Hodinkee
Year In Review: Welcome To Our Celebration Of The Year's Best Watches
Here's a first look back at 2022 – and a preview of our forthcoming superlative awards.
3,873 articles · 692 videos found · page 109 of 153
Hodinkee
Here's a first look back at 2022 – and a preview of our forthcoming superlative awards.
Hodinkee
Last year, a handful of specific watches – you know the ones – went from "rather expensive, even for a luxury item" to "these prices simply cannot be real." This year, the bubble popped. Here's what happened, and what it means for 2023.
Time+Tide
Writer’s note: This article was completed mere hours after Croatia’s incredible penalty shootout win against Brazil. During that match, the percentage of grey hair on my head has increased significantly, and the years of my lifespan that I’ve saved up by not smoking have been spent. With that in consideration, excuse any overly enthusiastic comments … ContinuedThe post Watchspotting among the fans at the Qatar World Cup appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
The watch year 2022 saw the release of a variety of well-crafted, more affordable timepieces. Sabine Zwettler shares three of these watches from Bell & Ross, Longines, and Tutima Glashütte that caught her attention.
Quill & Pad
GaryG was unable to attend the November 2022 Geneva watch auctions, but like many of his friends he followed online. Here he takes a look at the results from the “big three” auction houses – Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s – to discern some patterns and provide knowledgeable commentary.
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Quill & Pad
The last couple of GPHGs were hit by COVID, but the 2022 GPHG was finally again an event and a party as it should be! Tout le monde was in Geneva, celebrating watchmaking at its finest. Here are our thoughts on the winners and how well we did at predicting them.
Hodinkee
When thinking about assembling this two watch collection, I chose to interpret the idea in the most straightforward and practical way possible: Which pair of watches would have me covered anywhere, anytime? While the previous two columns from Jack and Ben each looked at a pair of watches with some similarities that revealed the respective brands’ idiosyncrasies, I'm going for two totally different timepieces here. The dichotomy is obvious, yet it is highly revealing of the distinctive benefits different types of wristwatches can bring. To the right you probably recognized a modern Rolex Submariner, and to the left we have a vintage ultra-thin Piaget. It'd be hard to think of two less-similar watches.
SJX Watches
Presented to the world leaders who were recently in Phnom Penh for the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Lotus Tourbillon was created by the Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, the impressively-equipped watchmaking school set up by local conglomerate Prince Holding Group. (I visited the school in 2020 just before it opened its doors – see our report here.) Produced in an initial run of 25 pieces for the summit, it contains a hand-wind movement that is as notable for both its hand finishing and the one-minute tourbillon regulator. Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen was personally involved in the design of the watch – he received the very first example – and posted photos of the watch on his Facebook page a few days before the summit with the comment “Khmer can do it”. Initial thoughts Having been aware of the project and its ambitions since I visited the school two years ago, I was expecting much of the Lotus Tourbillon and I wasn’t disappointed. The quality of the execution is immediately apparent in the hand finishing of the components, particularly for the key components of the tourbillon, namely the cage and bridge. Equally impressive is the fact that it was developed and completed in under two years. Admittedly, the Lotus Tourbillon is plain in terms of the dial and case aesthetics, but the mechanical excellence is obvious. Importantly, the movement is likely to make it into a series of watches that will be sold publicly to raise funds for watchmaking school,...
SJX Watches
Habring² has scaled down its signature split-seconds chronograph to create the Doppel 38, which retains all of the key features of the original but in a more compact case. Still having the “bullhead” pusher layout that characterises the split-seconds chronographs of Habring², the Doppel 38 is smaller and thinner than its predecessor, but continues to be powered by the proprietary hand-wound A11R calibre. Initial thoughts Long one of the best values in terms of sub-US$10,000 chronographs, the Doppel is perhaps the archetypal Habring² watch since it’s descended from the complication Mr Habring invented at IWC three decades ago. Now vastly improved and refined by Mr Habring, the Doppel possibly the most accessible split-seconds chronograph on the market – in itself a major point of appeal. But the original Doppel was 42 mm, not massive but large enough to make someone who prefers smaller watches think twice. Personally I thought the larger Doppel was sized well for its particular type of complication, but the Doppel 38 is unexpectedly compact, especially at just 11.5 mm high. Beyond making it more wearable for more people, the new dimensions will no doubt give the Doppel 38 a slightly more retro feel, although the dial styles on offer are thoroughly modern. And it remains affordable as such things go, with a retail price of about US$7,900 before taxes. A value-proposition split-seconds Like many of the recent watches from the brand, the Doppel 38 is simple in sty...
Time+Tide
Evolution 9 was born to usher in a new era and tier of Grand Seiko watchmaking. It brought forth their most faceted case yet, with the most alternating hairline-brushed and Zaratsu distortion-free, mirror-polished surfaces. There were broader and sportier hands and indices, plus notably next-gen movements like the high-beat 9SA5 calibre. But while we have … ContinuedThe post Enough Birch: The Grand Seiko SLGH019 proves there is far more dial-ground to cover in Evolution 9 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Revolution
For a deep dive into Grand Seiko’s evolution and philosophy, click here.
Quill & Pad
Watches under 3,500 Swiss francs . . . now it gets interesting. And the competition gets even fiercer. This is the first horological category in which every one of the finalists deserves a place here, and any of them could win. So what did our peanut gallery pick?
SJX Watches
A certainty after the Zeitwerk Date of 2019 and last year’s Zeitwerk Honeygold Lumen, the second-generation A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk is finally here. As expected, the new Zeitwerk is a gentle evolution from the original in terms of design, but a substantial step forward in technical terms. Known as the ref. 142.025 in platinum and ref. 142.031 in pink gold, the new Zeitwerk is powered by the same revamped movement L043 movement found in the Date and Lumen. As a result, it has all of same upgrades, namely a thinner movement that boasts a quickset corrector for the hours as well as a 72-hour power reserve. The new Zeitwerk in pink gold And the second-generation L043.6 Initial thoughts In a technical sense, the new Zeitwerk is a superior watch, as it should be, coming 13 years after the original. Aesthetically, it remains largely unchanged save for a few nips and tucks, leaving the new model instantly recognisable as a Zeitwerk. In fact, most would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two generations from across a room. The second generation (left) and its predecessor In the metal the new Zeitwerk looks and feels very much like the original upon initial examination. But the differences quickly become obvious, even though some, like the enlarged seconds, are subtle enough they are difficult to pinpoint. Other tweaks are easier to spot, like the red marking on the power reserve scale. Personally I’m not a fan of the red accent since it creates a peculiar f...
Quill & Pad
What a pleasure to find a majority of real diver's watches in the GPHG shortlist this year. While they can be worn without any worries behind the desk, as they most likely will be in 99.99 percent of cases, they are also up for some serious diving. Here is what our peanut gallery had to say about the nominees.
SJX Watches
Longines hasn’t launched too many watches this year, but it certainly unveiled a hit with the Master Collection 190th Anniversary. Based on the standard (and somewhat mundane) Master automatic, the anniversary edition sticks to a resolutely classical design but executes the dial in a surprisingly elaborate manner. The grained dial has deeply-engraved hour numerals that seem to be hand engraving at a glance, but are naturally done by machine given the affordability of the watch. Combined with the high-tech ETA calibre within, the Master anniversary offers a lot of watch for relatively little money – we explain why. Initial thoughts The Master anniversary struck me as a watch that is easily appealing when I first saw photos. Perhaps too easily appealing, because the design is a combination of familiar, likeable elements. But the dial seemed to be done unusually well, so I thought it was worth a second look. I wasn’t disappointed with the watch in the metal. The design is indeed a mix of details that are widely used elsewhere, but the execution is interesting enough – and the price sufficiently low – to make the Master anniversary an unexpectedly compelling watch. The fact that the Master anniversary is this compelling is testament to the importance of the dial. Everything else about it is identical to the standard 40 mm model. Even at arm’s length the engraved hour numerals are obvious and instantly give the watch the appearance of something fancier (and more exp...
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
Get all the charm and novelty of a moon phase watch without breaking your budget - here are 10 moon phase timepieces to explore!
Time+Tide
The IWC Portofino Automatic 37 has been a staple in the Schaffhausen watchmaker’s collection since 2014, largely targeted at their female audience. The new Portofino 37 models continue the feminine touches found in the original, with subtle design changes and technological improvements. This includes the introduction of a manufacture calibre, enhanced diamond setting and larger … ContinuedThe post More diamonds, more refinement, more options: The new IWC Portofino Automatic 37 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
The 2022 Formula 1 season is back after the summer break, and we here at Time + Tide couldn’t be more stoked. This is a season fraught with intrigue, from McLaren cutting loose favourite Aussie son Daniel Ricciardo, to his replacement, young gun and fellow countryman Oscar Piastri sliding into Ricciardo’s seat for his inaugural … ContinuedThe post Winning Formula: 5 of the coolest vintage watches in Formula 1 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Don’t get me wrong. The Evolution 9 case geometry has a stellar aesthetic. But when we first saw Grand Seiko’s innovative and beautiful 9SA5 hi-beat calibre in a case other than the Evolution 9 case, the classic and iconic 44GS case it was found in for their limited edition SLGH009, I immediately knew I wanted … ContinuedThe post The new Grand Seiko SLGH013 means the 9SA5 x 44GS case combo has arrived in standard production appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Here is our hands-on comprehensive review of the new (2021) Bovet 19Thirty in red gold case and a brilliant dark green dial.
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Quill & Pad
The 2022 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published its list of shortlisted (“nominated”) watches in the runup to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 10, 2022. Ian Skellern shares all of the finalist watches in each category here. Let us know your favorites!
Time+Tide
We are wrapping up an exciting week here in Switzerland, with Geneva Watch Days 2022 coming to an end. Thirty brands brought the heat, giving us plenty to check out all over the city. It is a more casual vibe than what you would find inside the indoor Palexpo maze of Watches & Wonders, instead … ContinuedThe post GWD WIND DOWN: Geneva Watch Days wrap up and some big news… appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Geneva Watch Days definitely isn’t as grand an affair as Watches & Wonders, however what it doesn’t have in quantity it certainly made up for in quality. Here are my personal top 5 picks from Geneva Watch Days 2022. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Sejima Edition Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo is the perfect platform for high-end collaborations, and … ContinuedThe post Buffy’s top 5 from Geneva Watch Days appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
When Tim and Bart Grönefeld showed Ian Skellern their prototype 1941 Grönograaf during Watches & Wonders 2022, he loved it. But he didn’t think it would win “Best Chronograph” 2022 at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève because he thought that prize would go to the then-soon-to-be-released MB&F; LM Sequential EVO. Ian has since changed his mind, and here's why.
Teddy Baldassarre
Watch collectors, from newbies to veterans, often turn to watch blogs for the latest watch-world news and for trusted reviews of watches they're interested in owning. You will find a lot of useful information and buying advice on our own blog here, but what are some of the other online platforms worth checking out if you're an avid watch enthusiast? You'll find many options in our list of the (other) 50 Best Watch Blogs that are currently active online. Wrist Enthusiast Litigation attorney and social media consultant Craig Karger started Wrist Enthusiast as an Instagram account in 2015, and launched it as a full-fledged blog in 2021, adding a small team of editors and writers. The blog covers a wide scope of content for aficionados, from curated lists to hands-on reviews to celebrity watch-spotting. WatchTime WatchTime is the U.S.A.'s leading print publication devoted to the world of watches and its online home features some of the magazine's most popular features, including in-depth tests of timepieces, curated lists, and exclusive interviews with industry power players, in addition to all the watch world's most important breaking news. Monochrome Watches Describing itself as "an online magazine dedicated to fine watches," Monochrome was founded in 2006 as the personal blog of Dutch watch enthusiast Frank Geelen and has grown to become one the most-read watch sites in the world. Monochrome covers an array of new product releases as well as serving up reviews, technic...
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