Results for The Quartz Astron Launch

The Business of Watches Podcast: Studio Underd0g Founder Richard Benc

This week on The Business of Watches, we're talking to the man behind one of the more successful new watch brands in recent years, Studio Underd0g. Richard Benc is just 33, and since 2020, he's built his irreverent, approachable-priced, design-driven brand to a significant size, producing about 14,000 watches last year.   Richard Benc (Photo Courtesy Studio Underd0g). And he's done it all, not from Switzerland or Hong Kong, but from the U.K. Benc has grown his business with intent, making strategic investments in his supply chain, including buying full control of the assembly and after-sales service company that builds Studio Underd0g's distinct timepieces.  Studio Underd0g is now the biggest assembler of mechanical watches in the U.K. and isn't only selling watches with drops and collabs, but is building up stock to make more watches available on its website.  Next up for Benc and his brand is a new physical, public, and retail location. The 'D0ghouse' will open in Maidenhead this month and serve as a public showcase for the upstart brand and its operations. It's another big step for the company that comes with its own set of fresh opportunities and challenges. And Benc gives us a tease on what may be coming next - there will be a new 04Series of watches that will take the brand to a place it hasn't been (mechanically) before.  But first, some watch industry business news headlines, including secondary market price rises, executive moves at the big auction houses, an...

Introducing: The Redesigned 40mm TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph In Four Variants

TAG Heuer unveils four new Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph models, with two in steel and two in different grades of titanium. The 40mm steel versions feature either a blue or green dial and polished center links in the bracelet, while the Grade 2 titanium one sports the Aquaracer Solargraph’s signature polar-blue accents and a sandblasted […] Visit Introducing: The Redesigned 40mm TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph In Four Variants to read the full article.

The Business of Watches Podcast: Christopher Ward CEO Mike France

This week on The Business of Watches, we're talking to the head of what's now the largest U.K.-based watch brand, Christopher Ward. Under the direction of Chief Executive Officer Mike France, the Swiss-made, approachable-priced watchmaker has enjoyed outsized growth in recent years, due in part to popular and surprising releases like its Bel Canto chiming watch and its commitment to keeping prices in check. Photo courtesy Christopher Ward.  Now Christopher Ward, which recently overhauled its core Sealander collection, is eyeing an ambitious retail expansion plan in its biggest market, the United States. France lays out the economics and business case for the brand's unique retail approach, powered by deep community relationships built with customers over the past two decades. The ambitions aren't insignificant. From a handful of showrooms now, the company could have as many as 25 to 30 locations in the U.S. alone within half a decade, the CEO says.  He sees Christopher Ward as a brand with the potential to reach £250 million in total annual sales, up from about £50 million today. France expects to hit £100 million in annual sales within three years. He's also refreshingly candid about the threat that U.S. tariffs posed to the business and how the levies forced it to change the way its watches are shipped to and distributed in the country. Tariffs were also a significant drag on financial results in 2025, but the brand is forecasting a rebound in 2026 if import dutie...

Auctions: Continuing Our Massive 2026 Geneva Spring Auctions Preview: Christie’s and Sotheby’s Round Things Out (Part 2)

There's no shortage of watches this auction season—more than 1,200 lots across the major houses—but volume isn't really the story. At Christie's and Sotheby's, the focus feels different this time around, moving past the hype-driven pieces of the early 2020s and back to some genuinely compelling and surprising watches. Last week, we published part one of our preview—today, we're finishing it up with part two. Christie’s I would argue that Christie's always has one of the more subtle and yet impressive catalogs. There are some truly fantastic pieces here and, as always, we'll start at the top. Lot 134, a unique and absolutely stunningly gorgeous (add all the superlatives you want) two-tone 14k pink gold and steel Audemars Piguet "Observatory-style" watch. Photo courtesy Christie's. If you're looking for a watch that my friend and current "Bring a Loupe" writer Weston Cutter called an "immediate knee-weakener," you need to sit down for this one. Lot 134 is a unique and absolutely stunningly gorgeous (add all the superlatives you want) two-tone 14k pink gold and steel Audemars Piguet "Observatory-style" watch. The watch is powered by a 13-ligne 13VZAS movement that was highly modified for precision as a time-only watch, with a large subsidiary seconds at 9 o'clock and a blank subdial at 3 o'clock. Bold numerals, bold design, it's the kind of thing you dream about if you collect early watches, and the estimate is a hilarious CHF 50,000 to 100,000. It should go for way m...

A Majestic Journey Through Clocks & Watches Made for Royalty: Horological Renaissance In The Age Of Cosimo I de’ Medici

From the imposing astronomical clocks of Tudor England to the exquisite pendant watches of Victorian Britain, timekeeping has long been a symbol of power, prestige, and technological marvel within Europe’s royal courts. This new series explores the fascinating evolution of clocks and watches crafted specifically for royalty, tracing how these intricate masterpieces reflected the tastes, ambitions, and innovations of monarchs. Through the lens of craftsmanship, artistry, and historical significance, we reveal how these royal timepieces marked the passage of dynasties and empires. Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519–1574), the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, is remembered as a masterful statesman who unified Florence’s power. Yet behind his political authority lay a profound curiosity for the sciences, especially the study of the heavens and the measurement of time. The Medici family rose to power in Florence primarily through their wealth and strategic use of the Medici Bank, which became the largest and most powerful bank in Europe during the 15th century. They leveraged this financial power to influence Florentine politics, eventually establishing themselves as the de facto rulers of the city, although they maintained the appearance of a republic.  They used their wealth and influence to transform Florence into a leading capital of trading and a place for the greatest creators to work and develop incredible scientific instruments, such as the clock in the Cathedral of Santa...

First Look - Indie Brand Winnerl Presents its Second Act, the Heart Return

Reviving the legacy of an illustrious 19th-century Austrian watchmaker, Bernhard Zwinz has breathed new life into the name Winnerl. With this detail-obsessed watchmaker at the helm, each timepiece is meticulously and beautifully handcrafted, reflecting a deep commitment to artisanal watchmaking. Following the discreet success of its first release, the brand returns in 2026 with a second […]

A Majestic Journey Through Clocks & Watches Made for Royalty: Henry VIII and the Birth of Royal Time

From the imposing astronomical clocks of Tudor England to the exquisite pendant watches of Victorian Britain, timekeeping has long been a symbol of power, prestige, and technological marvel within Europe’s royal courts. This new series explores the fascinating evolution of clocks and watches crafted specifically for royalty, tracing how these intricate masterpieces reflected the tastes, ambitions, and innovations of monarchs. Through the lens of craftsmanship, artistry, and historical significance, we reveal how these royal timepieces marked the passage of dynasties and empires. During Henry VIII’s reign (1509–1547), portable watches as we know them today had yet to emerge in significant numbers. Timekeeping was dominated by grand and stationary mechanisms, with tower clocks or ornate table pieces, serving both practical and symbolic purposes as a show of wealth and status. Watches, if present at all, were nascent and extremely rare. The first clocks and watches were expensive luxuries and only in the reach of royalty and landed gentry. There was, however, a sufficient demand for these items in the Tudor royal court which spread to a prosperous London. The beginnings of the horological industry were probably first initiated by King Henry VIII. During this period there was somewhat of a technical revolution, starting with the invention of the printing press which changed the way people received information. This filtered through to the court where there was a revoluti...

Do You Know The Difference Between Openworked And Skeletonized Watches? You Should

A watch brand that arguably creates some of the most spectacular watches with skeletonized movements gives these pieces the moniker “Openworked.” However, this term also applies to watches with a cut-away dial, which allows a view of the movement. Not only does my spell checker see “openworked” as a spelling mistake, but watch enthusiasts and […] Visit Do You Know The Difference Between Openworked And Skeletonized Watches? You Should to read the full article.

Breitling partners Aston Martin Aramco for F1 with new Navitimer

Breitling announces a new partnership for the Formula One with Aston Martin Aramco, and releases a new Breitling Navitimer B01.

Hands-On With The Stylish Lebond Attraction

Lebond has carved out a special niche for itself in the watch industry. The Spanish brand creates watches for architecture enthusiasts. For its first two releases, Lebond collaborated with famous architects. The inaugural Lebond Siza from 2023 was designed by the famous Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza, while the second release, the Lebond Souto Moura, was […] Visit Hands-On With The Stylish Lebond Attraction to read the full article.

Introducing - The New Rose Gold Edition of the Krayon Anyday

Rémi Maillat, a watch design engineer, is behind the independent Krayon brand and creates watches that centre on our connection with natural time cycles. Krayon’s award-winning Everywhere watch, which charts sunset and sunrise times at any location worldwide, was succeeded by Maillat’s slightly simpler Anywhere watch, showing the length of the day along with sunrise and […]

Habring² and SJX Introduce the Chrono-Felix “Medicus”

Habring² has built a loyal following among collectors who appreciate technical ingenuity over recognition. The independent Austrian brand  has earned its reputation by creating inventive, low-volume complications at accessible prices. Its latest release, the Habring² x SJX Chrono-Felix “Medicus”, continues that philosophy with a variant of Habring²’s signature chronograph movement conceived exclusively for this 50-piece collaboration. The second collaboration with SJX Watches, the Medicus revives the concept of the “doctor’s” chronograph with both pulsation and respiration scales, while offering the refined execution and modern reliability that define the work of husband-and-wife team Richard and Maria Habring. And to acknowledge the true spirit of the concept, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each watch will be donated to children’s cancer charities in Singapore and Austria. To express interest, please contact us. Both versions are sold out here. Thank you for the interest. A handful are still available at Shellman in Tokyo. The key facts A vintage-inspired, multi-scale chronograph with a twist originated from a doctor’s request Dial conceived to have classical elements but different from most retro-inspired chronographs Pulsations, respirations, and tachymeter scales – all colour coded New variant of Habring² A11 movement developed for this edition with single, 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock Steel parts of chronograph mechanism finishe...

Unveiling The Sparkling Beda’a Angles Mecaline Diamond Edition

You never knew you wanted diamonds until you saw the two sparkling versions of the Beda’a Angles Mecaline Diamond Edition. Now what? Well, first of all, you need to choose between the Black and the Warm Gray versions, both adorned with a bezel and lugs set with 1.1 carats of diamonds. After that, you need […] Visit Unveiling The Sparkling Beda’a Angles Mecaline Diamond Edition to read the full article.

Hands-On: The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

Breitling marks its entry into Formula 1 with a limited edition titanium Navitimer with Aston Martin accents and details.

Breitling’s Back on the Grid with New F1 Partnership with Aston Martin

Out of Office: Exploring the Sundance Film Festival and Utah’s Wasatch Mountains

My very first date with my now-wife was a Sundance documentary. We were college students and managed to get into the film with student-priced tickets after waitlisting for a few hours armed with a deck of cards, in the cold of Park City, UT. Since then, one or both of us have gone to the Sundance Film Festival nearly every year. The post Out of Office: Exploring the Sundance Film Festival and Utah’s Wasatch Mountains appeared first on Worn & Wound.

Monochrome Turns to Habring² for the Seconde Morte

The Monochrome Montre de Souscription 4 Seconde Morte (MdS4) is a limited-edition collaboration between the team at Monochrome Watches and Austrian independent Habring², built around the brand’s signature jumping seconds complication. Powered by the hand-wound A11S calibre, the watch reflects the marque’s focus on technically robust, thoughtfully refined movements and offers a straightforward value proposition. Limited to 33 individually numbered pieces and sold exclusively through a short souscription-style sales window, the MdS4 highlights both Habring²’s technical merit and Monochrome’s aesthetic sensibilities. Initial thoughts Richard and Maria Habring are outliers in the field of independent watchmaking. Among the sole guardians of the Austrian watchmaking tradition, the husband and wife team produce a range of deceptively technical (yet honestly priced) watches. This rare combination makes the brand’s watches appealing to many insiders like the team behind the Dutch website Monochrome Watches, that have just announced their latest 1930s-inspired collaboration. While the watch and its movement are the work of Habring², the team at Monochrome turned to designer and Time+Tide contributor Pietro Pilla for the Art Deco-inspired dial design. The discreet black dial features applied Roman numerals that alternate with delicate teardrop-shaped indexes, a choice that helps prevent the dial from looking too crowded. The printed railroad scale that rings the dial i...

Introducing: The Monochrome Montre De Souscription 4 By Habring²

Our friends over at Monochrome and Habring² are building quite a history together. Their first collaboration, in 2021, celebrated Monochrome’s 15th anniversary. The online watch magazine and the Austrian watchmaking couple teamed up once more in 2023. Their sophomore release, a split-seconds chronograph, raised money for charity. Today, we get a third collaboration in the […] Visit Introducing: The Monochrome Montre De Souscription 4 By Habring² to read the full article.

In the shop - The MONOCHROME Montre de Souscription 4 Seconde Morte

For our fourth MONOCHROME Montre de Souscription, we are teaming up once again with independent Austrian watchmaker Habring², a brand dear to our hearts with whom we created our first MdS watch. Following the instant success of the Montre de Souscription 1, a monopusher chronograph with a salmon 1940s-inspired sector dial, we’re staying true to our passion […]

Christopher Ward And Studio Underd0g Unveil The Alliance 02 Pocket Watch

It seems the last few weeks of 2025 will be full of new surprises in the watch world. We guessed that after Dubai Watch Week, things would slowly wind down, but it looks like we were wrong. A late, surprising release this year comes courtesy of two British brands demonstrating that there is true momentum […] Visit Christopher Ward And Studio Underd0g Unveil The Alliance 02 Pocket Watch to read the full article.

30 Of The Best Titanium Watches

Titanium is by no means a new material in the watch industry. In fact, it’s been used on a commercial level in case construction for more than 50 years. Titanium in its raw form as a structural metal is 40% lighter than stainless steel while still just as hard. Among its appeal for watchmaking purposes are the facts that it is also highly resistant to corrosion by the elements as well as being hypoallergenic. There are different grades of titanium as well, which offer different characteristics based on how it’s alloyed with other metals. Titanium ranges in color from dark gunmetal grey to a steely silver which gives it versatility in different applications. Perhaps the most enticing aspect of titanium, particularly from the consumer side, is that despite its high-quality characteristics, there isn’t a massive discrepancy between its price versus that of stainless steel. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of 30 outstanding titanium watches in a range of price categories. Citizen Promaster Super Titanium Armor  Case Size: 41 mm, Integrated 23.5 mm Bracelet, Thickness: 10.5 mm, Lug-to-Lug: 43.7 mm, Water Resistance: 100 m, Movement: Eco Drive J810, Crystal: Sapphire, Price: $625 In 1970, Citizen launched the very first titanium wrist watch called the X-8 Cosmotron Chronometer. Today, Citizen uses what it calls Super Titanium, a titanium alloy coated with a proprietary hardening agent that increases the hardness of the metal to five times that of stainless steel. ...

New: Louis Erard x Astro Boy

Yet another Louis Erard partnership, this time with the Astro Boy. And now in the new 2340 case and a very atrractive dial. Nostalgia on the wrist.

Previewing The Lots Of The November Watch Auctions In Geneva

The days are getting shorter, and November is approaching. That means the year-end Geneva watch auctions will happen again soon. Not all the houses are showing all their cards yet, but there are previews containing some interesting lots. Sotheby’s will auction the Rolex Oyster watch that accompanied long-distance swimmer Mercedes Gleitze during her attempt to […] Visit Previewing The Lots Of The November Watch Auctions In Geneva to read the full article.

First Look - The New Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Night Navigation Series

Released during Watches & Wonders 2025, Nomos’ Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer – a slim, sporty, water-resistant and user-friendly world timer – drew admiring crowds to the brand’s booth. One of the thinnest world timers on the market, the Nomos Worldtimer further wowed the crowds with its sensible tourist-class price. Following the inaugural references, Nomos returns […]

Hands-On With The New Lederer CIC 39 Longitude

Just one year ago, I was introduced to Lederer watches. The brand, founded by Bernhard Lederer, creates incredible movements with complex mechanisms. Constant-force escapements and twin gear trains are some of the impressive details. Last year, I fell in love with the Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer, a set of 44mm watches that had traveled to […] Visit Hands-On With The New Lederer CIC 39 Longitude to read the full article.