Hodinkee
Introducing: Piaget Goes All In On Stone Dials, Led By The New Polo 79
A sodalite dial Polo 79 anchors a broader return to semiprecious stone dials, drawing on Piaget's 1970s design language.
Results for Watch Dial Text Conventions
23,326 articles · 6,161 videos found · page 349 of 983
Hodinkee
Monochrome
First Look – The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric 30th-Anniversary Trilogy, with Hand-Hammered Dials
Master watchmaker and restorer Michel Parmigiani’s original Toric QP Rétrograde was Parmigiani Fleurier’s foundational watch marking the brand’s launch in 1996. Following the appointment of Guido Terreni in 2021, many of Michel Parmigiani’s models were put on standby to allow Terreni to chart the brand’s new design direction, with a primary focus on the Tonda […]
Monochrome
Introducing – The Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Gets new Dials
The Historiques American 1921 is one of Vacheron Constantin’s most recognisable heritage revivals: a cushion-cased, asymmetrical wristwatch inspired by early-1920s designs. Made for the American market in 1921, the distinctive wristwatch, with its 45-degree-rotated dial and unconventional crown placement, made it practical for motorists who could read the time without taking their hands off the […]
Time+Tide
Cool blues and feather light, Czapek & Cie releases three new Antartique models in full titanium and blue dials
Czapek & Cie releases a trio of Antarctique models with grade 5 titanium cases and bracelets, and Cosmic Blue dials The Dark Sector and Révélation models are available in both 40.5mm and 38.5mm, and the Tourbillon model is available in 40.5mm. Each model features Cosmic Blue as the main dial colour, with each model appearing … ContinuedThe post Cool blues and feather light, Czapek & Cie releases three new Antartique models in full titanium and blue dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
A Hands-On Introduction To The Baltic Heures Du Monde With Three Stone Dials
We already mentioned Baltic in a recent Fratello Talks episode, “The Microbrands To Watch In 2026.” Etienne Malec founded the brand 10 years ago and launched his first watch a year later. We suspect he’s planning something big for the anniversary, but it doesn’t look like Etienne needs any excuse to launch great new watches. […] Visit A Hands-On Introduction To The Baltic Heures Du Monde With Three Stone Dials to read the full article.
Video
Perfect 3 Watch Collection for Every Budget | Over 15 Watches!
Monochrome
Introducing – De Rijke & Co. Amalfi Series 2, Drivers’ Watches with Car-Themed Enamel Dials
Suppose you know the Dutch indie watchmaking scene, then De Rijke & Co. is the name you must be familiar with. Founded by Laurens De Rijke, the brand began almost by accident during a vintage Vespa trip, when the idea for a watch specifically designed for driving emerged. De Rijke’s concept of a driver’s watch […]
Fratello
Subprime Reporting? Thoughts On The Recent Morgan Stanley/Swatch Group Controversy
Morgan Stanley Investment Management published its Ninth Annual Swiss Watcher on February 19th. The report dives deep into the commercial performance of the Swiss watch market on a brand-by-brand level. I assume very few watch enthusiasts read the whole thing, but one table is rather famous: the top 50 Swiss watch brands ranked by turnover. […] Visit Subprime Reporting? Thoughts On The Recent Morgan Stanley/Swatch Group Controversy to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Czapek Introduces Two New Exotic Mother of Pearl Dials in the Promenade and Antarctique Collections
If you had told me a few years ago that much of what I’d be doing at Worn & Wound in terms of new release coverage would be writing about mother of pearl and stone dial executions like a beat reporter at small town paper assigned to the high school basketball team, I probably would not have believed it. But here we are, multiple years into a trend that does not really seem to be letting up. It started with a resurfacing of high end vintage watches with exotic stone dials, moved to bigger brands capitalizing on the hype, shifted to smaller makers and microbrands offering impossibly affordable options, and now we’re back at the high end, and seeing brands looking for new ways to combine stones and materials in novel ways. Last week, Czapek announced a pair of watches that make particularly interesting use of mother of pearl. The Antarctique S Ice Cloud is, at a glance, simply an Antarctique with a mother of pearl dial. But there’s some special artisanal work that has gone into the making of this particular dial, which has been conceived as a “poetic interpretation of cloud formations in an icy landscape.” The dial is constructed from a piece of white mother of pearl that is cut to just 0.2mm thick – the height of two sheets of paper, according to Czapek. A varnish is then applied to the underside of the mother of pearl surface using a horsehair brush, which creates a cloudlike pattern that is unique to each dial. The varnish itself is tinted blue, and the art...
Monochrome
Introducing – Mother-of-Pearl Dials for the Czapek Antarctique S Ice Cloud and Promenade Midnight Pearl
Among the incredible variety of materials used to decorate dials, mother-of-pearl is an all-time favourite. Obtained from the inner lining of oyster and mollusc shells, mother-of-pearl is a captivating, naturally iridescent material that adds a unique shimmer to dials. Working with GT Cadrans, a specialist Swiss dial manufacturer, Czapek embellishes its Antarctique S and Promenade […]
Monochrome
Introducing – The Nivada Grenchen F77 MKII with Classic Braided and Stone Dials
Few recent reissues have enjoyed the sustained momentum of the Nivada Grenchen F77. Since its return, the Gérald-Genta-era-inspired sports watch has evolved through careful, calculated steps, and it returns today in its MkII form, subtly but meaningfully refined, preserving the spirit of the 1977 original while improving comfort, wearability and long-term appeal. The latest MKII […]
Video
4 Signs That Watch is a Mistake - Don't Buy These Watches
Hodinkee
Introducing: The Final Baltic MR, With Two Different Black Dials And Gem-Set Moissanite Bezel
Baltic says goodbye to a great model with a glossy black dial and a splash of bling.
Worn & Wound
A New Batch of Worldtimers from Farer Have Arrived
It’s hard to keep track of all the watch trends that come and go over a calendar year, and while it’s not been as smoking-hot-popular as skin divers and GMTs, the worldtimer complication has been enjoying some time in the sun recently. Joining the herd is the Farer World Timer 2026 Collection, which beefs up an already-impressive (and early to the trend) lineup with three new colorways. In fact, the Farer World Timer was first launched in 2019, well before recent additions that have piqued the watch world’s interest, and it’s that confident backlog that has allowed Farer to introduce three new pieces with a level of design refinement that other relative newcomers may lack. Before we dive into the new colorways, let’s get the basics down: each Farer World Timer sports a 39mm 316L stainless steel case (and varying finishes depending on the model) with an impressive 11mm of thickness, and a democratic 45mm lug-to-lug measurement. One crown, inset with a Farer “A”-embossed bronze cap, sits at the 3 o’clock position, while the other, wearing a World Timer marque, rests at 10 and operates the outer rotating bezel. The crowns, domed sapphire crystal, and exhibition caseback ensure a decently robust 100 meters of water resistance. Inside, a Sellita SW331-2 Elabore movement should guarantee reliability, accuracy, serviceability, and a 56-hour power reserve. A bespoke Farer rotor is color-matched to the central 24-hour disc on the dial. Speaking of that disc, it...
Deployant
New: Parmigiani Tonda PF Micro-Rotor in rose gold and steel with Agave Blue Dials
Parmigiani releases a new version of their super popular Tonda PF Micro-Rotor in an Agave Blue dial, with two expressions.
Monochrome
Introducing – Green Malachite Dials for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 37 and 41mm
The trend for stone dials has had a bandwagon effect in the watch industry, with players, small and large, succumbing to the temptation of adorning their models with exotic stones and even slivers of meteorite. However, like Piaget, Audemars Piguet got a head start in the field, with stone dials on its ultra-thin dress watches […]
Teddy Baldassarre
California Dials Explained, and Seven of Our Favorites
Watches with California dials are among the most niche products in the industry, with a relatively vague history that somehow only adds to their mystique and quirky appeal. If you’re not familiar with the California dial - or if you are already a convert and simply curious about where in this day and age you can find these rare birds - read on as we attempt to answer all of the expected queries about the style, starting with the most basic, namely: [toc-section heading="What Exactly Are California Dials?"] Photo: Sotheby's A California dial is generally recognized as a watch dial with a combination of Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, and non-numeral indexes to mark the hour positions. On most examples, the layout is fairly consistent: Roman numerals in the top half of the dial, from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock; Arabic numerals in the bottom half, from 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock; baton-shaped or rectangular-dash indexes breaking up the numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock; and an inverted triangle marking the 12 o’clock position. A few watchmakers, like Germany’s Nomos Glashütte in its Club Campus models, have chosen to stray from this formula a bit, putting the Arabic numerals in the top half and Roman numerals in the bottom half. Other variations include the less-common “Semi-California” dial, which uses the triangle at 12 o’clock and indexes at the 15-minute markers but opts for only Arabic numerals at the other positions. [toc-section heading="Who Made...
Video
Affordable Automatic GMT for $299 - Phoibos Wave Master GMT 200m Seiko NH34 Automatic Dive Watch
Monochrome
Industry News – Swatch Group Revenues Down In 2025
It’s the time of year when businesses announce their financial performance. Following Richemont and LVMH, Swatch Group has just released its 2025 results. In a challenging environment for the watch industry, the sales of Swatch Group – the Swiss powerhouse and owner of Omega, Longines, and Tissot – were CHF 6,280 million, down 1.3% at constant exchange rates […]
Time+Tide
Dennison is doubling down on natural dials, and we absolutely love it
Two hot new takes on Dennison's dress watch have arrived in our store: Black Marble, and the mother-of-pearl marquetry Ghost.The post Dennison is doubling down on natural dials, and we absolutely love it appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
Swatch Expands their Art Watch Lineup with a New Guggenheim Collaboration
Few watch brands enjoy the instant brand recognition of Swatch, especially non-luxury brands. Sure, Swatch has its haters-though I’ve always found said haters unimaginative and lacking in whimsy-but the fact that their social cache and cultural relevance has stayed steady for decades is impressive. A self-proclaimed horology superfan could argue that there is nothing mechanically impressive about the brand’s offerings, but that misses the point of Swatch entirely; after all, fashion is not a dirty word. All of this sounds like vindictive talk from a Swatch sympathizer, but really, it comes from a place of genuine admiration for the brand’s ability to stick to their guns, both aesthetically and from a business standpoint. Even with recent splashy collab offerings like the Omega MoonSwatch line, they’ve managed to stay affordable, accessible, and above all, collectable. Swatch is no stranger to collaborations with museums and artists, but even so, the new Guggenheim Collection promises some snazzy new wrist candy for fine art enthusiasts. Inspired by the works of Edgar Degas, Paul Klee, Claude Monet, and Jackson Pollock, and created in tandem with the Guggenheim New York and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the line is just the latest entry in Swatch’s long-standing relationship with the fine art world. Four watches are available from the collection: two feature 34mm biosourced material cases, while the other two measure in at 41mm. Biosourced mat...
Monochrome
First Look – Omega Launches the Speedmaster Moonwatch with Black and White Dials
The modern Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, the direct descendant of the watch that accompanied Apollo 11 crew members to the Moon, doesn’t need much introduction anymore. It is, undeniably, one of the most iconic and storied timepieces in existence. But there is more than one Moonwatch. Besides the classic steel version with a closed back […]
Time+Tide
Omega’s latest pair of Speedmaster Moonwatch Professionals feature lacquered reverse panda dials
The current generation of the legendary Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional now has a new black and white lacquered dial.The post Omega’s latest pair of Speedmaster Moonwatch Professionals feature lacquered reverse panda dials appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Video
10 Facts Even Watch Snobs Don't Know About the Rolex Submariner
Monochrome
Introducing – The Toka, Finnish Indie Watchmaking Duo Kortela Valta’s Next Chapter
The life of an independent watchmaker, or a duo in this case, is hardly ever easy. Roope Kortela and Rene Valta, who you might know from the portrait we produced about a year ago, are pulling the covers off their next watch, but some challenges had to be overcome. When we first spoke with the […]
Time+Tide
Japanese microbrand Kiwame Tokyo introduces the Iwao series with dials inspired by stone
This restrained and elegant take on a field watch from a Japanese watch industry veteran is an exquisite example of "honest watchmaking".The post Japanese microbrand Kiwame Tokyo introduces the Iwao series with dials inspired by stone appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
James Lamb Introduces the Linea Editions, with Hand Engraved Titanium Dials and a New Argentium Silver Case
A few years ago (almost two years to the day, in fact) I picked up my James Lamb Origin Series. It’s a watch I had become kind of obsessed with in the months leading up to my purchase, and I’m happy to say that two years into ownership, long after the supposed honeymoon period would have been due to end, I’m still every bit as excited about it as I was on the day it arrived. There are a number of reasons for which we might connect to any particular watch: the aesthetics, the way it wears physically, the way it makes you feel when you wear it, and certainly the philosophy of the maker or brand behind it. I found the Origin Series watches to not only be incredibly beautiful, but the idea that these were handmade objects, pieced together in the traditional way by true artisans was something that always excited me. Because of the handmade nature of Lamb’s work, that work is sometimes a little slow. He doesn’t participate in the traditional new watch release cycle that so much of the industry is beholden to. So I, along with many other admirers of his work, have been patiently waiting for whatever it is that would come next. Recently, we got our answer in the new Linea Edition. The Linea represents a fairly dramatic uptick in ambition for Lamb – this is not an iteration what we’ve already seen in the Origin Series, but something a little bit bolder. Still, it’s very recognizable as a “James Lamb” and adheres to the same underlying ideas that made those fir...
Worn & Wound
A Guide to Hand-Finished, Métiers d’Art Dials
At Worn & Wound, we admire watches for their functionality and ability to withstand whatever life throws at them. But we also celebrate the practice of beauty! As such, handcrafted dials, or Métiers d’Art dials, are often considered the pinnacle of human craftsmanship in the field of watchmaking. Independent French watch brand AWAKE has made this its calling card by embracing a bold and contemporary take on exceptional craftsmanship. By reimagining traditional techniques, AWAKE brings out their essence in the service of creativity. Each piece in its Handmade collections features a unique dial that celebrates the passage of time and the beauty of things made to last, inviting you into the world of workshops, traditions, and time-honored craft that keep cultural heritage alive. Presented by Worn & Wound and AWAKE, this guide takes you on a journey to discover some of the most impressive craft techniques used in watchmaking today by sharing a few exceptional examples of each. So sit back, grab a loupe, and enjoy. Sơn Mài The use of lacquer in Asia stretches back thousands of years to ancient China and Japan, but Vietnam also developed its own unique branch of the art called sơn mài. Initially used as a protective material for everyday items like furniture, religious artifacts, and even architecture, it gradually transitioned from a primarily functional practice to an artistic one. During the Lý and Trần Dynasties, between the 11th and 14th centuries, the use of sơn...
SJX Watches
Hands On: Biver Automatique with Exotic Stone Dials
Biver expands its Automatique line with a diverse set of new dials that underscore the brand’s fascination with permanence, ranging from billion-year-old mineral stones to finely executed enamel and traditional guilloché. In a year crowded with stone-dial releases, the latest Automatique models stand out for the coherence of the concept and the quality of execution, offering collectors a mix of exotic materials, artisanal craft, and a technically unusual calibre across a wide price spectrum. Initial thoughts Jean-Claude Biver talks a lot about eternity. The slogan for his namesake brand, “eternity has no competition”, is an eloquent expression of what drives the Biver family enterprise, founded with his son Pierre and now led by chief executive James Marks. Beyond the ability to keep time, mechanical watches appeal to enthusiasts precisely because they seem to exist outside of time. Few modern products are crafted from such noble or enduring materials, and for many people a mechanical watch is among the most lasting man-made objects they will ever encounter. Biver’s obsession with eternity is clear in the products themselves. In the case of the Automatique, the brand has chosen to use especially long-lasting materials like gold for the movement plates and bridges, going so far as to used a high-palladium gold alloy that will not tarnish over time. The overly robust cases are another clue as to the motivations of the people behind the Biver brand. Water resistant t...
Video