Two Broke Watch Snobs
Best Dive Watches Under $500: Hands-On Reviews and Breakdown
Explore the best dive watches under $500 with hands-on picks that balance value, everyday wearability, and real-world capability.
Results for Free-Sprung Balance
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Two Broke Watch Snobs
Monochrome
First Look - Czapek Revisits its Antarctique Sector, Revelation and Tourbillon in Titanium and Cosmic Blue
Czapek launched the Antarctique collection in 2020 as its first luxury sports watch built around the in-house calibre SXH5, marking a major step in the brand’s modern revival. Striking a refined balance between luxury and everyday wearability, Czapek unveils titanium interpretations of three emblematic references: Dark Sector, Révélation and the Tourbillon. Lighter, stronger and more […]
Monochrome
Buying Guide - The Joy of the Snap, With 5 of Today’s Finest Retrograde Watches
I’ve always been a big fan of watches that have something moving on the dial, other than the smooth and consistent running of hour, minute and second hands. Whether it’s a dial-mounted balance wheel, a tourbillon escapement or even a winding rotor, I just love to see some type of action that goes beyond pure […]
Monochrome
The ABCs of Time - Why Are Some Watch Cases Filled with Oil?
Wristwatch manufacturers focus on keeping cases air and watertight so the movements can operate trouble-free in daily use. This started in earnest in 1926 with Rolex’s robust Oyster case, but even delicate dress watches today have a degree of water and dust resistance for splashes, rain and so on. However, a small handful of brands […]
Fratello
Fratello On Air: When A Cult Brand You Enjoy Goes Mainstream
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! We’re back (sort of) after more travels, and this week, we discuss the fallout that happens once a formerly unloved brand becomes popular. Call it sour grapes or wanting to keep something to oneself, but feel free to listen to our thoughts on the subject. Enjoy […] Visit Fratello On Air: When A Cult Brand You Enjoy Goes Mainstream to read the full article.
Video
Top 5 Biggest Watch Releases of The Week - August 2026
Welcome to the watch releases for the second week of August 2026. We have new watches from Seiko, IWC and more. Enjoy the video!
Fratello
Rolex: “Sorry, Sir, We Don’t Serve Pepsi Here Anymore”
“Sorry, sir, we don’t serve Pepsi here anymore.” I have heard this before. Last time, I was presented with a disgusting hipster alternative, locally sourced and seemingly made of organic wastewater from small-batch sewage systems housing free-range rats. That’s what it tasted like to me, anyway. “Come on, no Pepsi or Coke?” We need at […] Visit Rolex: “Sorry, Sir, We Don’t Serve Pepsi Here Anymore” to read the full article.
Monochrome
Introducing - The Orient Star 75th Anniversary M42 Diver 1964 1st Edition F6 Date 200m
Using the analogy of Grand Seiko and Seiko, Orient Star is the premium division of Orient watches (both part of Seiko Epson since 2017). Established in 1951, Orient Star produces more refined watches featuring complications and a characteristic Japanese balance of quality and value. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Orient Star reimagines the design of its […]
SJX Watches
In-Depth: Understanding Resonance in Watches
Resonance watches are among the most elusive machines in modern watchmaking. Creations such as F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre à Résonance perform well at auctions, commanding high prices. While their rarity and appeal are undeniable, watches that purport to harness resonance tend to be viewed with a degree of skepticism. A measure of skepticism is understandable - the concept of sprung balances becoming almost magically coupled is anything but straightforward and requires a profound understanding of oscillators in general. This story seeks to shed some light on the concept of coupled oscillators by explaining the two models of coupling and explore the nuances of each system. Before exploring resonance, the reader is encouraged to review the basics of sprung oscillators and isochronism in order to become more familiar with the hairspring and balance wheel model. The F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 2 sold for more than CHF3 million in November 2025. A confusion of terms First, the term resonance itself requires definition. In classical physics (mechanics, electrical engineering, signal processing, etc.) resonance is a phenomenon where a system vibrates under the influence of an external driving force that matches the system’s eigenfrequency (natural frequency). This is to say that a system at rest, which includes mass and spring elements, can be excited into a state of resonance by an external force when particular conditions are met. An imp...
Fratello
The Watch Enthusiast Trap: Knowing More Can Lead To Enjoying Less
I live about 25 minutes from the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. I have lived there all my life, but I somehow never visited the museum. So, last week, when my wife and I had a free morning, we decided to take the plunge. This article isn’t about Van Gogh or about art at all. […] Visit The Watch Enthusiast Trap: Knowing More Can Lead To Enjoying Less to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Introducing: Ming Debuts Its Integrated Bracelet Design With The 56.00 'Starfield'
A new bracelet design seeks a stress-free, perfect fit. No screwdriver required.
Video
A $500 watch has the best movement. Buy the $6000 watch anyway...
For inquiries and collabs: twtw.mike@gmail.com
Monochrome
Introducing - Chinese Indie Watchmaker Qian GuoBiao Launches a Split-Seconds Chronograph
Independent watchmaker Qian GuoBiao continues to expand the horizons and appreciation of indie horology from China, building on the foundations laid by earlier pieces like the Facing the Sky 2.0 and Double Balance Wheel. His latest creation, the Split-Seconds Chronograph, is another step forward. While the Double Balance Wheel explored harmony through the synchrony of […]
SJX Watches
SJX Podcast: Perfectly Impractical
Episode 27 of the SJX Podcast opens the archives to find the most impractical and illegible watches that somehow still manage to be worthwhile despite the triumph of form over function. It’s a difficult formula to get right, and the landscape of fine watchmaking is littered with examples of watches that sacrificed too much at the altar of fashion. But those that strike the right balance are especially memorable. SJX and Brandon also discuss a couple of emerging independents from as far afield as Japan and Finland. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Monochrome
Hands-on - Experiencing the Moritz Grossmann Perpetual Calendar
Forgive the lyrical tone, but to encounter a Moritz Grossmann watch is to feel time transformed into form and substance. These are timepieces that are great to look at and study in detail with a loupe, but also wonderful to experience through touch, balance, and inner rhythm. Since Christine Hutter revived the storied name in […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Kiwame Tokyo’s Iwao Is a Field Watch That Avoids Microbrand Gimmicks
Kiwame Tokyo introduces the Iwao, a thoughtfully designed field watch emphasizing clarity, balance, and detail.
Monochrome
News - The Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition is Coming to Milan in 2026
It’s official: Patek Philippe is bringing its Grand Exhibition of Watch Art to Italy next year. Milan has been chosen to host the seventh edition of the Grand Exhibition and will open its doors to the public, free of charge, from 2 to 18 October 2026. Marking its seventh Grand Exhibition to date, Patek offers […]
Video
I Regret Buying These 5 Watches (And 4 I Don't)
5 watch collecting mistakes that cost me thousands of dollars — and 4 watches that saved my watch collection. This is a full watch collecting guide for 2026 covering the biggest watch buying mistakes new collectors...
Monochrome
First Look - The Green Bovet Récital 30 Worldtimer Seddiqi Limited Edition
Bovet‘s Récital line has always been where Pascal Raffy lets invention roam free: oversized domes, theatrical displays and genuinely mindblowing complications. The Récital 30 continues that tradition while making a pragmatic, travel-ready turn. Launched as a scaled-down, wearable sibling to the Récital 28, the Récital 30 focuses on one problem and solves it elegantly with […]
Teddy Baldassarre
Credor Watches: Japan's Answer To Switzerland's Best
Similar to Switzerland at the heart of Europe, Japan has a hierarchy of complexity in its watches, with brands like Grand Seiko often being the first to come to mind in the luxury segment. However, just like the artistic free spirits from Switzerland who uphold centuries-old principles of the craft, there is a brand with tremendous mystique that is quickly emerging as a name to be reckoned with. It simply goes by the name, Credor. A Brief History of Credor Watches Much like Grand Seiko, Credor was born as a luxury offshoot of Seiko, established in 1974 to produce precious metal watches under the "Crêt D'or" name, which translates from French as “pinnacle of gold”. The name evolved to “Credor” in the 1980s, which saw the introduction of the brand's triple-peaked logo capped by three stars. It remained as a co-brand with Seiko on watch dials throughout the ‘90s, was sold mainly in Japan, and appeared on watches that combined luxury with sport, along with select jewelry pieces. The focus on both kinds of watches – the luxury-sport and the jewelry – had one distinct commonality: a specific focus on design with a bent toward capturing a certain opulent fervor of the 1980s and ‘90s. You can see some similarities in these watches as what was coming out of Switzerland by way of a certain Gérald Genta (and the connection between he and Credor doesn’t stop there). Credor In The 1990s The 1990s are something of an inflection point for the brand, when the Seiko...
SJX Watches
Breguet Reverses Polarity with the Classique 7225
Breguet’s 250th anniversary got off to a good start and the momentum continues with the Classique 7225, another take on one of the brand’s most inventive movements. Guaranteed to run within an impressive one second a day, the Classique 7225 contains the cal. 74SC that boasts a high-frequency balance wheel running at an uncommonly rapid 10 Hz, or 72,000 beats per hour. To achieve that without overwhelming friction, the balance pivot is magnetic, allowing it to “float” as it oscillates. The 10 Hz balance was launched some 15 years ago, but its predecessor, the Classique 7727, did not enjoy particularly attractive aesthetics. The Classique 7225 solves the problem with a striking dial modelled on an important series of tourbillon pocket watches from the early 19th century. To accommodate the dial layout, the cal. 74SC incorporates an additional constant seconds that can be instantaneously reset. Notably, the 7225 is not a limited edition, unlike its compatriot, the Classique 7235 launched at the same time. Initial thoughts The 7225 shows that Breguet’s revival is certainly well underway, stewarded by Gregory Kissling, who has been in the top job for slightly over a year. The 7225 isn’t a major revamp of the 7727, but it is far, far more appealing watch. The magnetic-pivot movement was ingenious at launch, and still is, but the 7727 was under-designed and over-logo’ed. With the 7225, Breguet’s ultra-chronometer finally has visual and tactile appeal. And it keeps...
Fratello
Introducing: The Brand Minim And Its Three-Watch-Strong MN01 Collection
Minim is an independent watch brand founded by Chloe Chan, and just like her, it is a balance of East and West. According to the founder, the three watches in the debut MN01 collection reflect her journey from Hong Kong to London and are a contemporary tribute to traditional watchmaking. The inspiration from vintage pocket […] Visit Introducing: The Brand Minim And Its Three-Watch-Strong MN01 Collection to read the full article.
SJX Watches
SJX Podcast: MB&F; Gives Away Anniversary Editions
On episode 13 of the SJX Podcast, Brandon Moore and SJX discuss MB&F;’s decision to give away 20 free watches – 10 pieces of a new LM101 Longhorn for Tribe members and 10 pieces of a matching M.A.D.1S for prior raffle registrants. It’s a move that’s generated a lot of buzz, and a little bit of consternation, but regardless it’s a remarkable offer from one of the more successful independent brands of its era. Also discussed is the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds which just got upgraded with a new solid 18k pink gold dial. Is it still competitive nearly a decade after launch? Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube.
Video
When Watches Are TOO Good, This Happens: My Rolex Submariner, Explorer, Hanhart 417, Panerai Etc.
Recently I've started noticing that when I wear some of my most beloved and favorite watches, it leads to something I call the "anti-watch effect," which in the past has had some rather dangerous results for my collec...
Monochrome
Introducing - The Arnold & Son Nebula 40 Steel Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary Edition
Born in 2016, the Nebula watch by Arnold & Son set out to make the movement the dial: a perfectly balanced, openworked stage where seven radiating bridges, twin barrels and a dial-side balance create a calm, symmetrical look. Over the years, the concept has been refined (and downsized) without losing its architectural clarity. Marking 75 […]
Hodinkee
Introducing: The David Candaux DC12 Maverik
Independent watchmaker David Candaux delivers a new double balance caliber in a sculpted 39.5mm case.
Deployant
New: David Candaux DC12 MaveriK - innovation from Le Soliat
David Candaux releases his next watch the DC12 MaveriK, with two balance wheels driven by a differential, and protected by three patents.
Fratello
Hands-On With Two Handsome Hanhart 415 ES Panda Chronographs
Many modern chronographs strive to strike a balance between vintage appeal and modern build quality. Few of those efforts result in a package as appealing as the Hanhart 415 ES Panda chronographs. These models revisit a 1960s design while delivering features expected in a contemporary tool watch. I had the chance to go hands-on with […] Visit Hands-On With Two Handsome Hanhart 415 ES Panda Chronographs to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Berneron Complicates Things with the Quantième Annuel (Live Pics)
The inaugural watch by haute Swiss independent Berneron, the Mirage 38, had a markedly poetic design. With a free-flowing case shape, twisting hands, and a distorted dial, it would be easy to consider it as a design of pure aesthetics. Looks deceived, however, as the form was driven by a movement concept that rejected the standard circular shape, allowing for a large barrel, and thus a 72-hour power reserve in a small and thin body. Nevertheless, the outcome was undoubtedly one of whimsy, where evocative design outweighed pure function, if there was a clever horological backing. Often, brands, especially young ones, stick to a theme to carve a niche for themselves within a crowded industry, but that’s not the approach of Berneron. For the brand’s second model, announced just before Geneva Watch Days, whimsy is nowhere in sight. Instead, the brand made a sharp turn into practicality and legibility, if through a decidedly haute lens. Titled the Quantième Annuel, it has a design that verges on the traditional, especially compared to the Mirage. The first model within their “quantième” collection, which will house their complicated pieces, the QA is an annual calendar jump hour with a design driven by logic in terms of how it is read, the movement architecture, and how it is set. The flow of the dial is meant to be top to bottom, left to right. Following that order, time is read hour, minute, second, and the day, date, and month. The hour is digital, as it is a jump ...
Video
Extreme Watchmaking Revealed: The Formex Aria And How It's Made
Formex may be a relatively young name in Swiss watchmaking, but the brand has already made a name for itself thanks to its unique approach. Founded in 1999 and based in Biel, Formex has built its identity around combi...