Hodinkee
Hands-On: The Wren Diver 38
A more compact offering from the Wrist Enthusiast himself.
5,030 articles · 45 videos found · page 53 of 170
Hodinkee
A more compact offering from the Wrist Enthusiast himself.
SJX Watches
Having re-emerged in 2021 with the debut of his new brand and the launch of the FVF1 C2 Tourbillon Superligero, Franc Vila is back with the FVF1 Tourbillon Superligero “Today”, a watch that challenges conventional notions of timekeeping with a good-humoured twist on the traditional day of the week display. Leveraging its predecessor’s ultralight 42.5 mm titanium case and integrated flying tourbillon movement, the Today questions the difference between the days of the week, with a day roller that displays the word ‘today’ in a different font for each day. While over time the wearer might learn to associate particular fonts with particular days, the otherwise functional day roller is intended to be a reminder to not take things too seriously – today is all we have. Initial thoughts I didn’t really know what to expect the first time I stepped off the elevator into Mr Vila’s brightly lit, attic workshop in Geneva’s Saint Gervais neighbourhood. The workshop itself is part of the story, housed in what was once very likely home to a cabinotier, a term that refers to a watchmaker operating from a rooftop workshop once favoured by Genevan watchmakers of old, who preferred to work where they could get plenty of natural light. Beyond the typical watchmaking equipment, and even some atypical equipment like a perlage machine with a mysterious past, the workshop is packed with contemporary art from Mr Vila’s personal collection. Talking with him about these sources o...
Fratello
Whenever I see a MoonSwatch in the wild, and there are many of them, it’s likely no longer on its original strap. Many people have changed it out for something more comfortable, like a rubber or textile strap. I also wear my MoonSwatch on an aftermarket strap, because even though it’s easy to adjust, the […] Visit Hands-On With The Rubber MoonSwatch Strap On My Mission To Saturn to read the full article.
Monochrome
For many, watchmaking is synonymous with Switzerland. While the Swiss industry remains influential, several other countries also play significant roles in the production of timepieces. Germany, Japan and China are obvious examples. But India, too, is increasingly important, both as a manufacturing hub and a growing market. At the heart of India’s watch industry is […]
Two Broke Watch Snobs
Backed by nearly 10 years of hands-on review experience, explore the types of watches that fit your budget and lifestyle.
Fratello
There is just something inherently different about a Rolex Day-Date. Putting the brand’s top-of-the-line model on your wrist isn’t quite like wearing a gold Daytona or GMT-Master. Why? The obvious answer would be that it’s not a sports watch like the other two. But that’s too easy. The true answer has more to do with […] Visit Hands-On With The Majestic Everose Gold Rolex Day-Date 36 With An Olive Green Dial to read the full article.
Fratello
Do you remember tyre watches? I had completely forgotten all about them until the founder and owner of Volan, Diederik van Golen, visited our Fratello office a year ago. Being a boat and car guy, he devised a modern interpretation of the tyre watch concept. These were only drawings back then, but they looked great. […] Visit Hands-On With The Volan Type One Tyre And Wheel Watches to read the full article.
Fratello
Last month, we introduced the new Tissot PRC 100 Solar Quartz in 39mm. The watch was met with near-resounding praise for its design, approachable pricing, and ease of use. For those of us with smaller wrists, though, the size was on the edge of wearability. That’s where the new 34mm version comes into play. My […] Visit Hands-On With The Tissot PRC 100 Solar Quartz 34mm to read the full article.
Fratello
If you are a longtime reader of Fratello, you know I am a fan of Unimatic. I have often sung the brand songs of praise for developing one of the watch industry’s most recognizable and versatile visual design languages. The minimalist approach to watch design works miracles almost every time for the brand. As Unimatic […] Visit Hands-On With The Stylish Unimatic Modello Uno Heritage GMT Diver to read the full article.
Fratello
When the Sternglas Marus 2.0 dive watches landed on my desk, I had to dig into the Fratello archives. I knew I had written about a Sternglas diver before. As it turns out, that was the first iteration of the Sternglas Marus released in 2021. Four years on, we’re graced with a duo of new […] Visit Hands On With Two New Bauhaus-Inspired Sternglas Marus 2.0 Divers to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
As my thirties pass by and more gray hairs emerge, I can’t help but notice the unironic fondness I’ve been feeling for two-tone watches. Much like my inability to understand the slang my kids use, feeling that the rizz of two-tone slaps (am I doing that right?) seems to be an inevitable part of aging. And while Citizen’s decision to opt for gold accents to mark the 40th anniversary of the Promaster Aqualand probably isn’t a nod to middle aged collectors and is more likely a heartfelt way to honor the original Aqualand C0023, it feels satisfyingly appropriate that this icon is embracing two-tone to celebrate being over the hill. In full transparency of my own horological biases, I went into this review feeling burnt out on dive watches, which in retrospect seems inevitable after owning about a dozen black dialed divers over a five year period. In recent months I’ve also developed a bit of a pro-quartz preference as my first mechanical watches start to show their age and I’m seeking out watchmakers on a limited budget, another seemingly inevitable result of my collecting journey. I share this because, no longer dazzled by ratcheting bezels and mechanical movements in the way I once was, I thought it would be nice to get my hands on a robust and worry free quartz watch to take on my annual road trip from New Hampshire to Michigan. One text to our Managing Editor Zach Kazan during which I forgot to clarify that I would be content if I never saw another black dial d...
Worn & Wound
Happy first weekend of August, and welcome to another new release summary! Would that make it a “summery” summary? Bad alliterative jokes aside, we’ve seen some exciting new pieces from big-name watchmakers and microbrands alike. Rounding out this release list are a colorful new IWC Top Gun collab, a Jaeger-LeCoulture that shoots for the stars, a meteoric Bremont with lofty aspirations, and a Minase that brings a little winter chill to the summer sun. Read on, and let us know if there is a new release that you think we missed out on in the comments! IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Top Gun Miramar Far from their first Top Gun release, IWC’s new chronograph may not seem that exciting at first glance. But the new Miramar edition has a secret weapon: a Pantone hue of the same name. Other Top Gun IWCs have been made available in shades of black, gray, and beige, which although appropriate for the military-theme, aren’t terribly exciting from a color perspective. The Miramar, then, stands out with its unapologetically cheery blue, inspired by the light blue t-shirts worn by TOPGUN flight instructors under their flight suits. It’s not just the color that gives the Miramar an edge, though. Design-wise, the left-leaning subdials at the 12, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, balanced out by the dual date and day windows, provide for a handsomely readable aesthetic. The typeface is characteristic of other IWC Top Gun watches, with rounded sans serif numeral...
We’re beyond excited to invite you to the premiere screening of “Giles”, a documentary film by Taylor Scott Mason that follows Giles Clement through his journey of becoming a one-man watch brand. After two decades as a photographer, the pandemic gave Giles an unexpected pause. Instead of baking bread like his friends, he bought a broken Omega on eBay and fell down the rabbit hole of watchmaking. What started as a desire to bring new life to old watches turned into a years-long journey of designing and building his own CNC machines from scrap and eventually releasing a handmade watch that people actually bought. RSVP HERE Before the screening, guests will settle in for brief remarks from the Worn & Wound team, setting the stage for the premiere of the documentary. After the film, you’re invited to participate in a Q&A; session with Watchmaker Giles Clement and Filmmaker Taylor Scott Mason. We hope you’ll join us and enjoy an evening of storytelling and conversation about what goes into building your own watch from your basement. Concession-style bites + beverages will be served. The Windup Watch Shop will also be hosting a giveaway for your chance to win an Expedition Starter Pack at the end of the night. You must be present in order to win. Please come and celebrate this special moment for local watchmaking here in the Brooklyn community! Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:30 PM – Doors open 7:30 PM – Film Screening 7:45 PM – Q&A; 8:15 PM – Giveaway Drawing Windup ...
Worn & Wound
eBay Finds is back! This bi-monthly installment will feature a selection of watches currently listed on eBay that have caught the eye of editor Christoph McNeil (@vintagediver). If you come across any hidden gems on the ‘Bay drop us a note at info@wornandwound.com for potential inclusion. Vintage Seiko LCD How about a full-kit vintage Seiko LCD to start us off this week? This gem heralds from 1984 and looks every bit the 80’s watch! The squarish stainless steel case is excellent, unpolished and sharp with the original finish. The crystal looks clean, and the LCD display works well. The original bracelet is superb as well, with the Seiko SQ signed buckle. The caseback even has the original little oval sticker. This watch looks new old stock, and maybe it is. It comes complete with the inner and outer boxes, instruction booklet, price tag and hangtag! Can’t beat this gem! View auction here Vintage Citizen Leopard Super Beat 8 Next up is a seldom seen vintage Citizen Leopard Super Beat 8. The Super Beat has a hi-beat movement for better accuracy. The oval/cushion case looks unpolished, and has light wear to it but looks more like a nice steel patina than wear for me. The gray dial is excellent, with raised stick markers that have lume, skinny hands and a vertical day/date at 6 o’clock. The crystal is a mineral glass that has some scratches. The crown is original and signed with the Citizen logo, and the mesh bracelet is original as well and also signed. The movement...
SJX Watches
Roger Dubuis is celebrating 30 years by looking back on its days as a trend-setting independent. The Excalibur Biretrograde Calendar deftly balances the spirit of Genevan watchmaking from the brand’s early years in the 1990s with the boisterous designs of the 2000s in a manageable size, but less manageable price. While the style is reminiscent of the oversized Excalibur models that were far from ergonomic, the Biretrograde Calendar has been redesigned for wearability. The retrograde calendar mechanism on the front is an in-house construction, built on top of the brand’s own automatic movement that is unexpectedly sophisticated and classical. Initial Thoughts Roger Dubuis is a marque built on calendars, so the new Excalibur has historical resonance. The late Roger Dubuis was a Patek Philippe alumni who caught his big break working with Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, who would go on to found Agenhor, on a double retrograde perpetual calendar developed for New York jeweller Harry Winston. It was during the project that Dubuis met his future business partner, Carlos Dias, an entrepreneur who would help establish the Roger Dubuis brand and transform it into a hit maker in the 2000s. The same double retrograde perpetual calendar mechanism would accompany the first Roger Dubuis model the brand’s debut in 1995. And the retrograde calendar also has a historical connection to Geneva, as a local watchmaker named Marius LeCoultre created the most prolific retrograde perpetual design of ...
Fratello
Casio is probably one of the strongest brands in the watch world. It is so, however, primarily in the digital-watch world with its G-Shock sub-brand. The Japanese company has produced analog watches for a long time already under its other sub-brand, Edifice. Those watches always came with battery- and solar-powered quartz movements. Well, no more! […] Visit Hands-On With The Highly Impressive New Casio Edifice EFK-100 to read the full article.
Teddy Baldassarre
It's no understatement to say that the Rolex Land-Dweller was the talk of Watches & Wonders 2025, which took place in Geneva a few months ago. A new Rolex collection with an integrated bracelet and a brand new movement? Well, we would expect no less. There is something fundamentally earth-shaking about massive shifts in the Rolex atmosphere. Mixed metaphors aside, just because we have seen Rolex develop and launch an entirely new collection quite recently (with the 1908, released just two years ago, in 2023), it doesn’t make it normal. Before that it was the Sky-Dweller, and years before that, there were variations on the Yacht-Master. The launch of the Land-Dweller proved to be one of those milestone moments. The Land-Dweller is the product of 18 new patents specific to this watch, as Rolex has developed an entirely new watch both inside and out. No, this is not a new complication, but it is a brand-new approach to timekeeping. It marks the first development of a new escapement system at this scale since the arrival of the Co-Axial escapement from Omega some twenty-five ago. In short this is big news. As you likely have seen by now, Teddy and I had the chance to see this watch up close and personal ahead of this year's Watches & Wonders a few months ago (you can find our full video hands-on review on YouTube now) and were also lucky enough to do it prior to a lot of the pre-release noise really reaching peak volume. That is to say, we were able to learn about the mech...
Fratello
Earlier this month, I covered the release of the Norqain Independence Skeleton 40mm. I was relatively keen on the watches due to their compact case design and dimensions. It turns out that our readers also wanted to see more, so I messaged the folks at Norqain UK, and they quickly dispatched the stainless steel and […] Visit Hands-On With The Norqain Independence Skeleton 40mm to read the full article.
Monochrome
Not too long ago, we introduced you to the newly founded European chapter of The Horology Club, one of the fastest-growing and most active watch enthusiast and collector clubs around. Founded in Hong Kong by Helbert Tsang, Johnathan Chan and Carlos Pang in 2021, the club quickly gained traction in the greater Hong Kong area […]
Worn & Wound
Our first introduction to a brand can often set the stage for our initial relationship with it. That can be especially tricky for small brands launching their first model, hoping to latch onto an enthusiast market. So when I lay this all out for you, keep that in mind. London has been close to the top of my list of travel destinations for quite some time, so even when seven hours of flight delays burned my only free night before British Watchmakers Day, I was still teeming with excitement just to be going. That same energy, though, began to slowly leave my body, as Zach Kazan and I made our way to the upstairs section of the pub where we hosted our meetup with Arken. Ken graciously provided us with a bottle of whisky, ensuring my tumbler stayed wet as the growing crowd conversed around us, and the conversation grew loud. It was then that I met Thomas Hill-a warm, soft-spoken individual who, like me, seemed more at home on the periphery of the crowd than in its throes. It was in that setting, in the middle of the conversation that I thought had been going well, that Tom looked right at me and called me a nimrod. Or so I thought. Seeing the puzzlement on my face, he laughed, put me out of my misery, and produced a trio of sample watches adorned with the name “Nimrod” on the dial. Thus, I was properly introduced to his brand, Abinger. Joking aside, Tom was very polite and a bit sheepish about showing off his project, as they were his first prototypes of the model, yet...
Hodinkee
While British microbrand Aera's new M-1 may draw inspiration from the iconic Dirty Dozen field watches, it is not bound to or limited by its source material.
Hodinkee
The French-Chinese brand dips its toes into grand feu enamel with the first new design in three years.
Fratello
Atelier Wen has created some of my favorite watches over the past several years. The brand’s Perception series fits like a dream and is beautifully finished. Plus, the company is never content to leave well enough alone. Once a model has been released, the team continues to make minor updates to improve fit and quality. […] Visit Hands-On With The New Atelier Wen Ancestra Jiāo to read the full article.
Hodinkee
A completely objective and totally not astrologically driven review of a high art watch from one of the world's oldest watch brands.
Fratello
Nezumi is one of those microbrands that I always follow closely. I like its overall retro style, but that’s only half of the story because plenty of brands release new watches based on historical designs. What makes Nezumi stand out is the use of color. The brand often uses less obvious color combinations. I like […] Visit Hands-On With The New Nezumi Corbeau CQ4.702 - Featuring Black DLC And A Pop Of Color to read the full article.
Fratello
Time flies when you’re having retro fun, doesn’t it? With an original introduction date a full decade ago, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five collection feels like a brand staple. I have always found the chronograph version to be one of the more appealing models. Well, today is my lucky day because I get to go hands-on […] Visit Hands-On With The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph In Silver And Ocean Green to read the full article.
SJX Watches
One of the year’s best summer watches, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Mint Green Ceramic is a fresh interpretation of the brand’s signature collection. Housed in a 42 mm case clad in candy-like, mint green ceramic, the Big Bang Unico features Hublot’s top-of-the-line HUB1280 flyback chronograph movement with an unusual, dial-side integrated construction. While technically identical to other ceramic Big Bang watches, the new mint green colour is unusually fun and approachable. This new edition of the Big Bang joins the permanent collection, and extends the brand’s industry-leading range of coloured ceramic watches. Initial thoughts Hublot is a brand that tends to elicit visceral polarisation among collectors, and it’s easy to see why. The bold designs are seen as outrageous by some, and the pricing puts them out of reach for those focused on maximising their horological dollar. But Hublot has outgrown its early reputation as a Royal Oak imitator and found its own identity, in part through its leadership in ceramics and willingness to experiment with design and colour. In this case, the mint green colour looks great, and considering the glossy finish, it looks almost like candy. This gives the watch a friendly countenance that results in an amusing tension with the overtly masculine, technical structure of the case and design of the dial, with its stencil-like hour markers. The Big Bang collection is all about its signature architectural case, and the mint green editio...
Monochrome
Founded by Georges Eberhard in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Eberhard & Co. had established itself as a purveyor of innovative, technically advanced chronographs by 1919. Although the independent brand is well-known among Italian collectors, and its Chrono 4 model, with four separate counters inspired by the dashboard of race cars, might resonate with some readers, […]
Worn & Wound
Is it too late to dub the summer of 2025 “Black Watch Summer”? That might be how I remember this particular season. The watch I’ve worn most, by far, as the temps have soared is my Ming 37.09 “Uni,” a blacked out void of a watch if ever there was one. And a few weeks ago at Windup I purchased my first vintage watch in ages, a DLC coated Favre-Leuba chronograph that I couldn’t pass on. And now, as we’re fully in the dog days, I sit here with the new Aera Instruments M-1 Blackbird on my wrist, another cool, sleek, blacked out watch that bolsters the notion that Aera is one of the most interesting accessible indies of the moment. I reviewed Aera’s D-1 dive watch a few years ago, and the tone of that review was one of pleasant surprise. At the time, the brand was in the midst of launching their second collection, and from the photos and press materials I had seen, I was struggling to make sense of why this brand needed to exist. That might seem like a harsh standard, but we live in a period where it’s incredibly easy to churn out incredibly generic sports watches for minimal money and talent that absolutely no one needs. The whole point of this website, as I see it, is to find the stuff that has a real reason to be made because it offers something different. So I was surprised to find that the D-1 subverted my expectations by flipping the idea of a dive watch on its head. It kind of looks like a generic dive watch at a glance, but every single detail is act...
SJX Watches
A. Lange & Söhne refreshes its arguably most avant-garde collection with the Zeitwerk Date in pink gold matched with a dark grey dial. The new Zeitwerk Date joins the existing model in white gold as a regular production model, and retains the L043.8 movement featuring the signature digital time display driven by a constant force mechanism. The Zeitwerk Date is one of Lange’s simplest watches in terms of information displayed – just the time and date – but stands out as one of the brand’s most technically complex creations. Despite the low volume of production and esoteric mechanics, the Zeitwerk is also one of Lange’s most iconic models, alongside the Lange 1 and Datograph, thanks to its striking design that departs from the usual aesthetics of the normally staid brand. Initial Thoughts While the original Zeitwerk Date in white gold was the first of the second-generation Zeitwerk, bringing with it sweeping changes to the Zeitwerk movement, the new model is stylistic variation that serves to fill a gap in the collection. It offers more choice (actually just a binary choice) for someone looking for a Zeitwerk that is more complex than the base model, but not ready to go all the way to the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater that costs five times as much. The original Zeitwerk Date was a good, perhaps even great, watch inside and out, and this is too – though it could probably could have come a little sooner. It’s still a large watch, but the bulk is easy to justify consi...
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