Results for Co-Axial vs Swiss Lever Escapement

eBay Finds: A Quartz Seiko with a Surprising Name, a Gorgeous Wittnauer Chronograph, and Some of the Fanciest Lugs You’ll Ever See

eBay Finds is back! This bi-monthly installment will feature a selection of watches currently listed on eBay that have caught the eye of editor Christoph McNeil (@vintagediver). If you come across any hidden gems on the ‘Bay drop us a note at info@wornandwound.com for potential inclusion! Vintage Seiko Speedmaster Chronograph  Starting off this week with a killer vintage Seiko Speedmaster with the amazing 7A28 quartz chronograph movement. While I’m not usually a fan of quartz, you really can’t beat the 7A28 for quality, function and reliability. I don’t know how Seiko got away with usurping the Speedmaster name, but nevertheless this is a great watch. The 40mm bead blasted steel case looks unpolished, and the original bracelet with “Speedmaster” branded buckle is excellent. Dial and bezel are mint…what more can you want? Seller states it is functioning perfectly as it should. This is one that doesn’t show up all that often for auction, especially in this condition. Not one to be missed! View auction here Vintage Wittnauer Revue  From 1980s sleek quartzness to 1950s fancy dress-watchness. Here is a wild vintage Wittnauer Revue with waffle textured dial and insanely curved fancy lugs. The 22mm wide 10k yellow gold case is mint, with super sharp edges and brushed finish on the back. You really don’t see watches from this era with cases this sharp very often. And the cream dial is mint, with applied gold markers and gold hands. But man, look at those lugs...

First Look – The Clever and Compelling Foliot Scubanaut 200 Launching on Kickstarter

Discovering new brands is always a lot of fun, especially when the result is quite surprising and even impressive. Such is the case with one of our latest discoveries, coming straight from the Big Apple. Launching on Kickstarter today, upstart watchmaking company Foliot Watches is determined to make some waves with its second and latest […]

Interview – Benjamin Comar, CEO of Piaget, on the Brand’s 150th Anniversary and The New Polo 79

Piaget’s CEO, Benjamin Comar, sits at the helm of the company at a momentous point in its history, its 150th anniversary. Georges Edouard Piaget set up his workshop in 1874 in the small village of La Côte-aux-Fées in the Swiss Jura mountains. There, Piaget made a name for himself first focusing on manufacturing parts and […]

The Sports Section: The Secret Tudor 'Hockey' Black Bay Chrono You've Never Seen (Until Now)

A commemorative watch for hometown Genève-Servette in a real underdog story.

Three failed watch technologies Buffy believes never caught on

The culture of watchmaking is one that equally respects tradition and ingenuity, as the past can be respected while breaking boundaries and inventing new techniques. But, sometimes inventiveness doesn’t always work out. You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, so let’s rummage through the discarded shells and see some watch technologies that … ContinuedThe post Three failed watch technologies Buffy believes never caught on appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Why I Bought It: The Zenith Chronomaster Tribute to Charles Vermot – Reprise

Quentin R. Bufogle could go on and on about the Zenith Chronomaster Tribute to Charles Vermot’s stunningly beautiful, metallic blue dial, silicon escapement (visible via the open heart feature), COSC chronometer certification and that it’s one of the last truly great Chronomasters, but that would be missing the point, i.e. how Charles Vermot saved Zenith.

Three On Three: Comparing Entry-Level, In-House Automatics From Grand Seiko, Omega, And Rolex

How do affordable models from three of the biggest brands in high-end watchmaking stack up?

The Three Watch Collection for $5,000: Reader Edition – Christopher Lee

Editor’s Note: In this week’s installment of our ongoing “3 for 5k” series, reader Christopher Lee presents a collection that incorporates two watches he personally owns, and one that might be entering his collection soon. These three watches cover a lot of horological ground, from a classic Swiss diver, to the most tech-forward watch in Seiko’s catalog.  You can make your submission to the Three Watch Collection – Reader Edition by filling out the form right here. Oris Aquis – $2,400 When setting out to name three watches for $5k, I knew I wanted to have at least one dive watch. It was the style of watch that first got me hooked on the hobby and in my opinion, every collection should have one. To me, the Oris Aquis has qualities that make it extremely desirable. Personally, I own the Caliber 400 model, but for the purposes of this list I will refer to the Sellita powered version.  First off, the Aquis has great build quality and finish. The watch feels substantial in the hand and features 300m of water resistance. Furthermore, the transitions from polished surfaces to brushed are razor sharp. The head of the watch feels extremely solid with crown guards that are screwed onto it, which for me is a purposeful nod towards the longevity of the case. The bezel and its ceramic insert feel great to use with its snappy ratcheting feedback. Every set of links on the integrated bracelet features polished outer links and full articulation, contributing to a comfortab...

In-Depth – The Chopard Alpine Eagle Cadence 8HF in Titanium, And What High-Frequency Means

In 2012, Chopard made waves with the introduction of the L.U.C 8HF, featuring the groundbreaking L.U.C 01.06-L calibre with a silicon escapement, oscillating at an impressive 8Hz (57,600 vibrations/hour), double the speed of most mechanical movements. Notably, it became the first high-frequency calibre to receive chronometer certification, marking a significant milestone. Encouraged by this success, […]

Unimatic’s New Collection Introduces Its Smallest Watch Ever

Introducing – The Greubel Forsey Balancier 3, The Brand’s New Entry-Level Watch

Greubel Forsey consistently defies convention, ensuring that each of the brand’s timepieces is nothing short of intriguing. In 2019, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey ventured into the sports watch category with the GMT Sport – a distinctive creation that integrated a world-time indication with an inclined tourbillon, but mostly an entirely new convex case design. […]

Chronoswiss Delphis: Taking it to the Next Level

Martin Green has been a big fan of Chronoswiss since the 1990s and thought it tough to improve any of their models. However, the new Delphis, Chronoswiss has clearly taken things to the next level.

Introducing: Is The MoonSwatch ‘Beaver Moon’ The Second-To-Last Moonshine Gold Model Ever?

Well, it's for sure the second-to-last full Moon of the year and delivers some secret luminescence.

Why I’ve Never Owned A Rolex – And Why I Might Yet (Update: I Do Now!) – Reprise

Once in a while on the collector forums, a question is posed: is there anyone in the collector community who has never, ever, owned a Rolex? As a general rule, respondents to these queries tend to express disbelief that such a creature could possibly exist given the quality and ubiquity of the brand’s watches. Well, folks, GaryG is here to tell you that such people do exist, and that he is one of them. How could it be? And then what happened?

A 1946 Patek Philippe just became the highest-value watch ever sold in Australia

A yellow gold Patek Philippe ref. 1436 sold for A$450,000 - a big result for Australia, but how does that compare internationally?The post A 1946 Patek Philippe just became the highest-value watch ever sold in Australia appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Enthusiast Spotlight: Exploring the Never-ending Allure of Music and Time with Guitarist Tom Laskey and the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente

When most people hear the phrase ‘professional musician,’ their brains conjure images of bright lights, big stages, and screaming crowds. But the reality of how your favorite songs came to be and how your next favorite song will reach your ears is decidedly more complicated and interesting than that. We explore ‘variations on a theme’ with guitarist Tom Laskey and a trio of NOMOS Glashütte Tangentes, each expressing a slightly different riff on the same playful, yet purposeful melody. To deliver a hit, a group of talented, hardworking musicians spend countless hours in dimly lit studios experimenting and iterating, bringing all of their knowledge and skills to the table over and over again, finally discovering the right combination of elements. And it’s this spirit of repetition and reinvention that somehow distills every song you’ve ever heard out of the same basic elements, surprising and moving you anew each time. It’s not unlike the art of watchmaking. The post Enthusiast Spotlight: Exploring the Never-ending Allure of Music and Time with Guitarist Tom Laskey and the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente appeared first on Worn & Wound.

Artem’s HydroFlex might be the best rubber watch strap Australia’s ever produced

Premium, robust and comfy, this Aussie watch strap is a cut above the rest.The post Artem’s HydroFlex might be the best rubber watch strap Australia’s ever produced appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Frederique Constant spins tracks and escapements at Dubai Watch Week

Deep house and tourbillons mark Frederique Constant's DWW releases.The post Frederique Constant spins tracks and escapements at Dubai Watch Week appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Vintage Watches: Hands-On With One Of The Rarest Universal Geneve Chronographs, Ever

Less than 10 Film Compax examples are known; this week, another one appears.

Obituary: Jörg Bucherer, the King of European Watch Retail

Jörg G. Bucherer, the third generation to run the Bucherer retail chain, passed away on Monday evening at age 87. The news was first reported by Swiss newspapers including Le Temps. His death comes less than three months after agreeing to sell his family business to Rolex in a multi-billion franc move that shocked the entire industry, but secured the future of the company. He led an extraordinary life, being one of the last remaining people to have worked directly with Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, and building a reputation as a man about town. Known for his fast cars and beautiful women in his youth, he was always extremely closely guarded when it came to media appearances. Bucherer took over the business in 1977, and had been at the centre of the industry ever since. Having navigated many turbulent periods in matchmaking, he not only kept the Lucerne-based retailer afloat, but steered it to the very top, with the business now counting over 100 points of sale across Europe and America, making it the biggest seller of Rolex watches anywhere. The historic Bucherer store in Lucerne. Image – Bucherer When Bucherer took the reins from his father, the industry was in turmoil in the aftermath of the Quartz Crisis. That didn’t stop him as he expanded the company from its Swiss base into new territories such as Austria and Germany in 1980s. He would go on to acquire other retailers as he pursued expansion, including Kurz Group in 1989 and Swiss Lion in 2001. The real b...

Maurice de Mauriac Honors Classic Motorsport with a Customizable Chronograph

Since 1997, Swiss watch brand Maurice de Mauriac has made an effort to think outside the box by mixing their national heritage in watchmaking with a bit of humor and storytelling mixed into each reference. Take, for instance, their latest, the Chrono Modern Grand Prix Zurich, where the story of this new release has taken the design elements from zero to sixty.  To understand the Chrono Modern Grand Prix Zurich, one has to go back to 1939 at the outbreak of WWII. Zurich had plans to host their own Grand Prix; but, due to geopolitical tensions, the festivities were canceled. It wasn’t until nearly 80 years later when Maurice de Mauriac and racing simulation company, Züri Ring Simulation, were inspired to add a bit of pedal to the metal in the latest release from the brand. The racing simulation offers riders 200 racetracks and 200 cars to choose from as they race through a course designed to put the rider right into the action. Meanwhile, Maurice de Mauriac’s Chrono Modern Grand Prix Zurich complements this high-octane offering with two color options that are as subtle as they are impactful, showcasing the best of automotive culture and Swiss design into one. Choosing between either a brushed stainless steel or stainless steel with black PVD coating, wearers have a timeless watch that pairs well with just about any style. The racing visuals are only enhanced by the stripes on the dial or the Lucky Number at the 9 o’clock mark, which wearers can choose to really make ...

This Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture has their first-ever entirely hand-decorated movement

Frederique Constant celebrates the 15th anniversary of their in-house tourbillon movement with a platinum watch that houses their first-ever entirely hand-decorated movement.The post This Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture has their first-ever entirely hand-decorated movement appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

The 25 Most Expensive Watches Ever Sold at Auction

How much would you pay for a watch? What if it was the only one of its kind, or a record-breaker in terms of complications, or once owned by someone famous or historically significant? And just how expensive are the most expensive watches to ever change hands in a sale? In today's red-hot watch auction market, the answers, and the sums, may surprise you. Here we run down the list of the top 25 watches in descending order of the price they fetched on the auction block, while spotlighting some of the timepieces with the most fascinating backstories and representing the most impressive technical achievements. You'll find the expected abundance of watches from Patek Philippe and Rolex (the clear leaders in the category) but also a few from other watchmakers, large and small, who've recently broken into the upper echelon. At the end, we'll spotlight the highest selling watches from a few other brands that didn't crack the top 25 but maintain a robust presence on the watch auction scene. 1. Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 ($31.19 million, 2019, Christie’s) Patek Philippe unveiled the first Grandmaster Chime watch in 2014 as part of the many celebrations around the Genevan maison’s 175the anniversary. The reference that made history at the Only Watch auction in Geneva in 2019 was a unique piece, the only Grandmaster Chime ever crafted in stainless steel; the Grandmaster Chime models in Patek’s regular collection are all made in precious metals. The watch...

Bremont Broadsword Hands-On: Testing The Entry-Level Bremont

Over the years we've really warmed up to Bremont on this site, even though I think they've had some misses recently. The S302 GMT I reviewed is still a hit in my eyes and this time, I wanted to test out one of the more entry-level offerings in the catalog. By the way, that S302 even made its way into our guide covering the best military watches ever. While it's not necessarily affordable by any means, the Bremont Broadsword seemed to be a compelling entry point, specifically within the brand's Armed Forces collection. I jumped at the opportunity to try it out this year, along with a couple of other field watches in my rotation.

5 French watch brands you’ve never heard of but should know

In the first episode of The Lineup, Zach and Marcus discover five French watch brands they've never heard of.The post 5 French watch brands you’ve never heard of but should know appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.