Two Broke Watch Snobs
Microbrand Dive Watch Showdown: Raven Trekker vs Nodus Sector Deep
A hands-on comparison of the Raven Trekker vs Nodus Sector Deep, covering how these two microbrand dive watches actually wear beyond the specs.
42,861 articles · 252 videos found · page 1011 of 1438
Two Broke Watch Snobs
A hands-on comparison of the Raven Trekker vs Nodus Sector Deep, covering how these two microbrand dive watches actually wear beyond the specs.
Deployant
Norqain unveils a new Freedom GMT. One of the watches will hide a golden ticket for a dream holiday for two in Ayada Maldives Resort.
Deployant
Norqain unveils a new Freedom GMT. One of the watches will hide a golden ticket for a dream holiday for two in Ayada Maldives Resort.
Fratello
I have a massive soft spot for small, independent brands. That doesn’t just apply to watches. I love it when people dare to stick their necks out and chase (probably naive) dreams in real life outside of the realm of big luxury groups. The results also tend to speak to me. These brands typically follow […] Visit Indies Only! Dreaming Up My Ideal Microbrand-Only Watch Collection to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Citizen’s, quirky, star-struck brand is back with a pair of limited edition Eco-Drive complications — the Campanola Kōjō ref. BU0020-71N in stainless steel with blue dial, and the blacked-out ref. BU0024-02N, inspired by shooting stars. Campanola’s sculptural approach to dials is alive and well, proving Citizen’s ongoing technical leadership in the field of solar-powered watches. Initial thoughts Launched in the year 2000, Campanola is an astronomically inclined sub-brand of Citizen Watch Co., contending with Seiko’s Astron and Casio’s Oceanus collection in the premium multi-function solar quartz segment, but with a more refined aesthetic. In the last decade, the brand has branched out into mechanical watches which maintained the Campanola design language and external quality — the Kasanekyo 20th Anniversary limited edition features one of my favourite raden dials. However, some of the brand’s mechanical watches were arguably diminished by the use of generic Swiss automatic movements like the Sellita SW300-1, which was paired with a Jaquet big-date module in the aforementioned Kasanekyo 20th Anniversary limited edition. This limited edition duo is a return to form for the brand, with complicated Eco-Drive calibres that offer the full Campanola experience, as well as better value. Of course, that comes with the usual tradeoffs, namely a 14.8 mm case height. That is mitigated by the rather wide 43.5 mm case diameter, which makes the height proportionally r...
Fratello
Today’s new watches are likely to please fans of fun, funky divers. That’s because Rowing Blazers is back with a brace of cool new Seiko 5 Sports Watches. Naturally, our friend Eric Wind of Wind Vintage has lent a hand in the design. Let’s have a look at these cool new numbers. It must be […] Visit We’re So Back! A Pair Of Seiko 5 Sports × Wind Vintage × Rowing Blazers Divers Arrives to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Louis Vuitton (LV) has taken the covers off its latest unique Escale Autour du Monde pocket watch — the Escale en Alaska is the most complicated Escale pocket watch yet, including both a minute repeater and a tourbillon along with nine dial-side animations. Initial thoughts Possibly more than any other so-called ‘fashion brand’, LV excels in creativity and world-building, which has only become more stylish, whimsical and nuanced. The Escale en Alaska exemplifies this development, and demonstrates the breadth of artistic crafts practised by La Fabrique du Temps (LFT). Translating as ‘Stopovers Around the World’, the Escale Autour du Monde collection embodies the expressive flair of a leading fashion house — something many traditional watch brands simply can’t match. Following LV’s previous Escale pocket watches celebrating the beauty of Mount Fuji and the Pont-Neuf in Paris, the brand’s latest creation has looked north for inspiration, this time celebrating the desolate beauty of Alaskan glaciers and their exotic inhabitants. Arctic artistry The term ‘fashion watch’ is often used pejoratively to describe a watch with no real watchmaking value that trades solely off the fashion name, but watches like Escale en Alaska transcend this categorisation. The Escale Autour du Monde is a double-sided pocket watch with animated jacquemarts on one side and an exposed movement with an inverted hand stack on the other. The latter is unchanged from that of previous e...
Time+Tide
The Zelos Helica lineup comes in 11 different congifurations, between 39mm and 42mm sizes, with CNC-guilloché dials – all under US$630.
SJX Watches
Being able to tap the collections of fabled museums like the Louvre, Vacheron Constantin recently revealed the second instalment of Métiers d’Art Tribute to Great Civilisations. The collection once again comprises four watches inspired by the ancient world, spanning Assyria to the Roman Empire: Buste d’Akhénaton, Lamassu de Sargon II, Athéna de Velletrie, and Tiber de l’Iseum Campense. Each watch essentially contains a miniature replica of a statue from the Louvre that is surrounded by decoration in a variety of techniques ranging from enamelling to stone mosaic. Buste d’Akhénaton inspired by Ancient Egypt Initial thoughts VC rolls out a well-stocked Metiers d’Art collection every year, and the appeal is varied. The good ones, however, are great, usually combining multiple decorative techniques, artful aesthetic execution, and tremendous appeal. Boosting its Metiers d’Art programme, VC has inked agreements with world-class museums like the Louvre and the Met, which allow the brand to source inspiration from the vast troves of objects housed in these institutions. All of that is captured in the latest Tribute To Great Civilisations, which qualifies as amongst the best Metiers d’Art offerings from VC. Each of the watches in the quartet manages to evoke the civilisations and objects that served as inspiration. Tiber de l’Iseum Campense of the Roman Empire While striking from a distance, each watch still reveals an impressive degree of detail up close. Mos...
SJX Watches
Episode 44 of the SJX Podcast covers new releases from Grand Seiko, Greubel Forsey, Vacheron Constantin, and Breguet. The common thread that ties these releases together is that each is an incremental update to a previous model. Grand Seiko’s updates to the Evolution 9 collection are perhaps most notable simply due to the brand’s larger scale, and for what this refresh indicates about how the brand is listening to collector feedback. We also shares our condolences with the Stern family over the passing of Philippe Stern, and discuss his towering legacy. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Time+Tide
HSNY's Melbourne watchmaking classes are being hosted at the Time+Tide Studio on Collins Street, book a spot before it's too late!
Worn & Wound
Rowing Blazers and Seiko have partnered on their fourth limited edition collection, and they’ve once again teamed up with vintage watch dealer Eric Wind on the design. This partnership has produced a number of hits since the first collaboration appeared in 2021, and it all comes down to an obvious synergy between the participants. Rowing Blazers, Seiko, and Wind each occupy distinct areas of watch and style culture, but they overlap in such a way that these watches make a ton of sense in context. The new limited edition consists of two watches, each limited to 2,500 pieces, and harkens a return to the Rally Diver format the partnership began with five years ago. Available in both 38mm and 42mm diameters, the new Rally Divers are based on a Seiko 5 design from the 1960s that Wind says was both his first vintage watch purchase and a reminder of his father’s chosen daily wear watches from Wind’s childhood. It underscores something anyone who has chatted with Eric Wind for even a moment likely understands pretty intuitively, which is that while he is known professionally for dealing in blue chip vintage watches from Rolex, Patek, and others, he’s no snob when it comes to the watches he personally enjoys. His love for Seiko and accessible vintage is genuine, and this collaborative relationship has never felt forced. The Rally Diver is defined by its checkerboard “rally” bezel, an idiosyncratic choice for a dive watch that doesn’t have an obvious connection to ...
Time+Tide
Unconventional time display specialists DWISS are celebrating their 15th anniversary, and have released two special S1's to mark the occasion
Deployant
I explored a new Japanese independent maison and the First Edition of their launch watch - the Nouvelle Chronometrie Montre Ordinaire.
Time+Tide
They may be best known for their cameras, but the watch department at Leica is starting to get a lot of focus.
Fratello
The Seiko Presage Cocktail Time is back in three new references, and the changes are subtle but significant. The new HCB001, HCB002, and HCB003 keep the familiar formula but bring a smaller 38.5mm case, new dial textures and colors, and a less prominent date display at 4:30. That may not sound like a complete overhaul, […] Visit A Double Shot, Please: New And Refined Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Models to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Singapore retailer The Hour Glass has announced the return of IAMWATCH, the retailer’s indie-focused watch fair, slated to take place November 12-15 at the Singapore Edition hotel, with public days November 13-15. The event comes two years after the successful inaugural edition, hinting at the possibility of a biennial format akin to that of Dubai Watch Week. Focused on independent watchmaking The inaugural 2024 event featured the biggest names in independent watchmaking, including foundational figures like Kari Voutilainen and Felix Baumgartner of Urwerk, as well as the leading lights of the younger generation including Rexhep Rexhepi, Raúl Pagès, and Florian Bédat and Gaël Petermann. The second edition is set to be even larger, with more makers in attendance. Attendees can expect to encounter industry executives as well — Aurel Bacs, Jean Arnault, Max Büsser, and Jean-Claude and Pierre Biver attended the first edition. It’s also sure to be one of the year’s best opportunities for watch spotting — this Patek Philippe ref. 2523 world time with a blue enamel dial and “Gobbi” signature was seen at the event in 2024. The relaxed dress code explicitly encourages double wristing, so the chances of spotting a unicorn in the wild are doubled. IAMWATCH will be held at the Singapore Edition hotel. Admission is free and open to the public daily November 13-15, however, advance registration is required and it can be done online at Iamwatch.com.
Time+Tide
A subtle update to one of the watch world's biggest rebels as the Studio Underd0g field watch gets a few minor tweaks of improvement.
Fratello
Three years ago, Richard Benc and his Studio Underd0g brand released the 02Series collection. The design was based on the iconic Dirty Dozen field watches, with the addition of Studio Underd0g’s typical playful sauce, of course. That resulted in four versions, all of which shared the same layered dial construction. Except for the matte black […] Visit Studio Underd0g’s Second-Generation 02Series Becomes An Even More Seriously Fun Collection to read the full article.
Teddy Baldassarre
The Studio Underd0g 02SERIES (Gen2) delivers sleeker cases, extended power, and two new dial colors to the microbrand's field watch line.
SJX Watches
Anoma is back with a new take on its 1950s-inspired asymmetrical A1, but unlike previous riffs, which varied the dials but left the cases untouched, the A1 Prehistoric features a hand-chiselled case inspired by Stone Age human tools. Initial thoughts The original Anoma A1 was inspired in part by the sculptures created by Constantin Brancusi, specifically his ability to convey movement and create tension. But Brancusi was not just a painter and a sculptor — he also collected primitive human artefacts. In Brancusi’s view, early hand-carved tools like arrowheads and hand axes represent some of humanity’s earliest — and therefore purest — forms of creativity and craftsmanship. The A1 Prehistoric takes inspiration from these ancient tools with its distinctive case finish. To create it, Anoma turned to French engraver Steven Brunel to bring the Prehistoric to life. With hundreds of blows from his chisel, Mr Brunel removes material by hand until the case resembles a primitive stone tool. With so many uneven facets, the play of light across the case should be quite remarkable. Furthermore, each case will look slightly different since the strikes are made freehand. In an industry that is built on precision, perfection and order, the Prehistoric deviates sharply from the norm with a finish that revels in our primal impulses to shape the world around us. One thing that hasn’t changed much is the value proposition that has defined the A1 since its debut. At £2,900, the Pr...
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Is the Watchdives WD Premier WD0016B the best integrated sports watch under $250? Our long-term review covers the design, finishing, and value.
Teddy Baldassarre Videos
In today's video, Executive Producer Jonathan McWhorter gives a closer look at his latest watch purchase: a $42 watch made in India. The Terra by Delhi Watch Co. created a lot of unexpected buzz on social media when it was announced earlier this year, Jonathan bought the new Terra in Titanium by Indian microbrand Delhi
Two Broke Watch Snobs
The best field watches under $500 aren't always the obvious ones. Read through our hands-on verdicts to find out the winners that earned lasting wrist time.
Fratello
There’s a specific kind of disappointment that comes from encountering a watch on a brand’s website and feeling precisely nothing. The dial is sharp, the case gleams, and the lug angles are geometrically perfect. And yet, somehow, you close the tab unmoved. You’ve just been the victim of a render. It looked fine, sure, but […] Visit Why Watch Renders So Frequently Leave Us Underwhelmed to read the full article.
Fratello
It’s Sunday morning, so it’s time for a fresh cup of coffee to accompany a good ol’ watch brawl. This week, we picked two Rolex Oyster Perpetual models to go up against each other. Both were introduced during Watches and Wonders in April and were The Crown’s main releases for this year. The two new […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yellow Rolesor Vs. Oyster Perpetual “Jubilee” to read the full article.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Citizen's new The CITIZEN AQ4090-08A pairs a hand-dyed indigo washi paper dial with a ±5 sec/year Eco-Drive movement. Just 200 pieces worldwide.
Time+Tide
A week where nostalgia was running high in the watch industry, there are releases here that will take you right back.
Deployant
Sartory-Billard marks its tenth anniversary with the SB10 250th Anniversary: a jumping hour watch built around an exposed American copper cabochon, CNC-engraved in the United States and hand-patinated in Scotland, assembled in France. Available to order July 4–11, 2026 only. The following post is based on press release information. Editorial commentary appears in italics. New:Read More
Two Broke Watch Snobs
We compare the Seiko Turtle vs Orient Kamasu after extended hands-on wear to see which affordable diver offers better comfort, value, and long-term appeal.
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