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Minase is one of those special Japanese brands boasting outspoken designs and incredible craftsmanship. These things made me fall in love with the Minase’s Divido series. From the moment I laid eyes on the Divido’s remarkable design, I knew that Minase was doing something special. That feeling became even stronger when I had a chance […] Visit Hands-On With The Eye-Catching Minase Uruga In Green And Blue to read the full article.

In this hobby of ours, there constantly exists the urge to dive down new rabbit holes and subgenres of watch collecting, awaiting the next reason for us to open our wallets and find a reason to justify purchasing another piece. While this typically takes the form of a unique color combination or bezel insert, what about a function like backlights? Sure, Timex’s Indiglo has most certainly found mainstay within the watch industry––as has Casio’s Electro Luminesce technology and of course lume––but what others are out there? For those who haven’t had the pleasure, I now have the honor of introducing you to the fairly forgotten Seiko 7559 movement, utilized here in its most unique application: the 5010 model.  A Brief History of the Cal. 7559 and its Applications As is the story with most watches I tend to develop an interest in, little is known about the design process behind this movement or model outside of repair manuals, blog posts, and owner photographs. The information included here is based on my own research, and I invite anyone interested in this model or movement to include any additional material they may know in the comments section below. Though I’ve attempted to collect as much information on the subject as possible, I would be delighted to hear that more pictures or materials of any kind exist elsewhere.  Production of the cal. 7559 began somewhere in the summer months of 1978 and continued until the late 1980s. The quartz movement itself is a...

All that, and more, in this (revived!) weekly round-up of vintage watches from around the web.

On the occasion of Porsche launching the 911 992.2 Hybrid, Porsche Design introduced a new watch collection to its custom-built program. Mechanically based on the previous generation of the Globetimer, Porsche Design now puts it in the titanium case of the chronograph. Made to order, and with tons of custom options on offer, you can […]

News broke this morning that Chanel has invested a 25% stake in MB&F;, one of our favorite independent brands. The investment comes on the eve of MB&F;’s 20th anniversary year, and is being framed by the brand as future-proofing the company. “It was our responsibility,” according to a statement from founder Max Büsser, “in today’s very favourable context and with our management team in its prime, to take this major step to ensure our long-term future.” MB&F; founder Max Büsser Büsser retains a majority stake in the company (60%) while his partner and Head of R&D; & Production Serge Kriknoff owns 15%. According to the statement released by MB&F;, the brand will continue to be run independently by the current leadership team, which also includes Charris Yadigaroglou (Head of Marketing Communications) and Thibault Verdonckt (Head of Sales). Brands taking on investment is of course nothing new, and the decision of a niche independent that has displayed over multiple decades that it’s capable of not only sustaining itself but growing feels like a smart business decision. It plays directly into a topic that comes up a lot in the world of independent watchmaking: What happens when a founder moves on? While there is no indication that Büsser is stepping aside anytime soon, longevity is something always on the mind of watch collectors. This is an industry, after all, where some brands can trace their roots to the 18th century. We covered this very topic in a Q&A; podcas...

Earlier this month, Longines debuted a new non-limited version of their popular Spirit Zulu Time in Titanium. Back when the brand partnered with Hodinkee for an exclusive limited edition, folks were a bit critical of the fact that the watch seemed strikingly similar to the Tudor Black Bay Pro, a point of criticism that didn't really concern me. It was a handsome watch, in my opinion but I wasn't a fan of the FOMO associated with the limited edition. Thankfully, if you were a fan of the idea behind the watch, you now have an option to pick up a model that arguably looks a little more refined - with features like a grade 5 titanium case and bracelet and a "true" GMT movement.

Earlier this month, Worn & Wound hit the road, traveling just a few hours up the interstate to Boston, MA, where we were joined by our friends at Bulova for a friendly neighborhood watch meetup at Democracy Brewing in the city’s Downtown Crossing neighborhood.  Bulova brought a ton of great watches for everyone to check out, including the newest edition of the Lunar Pilot in a bold red colorway, as well as the latest versions of the Surveyor, Jet Star, and Super Seville. The Super Seville in particular was a big hit, with a classic integrated bracelet look and Bulova’s state-of-the-art Precisionist movement. In addition to Bulova, Accutron, Alpina, and Frederique Constant were also well represented at the event.  Boston has a fantastic watch enthusiast culture, and attendees were pulled from no less than three are collecting groups: Boston’s RedBar Chapter, Booze & Bezels (based in southern New Hampshire), and the Boston Watch Shots group. Everyone came with an interesting watch on their wrist and enthusiasm for the growing community in greater Boston.  At the end of the night, a Bulova A-11 Hack was raffled off to a lucky winner, as well as several items from our new collection of Worn & Wound merch. Thanks to everyone for coming out, and thanks to Bulova for being our partners in this event. Stay tuned to these pages, the Worn & Wound+ Slack channel, and social media for information on future events. Images from this post: The post Worn & Wound Teams Up with Bul...

Inside the collection of one of Japan's leading vintage watch dealers.

It should come as no surprise to regular readers of Worn & Wound that we are big fans of Louis Erard. Their irreverent and original approach to watchmaking sets them apart in a crowded market and rarely fails to bring a smile (sometimes literally). But for as good as the brand can be on their own, they are at their best when they aren’t going alone.  Collaboration has been the name of the game for Louis Erard in recent years, and this year’s Louis Erard x The Horophile La Petite Seconde Metropolis is an excellent reminder of why. First introduced around this time last year, the first collaboration between Louis Erard and The Horophile (aka Amr Sindi) was a masterclass in updated Art Deco design, and offered collectors a wonderfully understated and modern dress watch. This latest iteration of La Petite Seconde Metropolis builds on last year’s releases, reimagining the detailed watch with a vibrant green dial. If last year’s trio of Metropoli was Louis Erard reflecting back on 1920’s New York, they would tell you that this year’s release is a more contemporary take on the concept. Nowhere is this more evident than in Louis Erard’s use of color. Where last year’s trio of salmon, slate, and tobacco dials punctuated by rose gold accents were unapologetically old school, the green and silver colorway feels decidedly more modern. Of course, look to the remaining Art Deco icons of New York or Paris, and you’ll see plenty of green - from the stained glass windo...

After nearly 20 years, MB&F; finds a new friend in the famed French fashion brand.

The older I get, the fonder I become of rectangular watches. Today, we have such a watch that got my attention last week. It’s one of the most beautiful rectangular jump-hour watches from the 1930s I have ever seen. And maybe it’s a bit surprising that it was made by Doxa. Until about 10 days […] Visit #TBT Jump Into The World Of Vintage Watches With The Stunning Doxa Jump Hour to read the full article.

One of the most popular model that Longines have launched in the recent years is back with a fancier duo tone case. The Longines Spirit Flyback comes either in Steel and 18-Carat Yellow Gold or Steel and 18-Carat Pink Gold!

A year ago, Louis Erard and watch influencer The Horophile (Amr Sindi) joined forces to create a special trilogy of the brand’s Petite Seconde known as the Metropolis. Following the same Art Deco recipe, the latest Petite Seconde Metropolis flaunts an attractive green dial, and comes in a non-limited edition. Since Manuel Emch’s arrival as […]

Independent and creative high-end watchmaking is more than ever at the centre stage of the watch industry. The interest of collectors in such rare and exclusive watches, produced by small-scale companies and infused with the soul of their creators, has been on the rise for several years now. And as a consequence, large luxury groups […]

The large, French, luxury house has taken a minority ownership stake in MB&F; which turns 20 years old next year. The post Chanel takes 25% ownership stake in MB&F; appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Proving recent rumours to be true, MB&F; has just announced that Chanel now owns 25% of the company. The terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is likely that the valuation of the independent watchmaker not far from the CHF120 million mark. Though meaningful in the context of independent watchmaker, it is a small investment for Chanel, which had 2023 revenues of almost US$20 billion. MB&F; will continue to be controlled by founder Maximilian Büsser (above left), who pares his stake down to 60% stake, while his longtime deputy, Serge Kriknoff, continues with a 15% share in the brand best known for its sculptural, sci-fi creations. The pair were the only shareholders in the brand prior to the Chanel investment. The MB&F; HM11 A major player behind the scenes With its MB&F; investment, Chanel continues to grow its presence in watchmaking, particularly independent watchmaking. The stake in MB&F; follows on Chanel’s investment in F.P. Journe (believed to be about a quarter), and about a half share in Romain Gauthier. Chanel has also long owned a substantial stake in Bell & Ross, as well as a quarter of movement maker Kenissi. Add to those Chanel’s holdings in the watchmaking supply chain, and the result is a luxury group that has a substantial and growing player in watchmaking. Chanel’s watch and jewellery chief, Frédéric Grangié, said the investment in MB&F; “is part of our long-term strategy to continue to preserve, develop and invest in specialist know-how and...

It’s no secret that the number of authorized multi-brand dealers for big watch companies has decreased significantly in the last decade. Only the large(r) chains, such as Wempe, Bucherer, Watches of Switzerland, and some local ones, seem to keep their portfolios secure with the big groups and brands. The traditional “mom-and-pop” jewelers are vanishing from […] Visit Is There A Future For The Brick-And-Mortar Multi-Brand Watch Dealer? to read the full article.

The PRX Robot Grendizer stands to entice a whole new audience to one of the strongest entry-level mechanical watches.The post Tissot brings two 1970s legends together with the PRX UFO Robot Grendizer appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Following the 2022 debut of its first ever tourbillon – and the brand’s most complicated watch ever – Grand Seiko follows up this year with the Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT005 “Daybreak”. Mechanically identical to its predecessor (the SLGT003), the new Kodo still boasts a co-axial tourbillon and remontoir, a novel construction unique to the Kodo. But the Kodo SLGT005 is dressed in brighter colours of silver tones and pale greys, hence the “Daybreak” nickname. The result is a watch that’s less aggressively technical in style, but just as complicated. And thanks to its lighter palette, the technicality and decoration of the movement are arguably more prominent in the Kodo “Daybreak”. Initial thoughts The Kodo in its original form had a strikingly skeletonised appearance that maximised the view of its intricate mechanics, giving something of an anime sci-fi aesthetic. This was accentuated by the dark colours highlighted with vivid, dark red rubies. The new version, on the other hand, is both lighter in colour and visual weight. Because there’s less colour contrast in the movement, it appears a bit more classical and less stylised. A clever touch are the blue jewels to replace the conventional red ruby bearings, which enhances the “daylight” theme. The original Kodo SLGT003 from 2022 Even though it looks different, the Kodo SLGT005 is identical in technical terms. So it still has the impressively constructed movement with a novel approach to t...

This is not the first time 1970s pop culture has come to life on a watch dial, and it’s likely not to be the last time. There’s just something appealing about past icons, and reviving them in relation to watches is common practice. One such watch to get this type of makeover is the Tissot […]

I live in a world where €10,000 isn’t throwaway money. However, I was researching a list of my favorite watches under this magic threshold, and something dawned on me. The world has changed, and while I’ve been living in it, I’ve slept through the fact that many watches cost significantly more than this. At first, […] Visit Fratello Favorites: The Best Watches Under €10K- Mike’s Picks From Nomos, Zenith, And JLC to read the full article.

Martin Green has a passion for dress watches, so HYT has always been an interesting brand for him to write about, but not one he could see himself owning. The T1 has changed that.

Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! If you’re listening to this latest episode on the day of its release, then Geneva Watch Days 2024 is just a week away. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to discuss the event and make some wishes and predictions about what they’d like to see from […] Visit Fratello Talks: Geneva Watch Days 2024 - Wishes And Predictions to read the full article.

Ben and I catch up with the actor and director on what he's collecting nowadays.

Today, we’ll go hands-on with two lovely Glashütte Original references from the Senator Excellence series. The first is a stainless steel Perpetual Calendar, and the second is a red gold model with moonphase and date complications. Both share elegant designs and legible dials. Only two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to review the Glashütte […] Visit Hands-On: The Glashütte Original Senator Excellence Perpetual Calendar And Panorama Date Moon Phase to read the full article.