Hodinkee
Hands-On: Tudor's Black Bay Pro Gets A Surprisingly Dramatic Facelift With An Opaline Dial
Why I sold my original Black Bay Pro and why this new dial is making me reconsider it.
5,088 articles · 31 videos found · page 16 of 171
Hodinkee
Why I sold my original Black Bay Pro and why this new dial is making me reconsider it.
Fratello
Brellum releases many small runs of watches during any given year, so I was surprised to find that it’s been nearly six months since our last review. Now we’re back with a look at the new Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase LE Chronometer. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but the welcome news is that the watch now […] Visit Introducing: The Salmon-Dial Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase to read the full article.
Fratello
Aside from Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is probably the most talked-about one from the Apollo program. It was a mission that failed - almost fatally! On April 17th, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role […] Visit Why Is There A Snoopy On The Dial? to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Blue dials have always been popular, and these watches stand out as being the nicest money can buy right now. The post 14 of the best blue dial watches proving it’s still the colour to have appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Grand Seiko’s flagship chronograph gets a new dial with the Tentagraph SLGC007 that just launched at Watches & Wonders 2025. Nearly identical to its predecessor, the SLGC001 with a dark blue dial, the new iteration distinguishes itself through a striking grey dial embossed with a pattern inspired by freshly fallen snow. This is matched with contrasting black sub-dials that coordinate seamlessly with the ceramic bezel, setting it apart from the earlier model. Initial thoughts The SLGC001 was a significant milestone for Grand Seiko - serving as the brand’s first mechanical chronograph - the new iteration of the Tentagraph is a just cosmetic variant. It has all the strengths and weaknesses of the original, though the dial is more attractive. This refreshed dial is far more appealing than the original in blue, as blue is somewhat overused in sports watches. The “panda”-esque black registers are also a nice touch that add to the sporty design. Priced at US$14,700, the Tentagraph SLGC007 is priced reasonably – but not quite the same value proposition as the average Grand Seiko. The Tentagraph has an impressive list of features, most obviously the in-house cal. 9SC5 with Grand Seiko’s proprietary Dual Impulse Escapement, and a high level of fit and finish, but the movement is modular in construction, which should not be a case for a flagship chronograph from a respected watchmaker. Nature inspired once again As is often the case with Grand Seiko dials, the SLGC007...
Time+Tide
Nothing says vintage like the warm flash of pink in the dials of yesteryear, but here are some great modern salmon dials worth considering.The post The 9 best salmon dial watches for collectors with delicious taste appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Last year, Anoma founder Matteo Violet-Vianello launched his first watch, the A1. The triangular timepiece earned quite some hype on social media, and he sold many A1s to the lucky people who pre-ordered one. A few weeks ago, Matteo presented the Anoma A1 Slate, a refined version of the same watch with a brushed, engraved, […] Visit Hands-On: The Anoma A1 Slate With A Refined Dial to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
It’s well understood at this point that stone dials are experiencing a renaissance in all corners of the watch market. In fact, it might almost be kind of boring to point this out as we continue to see new spins on these dials released on an almost weekly basis. So it would be tempting to say that H. Moser is jumping on the stone dial bandwagon with their new Pop collection, the centerpiece of their Watches & Wonders 2025 strategy. But I don’t think that’s quite fair. Moser, for their part, has been ahead of the curve on stone dials. They’ve released a handful of extremely limited watches with dials crafted from jade, falcon’s eye, and other stones in recent years. And with the Pop collection watches, they’ve done something genuinely creative, combining multiple stones in each dial in unexpected ways across three different models. The Pop collection exists in the Endeavour line, and makes use of all three watches on the platform: the Endeavour Small Seconds, Endeavour Tourbillon, and Endeavour Minute Repeater Tourbillon Concept. There are six groups of three watches, each making use of a combination of two stones. The stone pairings are Burmese jade and pink opal, lapis lazuli and lemon chrysoprase, and turquoise and coral. Each pairing is executed in two ways, with one stone being dominant in each. So, for example, there’s a Small Seconds model with Burmese jade in the main dial and pink opal in the sub seconds, and another with the opposite. For the tourb...
SJX Watches
Rolex has launched its first-ever ceramic dial with the GMT-Master II ref. 126729 VTNR. Left-handed like the “Sprite” of 2022, the new GMT-Master II is available only in 18k white gold – unsurprising since Rolex typically rolls out new innovations or features in precious metals. Dial aside, the rest is classic GMT-Master II. The movement is the latest-generation cal. 3285, while the bezel insert is in the same material as the dial, Cerachrom, Rolex speak for ceramic. Initial thoughts Unlike the game-changing Land Dweller, the new GMT-Master II is typical Rolex in being an incremental improvement over past models. Ceramic dials have been present in watchmaking for several years now, though this is a first for Rolex. Over time, ceramic dials will probably filter downwards into more affordable models as is the norm at the brand. Besides being a perfect match for the green half of the bezel, the ceramic dial is presumably more robustness than conventional lacquered dial, particularly in terms of scratch resistance and colour fastness (over decades or even centuries). Even though it’s not majorly novel, the ref. 126729 VTNR is a good looking watch and, in the usual Rolex fashion, is priced reasonably for what it is (though not cheaply). But it will also be a major hit, which makes availability scarce for some time to come. Two time zones One of the iconic travel watches, the GMT-Master II does a simple job very well. It can indicate up to three time zones with its combi...
Worn & Wound
Well, Tudor did the thing. And by “did the thing,” I mean that Tudor finally made the watch we all knew was coming, but maybe had started to doubt would ever arrive. But now the long wait is over, and the Black Bay Pro with Opaline white dial is here - and the new watch is everything people have been asking for and more, literally (but we’ll get to that in a minute). For as popular as the Black Bay Pro has been for Tudor, it didn’t take long after its launch in 2022 to notice a curious refrain of voices asking - nay, demanding - that Tudor bring a white dial in the style of the ‘Polar’ Explorer II to what is probably the outdoorsiest entry in the Black Bay family. Renders abounded, and a Polar BB Pro has been a fixture of prediction pieces for the last three years. Now, after a long wait, the watch so many asked for is here, and Tudor nailed it, not that there won’t be complaints. But first the good stuff. The dial here is awesome. The Opaline white dial (not Polar) looks - unsurprisingly - great against the all-steel look of the BB Pro, and the yellow GMT hand continues to please, albeit despite sacrificing some of the contrast that defined the original release. Thankfully, any contrast lost is more than made up for elsewhere, most especially thanks to the black surrounds on the hands and markers. The markers here are the same three-dimensional ceramic lume plots as on the black model, but here they forfeit the off-white look of the original BB Pro...
Monochrome
Anyone familiar with Moser’s concept watches knows that ‘concept’, in Moser’s vocabulary, means maximum minimalism: no logos, no indices, no inscriptions…just the bare essentials. Moser is also intimately associated with beautiful dials and has shown how traditional métiers d’art, like Grand Feu enamel, can create strikingly contemporary dials. The latest Endeavour Tourbillon Concept is a […]
Time+Tide
The new Grand Seiko SLGC007 brings panda flavour to the Tentagraph.The post Grand Seiko debuts a Tentagraph sequel with a snow blue panda dial appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
The Grand Seiko SBGW323 pairs the hue of the purple kiri flower with the brand's famed Mt. Iwate dial texture - all within a 36.5mm 44GS case.The post Grand Seiko’s 36.5mm 44GS gets a purple “Kiri” dial with the new SBGW323 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
A new crispy white dial variant of the BB Pro.
Time+Tide
The first sunburst BB58 gets a sultry red makeover.The post Does a sunburst dial defeat the retro purpose of the new burgundy Tudor Black Bay 58? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
Alpina’a venerable Alpiner collection has no shortage of eye-catching dial textures, complications, and even experimental pizzazz. But perhaps what it was missing was a model that exemplified both the 1933 origins of the line and its future as an iconic Swiss sport watch. Enter the new Alpiner Extreme Automatic, sporting a dial color that makes so much sense, it’s a little baffling that Alpina hasn’t tapped into it before. The glacier blue hue of the face immediately conjures images of icy slopes, and the repeating Alpine summit triangle motif that texturizes the dial and brings the design straight to the Alps. The Alpiner Extreme Automatic also hangs onto distinctive design features that make it instantly recognizable: the rounded square cushion case, measuring at 39 x 40.5mm, in chilly steel. A vertical brushed satin finish on the bezel (matching that of the three links on the bracelet) contrasts the mirror-polished case, and the triangle motif can be found again on the six exposed screws that circle the bezel. A screw-down crown with a rubber ring of glacier blue both assures the Alpiner’s 200m water resistance, and brings a unified sense of color and form to the fringes of the design. A slightly-lighter blue outer minute track with white markers runs around the perimeter of the dial, adding some dimension to the face of the watch, while applied silver, luminous indexes mark the hours. A date window at 3 o’clock, hand-polished silver and luminous hour and mi...
Time+Tide
Does bigger mean better when it comes to the Cartier Tank? Read on to find out.The post The Tank Louis Cartier is back, bigger and better than ever, with an automatic movement and stunning dial appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Rolex is introducing new Oyster Perpetual and Datejust options for us consumers. Even if the release of other models may grab the headlines, it’s great to see The Crown pay attention to the classics. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual line is the bedrock of Rolex sports-watch design, so it’s good to see the brand put at […] Visit Rolex Introduces New Oyster Perpetual Watches And A Striking Red-Dial Datejust In Gold to read the full article.
Monochrome
With Watches and Wonders now open, all eyes are on Rolex’s latest novelties. Next to the much expected Land-Dweller, the crown also introduced a slew of new dials including a turquoise blue lacquer dial punctuated by bright black counters for the yellow gold Daytona. If this is not a major novelty from a technical / […]
Fratello
It’s been two years since Rolex introduced its current Cosmograph Daytona. With an updated design and a new movement, the new Daytona was the biggest highlight in a string of great releases from the Genevan brand in 2023. For 2025, Rolex expands the Daytona collection with a surprising new 18K yellow gold version. Whereas the […] Visit Introducing: The New 18K Gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona With A Turquoise Lacquer Dial to read the full article.
Monochrome
Vintage pilot watches have soared in popularity with remakes of legitimate aviator watches by historical brands and look-alikes by countless others. However, when Patek Philippe introduced its Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524 during Baselworld 2015, it caught everybody off guard. Presented in white gold with a blue dial and pushers on the left, the […]
Fratello
You’ve already seen the header image, so you know exactly what watch this article is about. However, when I say, “Roman numerals, railway track, parallel brancards, blued-steel sword hands, and a beaded crown with a cabochon on top,” what do you envision? Of course, that can only be a Cartier Tank. At Watches and Wonders […] Visit Introducing: The 2025 Tank Louis Cartier With An Automatic Movement And A Guilloché Dial to read the full article.
Time+Tide
The Twin-Time becomes one of the most compelling models in the sporty Carrera line-up.The post Is the TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time the best green dial of Watches & Wonders 2025? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Young independent brand Alto adds a limited edition falcon's eye dial to its catalogue. The post Alto takes its next step with the ART 01 Falcon Eye, the most complex stone dial on the market appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
German watchmaker Stefan Kudoke has quickly made a name in independent watchmaking, establishing an eponymous Kudoke brand with a distinctive design language for handcrafted timepieces. In 2023, he introduced the Kudoke 3, which built on the success of the Kudoke 1 and Kudoke 2 designs while adding a unique twist – a split-level dial and […]
Time+Tide
From iconic racing watches to auction darlings, panda dial chronographs hold a special place in the hearts of collectors all over the world.The post 16 of the best panda dial chronographs that have been causing pandemonium amongst watch enthusiasts appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
The “Code” is growing on me. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight, to put it mildly. Still, with time and, more importantly, some much-needed significant cosmetic changes, I’m warming up to the watch that wasn’t just hindered by a seemingly lazy dial design and somewhat ridiculous name. Last year, I had a most pleasant […] Visit Infatuated By The New 41mm Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Selfwinding With A Gray Dial to read the full article.
Time+Tide
While unlikely to take over from the ever-popular blue and green, these red dial watches are all stand-outs in their own way.The post 8 of the best red dial watches from all-red G-Shocks to stunning stone appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Are you familiar with all the styles of watch bracelets? Here's a refresher.The post Everything you need to know about the most common types of watch bracelets appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
When Zenith first introduced this black-dial version of the Chronomaster Original in September 2023, it felt like a déjà vu. At first glance, it immediately felt like a dial variant that the brand would have released in the early ’70s. We know that didn’t happen, but here we are, 50+ years later, with a dial […] Visit How The Black-Dial Zenith Chronomaster Original Changed My Collecting Perspective to read the full article.
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