Latest watch news · Page 136

Union Glashütte continues to position itself in the segment of robust, fairly-priced mechanical chronographs with a distinctly modern look. The Belisar Chronograph Sport, introduced in 2024 as a more contemporary alternative within the Belisar collection, marked a departure from vintage cues. It now evolves with the addition of a stainless steel bracelet, enhancing its presence and versatility. […]

This year, they trimmed it back — "only" 70 SKUs. And yet, somehow, we still had to fight to keep our TOP Cartier watches list to five.

Parisian watchmaking maison L. Leroy was founded by Basile-Charles Le Roy in 1785 and became the official watchmaker to King Louis XVI and later to Napoleon I and Queen Victoria. Expanding operations to Switzerland, L. Leroy produced marine chronometers for the French Navy and amassed 384 gold medals in chronometry competitions. Iconic masterpieces like the […]

Another Friday, another list. Today, we move on from a series about alternatives to different Rolex models. But we’re staying close because, this time, we will look at alternatives to the Tudor Black Bay. It is hard to deny that the Black Bay has become a benchmark series of watches under €5,000 since its 2012 […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Tudor Black Bay Alternatives In 2026 to read the full article.

The Swiss Watch Federation has just released its figures as of the end of March 2026. The month of March closed with a 1% decline in watch exports. More importantly, it provides a view of the trend for the first quarter of the year. Total exports reached CHF 6.2 billion, representing a modest increase of […]

Watches and Wonders. Watches and Wonders. It’s all we’ve been talking about, I know. So, all I will say for this Friday Wind Down on the subject is that you can find all of our written coverage here and video coverage here. Now let’s move on to some horological headlines from this past week that … Continued

We wouldn’t go as far as to say that there’s something fundamentally different about the way Jiro Katayama approaches watchmaking. After all, industrial design, be it cars, instruments, or machinery, has inspired and defined quite a few independents. Still, most start from horology and branch outward, yet the mind behind Otsuka Lotec comes directly from […]

This year marked my second year at Watches and Wonders, and guess what: I enjoyed 2026 a lot more than the previous year. In fact, if I include Geneva Watch Days and historic Baselworld visits, this year was a standout. While I didn’t walk away with any must-haves on my list, I relaxed a bit […] Visit Fresh From The Fair: Mike’s Favorite Watches And Wonders 2026 Releases to read the full article.

It is somewhat counterintuitive to think that New York-based jeweller Jacob & Co. is one of the fastest growing brands in the mostly stagnant Swiss watch industry. In fact, Jacob & Co. is now a watchmaker first and a jeweller second by turnover – watches account for 75% of the brand’s revenue today. This success is party due to the brand’s open-minded approach to movement making and the surprising (and often risky) projects it has produced, from the first 31-day wristwatch in 2006 to the world’s fastest tourbillon in 2026. One of Jacob & Co.’s specialties is dial-side automata - micro-mechanical sculptures that that can be activated on demand. Alongside the launch of the flagship Godfather II, Jacob & Co. expanded its range of automata watches with new sapphire editions of the Bugatti Tourbillon, a malachite-dialled Casino, and new editions of the provocative Oil Pump. The Bugatti Tourbillon Sapphire Jacob & Co. is not the first watch brand to collaborate with celebrated carmaker Bugatti, but the collaboration is more than a mere commercial tie-up. In fact, the two companies share a manufacturing partner - Concepto - a La Chaux-de-Fonds-based specialist in components and white-label movements. Bugatti enlisted Concepto to produce the fully analogue instrument cluster of its latest hypercar - the aptly named Tourbillon. This was a delightful return to tactility in a world of digital displays and ubiquitous touchscreens. This three-way collaboration contin...

Get ready for a wave of L.U.C watches that Chopard presented during Watches and Wonders 2026. Apart from another look at the L.U.C 1860 with an Areuse blue dial in Lucent Steel, there are also the L.U.C XPS Prussian Blue, L.U.C Strike One Titanium, two versions of the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 – Straw Marquetry […] Visit One More Look At All The L.U.C Watches That Chopard Presented During Watches And Wonders 2026 to read the full article.

For the first time ever, walk away from a Windup Watch Fair with a new timepiece you built yourself. Join the Worn & Wound team with our friends from DIY Watch Club on Saturday May 2nd and Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 11 AM to 1 PM for a private watchmaking class led by DIY […]

Here's the thing. The 50th Anniversary Nautilus Collection was going to sell no matter what caliber was used, what case material was chosen, or what format was given. This is just a reality of the strength of Patek Philippe in the world today, and how in-demand integrated bracelet watches are. And to be clear, the Nautilus, along with the Royal Oak, set the tone long ago and remains at the pinnacle of the category. Actually, one would say the Nautilus remains at the pinnacle of *watches* in general when it comes to simple demand. It's the one that the most powerful people I know lust after the most – and I'm not saying that's good or bad, but it really just is. And here's the thing: the 40th anniversary of the Nautilus was a bit of a let-down for me. Because the Nautilus really is *the watch* for so many of us, and indeed, I am a true fan and always have been, and indeed, always will be, no matter how many dinguses I see wearing them today. 3700G Circa 1980, 5711R Circa 2015, 5811G Circa 2024 – Yes, I like the Nautilus a lot. As many of you know, the very first Patek Philippe I ever purchased was a 3940G. The very second? A Nautilus reference 3700A (I paid $18,000 for it, in a group buy with Paul Boutros, who bought a 222 for even less 😵‍💫). Some years later, I bought a very rare 3700G (I sold it to a close friend and mentor when he sold his company because it was something he'd always dreamed of owning). In 2015, when Nautiluses were still sitting in cases,...

The Oscar Award-winning actor goes incognito on TikTok and gives us a personal glimpse into his watch collection.

A sold-out celebration of British watchmaking with special editions and serious wrist spotting on display. Afternoon tea and biscuits not included.

A radical rethink of amplitude from one of modern watchmaking's most influential minds.

With its combination of understated elegance and practical utility, the A. Lange & Söhne Time Zone might just be the ultimate luxury travel watch.

In continuation of their Step Outside campaign, Hamilton has announced a new partnership with the intrepid explorer, scientist, and TV Host.

The annual holiday gathering of car and watch collectors has become a festive staple of the season in Scottsdale.

We'll have further auction coverage in the coming weeks, but it's worth giving Phillips a bit more attention, as it continues to lead in year-over-year sales. The auction house sold a record total of over $290 million in watches last year and has had five years in a row with over $200 million in sales. The market has shifted (I'd argue at least twice) in the past few years, but despite the growing F.P. Journe, independent, and pocket watch (yes, pocket watch) markets, the top lots for Phillips continue to be Patek Philippe. At each of their spring auctions, Phillips is selling an important Patek to headline the sale, and each is the kind of watch that could be the pinnacle of the world's top collections. Normal caveat here: I haven't seen these watches in person yet, and anyone considering bidding should make sure to check any watch in person if at all possible. A Patek Philippe ref. 2523 Two-Crown World Time With Cloissoné Enamel South America Dial First, we have the star of Geneva, to be sold on May 9: the Patek Philippe ref. 2523 two-crown world time with cloisonné enamel map of South America, from 1953. Aside from rare variants of 2499s or 1518s (and a few repeaters), these two-crown watches, with their incredible, angular lugs and giant open canvas at the center of the dial, have become the holiest of Holy Grails for many collectors. They are rare enough to be hunted and coveted, but there are also enough out there to be studied, understood, and codified. Too rare o...

Now that the dust has settled over Watches and Wonders 2026, it is time to look beyond the key novelties unveiled during the fair. More importantly, it is time to focus on the major trends that emerged, both during the show itself and through the launches surrounding it. Beyond individual releases, this year’s edition confirmed […]

Perhaps only second to Rolex, Patek Philippe’s novelties rank among some of the most highly anticipated at each year’s Watches & Wonders. The maison (like Rolex) is one of a select few brands that notoriously keeps its models under strict lock and key until the fair. Despite receiving the press kit in our inboxes that fateful morning, we all know nothing really compares to seeing the watches in the metal. Once you’ve been attending Watches & Wonders for many years, you know the Patek Philippe choreography well. The booth is one of the sleekest and most well-appointed each year, standing brightly lit and with a commanding presence directly across from the moodier Rolex outpost. As you pass through the threshold, you’re met with a warm and serene vibe that may surprise some for such a prestigious and traditional brand. After mingling with representatives from every major U.S. media outlet, you’re all ushered into the expansive roundtable room at the back of the booth. Here, you must choose your seat carefully in front of the covered tray you hope will reveal the novelty you’re most excited to see. At the moment of the grand unveiling, gloved experts from the maison lift the coverings off the trays in perfect synchronicity, marking the start of the dance, which moves counterclockwise around each station featuring a different watch family. This year, I choose well, beginning my journey with the 50th anniversary Nautilus models. Here, we have three new executions of...

DEPLOYANT - The watch magazine for collectors, by collectors Editor: We next have our second guest Armchair Picks. Daryll is a Deployant friend who goes by the handle Brighty, and is a seasoned collector who is kind enough to share his thoughts on the new releases. WWG26 Armchair Picks: Daryll’s top 3 from the new releases Hello everyone, First of all, thank you, Deployant [...] The post WWG26 Armchair Picks: Daryll’s top 3 from the new releases appeared first on DEPLOYANT.

What We Know Fans of titanium watches now have another truly notable bracelet/strap option for their favorite titanium watches, as Ming has just announced that the brand's frankly jaw-dropping Polymesh bracelet will now be sold in a straight springbar setup. Ming launched the original Polymesh spec back in October of last year, with curved links designed to work well with the brand's own watches. As of today, all 1742 components of this impressive design are now compatible with watches featuring 20mm lug widths, no curved spring bar needed.  For those who need a refresher, the Polymesh is a titanium design that is technically a bracelet but wears like a piece of fabric. It's soft, flowy, and incredibly comfortable. As mentioned, it's a 3D-printed design printed in place using laser sintering with titanium powder. This includes the buckle and endlinks. There are no pins or screws in the design; only the quick-change spring bars are added after the grade-5 titanium bracelet has been printed (which takes about 20 hours).  Just as with the original curved-end version, the Polymesh Straight will retail for CHF $1,500 (~$1,900) with first-week availability limited to Ming, Fears, and Massena LAB (all part of the Alternative Horological Alliance), after which, availability will also include Ming's own retail locations and partners.  What We Think I'll cut to the chase here: I love a good strap and/or bracelet, I have a handful of titanium watches, and this is a release I have ...

I don’t think it’s hyperbole, exactly, to say that one of the things I saw in Geneva last week that I was most excited about was an accessory from a brand that wasn’t even officially exhibiting during Watches & Wonders week. On our first day on the ground in Geneva, sleep deprived and somewhat deliriously walking through the Beau Rivage with no appointments even on the books, we ran into a Ming team member outside a suite, who was happy to show us a number of things we can’t yet talk about that he was carrying around in his bag. That’s the kind of interaction that makes Watches & Wonders week special, in my opinion. Chance encounters, seeing things that are great that you never would have expected to.  One of those goodies pulled from that bag is something we can talk about, as of today. The Ming Polymesh bracelet, which we first covered here, has been one of those objects of pure fascination since I first handled it at Geneva Watch Days in the late summer of last year. Now, for the first time, Ming has created a product that is meant to work with watches outside of the Ming catalog with the Polymesh – Straight, a version of the bracelet with straight end pieces that can fit any watch with a 20mm lug width.  Of course the previous version of the Polymesh could also be used with watches outside of Ming’s own ecosystem, but the curved spring bars were a limiting factor. Ming’s decision to make a product that is expressly designed for non-Ming watches feels ...

With its unmistakable avant-garde design, the DB28 is De Bethune’s most recognisable model. Making its debut in 2010, the DB28 is characterised by its futuristic silhouette with floating lugs, a delta-shaped bridge at the centre of the dial reminiscent of the Starfleet Commando logo in Star Trek, and a crown at noon. Ever-evolving, the DB28XS […]

Why does it only look like a three-hander on the surface? Because this is the new Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux.The post This chronograph is hiding a secret: New Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.