo Date models relied on relatively neutral surfaces, this dial interacts more actively with light, creating contrast and a stronger sense of identity on the wrist. This is perhaps where the update is most effective. The Polo becomes more immediately recognisable, less reliant on its case shape alone. The gadroons do not transform the watch, but they sharpen its character within the crowded luxury sports watch segment. From motif to...
SJX Watches
Hands On: Patek Philippe’s Celestial Goes to Space
Perhaps the most surprising launch from Patek Philippe at Watches & Wonders 2026 was the Celestial Sunrise and Sunset Ref. 6105G-001. The ref. 6105G arrives over a decade after its predecessor, the ref. 6102 (2012), which in turn replaced the ref. 5102 (2002). While the prior model was an incremental evolution over the original, the ref. 6105G is a drastic redesign with its spaceship-inspired aesthetic and 47 mm (!) white gold case that wears unexpectedly well. The ref. 6105G is also an upgrade in mechanical terms with the addition of an elegant and simple sunrise and sunrise display that’s smartly implemented on the date ring, and driven by a clever compliant mechanism. And the ref. 6105G has another trick up its sleeve, a mechanism that accounts for summer and winter time (also known as daylight saving time), which shifts the time display as well as the date ring backwards or forwards as the seasons change. Initial thoughts Put simply, the ref. 6105G is weird but cool. Some of Patek Philippe’s recent experiments with design have been so-so in attractiveness, but the ref. 6105G scores well, maybe even the best amongst the brand’s adventurous designs. It’s unlike any other Patek Philippe ever with its huge case and integrated rubber strap, but it is appealing. Even though the star chart complication is a historical one descended from the Henry Graves Jr. “Supercomplication”, it feels like a perfect match for the sci-fi case. The case is huge at 47 mm, but the ...
Fratello
IFL Watches Introduces The Maen Manhattan Paradox
IFL Watches is not kidding around when it comes to new releases. For its latest project, the brand used the Maen Manhattan 37 as the canvas to create a series of hand-painted dials inspired by geometrical art. The result is a watch that combines the angular ’70s style of the Manhattan with a colorful dial […] Visit IFL Watches Introduces The Maen Manhattan Paradox to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Complicated Collectors: Edgar Mannheimer
London, 1965. Christie’s had arranged the third and final part of the Sir David Salomons Collection for sale — a sequence of Breguet watches assembled by the Victorian baronet whose obsession with Abraham-Louis Breguet had produced the most important English-language study of the watchmaker’s work. When the bidding closed, one man had bought every lot in the catalogue. Continuing our ongoing Complicated Collectors series, Edgar Mannheimer left an indelible mark on watch collecting. He was 40 years old, and had settled in Zurich a decade earlier with nothing but the instincts he had developed in the post-war black markets of Germany. He was not a collector in the sense that he did not keep what he bought. What he did, with a consistency and conviction that separated him from every other figure in the mid-century horological trade, was understand, ahead of the market, what something was worth. The Salomons lots were subsequently divided between two collectors. It was, in miniature, a portrait of how Mannheimer operated: he absorbed the risk, resolved the complexity, and left his clients with the watches. Neutitschein and Auschwitz Edgar Mannheimer was born on December 23, 1925, in Neutitschein, Moravia, into a family whose presence in the town was visible and established. His father ran Marsmalz, a confectionery business prominent enough to operate the community’s first delivery van — a small but telling detail about the family’s position within a world where Je...
Deployant
Review: new Patek Philippe Cubitus Perpetual Calendar Skeleton Ref. 5840P-001
Here is our hands-on comprehensive eview of the Patek Philippe Cubitus Perpetual Calendar Skeleton Ref. 5840P-001 released in WWG26.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best 36mm Watches We’ve Reviewed: Our Favorites Smaller-Case Picks
After reviewing a wide range of smaller watches, these are our favorite 36mm picks for fit, comfort, design, and everyday wear.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko’s New ‘Silver Bullet’ GMT Is An Affordable Watch With Grand Seiko Looks
The new Seiko Presage 'Silver Bullet' Cocktail Time GMT lands at $625, bringing an affordable automatic GMT to Seiko's mechanical lineup.
Time+Tide
New releases from Naoya Hida, echo/neutra, Sartory Billard and more
This week, it was all about the independents as the big brands did most of their releases during the fairs, with plenty of fun to be had.
![New: Ulysse Nardin [Super] Freak](https://deployant.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SUPER-FREAK_ULYSSE-NARDIN_2520-500LE-3A-BLUE_3A-5-1200x1500.png)
Deployant
New: Ulysse Nardin [Super] Freak
Unveiled as part of Ulysse Nardin’s 180th‑anniversary celebrations, the [Super] Freak represents the most technically ambitious evolution of the Freak lineage to date.
Fratello
Hands-On With The Patek Philippe Nautilus 50th-Anniversary Watches
A surprise party is probably the last thing anyone turning 50 would want. Those celebrating five decades would rather be surrounded by loved ones who understand their wishes and enjoy a good dinner with a nice selection of wines. That’s likely what Patek Philippe had in mind when the iconic Nautilus reached its 50th anniversary. […] Visit Hands-On With The Patek Philippe Nautilus 50th-Anniversary Watches to read the full article.