Latest watch news · Page 453

Much of the United States has plunged into a veritable Polar Vortex, with thousands carrying out their potentially hazardous commutes to work and turning their heaters on high. Having just returned from shoveling 6 inches of snow off my driveway, I’ve become envious of some who have experienced higher than average snowfall, and are able to enjoy winter activities like sledding down the local hill or having snowball fights or hitting the slopes to ski or snowboard. With this, I felt there’s no better time to look back at the Timex Skiathlom (yes, not Skiathlon), one of the brand’s most ambitious models to date. A watch designed for skiers with all the bright and bold aesthetics of late 80s and early 90s design, it’s become a cult classic among collectors’ circles and a piece worthy of more attention. Here, I’ll provide some background on the Skiathlom’s history, detail what makes the watch such a unique piece of horology, and offer some tips for purchasing one if adding this bodacious retro oddity to your collection seems right up your alley.  Release, Design, and Specs The Skiathlom trademark was registered by Timex on March 5th, 1986––and eventually cancelled on March 29th, 1993––while the earliest advertisement for the watch was published in 1987. The Skiathlom was often featured alongside other sporting-focused watches the company produced during this era such as the Victory, Hooks/Blazer, Tri-Prix, and Wave Rider models. These pieces were sold in...

In 1965, 61 years after Paul Cattin and Georges Christian founded the company, Oris revealed one of its most iconic models, the Oris Divers. Then, five decades later, it took the form of a heritage reissue called the Divers Sixty-Five. Today, it’s time to celebrate the original’s diamond jubilee with the presentation of the Oris […] Visit Hands-On: The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition to read the full article.

Something we’ve learned about the Speedmaster over the years is that it can be, quite literally, anything. The Speedy is effectively a brand unto itself, with watches in the collection that strike just about every note possible in watchmaking. There are traditional vintage inspired Speedmasters, modern and tactical Speedmasters, Speedmasters with a jewelry focus, Speedmasters that exist to display Omega’s prowess in chronometry, and Speedmasters that are overtly obsessed with NASA and space exploration. There are even plastic Speedmasters and Speedmasters with Snoopy on the dial (which of those Speedys is made for children is an open question). Speedys come in all sizes, are made in every metal imaginable (plus some not-metals), and, even though Speedmasters are, if nothing else, chronographs, they’ve been made with a whole bunch of other complications as well. This is all just to say that in the world of Speedmasters, it’s hard to be surprised in 2025. So when Omega began teasing a new Speedy on social media recently and the guessing game began, every suggestion seemed possible.  Today, Omega announced the new Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite, a 43mm stainless steel Speedy with a meteorite dial (in two finishes) and double moonphase display at 6:00. It also features a new caliber capable of displaying the correct moonphase for both the northern and southern hemispheres.  This isn’t the first time Omega has incorporated meteorite into a Speedmaster. My personal ...

IWJG's Miami show is the grand bazaar of the wholesale watch world.

A not-so-young-brand that only appeared recently on the international scene and an independent watchmaker that we’ve named Japan’s new sensation, Otsuka Lotec is the brainchild of watchmaker Jiro Katayama. Even though these watches are extremely hard to get outside of Japan (yes, that means pure JDM coolness), the brand has started to gain recognition and […]

It probably goes without saying that here at Worn & Wound we think watch collecting is a rewarding hobby that if approached in the right way can bring you a lot of happiness over the course of many years. And unlike, say, tennis, there’s very little risk of injury. And unlike a pursuit like car collecting, you won’t need to buy a separate parcel of real estate to store your collection, unless you happen to be John Mayer (allegedly). And in our opinion it’s an easy hobby to recommend because you can get deep into it without spending a fortune, and we also happen to know there’s a great community of like-minded enthusiasts out there who can provide support, advice, and general expertise along the way. But it’s not all sunshine and daisies. Oh no, not at all. Eventually, the time will come when you need to send a watch in for service, and this is the point where enthusiasts are either made or perhaps run away from watches, never to return.  OK, I’m exaggerating somewhat. But the watch servicing process is something that binds all of us together in a way that only shared trauma can. Nobody likes to service a watch. It’s expensive, anxiety inducing, and frequently the process is less than transparent. It can also take what seems like forever to get a watch back once it’s been sent out. Plus, to state the obvious, you have to go without your watch for some indefinite period – the greatest indignity of them all! We love these things as much as one can love “t...

Which strap do you wear your MoonSwatch on? Are you still using the original strap, or have you ordered some third-party options? Well, listen up because, in a surprise move, Swatch opened an online strap store specifically for the Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch. The two-piece straps are made of rubber and have a two-tone design, […] Visit Breaking: Swatch Now Offers Official Rubber MoonSwatch Straps Online to read the full article.

It's the first of a number of big releases and news to celebrate a major milestone for MB&F;.

In our recent mention of the significant anniversaries watch brands will celebrate in 2025, we couldn’t cover every single milestone – our apologies! However, as MB&F; kicks off its 20th year of activity, we are excited to spotlight the brand’s latest releases, which revive the Longhorn lugs design. Back in 2021, to commemorate the 10th […]

2025 is MB&F;’s 20th Anniversary and their celebrations kick off with two 20-piece Limited Edition “Longhorns” in stainless steel with rhodium-plated base plates, glossy black lacquer dials, and blued hands.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, MB&F; has unveiled the Legacy Machine Perpetual Longhorn and Legacy Machine Sequential Flyback Longhorn. These new models retain the groundbreaking movements developed by Stephen McDonnell but add a fresh twist in the form of elongated lugs, or “horns,” that give the watches their name. Limited to just 20 pieces each, the Longhorn editions feature stainless steel cases and a more muted take on MB&F;’s signature style with black dials. The Longhorn is a revival of sorts of a 2009 prototype of the Legacy Machine 1. To ensure good fit across a range of wrists, the longer lugs include dual spring bar holes; one at the tip and another closer to the case. Initial thoughts As a fan of MB&F;, and especially the work of Stephen McDonnell, I was immediately interested in the Longhorn editions, despite the fact that they’re largely cosmetic variations of existing models. The watches are intrinsically interesting, given their groundbreaking movements, and new versions of good watches are always worth a look. Visually, the Longhorn editions are more monochromatic than most MB&F; designs. Featuring stainless steel cases, black lacquer sub-dials, and rhodium-plated base plates, the Longhorn editions are a departure for MB&F;, offering an alternative to the brand’s signature, extroverted style. Notably, the black-and-silver livery was used on the recent LM SE Eddy Jaquet, albeit without the “long horns”. But there’s no denying the f...

These show that MB&F; knows how to celebrate in style, if you needed any more proof.The post MB&F; kickstarts its 20th birthday with two Longhorns – the LM Perpetual and LM Sequential Flyback appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

MB&F; releases two limited editions of 20 pieces each: the the LM Perpetual Longhorn and the LM Sequential Flyback Longhorn.

Omega has released two new Speedmasters with the first dual hemisphere moonphase indication for the lunar timers. The post Omega releases two new Speedmaster Moonphase models with meteorite dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

While we won’t do the entire story of the Speedmaster once again here (look here for that), we can quickly talk about a complication that first appeared on this watch in 1985; the moonphase display… For a watch that went on the Moon and that is named the Moonwatch, it’s quite appropriate, don’t you think? […]

It’s a tradition! A new Omega Speedmaster comes on a (Speedy) Tuesday, and today, we even get two. Meet the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite models, one with a black meteorite dial and another with a gray meteorite dial. Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Omega had a wonderful 2024 with great new Speedmaster releases, and the new year […] Visit Introducing: The New Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Watches! to read the full article.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the watch community and how to find a group of like-minded (or differently minded) people within it. Whether you seek to meet people in person or online, there’s even a great option if you don’t live in a major city. For our listeners, […] Visit Fratello On Air: Finding Your Place In The Watch Community to read the full article.

During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, there were dozens of editions of the Antarctic watch by tool-watch brand Nivada Grenchen, some of them already back to life such as the Spider of the Super-Antarctic. In 2023, the brand revived one of the collection’s earliest models, an early dive watch that stood out in its own […]

Join us for an evening of lively discussion and watches as Phil Toledano and Alfred Chan host their first ever event.The post Toledano & Chan host one night in our London Discovery Studio appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

After Swatch’s Speedmaster MoonSwatch and Scuba Fifty Fathoms collections, we were waiting for the next Swatch Group classic to undergo a Bioceramic metamorphosis. But now it looks like Citizen Group is entering the competition with its new Bulova Snorkel collection. The inspiration for these Hybrid Ceramic watches comes from the brand’s iconic Oceanographer Snorkel, nicknamed […] Visit Introducing: The Bulova Snorkel Collection With Hybrid Ceramic Cases And Tropical Colors to read the full article.

Vacheron Constantin is the world’s oldest watch brand in continuous operation, and they celebrate a big anniversary this year: 270 years. That’s an incredibly long time for a company to exist, and simply by virtue of its age, Vacheron has survived virtually every kind of calamity that can befall the human beings who, at the end of the day, are responsible for keeping the thing going. Wars, disease, more wars, Instagram hype – Vacheron has seen it all. It’s certainly a milestone worth celebrating, and as brands tend to do when these big numbers crop up, they’re doing it with a watch (probably a bunch of watches, to be fair – it’s only January). In any case, to begin their big anniversary year, Vacheron Constantin has introduced a new version of their 222 in steel, a watch that has been anticipated and speculated about since its most immediate predecessor was introduced just shy of three years ago.  Just in case anyone needs a refresher, the 222 was Vacheron Constantin’s original entry in the integrated bracelet sports watch sweepstakes in 1977, the brand’s 222nd anniversary year (this is an anniversary watch to its core). It came after their counterparts in the so-called Holy Trilogy of Swiss watch brands released their own takes on this style (the Audermars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus, both designed by Gerald Genta) and was not continuously produced, so it didn’t attain the household name status of those watches. The 222 was always...

Why we need to talk about the Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is on everyone’s lips. It’s a topic that divides and generates strong opinions (pros or cons), and it will, in the future, become increasingly important, whether you like it or not. These tools, at least the tools that we, the public, can use (image or text generators such as ChatGPT), are […]

Last year, when Ressence announced the Type 8, it was met with great excitement and surprise by their fans, including yours truly. A simpler and less expensive Ressence wasn’t something that seemed on the horizon. The watch was a stripped-down take on the seemingly magical Ressence display, reduced to hours and minutes. A lack of numerals, matched with an expansive, heavily domed dial, gave the Type 8 a different mood from Ressence’s other watches. Rather than leaning toward the technical, they felt meditative, which is perhaps to say, they felt less about the engineering and more about the resulting experience. I shared my thoughts in a review you can read here. A year and a half or so later, Ressence has dropped one of the biggest surprises of 2024: a follow-up to the Type 8, which is logically called the Type 9. This wasn’t at a big event like Geneva Watch Days or Watches and Wonders but rather a random week in December, making it even more unexpected. Adding to the shock, it’s another departure from the Ressence norm, featuring their most compact case, and yet continuing the simpler hours and minutes only dial. However, where the Type 8 felt like a radical change, the Type 9 feels more like a spin-off. It’s not a new story but a subplot or side quest. Perhaps, even an alternate take on the Type 8. Case Typically, with Ressence, the dial is the star of the show, but for the Type 9, it’s the case. The dial is special, too, but it feels like a variation on the...

Highlighting the various sponsorships that watch brands engage in is not something we normally cover as news here on Worn & Wound. That’s partly because these kinds of commercial ventures rarely have much to do with what we think of watch enthusiasm, given that they’re executed by enormous corporations who historically have little regard for the hobbyist and enthusiast segment of the market. It’s also because there are so many, it would become hard to draw a line in the sand to determine what is and is not newsworthy. Virtually every watch brand sponsors something, it’s one of the most time tested marketing tactics available to a watch brand. And the very nature of watchmaking means that there are natural relationships to be formed between brands and companies in a myriad of other disciplines. Few of those disciplines match motorsport when it comes to overlap in the proverbial Venn Diagram of the two interests, and F1 in particular has a higher than average profile. So when a storied watch brand announced a return to F1 sponsorship recently, we thought it was worth discussing.  TAG Heuer announced recently that they’ll be returning as the official F1 timekeeper when the new season gets underway in March. TAG Heuer has an association with motorsport that is nearly unmatched among watch brands, so you can expect the brand to be making a pretty big deal out of the new partnership in the 75th anniversary F1 season.  This is not the first time TAG Heuer has joined f...

Electra, a Franco-Swiss brand that disappeared during the tumultuous 1970s, has been revived with this vintage-inspired dive watch.The post A daring resurrection for the Electra Dare-Devil Diver appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.