Latest watch news · Page 53

There is something to be said for the steady, low-frequency hum of a busy terminal airport lounge mid-morning.

Straum treats the Jan Mayen to a new, frosted galvanic white dial, alongside a debut for its all-new titanium bracelet

Hot on the heels of the opening of Porsche Design's new watch manufacture in Grenchen, Switzerland, Hodinkee and Watches of Switzerland (the exclusive authorized watch retailer of Porsche Design in the U.S.), hosted an evening with the brand here in New York City. The night served as a perfect window for local collectors to explore Porsche Design's approach to watchmaking, including the latest watches and an impressive selection of heritage timepieces from the brand. After some time spent mingling and socializing along a bay of new and vintage Porsche 911s parked on Greene Street, attention turned to the conversation between Hodinkee Editor TanTan Wang and Porsche Design Brand Ambassador (and actor) Orlando Bloom. In a wide-ranging discussion, TanTan and Orlando discussed the history of Porsche Design watches, highlights from their shared visit to the brand's newly opened Swiss Manufacture, and speculation about what's to come from the iconic design house. Housed at the base of the Jura Mountains, in the former home of Eterna Watches, the new headquarters of Porsche Design Timepieces represents a clear example of "The Porsche Way" of watchmaking. Since Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche expanded his design philosophy from cars into the large Porsche Design lifestyle brand in the 1970s, the new factory allows the brand to further its extraordinary level of technological innovation and intelligent design. A watchmaker from the newly opened Swiss Manufacture showcased the ...

From the imposing astronomical clocks of Tudor England to the exquisite pendant watches of Victorian Britain, timekeeping has long been a symbol of power, prestige, and technological marvel within Europe’s royal courts. This new series explores the fascinating evolution of clocks and watches crafted specifically for royalty, tracing how these intricate masterpieces reflected the tastes, ambitions, and innovations of monarchs. Through the lens of craftsmanship, artistry, and historical significance, we reveal how these royal timepieces marked the passage of dynasties and empires. Louis XIV (1638–1715), the ‘Sun King’, was not only a patron of the arts but also an avid collector of scientific instruments, clocks, and watches. His interest reflected both his fascination with astronomy and mechanics, and his desire to project royal magnificence through technological marvels. Louis XIV ascended to the throne of France as a child, inheriting the crown at just four years old after the death of his father, Louis XIII. His early years were shaped by regency under his mother, Anne of Austria, and the powerful guidance of Cardinal Mazarin, who navigated the kingdom through internal rebellions and European conflicts.  Emerging from this formative period, Louis assumed full control of the kingdom at the age of 23, determined to consolidate royal authority and establish himself as the embodiment of absolute monarchy. His rise to power was not just a succession of events, but th...

Normally, you have to come in-store to purchase watches from our "The Frontier", but for a limited time you can buy them from us online.

Comprehensive review of the new Greubel Forsey Balancier QM GF09CM with a video of Michel Nydegger, CEO of Greubel Forsey .

Launched in 2020, the Antarctique is Czapek’s distinctive take on the integrated luxury sports watch powered by the brand’s first in-house calibre. Although the Antarctique has embraced complications, the go-to model is the more straightforward time-only reference, often featuring textured dials, like the successful Passage de Drake editions. Following the Antarctique Green Meteor, Czapek proposes […]

Last year, you may have remembered our coverage of the Classic One from US-based independent watch brand Havid Nagan. It was the brand's first round watch, marking a departure from its earlier cushion-cased HN series. But founder Aren Bazerkanian is turning back to the distinct, almost square silhouette of its earlier models with Havid Nagan's latest endeavor, the HN02. But that's not to say that the Classic One was simply a blip in a collection of cushion cases—rather, it's clear that the new HN02 actually draws from a lot of the aesthetic developments that the Classic One brought to the table, most notably in the very unique layered dial design as well as the case. This grade 5 titanium case, while still cushioned, is quite an evolution from the earlier HN00 and HN01 designs with its significantly more traditional lugs. And while the previous shape was distinctive, I think the more classic lugs help tone down the overall feel of the HN02 on the wrist, lending it a more conservative wearing experience and shortening the lug-to-lug length on smaller wrists. I think the more traditional case shape is quite welcome in letting the flamboyancy of the dial shine here without overwhelming the entire watch. The HN02 also brings forth the compact, dress-watch-like sizing found in the Classic One, with a 38mm diameter and a thin 9-millimeter case height. The HN02 comes in two variations, with one in standard titanium and the other in a dark DLC-coated finish. DLC coating means th...

Sternglas has built an extensive collection of colorful watches based on the minimalist Bauhaus philosophy. But if you ask me what the true representation of that style is, it’s undoubtedly the brand’s Naos line. The Naos is Sternglas’s most popular model and the true representation of the Bauhaus principles translated into a watch. To celebrate […] Visit Sternglas Celebrates 10 Years With The Colorful Naos Automatik Edition Bauhaus X to read the full article.

The Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet is not new to Parmigiani Fleurier’s catalog, but this Mineral Blue execution is. The watch takes the existing 42.5mm Ultra-Cermet sports chronograph and shifts the tone with a Blackor and Mineral Blue dial, a matching Mineral Blue rubber strap, and the same full Ultra-Cermet case. The star of the […] Visit Sintered And Scintillating: The New Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet Mineral Blue to read the full article.

Designed as a “weekend watch for a Parmigiani customer” and comprising the time-and-date Automatic and Chronograph lines, with both date and no-date configurations in exciting colour combinations, the Tonda PF Sport collection (introduced in 2023) added an Ultra-Cermet model in 2025, bringing something genuinely new to high-end watchmaking. With it, Parmigiani Fleurier became the first […]

Paris is the inspiration behind this latest special edition again, but Zenith has done it differently this time. In 2024, the brand took cues from the city’s modern architecture and combined it with the sharp lines of the Defy Skyline Paris Edition. This time, however, Zenith has chosen its vintage-inspired El Primero watch, resulting in […]

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we ponder what would be different if we started collecting watches today. We’re not allowing ourselves to roll in with all of the wisdom and hard knocks we’ve encountered. It would be a fresh start. Of course, we start with some other topics, per our […] Visit Fratello On Air: What If We Started Collecting Watches Today? to read the full article.

Nodus is one of the most interesting young watch companies today. Along with offering a regular collection of excellent, affordable tool watches, the Los Angeles-based brand has created the Nodus Design Lab for its more experimental collaborative efforts. A great example is the brilliant Trailtrekker that I reviewed in 2024. Another standout collaboration was last […] Visit The New Nodus Obscura II — Helping You Take Great Pictures With An Exposure Gauge Complication to read the full article.

For those headed down the cape this summer, Hermès has unveiled an upscaled Cape Cod in brushed titanium. In some ways, it represents something of an ‘Offshore’ moment for the Cape Cod — a bolder, sportier version of one of the brand’s most emblematic models. While Henri d’Origny’s original 1991 design has evolved over the years to become more of a unisex concept, the latest execution is more overtly masculine than any prior variant in both size and finish. Initial thoughts Watches like the Cape Cod illustrate the strides taken by a handful of so-called ‘fashion brands’ that have successfully crossed over into watchmaking in the past few decades — Hermès is a poster child of this movement. The brand’s original designs — especially its emphasis on details like typography — and high-end movements have enabled it to make significant inroads with serious collectors, to say nothing of its broader success with its primary clientele. Despite the light weight of the 41 mm titanium case, the upscaled Cape Cod has substantial wrist presence on account of its design, which emphasises the lug-to-lug distance — perhaps a bit too much. But thanks in part to its monochromatic case and dial — the vivid orange seconds hand is the only pop of colour — the personality of the Cape Cod transforms easily with a strap change. Despite the strength of the Hermès brand and the obvious quality of the Cape Cod, the watch is priced well at US$7,900. That’s significan...

Light blue and marigold on a full-titanium case, with carbon and a limited-edition badge. TAG Heuer's Gulf collab just got very serious. TAG Heuer Formula 1 Automatic Chronograph x Gulf: titanium and carbon build in Gulf's iconic light blue and marigold livery. New limited edition inside.

A. Lange & Söhne’s 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar brings together high complications, vintage-inspired design and a stunning pink-gold dial in one deeply romantic expression of haute horlogerie! What We Love Traditional pocket watch inspired vintage case design Pink gold dial suits this model perfectly and captures it in the best light Two romantic high-complications of rattrapante and perpetual calendar are showcased beautifully What We Don’t No lume for low-light legibility The case thickness may be large for some This classic pocket-watch inspired design may not be practical for daily wear Overall Rating: 9.4 / 10 Value for Money: 9.5/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 9.5/10 Build Quality: 9.5/10 The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is one of those timepieces that immediately reminds you why the Saxon manufacture is held in such high regard. It brings together so much of what makes German watchmaking special, but does so in a way that leaves you genuinely in awe. I recently did a video on this watch, sharing my thoughts on what makes it so special, and my opinion still has not changed: this is easily one of my top three favourite models from the brand. But enough of me drooling over it, let’s get into what makes this timepiece so remarkable. The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar was first introduced in 2013 as a milestone in Lange’s modern chronograph history. As the name suggests, the timepiece brings together a rat...

Thoughts and attitudes toward Kickstarter funded watch projects have shifted pretty dramatically over the years. It used to be incredibly common for microbrands to break on Kickstarter with community funded projects, and indeed some of our favorite brands trace their roots to a Kickstarter campaign. But as the saying goes, one bad apple spoils the bunch, and a very small percentage of opportunists, hype artists, or some combination thereof among the larger group of up and coming watch brands may have helped to contribute to an environment where skepticism about the motives of a brand prevailed over enthusiasm. There are still cool projects on Kickstarter, but it’s no longer the dedicated proving ground it once was, and it has increasingly become a platform for established brands to introduce products that might not fit into their normal catalog or release cycle.  And that’s how we find an unlikely Kickstarter campaign from the Italian brand D1 Milano. They’ve been around since 2013, so they’re hardly new to the watch enthusiast stage, yet find themselves on Kickstarter with a project that is a little outside their usual scope. The Impossible Watch is a collaboration with 3D artist Peter Tarka, and based on a retro-futuristic 3D composition by the artist that is being framed as “technically impossible in its original form.”  I’ll be honest here and say that I’m not sure how “impossible” this idea ever really could have been, as the watch itself is, whe...

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, […]

We take a close look at the Petermann Bedat 1825 Souscription watch in tantalum. This watch was offered to kickstart the series.

I was recently invited by the Hampden Watch Company to participate in their First Hand Watchmaking Workshop and experience what it’s like to build my own watch from the ground up. I first happened upon the program through an Instagram advertisement at the beginning of 2026, only a couple of months after its December 2025 launch. Upon my initial review of the program’s website and details at that time, my only gripe was the cost of the workshop itself (a topic we will revisit later), especially as an enthusiast who bases his collecting solely on the affordable vintage sphere. When Hampden reached out to me, I became eager to see how my area of watch collecting would intersect with a different sphere of the hobby; in essence, how my ultra-budget-conscious perspective on watch collecting would intertwine or potentially clash with that of a more luxury oriented experience. Additionally, having personally performed minor maintenance and repairs on watches without professional equipment or knowledge of how to fully disassemble or reassemble a movement, I was curious to see what type of experience I would gain and potentially implement in my daily watch life through participating in the workshop. The day starts at 9:30 AM in Hampden’s headquarters located in a rather quiet area within the West Loop of Chicago. The well-preserved architecture of the building’s interior is a remarkable demonstration of how to properly preserve old industrial spaces from a period gone by–...

When Keith Mitchell tapped in for par on the 72nd hole of last week's U.S. Open, it secured a tie for fourth—the best finish of his career in a PGA Tour major. Ten days earlier, Mitchell wasn't even in the field; he'd had to play his way in through a last-minute qualifier. After an opening front nine of six-over, he clawed his way back and, by the third round, sat tied for eleventh. At the post-round press conference, he was wearing a pièce unique Laurent Ferrier. Months earlier, we got the backstory behind this watch—and his entire collection—and we're thrilled to bring you that today in our latest episode of Talking Watches. Mitchell is as well known for his style on the course as for his ball-striking, the product of a longtime collaboration with Atlanta-based clothier Sid Mashburn. But the discerning eye will notice that the style extends to the wrist. Mitchell has long been a watch guy—he made a brief appearance on Ben Clymer Presents—but in this episode, he gets the full Talking Watches treatment, sitting down with us to walk through his collection, including how it started, the time a family Rolex was stolen (and remains missing), and the story behind his Tweety Bird Baby G.  After more than a decade on tour, Mitchell remains one of the most likable guys in the game, and that comes through in his collection. There are some serious Rolex and Patek Philippe pieces, sure, but he's just as enthusiastic about his G-Shock. He draws a parallel between watches a...

Greubel Forsey, the high-end independent brand founded in 2004, has long been associated with multi-axis tourbillons, often staged in enormous, asymmetric cases with protrusions to accommodate the mechanics and offer panoramic views. The first model to appear without a tourbillon was the Balancier, equipped with an enormous 12.6mm dial-side balance wheel. Ever evolving, the latest […]

Partly a new watch, partly a manifesto, the Greubel Forsey (GF) Balancier QM inaugurates the brand’s Qualité Musée (QM) designation, which codifies its approach to world-class construction and finishing. Building on the Balancier Contemporain platform, GF has succeeded in refining its ‘entry level’ time-only watch, which comes in a 39.6 mm white gold case and is limited to 33 pieces. Initial thoughts The Balancier QM feels immediately familiair. It should, since it borrows much of its architecture from the recently-discontinued Balancier Contemporain. But what it lacks in novelty, it makes up in execution. In fact, the brand could hardly have picked a better way to inaugurate its official quality standard, dubbed Qualité Musée (QM). Without complications or chronometric fanfare, the Balancier QM’s design puts finishing at the forefront. The self-proclaimed ‘museum quality’ standard would sound brash coming from most brands, but it feels reasonable coming from GF. This ambition is evident throughout the Balancier QM. Even if the branding were blinded, the quality of make will be obvious to future generations of restorers, who will be able to tell immediately that the Balancier QM was never a commodity item. Even if they miss the escape wheel, which is polished on both sides, the artfully rounded pallet stones should catch their attention. On a technical level, the Balancier QM is an evolution of the Contemporain and doesn’t break much new ground. It’s st...