4,696 articles · 44 videos found · page 11 of 158
Monochrome
The resurgence of watchmaking in the United States is real. But not through what it used to be in the past, when American watches were produced in large quantities on an industrial scale. Should we complain? Absolutely not. Thanks to names such as RGM (a veteran compared to the rest), J.N. Shapiro or Keaton Myrick, […]
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.
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!
Deployant
I explored a new Japanese independent maison and the First Edition of their launch watch - the Nouvelle Chronometrie Montre Ordinaire.
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.
SJX Watches
American watchmaking seems to be on the rebound, though it bears repeating that the number of brands doing substantial work within the 50 states remains low. On the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday, we examine another aspect of the domestic watch industry: the state of its watchmaking training system. To bring this topic into focus, we visited the Watch Technology Institute (WTI) at North Seattle College (NSC) — the last remaining full-time public watchmaking programme in the US capable of granting a major certification. The Watch Technology Institute at North Seattle College. Image – WTI The state of watch education in the United States The United States was once a watchmaking powerhouse that forced a massive shift toward industrialised watchmaking in Switzerland. But the domestic industry faltered as consumer tastes shifted to favour wristwatches, and the nation’s industrialists effectively gave up on watchmaking to focus on other markets. That explains why most American watchmakers today are oriented toward the service and maintenance of Swiss-made watches. There’s been a renewed emphasis in recent years on making complete watches in the US — J.N. Shapiro’s Resurgence is a representative example — but the needs and trends of the broader market help explain America’s increasingly consolidated training landscape. Understanding WTI and SAWTA The history of WTI dates to the post-war era, when a large number of vocational schools were opened in the US to ...
Worn & Wound
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–...
Monochrome
Several initiatives exist to promote the development and future of watchmaking, as well as to discover and support the talents of tomorrow. This is crucial to nurture the next generation of watchmakers and protect the art we love and share here on MONOCHROME. Among these initiatives is one that is particularly inspiring, the Cartier Prize […]
SJX Watches
The 28th edition of the Cartier Prize for Watchmaking Talents of Tomorrow has announced the winners of the annual competition, which seeks to recognise and nurture promising young watchmakers and technicians. In total, six prizes were awarded to students from France and Belgium. Aymeric Peters won first prize in the Apprentice Watchmakers category for “Silence Choisi” Understanding the Cartier Prize The watchmaking industry faces a well-known shortage of young talent, and awards like the Cartier Prize, the F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition, and the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives enhance the appeal and visibility of the profession in a meaningful way. The theme of the 28th edition of the Cartier Prize was “Shifting the Balance: Reading and Perceiving Time Differently”. This theme explains why almost all entries featured heavily abstracted time displays. Layla Sluysmans tied for second prize in the Apprentice Watchmakers category with her creation “Nymphéa” The format of the Cartier Prize differs from that of other similar awards. Finalists were chosen based on sketches and presentations, and were given just 80 hours (over three months) to complete their creations with the help of dedicated mentors. To ensure a level playing field, each candidate is provided with a Cartier cal. 012 alarm clock movement and a CHF500 budget cap. Eléonor Picciotto presided over the ceremony, and the prizes were awarded by a jury comprised of Roy Davidoff, P...
Monochrome
Every June, Geneva becomes the meeting point for the world of high precision. Held annually at Palexpo (June 16 to 19, for the 2026 edition), the EPHJ trade show brings together more than 20,000 visitors and over 800 exhibitors from the watchmaking, jewellery, microtechnology and medical technology sectors, making it the largest high-precision industry exhibition […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Compare Citizen Nighthawk vs Seiko 5 GMT for real travel use with tested insights. See which affordable GMT wins on design, comfort, value, and daily wear.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
A hands-on guide to the best Japanese dive watches under $1,000, including Seiko, Citizen, Orient, and Casio picks with real pros and cons.
Monochrome
If there’s one epicentre of watchmaking outside of Switzerland that can measure itself with Le Locle or the Vallée du Joux, it’s Glashütte. This small region in the far east of Germany was once known for its rich iron ore deposits and very active mining culture. But as deposits ran dry and prosperity dwindled, people […]
Monochrome
If there’s one epicentre of watchmaking outside of Switzerland that can measure itself with Le Locle or the Vallée du Joux, it’s Glashütte. This small region in the far east of Germany was once known for its rich iron ore deposits and very active mining culture. But as deposits ran dry and prosperity dwindled, people […]
Fratello
It’s Sunday morning, which means it’s time for another showdown! This week’s battle pits two modern versions of classic chronographs against each other. Mike picked the recently revamped Breitling Chronomat, while Jorg picked the Zenith Chronomaster Original, the modern version of the Zenith El Primero A386. The roots of the Zenith date back to 1969, […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 Vs. Zenith Chronomaster Original to read the full article.
Monochrome
Chinese watchmaking is often frowned upon at best, but things have changed in the past few years. More often than not, we categorise Chinese watches as entry-level (to remain polite) or counterfeits. No need to say, this is very simplistic. But we have decided to forget our prejudices and to make up our minds by taking […]
Fratello
It’s Sunday morning, which means it’s time to fire up the espresso machine and enjoy another heated watch battle. In this week’s showdown, Mike picked the new Tudor Monarch, while Jorg chose the King Seiko Vanac. The former was Tudor’s big release at Watches and Wonders 2026, and people seem to either love or hate […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: King Seiko Vanac Vs. Tudor Monarch to read the full article.
Fratello
We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jean-Marie Schaller, the owner and creative force behind Louis Moinet. Jean-Marie passed away peacefully on May 16th at the age of 66. I wanted to share a few personal words about Jean-Marie because he was someone I came to know not only through watches but […] Visit Remembering Jean-Marie Schaller, One Of Watchmaking’s Brightest Characters to read the full article.
Fratello
Grand Seiko surprised friend and foe at Watches and Wonders when the brand released a smaller, more accurate dive watch at a lower price than its predecessor. The Ushio 300 diver, naturally, was met with applause. So, for this week’s showdown, we thought we’d stack it up against a watch so popular that it is […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Spring Drive U.F.A. Ushio 300 Vs. Rolex Yacht-Master 42 In Titanium to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
One of the most memorable additions to Windup Watch Fair San Francisco 2026 wasn’t a new release, a panel discussion, or even a brand activation. It was the twist of tiny screwdrivers, movements clicking into place, and attendees experiencing the satisfaction of building a mechanical watch with their own hands. For the first time ever at a Windup Watch Fair, DIY Watch Club hosted live watchmaking workshops throughout the weekend, giving attendees the opportunity to assemble their own watches from the ground up right on-site at Fort Mason’s Gateway Pavilion. Led by DIY Watch Club founder Quinn Lai and his partner Rebecca Lai, the classes quickly became one of the Fair’s most talked-about experiences, drawing everyone from seasoned enthusiasts curious about the mechanics behind their collections to total newcomers looking for a deeper connection to watchmaking. Each workshop guided participants step-by-step through the process of assembling a functioning mechanical watch, including casing the movement, setting the hands, and completing the final assembly. Participants each built one of DIY’s White Dial Stainless Steel GMT, giving them not only a hands-on introduction to watchmaking, but also a genuinely wearable travel-ready mechanical watch to take home at the end of the session. While some attendees arrived slightly intimidated by the process, the atmosphere in the workshop area quickly became collaborative, energetic, and surprisingly relaxed as participants reali...
Fratello
Another week is in the books, and the buzz from a surprisingly bold Watches and Wonders still lingers. Outside the major brands, the show delivered genuine innovation. Highlights ranged from Armin Strom’s on-demand 12:59-chiming minute repeater to Zenith’s practical and deeply satisfying Zenclasp for the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton. For week 19, we shift focus to […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Mystery Complications — H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Concept Tantalum Vs. Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Chronographe Mystérieux to read the full article.
Monochrome
In our recent ABCs of Time article, The Top Five Countries Where Watchmaking Reigns Supreme, England didn’t quite make the cut (and some of you took issue with that), so let’s take a look at the history of English watchmaking and give the country its due. After all, several of the most important inventions actually […]
Fratello
Another week, another Sunday Morning Showdown. We hope you are enjoying some well-deserved time off and a good weekend breakfast. Lean back in your chair, folks, because we have a proper heavyweight bout scheduled for you! This week, we pit two stainless steel perpetual calendars with integrated bracelets and blue dials against each other. Thomas […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronometre Perpetual Calendar Vs. IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41 to read the full article.
Monochrome
We’ve said in the past, and I’m not shy of repeating myself; ultra-thin watchmaking should be considered a proper complication. More than just about numbers printed on a specification sheet, more than just making a case thinner than the norm, ultra-thin watchmaking is a true expertise, a field of movement making that requires ingenuity, innovation […]
Fratello
It’s Sunday morning, which means it’s time for a nice cup of coffee and an early morning watch battle. On top of that, this is the first one after Watches and Wonders 2026 officially ended. This week has predominantly been one of reflecting on the new introductions and, for the Fratello team members who were […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Vs. Frederique Constant Classic Worldtimer Manufacture to read the full article.
Monochrome
The dawn of watchmaking was a lesson in miniaturisation. Clock towers of the era were brought down to a portable level, generally worn around the neck instead of carried in a pocket. Invented by German locksmith Peter Henlein in the early 16th century, these original “pocket watches” were called Nuremberg Eggs as they were often […]
Monochrome
The Swiss Watch Federation has just released its figures as of the end of March 2026. The month of March closed with a 1% decline in watch exports. More importantly, it provides a view of the trend for the first quarter of the year. Total exports reached CHF 6.2 billion, representing a modest increase of […]
Worn & Wound
For the first time ever, walk away from a Windup Watch Fair with a new timepiece you built yourself. Join the Worn & Wound team with our friends from DIY Watch Club on Saturday May 2nd and Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 11 AM to 1 PM for a private watchmaking class led by DIY […]
Time+Tide
BA111OD announces the acquisition of BCP Tourbillons, bringing tourbillon development in-house, and proves it with a new tourbillon noveltyThe post BA111OD strengthens its watchmaking credentials with BCP Tourbillons acquisition and new Chapter 4 Tourbillon T.V.D. appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Two Broke Watch Snobs
... Read more The post The New Casio Oceanus Manta OCW-S6000AP-1A Leans Into Japanese Artisan Craft appeared first on Two Broke Watch Snobs.
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