Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Bulova Sail4th Snorkel Dive Watch Is One of the Better America 250 Releases So Far
The Bulova Sail4th Snorkel pairs a patriotic design with the Snorkel's hybrid ceramic case for the Sail4th 250 tall ships event.
Dive Watches · Page 7
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Hodinkee
Photo Report: Pitti Uomo Summer 2026
Pitti Uomo, Florence's biannual fashion week and perhaps the world's foremost gathering of stylish men, arrived this year amid an epic heatwave. Thousands of designers, buyers, and guests made the pilgrimage anyway—sleeves rolled, shorts short, shirts linen. Hodinkee was there to document what they were wearing on their wrists. Rolex Sea-Dweller. A few trends worth noting: the "vacation watch" has arrived as a legitimate category. Quirky, colorful, and valued less for their specs than for the memories attached to them. Panerais, meanwhile, are making a quiet resurgence in their home city. Steel Rolexes and Omegas remain ubiquitous, as they have been for the past two years. But the men of Pitti Uomo are increasingly hunting smaller, more obscure, and frankly more interesting pieces. A vintage Jaeger wristwatch was the highlight for me personally. Enjoy! Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520. Vintage Piaget. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds. Panerai Luminor Power Reserve Automatic. Noah x Timex Lighthouse Watch. Rolex Bubbleback. Emilie Hawtin, founder of women's tailoring brand Clementina, with her Rolex Lady Datejust. Swatch Gent. Rolex Explorer. Baltic Tricompax Tour Auto. Longines Spirit Zulu Time. Rolex Explorer II ref. 16570. Benrus Type II. Darte x Praesidus X-1. A Longines Heritage 1945 that was inspired by a watch that Ben Clymer used to own. Q Timex Vintage Hodinkee Limited Edition. Emporio Armani Sinfonia. Cartier Santos. Cartier Tank Mus...
Hodinkee
Hands-On: The Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 'Bumblebee' Ref. 79310N
Among the ever-evolving sizes and colors of modern Tudor, we now have the latest (and smallest and most colorful) iteration of the brand's dive-inspired chronograph, the Black Bay Chronograph 39. Dubbed the "Bumblebee" for its bright yellow dial and black accents, it marks the progressive 39-ification of Tudor's core lineup and forms what I think will be a very appealing new offering for the brand. When Tudor returned to the American market in 2012, the brand's core offerings evolved around an initial 41mm footprint. This includes early hits like the Black Bay, the Heritage Chrono, and the Ranger. Then, in 2017, Tudor announced the Black Bay Chronograph 79350, a 41mm steel chronograph with 200 meters of water resistance and snowflake hands. Since then, the Black Bay Chronograph range has been tweaked, improved, and expanded considerably, with additional colors (including the recent pink and flamingo blue). But while we saw the Black Bay eventually offer the 39mm 58 range and the Ranger drop to 39mm (and later to 36mm), the Chronograph range remained steadfast at 41mm. While 41mm is within the range for a conventionally sized modern sports watch, the enthusiast taste has shifted toward the 39mm sweet spot (likely at least in part due to the success of the Black Bay 58 and the Pelagos 39). Additionally, as slightly smaller cases continue to be in vogue, more attention is (and was) being paid to case thickness. The 41mm spec of the Black Bay Chrono wears well, but it's not sm...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Citizen Expands Its Dive Watch Lineup with Four Affordable Promaster Marine Models
Citizen introduces four new Promaster Marine divers with the Eco-Drive Caliber E118, offering a year-long power reserve in a 40.6mm case.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
5 Best Titanium Dive Watches We’ve Ever Reviewed
We tested five of the best dive watches made of titanium to see which ones actually deliver on comfort, durability, daily wear, and real tool-watch appeal.
Monochrome
Hands-on - The Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 Bumblebee Is About More Than Just A New Size
Since its debut in 2017, the Tudor Black Bay Chrono has undergone many makeovers, but in colour and material only. The core collection always came in a 41mm stainless steel case, with special editions like the Carbon 25 and Carbon 26 adding a 42mm-wide forged carbon fibre alternative to the range. Not too long ago, […]
Monochrome
Introducing - Mido Gives the Ocean Star 200 a Modern Tool-Watch Makeover
The Ocean Star collection has been part of Mido‘s catalogue since 1944, which today has become a solid and affordable choice for those wanting a dive watch with clear legibility, robust construction, and reliable mechanical performance. More recently, the Ocean Star 200C introduced ceramic bezels, colourful dials, and presented a more refined take on the […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Which Vintage-Inspired Dive Watch Gets It Right: Squale Sub 37 Legend vs. Baltic Aquascaphe?
Two vintage-inspired divers, two very different approaches. We compare the Squale Sub 37 Legend and Baltic Aquascaphe to see which one works better.
SJX Watches
Hands On: Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 “Bumblebee”
Tudor surprised with an off-season launch in the form of the Black Bay Chrono 39 “Bumblebee”. Coming just two months after Watches & Wonders 2026, the Bumblebee is one of the brand’s outstanding debuts for the year (so far), alongside the atypical Monarch. The Bumblebee is essentially a scaled-down version of the original Black Bay Chrono, which was excellent but half a size too large. Now it’s almost just right, but unquestionably good enough, especially since the downsized chronograph still retains the same high-spec movement and affordable price tag. Initial thoughts I’m a fan of the Black Bay Chrono; I own two earlier iterations of the model. Tudor got everything right with those, except for the size, which was a little too big for the design. The Black Bay Chrono 39 scales it down noticeably, enough that the watch is just right. The case is still a little thick (inevitably due to the movement), but the overall package has been refined to a point where it’s difficult to improve it much more, especially with the constraints of price and the MT5813 movement. The MT5813 is probably the top movement in this price range in terms of features and construction, but it is relatively thick. Still, the thickness is forgivable given the quality of the movement and the price. I certainly hope Tudor rolls out new variants of this chronograph as yellow is not for me, but I rate this highly in terms of proportions, wearability, and of course value. At US$6,725, the Black B...
Hodinkee
Hands-On: The Doxa Sub 200 T.Graph II
Continuing Doxa's focus on its core late-60s aesthetic, the brand recently unveiled the T.Graph II, the latest iteration of its core dive chronograph. Reborn but largely faithful to the original (and indeed to some more recent T.Graph forays), the new T.Graph II ports the Sub 300's classic look into a burly yet entirely wearable automatic chronograph that comes in Doxa's classic trio of colors, along with the surprise inclusion of a blue "Caribbean" execution. With a flagship price tag, it's a model that has previously been hard to source and often even more expensive, so the question becomes: is the new T.Graph II the dive-ready Doxa chronograph we've been waiting for? Don't fret, we'll get to all that and more. But first, a quick history lesson to bring us all loosely up to speed on the T.Graph, as it's a model with a cult following but was previously never made in any considerable quantity. T.Graphs Past To keep things as basic as possible (because Jason Heaton has written extensively about, and dived with, vintage T.Graphs – here with a Searambler, and here with a Sharkhunter), the new Sub 200 T.Graph II is based on a low-production design from 1969 called the Sub 200 T.Graph. While there is some contention over production numbers, it is believed that ~300 of each of the original colorways (Sharkhunter, Searambler, and Professional) were produced. Again, I recommend both of Jason's stories, even if only so you can see how absolutely gorgeous a vintage Sub 200 T.Graph...
Fratello
Chinese Haute Horlogerie From “The Geneva of the East?” - The New Peacock Haiyi Tourbillon Yu Limited Edition
Please meet Peacock, a Chinese watch brand that has been creating complicated timepieces since 1957, and its Haiyi Tourbillon, a 40mm limited-edition dive watch with a colorful Lindsay-engraved enameled dial in three colors. You might not be familiar with Liaoning Peacock, also known as the Peacock Watch Company, but the manufacturer from Dandong, China, is […] Visit Chinese Haute Horlogerie From “The Geneva of the East?” — The New Peacock Haiyi Tourbillon Yu Limited Edition to read the full article.
Monochrome
Introducing - New, Softer Colour Schemes for the Blancpain Villeret Ultraplate 38mm
Alongside the sporty Fifty Fathoms, Bathyscaphe or Air Command collections, the Villeret range, named after the village in the Vallée de Joux, where Jehan-Jacques Blancpain set up his workshop on the top floor of his house in 1735, is the epitome of classic. Ranging from time-only to high complications, the entry-level model to the Villeret […]
SJX Watches
Grand Seiko’s Evolution 9 Refresh Arrives - with Tapered Quick-Adjust Bracelets
The much-anticipated refresh of Grand Seiko’s Evolution 9 line has arrived with new bracelets for six existing dials, as well as a newcomer and a mid-sized version of the fan favorite Lake Suwa. This brings much improved bracelets to Grand Seiko’s upmarket (and very successful) Evolution 9 line, fueling Seiko’s global ambitions for its flagship luxury brand. Moonlit Lake Suwa (SLGB007) Initial thoughts If the UFA Ushio Diver launched earlier this year proved anything, it’s that Grand Seiko is listening to its customers, and those customers want slim watches, case back power reserve indicators, better bracelets, and a tool-less quick adjust clasp. The Evolution 9 line, launched six years ago in 2020, met half of these requirements, being let down by only the bracelet. With this refresh, the Evolution 9 becomes an even more competitive, and compelling, collection. Grand Seiko’s in-house quick-adjust clasp. Image – Seiko Watch Corporation Unfortunately, the changes also come with a significant movement downgrade for the Spring Drive models, replacing the extended power reserve cal. 9RA2 with the simplified cal. 9RB2. That said, the UFA designation will be seen as a significant upgrade to all but the nerdiest collectors, making it a coup for Grand Seiko as the new movement adds value for the customer while presumably being less expensive to manufacture. Cal, 9RB2. Image – Seiko Watch Corporation But before you run out to buy one of the five-day Spring Drive watch...
Hodinkee
A Preview Of The National Geographic Museum Of Exploration And The Rolex Landing
It was about halfway through James Cameron's speech on the Rolex Landing at the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C., that I glanced up. There, suspended above my head, was a familiar yellow object. To the uninitiated (and less nerdy), it might look like an alien spaceship from a low-budget sci-fi film. But I knew what it was immediately: Jacques Cousteau's soucoupe, the diving saucer from his 1964 documentary, "World Without Sun." As I listened to Cameron go on about his descent to Challenger Deep, I looked around at all these incredible objects—there was the bathysphere that William Beebe climbed into and descended to over 3,000 feet in 1934. Down the hall, the Maruti Suzuki 4x4 used by Sandesh Kadur to track wildlife in India, its tires still muddy. A dugout canoe, once upended by a hippo, used by Steve Boyes while searching for the source of the Zambezi. A Chinese terra cotta warrior. And a one-atmosphere JIM suit like the one in which Dr. Sylvia Earle walked 1,000 feet deep on the ocean floor. For a student of exploration history like me, this was nothing short of nirvana. Rolex has been a supporting partner to the National Geographic Society since 1954. Those were halcyon days for exploration and the introduction of Rolex's most legendary tool watches—the Explorer, the Submariner, and the GMT-Master. The names Rolex and National Geographic have been intertwined ever since, and I, for one, recall seeing those great print ads in the...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The Best Swiss Dive Watch Deal of the Summer Might Be This New Mido
Mido refreshed the Mido Ocean Star 200 with the 80-hour Caliber 80 and a Nivachron hairspring, priced from $950 to $980 across four dial options.
Fratello
Built For Long Summer Days: The Unimatic Modello Uno UT1-IPP
Every summer, when I go to southern Europe, I make sure to take a Unimatic diver with me. I am fortunate enough to have bought a few over the past few years, and I always pick one that will be one of my two or three watches that I bring with me. The usual pick […] Visit Built For Long Summer Days: The Unimatic Modello Uno UT1-IPP to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Dive Watches for Collectors Who Care About Legibility
From budget divers to luxury icons, these are the dive watches we’d actually trust when quick readability, lume, bezel use, and daily comfort matter most.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Are Omega Watches as Good as Everyone Says? 10 Years of Hands-On Testing
After 10 years of hands-on testing, we look at whether Omega watches live up to their reputation, from the Speedmaster and Seamaster to quieter enthusiast picks.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Swatch Scubaqua Sea Wasp Review: An Affordable Dive Watch Built for Summer
Reviewing the Swatch Scubaqua Sea Wasp, a colorful affordable dive watch that prioritizes fun, comfort, and everyday wearability.
Monochrome
Introducing - Panerai Deploys the Rugged Submersible Navy SEALs PAM01738
As a brand that pioneered rugged underwater tools with exceptional luminescence for Italian commando frogmen in the mid-1930s, Panerai’s partnership with the U.S. Navy SEALs makes a lot of sense. The modern successors to Italy’s pioneering underwater commandos of the Decima Flottiglia MAS, the Navy SEAL combat diver and demolition units engage in stealthy aquatic […]
Fratello
What Are 10 Of The Best Dive Watches Under €500?
The dive watch remains one of the most compelling categories in watchmaking. While luxury brands continue to push prices well into five-figure territory, there are still plenty of genuinely capable dive watches available for less than €500. Better yet, many of them aren’t merely dive-style watches. They offer proper water resistance, robust movements, and the […] Visit What Are 10 Of The Best Dive Watches Under €500? to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Are 5 Affordable Dive Watches Better Than 1 Luxury Diver? Our Hands-On Verdict
Should you buy one luxury dive watch or build a five-watch affordable collection? We break down the real ownership tradeoffs using watches we’ve reviewed hands-on.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Watchdives EXD vs Tudor Pelagos FXD: A $149 vs $5,000 Dive Watch Comparison
We compared the $149 Watchdives EXD and $5,025 Tudor Pelagos FXD on wearability, movement, and value to see how close cheap titanium really gets.
Hodinkee
Hands-On: The Ressence Type 11
At a glance, the Ressence Type 11, which launched earlier this year at Watches and Wonders, might feel like every other Ressence. That's kind of the point. Distinct as it is within the collection, the Type 11 keeps the brand's visual language intact while changing what's underneath it. The biggest change is under the hood—it's the first Ressence to feature the brand's own integrated caliber, replacing the usual combo of an ETA base with Ressence's Orbital Convex System on top. Before we get to more on that, let's take a look at the Type 11's exterior. The 41mm by 11mm case, in grade 5 titanium, continues the trend seen in many of Ressence's recent releases toward more compact cases and feels like an evolution of the Type 9, in a sense. A fully polished, almost tonneau-shaped case features a short 45mm lug-to-lug measurement, while the lack of downturning of the lugs means the case still maintains quite a bit of presence on the wrist. On the Type 11, the lack of a bezel means the dial and crystal extend to the edges of the 41mm diameter. It's this kind of seamless visual effect that has lent models like the Type 1 and the Type 3 a distinctively futuristic look, and here it works very well with these lugs. Water resistance is bumped up to 3 ATM (as opposed to the typically "splash resistant" rating of its non-dive watches). On the dial side, we get the satellite display that Ressence is best known for, showing the hours, running seconds, and a power reserve indicator withi...
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