Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Microbrand GMT Watch Alternatives to Mainstream Choices
We reviewed the best microbrand GMT watches and independent travel-watch alternatives, from affordable quartz picks to flyer GMTs and premium GMT divers.
Results for Watch Dial Text Conventions
24,770 articles · 228 videos found · page 76 of 834
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Orient Combines Its Two Best-Known Divers Into One Affordable Dive Watch
The Orient AC0Q Diver II merges two of the brand's most popular dive watches into one 40mm automatic, available now from Orient Watch USA.
Teddy Baldassarre
Bulgari Serpenti: A Guide to the Iconic Snake Watch Design
Though many have turned to the motif in the watchmaking world, the Bulgari Serpenti will always be the ultimate snake watch.
Worn & Wound
Windup Watch Fair Chicago Returns July 10th - 12th at an Exciting New Venue
We’re back in Chicago and we feel it! From July 10–12, Windup Watch Fair Chicago returns for its fifth year, bringing together over 70 watch brands, thousands of enthusiasts, and some of the best conversations in watch collecting. This year, we’re excited to welcome everyone to an all-new home: Morgan MFG, a stunning industrial event space located just steps from Chicago’s vibrant Fulton Market district. Windup Watch Fair Chicago Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12, 2026 Morgan MFG 401 N Morgan St Suite #100 Chicago, IL 60642 Free and open to everyone. No registration necessary. The move to Morgan MFG marks an exciting new chapter for Windup Chicago. The venue offers significantly more room to explore, gather, and discover, along with something every watch enthusiast appreciates: incredible natural light. Whether you’re photographing your latest find, evaluating a new release, or simply enjoying a weekend surrounded by fellow enthusiasts, Morgan MFG provides an ideal backdrop for what promises to be our biggest Chicago event yet. As always, admission is free and open to everyone, making Windup the perfect place for seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike to get hands-on with watches they may have only seen online. We’re also thrilled to announce our lead sponsors for Windup Watch Fair Chicago 2026: Atelier Wen, Christopher Ward, Citizen, eBay Live, and Oris. We’re so grateful to our returning Lead Sponsors with their enthusiast-tuned collections. Stay tuned ...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Autodromo Adds an Affordable Ana-Digi Watch to the Group C Lineup
The Autodromo Group C Turbo Sport pairs an analog dial with a digital display for the first time in the brand's history.
Hodinkee
Business News: Richard Mille Owner Files Legal Action Against Liberty Media And COTA After $750,000 Watch Stolen At F1 Race
A Texas businessman filed legal action against Liberty Media and the operators of the Formula 1 racetrack in Austin, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), alleging they failed to protect patrons from a criminal gang targeting high-profile watches at the F1 Grand Prix of the United States. The Richard Mille watch that was allegedly stolen by a gang at the F1 race in Austin.(Photo courtesy of Nicholas Saady, plaintiff's lawyer) Dean Whitlock alleges his Richard Mille RM 65-01 Split-Seconds Chronograph "LeBron James" was forcibly taken from his wrist by a group of thieves at the F1 race in October 2025. The theft occurred the day after another racegoer had their Richard Mille watch stolen by the same group of thieves at the event, the lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Travis County, Texas, alleges. A spokesperson for Formula 1, the racing series controlled by Liberty Media Corporation, declined to comment. Media representatives of the Circuit Of The Americas LLC did not respond to a request for comment. The companies have yet to respond to the lawsuit, which seeks "more than $200,000 but not more than $1,000,000" in damages and states that it will cost approximately $750,000 to replace the specific timepiece, according to secondary market values. The case underscores the rising number of targeted luxury watch thefts in some regions. It raises questions as to who is responsible for personal security when someone wears a wristwatch valued at more than half a million dollars...
Time+Tide
Christopher Ward partners with seconde/seconde/ once more to create the ultimate watch enthusiasts holiday watch
Christopher Ward and French watch artist seconde/seconde/ have partnered to produce the ultimate summer holiday watch for enthusiasts
Fratello
Renders Can Ruin A Watch - Hands-On With The Oris Hölstein Edition 2026
Oris introduced its annual Hölstein Edition on June 1st, and unfortunately, the brand used renders (not very good ones) to showcase it. It was the accompanying press release, with all the information about this watch, that convinced me it could actually be interesting. Oris ensured we could go hands-on with the Hölstein Edition 2026 to […] Visit Renders Can Ruin A Watch — Hands-On With The Oris Hölstein Edition 2026 to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Introducing: The MB&F; Horological Machine HM12 'The Guardian' Is The Robot And Watch Combo Of Your Dreams (Live Pics)
What We Know If there's a brand known to constantly exist in a state of one-upping itself when it comes to new designs, it's most certainly MB&F;. And, just as expected, following a slew of radical Horological Machine designs, this new Horological Machine 12 manages to go in a completely new direction. No, your eyes aren't fooling you. This new creation is a robot and a watch combined, in three editions of 12 pieces each: blue, green, and purple. If the Horological Machine 11 drew upon the architecture of the 1960s, the HM12 "The Guardian" looks a decade or two later, when a massive pop-culture obsession with science fiction and robotics would lead to generations of kids obsessed with properties like Transformers, Gundam, and the resulting toys that followed. If there's ever criticism of some of Max Busser's more playful ideas coming across as much too toy-like, the HM12 completely doubles down on that idea with this new design that takes the idea of a robotic action figure to the horological extreme. Here, Max's vision is implemented by another Max, Maximilian Maertens. A name familiar to collectors of the brand, Maertens has been responsible for many of the clock and music box creations for MB&F;, as well as the little Minimilian figures given to owners of MB&F; watches. There's a lot to break down here, so let's start with the watch itself. It is, ever so purposefully, designed to resemble a face, but its construction reveals so much jam-packed into the futuristic, spacesh...
Worn & Wound
Beaucroft Introduces the Arc, an Elegant Everyday Watch with Impressive Specs
The microbrand/independent scene in the UK is truly one of the most exciting in the world, with dozens of brands vying for attention and an always growing community of excited watch enthusiasts eager to experience just about everything on offer. This is very much the vibe every time we attend British Watchmakers’ Day and have a chance to experience it firsthand, and honestly it’s invigorating in a way to be placed in an enthusiast environment that feels familiar but also very specific to the UK. One of the more interesting brands to emerge from this scene is Beaucroft, based in Cambridge. Beaucroft is not the flashiest or highest profile microbrand in the UK, but they’re on the rise, and they tend to make an impression when you actually see the watches in person. Garrett was such a fan of the Element when he saw one he decided to purchase it for himself. My moment of conversion came at British Watchmakers’ Day 2025, where I still regret not purchasing the Penfold Special Edition released that year. Their newest release has been dubbed the “Arc” and is an update of the Seeker model originally launched in 2023. The Arc leans into the design language that was established with the Seeker and the brand has continued to refine in every model since, namely flowing, natural case lines paired with dynamic, colorful fumé dials. The dramatic curved mid-case is, according to the brand, inspired by the Bridge of Sighs over the River Cam, not far from Beaucroft’s head...
Time+Tide
The Arc from Beaucroft might be the ultimate value proposition for an everyday watch
The Arc from Beaucroft takes everything the brand has learned from its previous Seeker range, and aims to deliver the ultimate everday watch
Fratello
Fratello On Air: The Summer Watch Is Back!
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! As promised, we’ve returned after a week with more banter and plenty of watch talk. This time around, we discuss the oft-mentioned summer watch and how we feel about it in 2026. Of course, we cover plenty of other subjects. Enjoy the show! This podcast player […] Visit Fratello On Air: The Summer Watch Is Back! to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Manime’s new La Méridienne just might be the unique GMT watch you’re looking for
Manime's new La Méridienne is an affordable integrated bracelet GMT watch with 70s-style details and a captivating choice of dials
Fratello
One Watch To Rule Them All: What Is Your “Set And Forget” Watch?
There comes a point in every watch enthusiast’s journey when the chase becomes exhausting. It’s not because the passion fades but, rather, because the noise grows louder. New releases every other week, “must-have” collaborations, titanium this, forged carbon that, another integrated-bracelet sports watch with a fumbling backstory about racing or aviation or saturation diving… Eventually, […] Visit One Watch To Rule Them All: What Is Your “Set And Forget” Watch? to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Seiko Releases a Limited Edition PADI King Turtle Dive Watch for 2026
Seiko unveils the Seiko PADI HBB002, a limited edition King Turtle dive watch marking PADI's 60th anniversary and a decade of collaboration.
Time+Tide
Keep calm and stare at the dial: Awake’s latest Sơn Mài hides Britain in plain sight
With a subtle nod to one of the first countries to accept the brand, the new Vietnamese lacquer watch will have you looking closer.
Teddy Baldassarre
Seiko Celebrates 60 Years of PADI with Limited-Edition Prospex Dive Watch
Celebrating 60 years of collaboration with the diving organization, the latest limited edition Seiko PADI diver combines a turtle case with a globe-motif dial.
Monochrome
Introducing - The Electrifying Dial of the Ming x J.N. Shapiro 37.06 Lightning
Indie watch brand Ming was founded by Malaysian photographer, designer and engineer Ming Thein in 2017. Since then, Ming has amassed a devoted following for its contemporary design-led watches distinguished by minimalism, luminescence, layering and colour. The latest 37.06 Lightning, a joint project between Ming and J.N. Shapiro Watches, a Los Angeles-based watchmaker, is the […]
Worn & Wound
Hands-On: With New Sizes and Dial Treatments, There’s a Laureato for Everyone
If you’ve seen me around in the watch community, it’s very likely you’ve noticed me wearing a Girard-Perregaux Laureato. While I’ve fooled many into thinking I own one of these beauties, the model is in fact my number one requested loaner whenever I have the privilege to borrow a timepiece for a special event. In my years adoring the Laureato, I’ve had the pleasure of trying out several iterations from the bold 42mm (proving that yes, even my rather small 5.75-inch wrist can rock a 42) to the more pared down 38mm. In all the sizes and dial colors that have graced my wrist, one of my favorites has to be the 38mm copper, which, in my humble opinion, is the ideal twist on a two-tone look. Today, Girard-Perregaux is complicating things for me yet again with some incredibly compelling new takes on the Laureato. First up, we have two variations with a solid 18-karat rose gold dials, one in 39mm and one in 36mm. Unsurprisingly, these deeply rival my former-favorite with the copper dial. I would say the copper is a bit more subtle and subdued with a slightly more matte appearance and a rich shade that lands somewhere between yellow and rose gold. The dial of the new models is decidedly shinier and more reflective with a true rose gold color that is both bright and soft at the same time. In addition to feeling torn between the previous copper dial version and the new 18-karat rose gold, I’m equally undecided on my favorite proportions for the Laureato. I thought the 38m...
Fratello
Going Tri-Tone With The Blue-Dial Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph
It’s been almost a year since Rado invited me to go to the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad tennis tournament in Switzerland. It was a memorable experience, and as a lifelong tennis player and fan of the sport, I always find it brilliant to see the professionals at work. Another thing that stood out during the […] Visit Going Tri-Tone With The Blue-Dial Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Oris Gives Its Artelier Dress Watch a First In-House Movement for 2026
Oris has a habit of saving its strangest ideas for one watch a year. The Hölstein Edition started in 2020 as an annual limited release tied to the brand's June 1 birthday, and it has always leaned into playful reinterpretation. This year the company turned to the Artelier, the dress collection it relaunched a few months ago with mid-century-inspired dials. The result is the Hölstein Edition 2026, a 250-piece run with a few changes that go deeper than the finish.
Monochrome
Hands-on - The Orient Star M34 F8 Date Meteorite, a Celestial Dial for the 75th Anniversary
Orient Star is not usually the first name that comes to mind when looking for meteorite-dial watches. The Japanese brand has instead built a reputation around solid mechanics, attractive finishing, and sensible pricing for its watches. That is precisely why the new M34 F8 Date Meteorite caught our attention when it was announced earlier this […]
Hodinkee
Business News: Secondary Market Prices Climb, James Marks Jumps To Sotheby’s, Christie’s Grabs Cartier Watch Record
Summer shows no signs of slowing down - it's been a busy few weeks in the watch industry. Secondary market prices have posted gains for three consecutive quarters, the first sustained climb since 2022, suggesting the market may finally be stabilizing after the post-pandemic boom and correction. In the auction world, a veteran executive has made a high-profile move from Phillips to Sotheby's, and Christie's has just claimed the record for the most expensive Cartier wristwatch ever sold - a title that changed hands twice in the span of a few weeks. Here's a round-up of some of the latest business stories from around the industry. Secondary Market Watch Prices On A Winning Streak After years of declines, prices on the secondary watch market are stabilizing and have posted gains of more than 1% for three consecutive quarters, according to an analyst report from Morgan Stanley and WatchCharts. An index of pre-owned watch prices compiled by WatchCharts rose 1.9% in the first three months of the year from the previous quarter, led by gains from a wide swath of brands including Longines, Patek Philippe, and Zenith, the data shows. It's the first time since 2022 that prices have climbed significantly for an extended period. The results suggest a broad recovery in secondary market values, driven by rising primary market prices, tariffs on watches entering the U.S., and increased confidence and interest in the pre-owned premium watch market. The gains were broad-based, with 25 of...
Fratello
What Makes A Truly Elegant Everyday Watch?
Spend enough time around watch enthusiasts, and you’ll notice an interesting pattern. While discussions often revolve around the usual heavy hitters, at some point, seasoned collectors begin searching for something different. People can become tired of wearing the same pieces as everyone else. Yet, they crave an elegant everyday watch and perhaps something that prioritizes […] Visit What Makes A Truly Elegant Everyday Watch? to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Squale Sub 37 Legend Review: Your One-and-Done Vintage-Inspired Dive Watch?
A hands-on review of the Squale Sub 37 Legend, a vintage-inspired dive watch that combines compact proportions, modern reliability, and more.
Fratello
Sunday Morning Showdown: Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pop Vs. Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch
Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown! This week, we pit two Bioceramic hype monsters against each other. Daan defends the original Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch. Thomas counters with the recent Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pop. Which collaborative Swatch model did it better? Let’s see! The Royal Pop retails for €385 or €400, depending […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pop Vs. Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch to read the full article.
Fratello
Watch Strap Review 73 - The Amazing Ming Polymesh
My admiration for Ming is well documented on Fratello. Aside from the articles, I have talked a lot about the brand with Mike in many episodes of Fratello On Air. It is no surprise, then, that I’m excited to see all of Ming’s releases. The latest announcement of the Polymesh – Straight reminded me that, […] Visit Watch Strap Review 73 — The Amazing Ming Polymesh to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Affordable Luxury Brand Frederique Constant Finally Made a Solar Watch
Frederique Constant's first solar-powered watch lands in the Moneta dress line, shipping on both a leather strap and bracelet.
Worn & Wound
Formex Introduces the Aria, an Integrated Bracelet Sports Watch with a Manufacture Movement
Formex has formally introduced what is likely to be at or near the top of many of our “Watch of the Year” lists when 2026 is all said and done. Long a brand synonymous with squeezing an absolutely insane amount of value from every dollar spent, the new Aria is Formex’s most ambitious watch to date, by a wide margin. We got a look at the Aria during Watches & Wonders week while Formex exhibited at Chronopolis, and then again at Windup San Francisco a few weeks later, and we remain impressed with what the brand has accomplished. This is a big step forward for them on a number of fronts. The Aria is an integrated bracelet sports watch that is also ultra-thin and uses the brand’s first manufacture movement. It makes sense, I think, to start with the case and bracelet, because they are immediately striking to hold and wear when you first experience the watch. The Aria is 40mm in diameter and crafted from titanium, with a tapered bracelet that has meticulously hand finished elements throughout. The total case height comes to just 6.9mm, and a close examination of the case, bracelet, and how they are integrated to one another reveals an intense attention to detail on the part of Formex and their design team. The Aria seems to understand what makes an integrated bracelet sports watch really work, which is a continuity of form from the case to the bracelet, and all the way to the clasp. They are integrated in the truest sense of the word, with matching finishes and tight ...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The PDW x HGP Is an Affordable Dive Watch With a Case History Worth Knowing
PDW's latest Special Projects watch pairs the historic Monnin case with a regulated Seiko NH38 and French assembly—all for $649.