Two Broke Watch Snobs
2024’s Best Swiss Watch Brands | All Are Not Created Equal
Researching Swiss watch brands? Check out our favorite selections right here, spanning from budget-friendly to budget-busting.
3,904 articles · 52 videos found · page 14 of 132
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Researching Swiss watch brands? Check out our favorite selections right here, spanning from budget-friendly to budget-busting.
Fratello
On the 6th of June this year, it will have been exactly 80 years since D-Day took place on the beaches of Normandy. By that day’s end, 156,000 Allied troops successfully stormed the French beaches during Operation Overlord. To commemorate this historic day, Praesidus releases the special C-47 A-11 D-Day. This version of the brand’s […] Visit Hands-On With The Praesidus C-47 A-11 D-Day - A Watch Made Out Of D-Day History to read the full article.
Quill & Pad
Swatch stands as a testament to innovation, resilience, and creativity within the watch industry. Born out of the ashes of the Quartz Crisis, Swatch both saved the Swiss watch industry from obsolescence and revolutionized it through its groundbreaking approach to design, manufacturing, and marketing.
Fratello
We’ve all heard it: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” This advertising slogan became almost as iconic as the watches themselves. That’s understandable, too, considering how it tugs at the heartstrings and strongly implies superior quality. But what charges a watch with heirloom quality? And […] Visit Pass It On - The Heirloom Quality Of Properly Made Watches to read the full article.
Monochrome
Over the past couple of years, plenty of watchmakers have gone above and beyond to demonstrate (and thus preserve) traditional watchmaking methods. It might be a romantic way of thinking, but we shouldn’t forget where the industry comes from and how watches were made in the old days. No CNC-machining, no computational calculations, no advanced […]
Time+Tide
Oddly-shaped watches used to be a thing of the past, but Good + Evil is bringing them back with the Omen.The post The Good + Evil Omen warns of a bright future for the brand, made by a lighting designer appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
When we think of watches, our minds are often first cast to Switzerland’s many manufacturers. But Germany makes fantastic timepieces, and perhaps it is worth giving Switzerland’s larger northern neighbor a look too when on the hunt for a new watch. Let’s look at some German watches! Switzerland has a proud tradition of watchmaking that […] Visit Six For Six: German Watches That Compete With Swiss Timepieces to read the full article.
Fratello
A little while ago, a copy of vintage watch collector Aashdin K. Billimoria’s new book landed on my desk. That name might ring a bell for you as he’s also the author of Nivada Grenchen Antarctic - The History of a Legend. And now he’s proudly presenting his book titled A Comprehensive Guide to Vintage […] Visit Introducing: A Comprehensive Guide To Vintage Swiss Watches to read the full article.
Quill & Pad
Felipe Pikullik’s watches are characterized by their fine decorative finishing, but as Alexey Kutkovoy discovers, he has ambitious plans to go much much further down the hand made path.
Revolution
Presenting part two of Wei and Oliver R Müller’s insightful discussion, where they delve into the triumphs of the Swiss watch industry in 2023. From the dominance of the ‘Big Four’ luxury watch brands to intriguing surprises within the industry, join them as they unravel the fascinating narrative behind the success story of Swiss horology. […]
Hodinkee
In a precedent-setting case, the Swiss Supreme Court says that Artisans de Geneve's personalization business can continue – but it's complicated. The lawsuit also raises a bigger question: Who can customize?
Revolution
In 2023, the Swiss watch industry celebrated a remarkable milestone, with record-breaking sales reaching CHF 26.7 billion. Wristwatches accounted for CHF 25.5 billion of this total, marking a notable 7.7% increase, alongside the sale of 16.9 million units. At first glance, these figures paint a picture of resounding success. However, a deeper analysis within the […]
Monochrome
While the growth for the luxury industry as a whole is expected to slow following months/years of sustained development, with macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds and demand uncertainties in the US, Europe and China, the Swiss watch industry ended up 2023 as yet another record year, with exports up 7.6% compared to 2022, reaching their highest […]
Quill & Pad
Two-hundred fifty years ago, Longitude Prize-winning clockmaker John Harrison made clocks losing just one second per month. But that wasn't enough for him: in his later life, Harrison claimed that he could make a wall clock with a then-unheard-of-precision of just one second over 100 days! And 250 years later, it turns out he was right.
Worn & Wound
Fears has reintroduced the Redcliff collection today, which made its first appearance in the catalog when the brand was re-established in 2016 by Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the great-great-great grandson of Edwin Fears, the company’s founder. The Redcliff 39.5 Date seen here is an interesting new step for Fears. The brand has seen tremendous growth over these past few years, and they’ve done it almost entirely on the back of the cushion cased watches that make up the Brunswick collection. A straightforward, circular case with a mechanical movement has been notably absent from the collection, and it stands to reason that a more traditional, and perhaps approachable, case platform like the Redcliff could broaden the brand’s appeal considerably. Of course, there are still plenty of small touches that make this iteration of the Redcliff identifiable as a Fears, and there’s a limited edition variant made in collaboration with Collective Horology that seems to be in direct conversation with one of last year’s key Fears releases. We’ll start with the case, as at least at first glance, that would seem to be the most significant departure from what most would consider the established Fears design language. In stainless steel, it measures 39.5mm in diameter and has been designed to be slim at just 9.95mm tall. It has a mix of finishes, including a prominently brushed midcase and a polished, sloping bezel. The crown is oversized and screws down, which helps to give the R...
Worn & Wound
These days, it’s rarely surprising when a Hamilton shows up on screen. More than just about any other brand, Hamilton has made screen time a part of not only its marketing, but its identity, with Hamilton watches showing up in everything from last year’s Indiana Jones outing to The Martian, The Avengers, or any number of Christopher Nolan films. The Hamilton Murph in particular has been a massive hit for the brand, despite the polarizing nature of the film which inspired it. All that said, when I saw the press release for a Dune: Part Two-inspired watch hit my inbox, I was genuinely taken by surprise. A big part of what set Villeneuve’s Dune apart was the otherworldly visual language that he, and his team, created. There is very little in the movie that feels familiar, and there is nothing that feels out of place. To add something to that world was surely no small feat, and Hamilton worked closely with the film’s prop master, Doug Harlocker, to build a watch that would feel at home in the hyper-specific world that is Villeneuve’s Arrakis. The prop built for the Dune sequel The resulting prop is unlike anything we have seen before, and looking at stills of the “watch” does little to clue us in on its function. This shouldn’t come as much of a shock - per Hamilton, the need for a Fremen watch came directly from Denis Villeneuve, but they were not clued in on what function the device would serve in the movie, or indeed why the Fremen would need a watch at al...
Time+Tide
'Affordable' is a relative term here, but there's no doubt that ArtyA's Purity Tourbillon range present attractive value propositions.The post Are these the most affordable Swiss sapphire tourbillons? Inside the ArtyA Purity Tourbillon family appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
We've mocked up 5 Rolex watches we'd love to see enter production in 2024.The post Five Rolex predictions we would love to see made real in 2024 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry has just released their export statistic for 2023 – December ended the year on a positive note with exports up 5.5%. For the year as a whole, the industry exports recorded an increase of 7.6% compared to 2022, reaching their highest level ever at CHF 26.7 billion for […]
Time+Tide
Initially a plan to fill a slot in a personal collection, the HZ.01 aims to be the ideal, affordable everyday watch.The post The Hz Watches HZ.01 sports Swiss quartz, hardened titanium, and GADA proportions for less than $200 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Buffy recounts their watch collecting dry spell, and how they got there in the first place.The post How I made it one year without buying a watch appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
This bracelet is cheeky, but it's also a waist of time.The post Throwback to the time Maison Margiela made the most useless ‘watch’ ever appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
“We are a little bit arrogant. We feel that we are the king of the customer - and it’s the customer who is the king. You should never reverse this.’’The post Top Swiss watch CEOs tell Fortune they’ve been too “arrogant” as the pandemic watch boom peters out appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Quill & Pad
Describing 'Making Time' as “the greatest watch film ever made” is a pretty bold claim, especially as it’s a film about people rather than watches. But you can judge if Ian Skellern's headline is hyperbolic for yourself.
Time+Tide
Continuing their work with Revolution, Atelier Wen is once again bringing hand-made guilloché to the affordable realm.The post Atelier Wen x Revolution Perception Càn displays yet another take on hand-made, affordable guilloché appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Our Friday Wind-Down usually serves as a restful, fun read after a week of slaving away beneath fluorescent bulbs and drop ceilings. This week, however, catastrophic news from La Chaux-de-Fonds has put a dampener on things, as inclement weather ripped through the region, causing significant damage to buildings, more than a dozen injured people, and, … ContinuedThe post FRIDAY WIND DOWN: Movement maker giant Sellita caught up in Swiss super-storm appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Sapphire is one of the most exotic materials for a watch case these days. Notorious for being incredibly hard to work with, the material has yet to appear in more affordable models; however, ArtyA is on the right track with their new sporty summer release, the AquaSaphir. ArtyA is a small independent brand from Switzerland, … ContinuedThe post The ArtyA AquaSaphir is the first aquatic watch with a case made of sapphire crystal appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
Micromilspec, a Norwegian microbrand that has carved out a niche making custom watches for first-responder and military clients, has just revealed their latest project, a watch made for members of the newest branch of the United States military. The United States Space Force, founded in 2019 and technically part of the Department of the Air Force, is the smallest U.S. armed service, with just 8,600 members, but watch enthusiasts among the ranks now have the option of owning a timepiece made just for them, and civilians can get in on the action as well. The U.S. Space Force Watch was made in collaboration with members of the USSF in a manner similar to watches made with other Micromilspec clients, a list that includes Canadian, Norwegian, and French special forces, several units of the Norwegian Army, and the Smoke Divers unit of the Oslo Fire Brigade. According to the brand, watches are designed and developed in Oslo, with manufacturing and assembly completed by the brand’s Swiss partners. For the U.S. Space Force Watch two distinct versions will be made: one that will be sold exclusively to active members, members, and designated personnel of the USSF, and a more widely available civilian version which will require a U.S. shipping address to order. The watch itself is a spin on the popular integrated bracelet sports watch concept, with a highly angular eight sided case and an integrated H-link bracelet. The case measures 42mm wide and features a dive-style timing be...
Time+Tide
A common feature of any independent brand, micro or otherwise, is the brave undertaking of “cutting out the middleman”. Even though this phrase has become overused, and in some cases, rightfully ridiculed, the success of many independent brands lies in online-only availability, which is often one of the main driving forces behind affordable prices. Yet … ContinuedThe post Marnaut opens a new chapter with a Croatian boutique, Swiss movements and German manufacturing appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Back in the centuries where pocket watches were the pinnacle of horology, experimentation was rife. Among the watches of royalty were incredible complications, calendars, automatons and glorious decorations – and occasionally even double-sided displays. For something encased in solid metal and kept in a soft pocket, it wasn’t too much of a stretch of the … ContinuedThe post The first double-faced watch wasn’t made by the brand you expect appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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