Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Best Beater Watches Under $300 We’ve Ever Tested
Looking for a tough, affordable beater watch? We reviewed the best under $300 with real-world wear tests, accuracy checks, and pros and cons to guide your pick.
Results for Onyx Dial
5,169 articles · 28 videos found · page 83 of 174
Two Broke Watch Snobs
SJX Watches
Precious Pocket Watches at Sotheby’s, Including a US$7.7 Million AP
Pocket watches were the main driver of value at Sotheby’s New York auction that just concluded today. The four most valuable lots of the sale were three pocket watches and one clock, totalling over US$16 million with fees. Notably, all four were accrued by the late Robert M. Olmsted over more than six decades, along with numerous other pocket watches in the sale. In all the Olmsted Collection brought over US$20 million, underling the late Olmsted’s discerning eye. The top lot was the most complicated watch ever made by Audemars Piguet, dubbed “Grosse Pièce” for its size. The oversized watch set a record for the brand, selling for just over US$7.7 million including fees. It seemed a rising tide lifted all boats as many other pocket watches in the sale, including those from brands with little cachet today, blew past their high estimates. The big results included a 1930s school watch with a flying tourbillon by German watchmaker Heinz Eberhard that sold for US$355,600 and an oversized tourbillon clockwatch by Charles Frodsham that sold for US$1.12 million. Interestingly, many of these pocket watches went to the same paddle. Patek Philippe The “Grosse Pièce” wasn’t the first timepiece in the sale to clear seven figures. That distinction went to lot 32, a previously unknown Patek Philippe paperweight desk clock made for Thomas Emery, which sold for US$2.73 million. It is one of only three known Patek Philippe desk clocks of this type, with the other two – made...
Monochrome
Buying Guide - Chasing Perpetuity, with some of this Year’s Finest Perpetual Calendar Watches
Regarded as one of the grails in watchmaking, and an extremely challenging one to master as well, the Perpetual Calendar is a complication that always grabs headlines, it seems. This year, we’ve seen an abundance of them, from seasoned Maisons to high-end indies, and everything in between. With so much to choose from, pinpointing the […]
Monochrome
Introducing - A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Daymatic Honeygold
For 2025, A. Lange & Söhne introduces a new, warm expression of the Lange 1 Daymatic, the automatic and practical version of one of the brand’s most emblematic timepieces, and a model that’s been discontinued in its classic versions. Revealed on December 7th, a date that marks both Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s founding of the Glashütte […]
Monochrome
The Petrolhead Corner - Land Rover Takes the Mad Defender Octa to Dakar, as it Unveiled the Defender D7X-R
It’s almost that time of the year again, when the bravest of the brave flock to Saudi Arabia for the annual Dakar Rally adventure. Held almost every year since 1979, it originated as a point-to-point off-road event from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal. While the rally faced issues in the mid-200s that forced the organisation […]
Hodinkee
Auctions: This Weekend In Bienne: 'The Charity Watch Sale' Raises Funds For Children In Need
What started as a small community project is now a growing fundraiser for Switzerland's leading children's NGO.
Fratello
Fratello’s Top 5 GMT Watches Of 2025 - Featuring Nomos, Tudor, Rolex, And More
Another Friday, another list! This week, we continue the series of our favorite watches of 2025. This week, we’re focusing on our favorite GMT watches released in the past 12 months. After last week’s list of dive watches, GMT watches are an easy second category. Just like last week, we picked our five favorites from […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 GMT Watches Of 2025 - Featuring Nomos, Tudor, Rolex, And More to read the full article.
Time+Tide
We launched our Tudor Library & Lounge in London + the Time+Tide Ghost Kitchen in NYC is opening up shop
This week saw the biggest moment in Time+Tide’s retail journey yet, launching our collab with Tudor, plus our sneaky 'Ghost Kitchen' in NYC.The post We launched our Tudor Library & Lounge in London + the Time+Tide Ghost Kitchen in NYC is opening up shop appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
New: Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
Vacheron Constantin continues its 250 year celebrations with three new references of the Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin in three expressions.
Worn & Wound
The Latest “Chroma” Release from Zenith Has Arrived
Anyone who reads this site on a regular basis already knows that I can’t resist a Zenith Defy. I’ve long claimed the Defy collection is the great overlooked sports watch line in watchmaking, offering an unparalleled mix of creativity, robustness, and history that no large brand can compete with. It’s evident throughout the collection, even in the most run of the mill, bare bones Defys that Zenith makes. They are inherently weird when you consider the case shapes, styling, and high frequency movements. It’s no surprise, though, that as you get into the higher tiers of the Defy lineup, things get stranger and cooler, and that’s what we have here today with the new Defy Extreme Chroma Limited Editions. We return to the Defy Extreme, the most exotic take on the Defy, for the second time in less than a month. These Chroma executions are admittedly a bit less “extreme” in some ways than the lapis lazuli accented edition we told you about in November, but they’re honestly probably a little better for it. The Chroma concept is not new for Zenith – it allows them to play with color in a very specific way, using a spectrum of bright colors across a very busy dial to great effect. The Defy 21 chronograph received the Chroma treatment last, but now it’s the Extreme’s turn in two limited edition variants: a blacked out titanium as well as a lighter version in titanium and white ceramic. These watches exist, effectively, as two sides of the same coin, with the ...
Fratello
Introducing: The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph × Fragment Limited Edition - A New Collaborative Chronograph
The collaboration between TAG Heuer and Fragment continues with the new Carrera Chronograph × Fragment Limited Edition, bringing Hiroshi Fujiwara’s keen enthusiast’s eye to the modern Glassbox chronograph. This new release continues the ongoing connection between the streetwear brand and the Swiss watchmakers at TAG Heuer. Once again, we get a clean, monochrome iteration on […] Visit Introducing: The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph × Fragment Limited Edition - A New Collaborative Chronograph to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Introducing: Vacheron Constantin Announces Three New Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Models In 36.5mm
To round off a monumental 270th anniversary, did VC have save the best for last?
Deployant
New: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x fragment
TAG Heuer releases their third collaboration with Japanese streetwear icon fragment. This novelty is the Carrera Chronograph x fragment.
Monochrome
First Look - The Ikepod Hemipod 2025, The 1990s Icon Slightly Reinvented
Ikepod reintroduces the iconic 1990s watch with a refined name and form, the Hemipod 2025. The new model is unmistakably Ikepod but carefully modernised to retain the avant-garde spirit of the original while addressing the practical challenges that once came with it. The new Hemipod retains the design, simplifies servicing, and offers two distinctive chronograph […]
Fratello
IFL Watches Introduces The Bulova Super Seville Starry Night
The folks at IFL Watches have made watch dials the small but very adaptable canvas for their art. We have seen a wide variety of different hand-painted dials from the brand over time. For its latest creative challenge, IFLW drew inspiration from the work of the renowned Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. To be more […] Visit IFL Watches Introduces The Bulova Super Seville Starry Night to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Breguet Celebrates Striking Heritage with Classique Grande Sonnerie Métiers d’Art 1905
The penultimate entry in Breguet’s 250th celebration is the Classique Grande Sonnerie Métiers d’Art 1905, a complicated pocket watch that unites several of Breguet’s creations, along with the métiers d’art know-how and high-technology of the modern Breguet manufacture. The 1905 features hand engraving and flinqué enamel, as well as using Breguet’s magnetic strike governor and gold gongs. As with all of the brand’s 250th anniversary creations, the nearly 60 mm case is made of Breguet Gold, with Bleu de France for an additional pop of colour. Initial thoughts During the 2000s, Breguet launched the Montre de Poche 1907, a minute repeating tourbillon pocket clock watch with grande et petite sonnerie. At the time, several of the best brands were building new complicated pocket watches, most notably Patek Philippe, rather than scavenging ebauches. In the 20 years since, new production complicated pocket watches have disappeared from nearly every brand’s catalogue – except for Breguet’s. The Montre de poche 1907BA/12. Image – Breguet Officially the 1907 has only been offered in yellow gold – though white and rose gold examples probably exist as well. Now, to celebrate 250 years of the house of Breguet, the 1907 gets a new look and technical overhaul with the striking Classique Grande Sonnerie Métiers d’Art 1905 in an 18k “Breguet Gold” case. The 1905 is not completely novel, mechanically speaking, as none of Breguet’s launches this year have been...
Fratello
Sunday Morning Showdown: Tudor Ranger Dune White Vs. Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Sand
Welcome to a new installment of Sunday Morning Showdown! This week, we pit two very similar watches from two very dissimilar segments against each other. The Tudor Ranger Dune White takes on the much cheaper Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Sand. We’ll see if the €2,425 price gap makes sense. Daan will take the Tudor’s […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Tudor Ranger Dune White Vs. Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Sand to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Yema balances beauty and brawn with the Navygraf Pearl CMM.20
Expanses of mother-of-pearl make this Yema an elegant, stylish, and quintessentially French take on a modern dive watch.The post Yema balances beauty and brawn with the Navygraf Pearl CMM.20 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
WU25 Panel: How Culture Shapes Shinola’s Design Process
Shinola is a thoroughbred American brand that has connected with its customers through storytelling for well over a decade. In this Windup Watch Fair panel, we learned more about how culture and community inform Shinola’s creative process from Marketing Director Dana Mosha-Basa, Senior Designer Molly Wang, and Director of Watch Design, Greg Verras. Watch the full video or read along below. The following conversation has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. Kyle Snarr Hi, my name is Kyle Snarr. I’m the head of partnerships here at Worn and Wound. Thank you for coming to the last day of the Wind-Up Watch Fair. Give yourself a hand for being here. We’re so excited to have you here. We’re also very excited to have one of our lead sponsors joining us here on stage today. The team from Shinola. And I’m going to have each of you quickly introduce yourselves. Tell us just a little bit about how you came to Shinola and what watch you’re wearing. Dana Mosa-Basha Yes. Hello, everybody. Thanks for joining us. My name is Dana. I’m the director of marketing at Shinola. I’ve been with the brand for almost a year and a half now. So I’m probably the rookie of the group. Not probably. I am the rookie of the group. I am born and bred in Detroit. But I left for the last about 10 years. And I remember when Shinola started. I had been working at Nordstrom at the jewelry and watch. And we couldn’t keep a Shinola watch in stock. It just was like the hottest brand aroun...
Fratello
A Hands-On Introduction To Serica’s Sophisticated And Functional Expedition Bracelet
When most brands introduce a new watch, they make the bracelet look more like an afterthought than an integrated part of the design. It’s often a derivative of or a variation on the classic Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, which isn’t a sign of much imagination. Serica has never given in to that strategy. The brand […] Visit A Hands-On Introduction To Serica’s Sophisticated And Functional Expedition Bracelet to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Photo Report: Porsches And Watches In Eye-Popping Colors At Rare Shades 6
The show brought people, P-Cars, and plenty of watches to Toronto.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Book Review: The Inconvenient Truth About the World’s First Waterproof Watch by Stan Czubernat
Watchmaking is full of gratuitous claims and overinflated marketing. One of the oldest is Rolex’s claim, still on their website today, that the Oyster Perpetual was the world’s first waterproof watch in 1926. These claims were the basis for Rolex’s reputation for reliability and ruggedness. While Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual was highly water resistant, it was not the first company to create a successful water-resistant design. That title belongs to Charles Depollier, who was fulfilling orders for the U.S. Army as early as 1919.
Fratello
Introducing: The Fears × Ace Jewelers Brunswick 38 “De Stijl Edition”
In January, Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam announced that it became the exclusive authorized dealer for Fears watches in the Netherlands. During the launch party at the boutique, people were surprised that there wasn’t a limited-edition collaboration between the two parties yet. After all, Ace Jewelers is very active when it comes to collaborative watches. It […] Visit Introducing: The Fears × Ace Jewelers Brunswick 38 “De Stijl Edition” to read the full article.
Fratello
Introducing: The Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01759 Limited Edition
Though 2025 may be drawing to a close, Panerai isn’t ready to stop just yet. Just in time for the holiday season, we have a new limited-edition piece that should please collectors who love retro details. The new Luminor Marina PAM01759 is the type of watch I love seeing from the brand due to its […] Visit Introducing: The Panerai Luminor Marina PAM01759 Limited Edition to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Louis Vuitton’s Escale Dons Turquoise and Malachite
Louis Vuitton expands the Escale line with a pair of limited editions featuring turquoise and malachite stone dials – and unusually, matching stone mid-cases. By integrating the case band in the same material as the dial, the brand elevates the familiar Escale silhouette into something more sculptural, while retaining the signature riveted form inspired by its historic trunks. The result is one of the more distinctive takes on the current stone-dial trend. The platinum-and-titanium construction allows for a double-walled case with a stone ring on the outside, giving the watch proper water resistance, while the larger 40 mm case creates space for colour and texture to shine. With only 30 pieces in each colourway, the editions reinforce Louis Vuitton’s ambition in high-end watchmaking. Initial thoughts This year has been a strong one for Louis Vuitton, an ambitious trunk maker seeking to prove itself as a serious watchmaker. It certainly has the industrial means to accomplish that through its control of Geneva-based La Fabrique du Temps and what is clearly a deep bench of design talent. The latest pair of Escales takes the stone dial trend to its logical next step: stone cases. Thanks to the upscale construction, it avoids the trap of feeling gimmicky, unlike, say, the Tissot Rockwatch. The quality is outstanding which helps rationalise the steep price tag. The distinctive construction of the Escale case makes it an almost ideal platform for the stone case band, so it is...
Time+Tide
Everything you need to know about the most common watch materials
There's much more to watch materials than just steel and gold. Here, we break down some of the most common materials used in watchmaking.The post Everything you need to know about the most common watch materials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
Independent Succession: Meet The Five Candidates Of The AHCI
Inside the workshops of AHCI's Candidates, young watchmakers are finding their voice, refining their craft, and shaping the next chapter of horology.
Monochrome
Introducing - The New Zenith Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli
A powerful trend sweeping across the watch landscape is stone dials. Featured on everything from elegant dress watches to complications, there is no doubt that watches are living a second Stone Age. Celebrating its 160th anniversary, Zenith jumps on the stone dial bandwagon with its most technologically advanced and avant-garde chronograph, the mighty Defy Extreme, […]
Hodinkee
Introducing: The Tudor Ranger, Now In 36 Millimeters And With A New ‘Dune’ White Dial
Tudor gives us a new version of its field watch with a creamy white dial and size that’s closer to the original.
Monochrome
Introducing - The Bremont Altitude Perpetual Calendar GMT Mono-Pusher Skeleton
Bremont’s rise has been tied to modern aviation-leaning tool watches with solid mechanics built to be used. After the more experimental Terra Nova pieces, the British brand regrouped around its core strengths with the Altitude collection: a cleaner, aviation-inspired collection that also invited complications. At the top sits the Altitude Perpetual Calendar GMT Mono-Pusher, with […]