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Deployant
Urwerk watches lend themselves to my work very well. The movements and time display system is 3 dimensionsl, with beautiful angles and curves. And they are quite a work of art. This issue, I focus on one of their newer watches. The Urwerk U-110 nwo with a new gold bezel…known as the Golden Shield. ComfortableRead More
SJX Watches
Singapore’s micro-brand watch fair Spring Sprang Sprung (SPRG) returns this November with its largest and most international edition to date. Moving to a larger venue at Glass Dome, the event will bring together 78 exhibitors, up from 22 at its inaugural edition in 2022. New exhibitors and familiar faces Of SPRG’s 78 exhibitors, 40 are returning and 38 are participating for the first time. The newcomers include Christopher Ward and Raymond Weil, adding more established names to a line-up that remains rooted in micro-brands. Catering to this clientele, Japan’s Miyota will exhibit its movement offerings. Returning Singaporean brands include Feynman Timekeepers and Vario, along with strap maker Yi Leather. Four exhibitors will represent Indonesia, while this edition also features the fair’s largest contingent of Chinese watch brands yet, including returning exhibitor Seagull, which, like Miyota, defies the micro-brand classification. As with many watch fairs, the programme includes panel discussions and interactive sessions, with workshops for visitors who would like a more hands-on introduction to watchmaking. Watch week in Singapore This year’s fair coincides with IAMWATCH, the gathering hosted by The Hour Glass dedicated to independent watchmaking, which runs November 12-15. The overlap gives collectors travelling to Singapore the opportunity to visit both, while offering small brands from Singapore and elsewhere in Asia a chance to reach an international audienc...
Worn & Wound
I’m not going to pretend like I am particularly savvy about streetwear or fashion brands, but even I know that SoHo in NYC is at the epicenter of that world. UNION had their start in 1989 in the neighborhood, and grew to become one of the most influential stores in counterculture fashion, making it a streetwear and art-fashion touchstone for generations of local New York youth scenes, and the fashion world at large. G-SHOCK has always been an icon of streetwear, with its rugged and affordable timepieces that appeal to a younger, more middle-class audience—as a kid in the 2000s, having a G-SHOCK made you feel instantly cooler than your classmates with a normal Casio—so a collaboration between the two brands makes a lot of sense. G-SHOCK has a history of brash, colorful, and innovative models and a track record of collaborating with musicians, artists, and other fashion marques. With the new DW-5600RBG, developed in partnership with Chris Gibbs, owner of the UNION stores in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Osaka, both brands make their mark on the iconic octagonal design. The DW-5600RGB is based on the DDW-5600, one of G-SHOCK’s most classically-styled models both aesthetically and functionally. It’s the bread-and-butter G-SHOCK with a rectangular LCD display that shows the date in the upper right corner, the day of the week and alarm setting in the upper left, and the time squarely in the center. No nonsense and known for industry-standard resistance to damage, it’s th...
Hodinkee
This week on The Business of Watches, an extended chat with a duo whose business is watch market data. Charles Tian is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of WatchCharts.com, and Hamza Masood is Head of Business Partnerships at the U.S.-based company. Both are longtime technology executives who turned a passion for watches into a business. That venture is WatchCharts, and it gathers and analyzes secondary market watch prices to show demand trends, price movements, and the relative health and desirability of brands and luxury groups in the sector. Its customers include retailers, watch dealers, collectors, and brands. WatchCharts founder and CEO Charles Tian.Photo credit: Brandon Moore With U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley, WatchCharts uses its data to produce in-depth reports four times a year on the state of the secondary market. The third-quarter report, published in mid-October, shows the fifth straight quarter of overall market gains of more than 1%, suggesting stability and recovery. Still, the growth is slowing and is the weakest since mid 2025. While gains are more widespread among watchmakers, with prices for 28 of 35 brands tracked posting quarter-over-quarter gains, the overall WatchCharts index is still about 28% below its all-time peak, a record hit during the post-pandemic euphoria of April 2022. Image and data courtesy WatchCharts and Morgan Stanley. As for outperforming brands, the usual suspects of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Cartier...
Fratello
You don’t see watches like this too often, so if you have to look twice to understand what’s going on, that’s perfectly understandable. I had to look twice at the unusual Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage Regulator to realize I was dealing with something you don’t see every day. A standard regulator watch shows the hours, […] Visit Hands-On With The Unusual Chopard L.U.C 1963 Heritage Regulator to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Few small brands can claim to have the kind of success that anOrdain has experienced in recent years. Their enamel dials are so sought after that clients sit on a waitlist that reportedly stretches out to 2030. While some very high end, handmade or bespoke watches take that long or even longer to produce, waiting that kind of time for a watch that retails for around $2,500 is unusual. There’s so much competition at that price, you kind of don’t expect people to really commit for the long haul. But they do commit, and as anOrdain slowly churns out their enamel dialed watches and delivers them to their very patient customers, the legend of the brand grows. Every so often, I’ll see an anOrdain pop up on the pre-owned market, and if the asking price is reasonable (retail + expected inflation over the next 3-4 years seems about right to me) they never last long. There’s a real, genuine hunger for these watches. $2950 Review: the anOrdain Model 1 Porcelain Case Stainless steel Movement La Joux-Perret G101 Dial White Porcelain Lume None Lens Sapphire Strap Leather Water Resistance 5 ATM Dimensions 38 x 46mm Thickness 11mm Lug Width 20mm Crown Push/pull Warranty Yes Price $2950 That of course presents all kinds of interesting challenges for anOrdain as a business. How do you scale up (do you even want to?) when the artisanal nature of your production puts a hard limit on what you can make in a month or a year? anOrdain has a multi-pronged strategy to generate revenue...
Worn & Wound
There were so many new releases, limited editions, and collaborations launched at Windup New York, we’re honestly still coming up for air and cataloging everything. With around 170 brands, it was a challenge to see everything (full disclosure, not even staff sees everything). And while I definitely spent some time at the Formex booth, most of my attention was on the Aria, their higher end integrated bracelet watch that debuted earlier this year and hasn’t escaped my mind since. Their new release at the show somehow slipped under the radar (at least mine) in all of the commotion. But the new Essence Ceramica Dark Matter Red Shift (the name is admittedly a mouthful) deserves some attention. The new Essence is built on the brand’s Ceramica platform, which prior to the release of the Aria was Formex’s most ambitious and compelling release. It’s a full ceramic version of their Essence sports watch with a proprietary case suspension system. The 41mm case, bracelet, and clasp are constructed entirely from black zirconium oxide ceramic. This is a material that is being used more frequently by luxury watchmakers, and it’s often priced at a premium and positioned as an exotic alternative to metal. It does have a lot of benefits, chief among them being incredible scratch resistance and a light weight compared to steel. The Ceramica is particularly appealing because, like all Formex watches, it’s priced well below any comparable piece from a major Swiss brand. This var...
Worn & Wound
As Direnzo heads toward their tenth anniversary next year, they’ve just introduced their very first GMT equipped watch, the DRZ 08 Cosmonaire. Inspired by the future oriented design of the Space Age, the Cosmonaire is, like virtually every GMT watch, conceived as a travel tool at heart, and through a variety of dial treatments really takes on different personalities depending on how it is executed. It’s filled with little details that are sure to be appreciated by enthusiasts as well, the type that might go unnoticed by the more casual observer. Direnzo describes the case design of the Cosmonaire as having a “soft geometry,” which is highlighted by an elliptical bezel that is curved and thinner on the 3 and 9 o’clock sides than those at 12 and 6 o’clock. It gives the watch a subtly organic feel and aids in helping it achieve the desired flowing profile. It’s visually interesting and I think Direnzo deserves credit here for trying something genuinely different with a slightly higher degree of difficulty. According to the brand, they were going after a look that was reminiscent of industrial design in the 1960s and 1970s, and there’s definitely something about this watch that makes it feel like it would have been at home on the wrist of a NASA employee working Mission Control during that time period. The dial is bowl shaped, which adds additional depth and visual complexity to the presentation, along with the applied hour markers and an engraved lume fill...
Fratello
A day at the races. If the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph 43mm Limited Edition looks intriguing and makes you want to read the hands-on review, I suggest you play Queen’s successful 1976 record. Just don’t play it too loud, as the record opens with the energetic rock hit “Tie Your Mother Down,” and […] Visit Hands-On: The Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph 43mm Limited Edition to read the full article.
Monochrome
The miniaturisation of clock towers to portable time wasn’t a Swiss innovation – it all started in Germany thanks to locksmith and clockmaker Peter Henlein in Nuremberg at the start of the 16th century. These first “pocket watches” were soon referred to as Nuremberg Eggs, as many had round, bulbous shapes like an egg. They […]
SJX Watches
Independent-friendly auction house Marteau & Co returns today for its second themed auction of the fall. Every watch in The Blueprint is, to varying extents, blue, or at least a blue-ish purple, and its flagship lot is an unusual example of a watch that laid the blueprint for much of today’s finishing-centric independent watchmaking. As always, Marteau & Co’s “maker’s fee” rewards the maker of the timepiece with 3% of the hammer price for each watch sold. This allows watchmakers to benefit from the appreciation of their past work, also known as the artist’s resale right, or droit de suite, a concept that’s been codified into law across Europe for fine art. This painting by Franco-Belgian artist Celine Lust accompanies a unique platinum Philippe Dufour simplicity with aventurine dial. Lot 4 – Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur Azur A last minute surprise-addition to the catalog, Futur Antérieur Azur the sky-blue debut of Louis Erard and Vianney Halter’s Futur Antérieur. A unique piece created for this auction, this continues Halter’s collaborative streak, homaging the landmark 1998 Antiqua. perpetual calendar. Rather than reproducing the original watch directly, the Futur Antérieur adapts many of its characteristic elements into a more compact and accessible format. The watch retains the asymmetrical display and layered construction that distinguished the original Antiqua. Hours and minutes can be seen through one porthole, and running seco...
Hodinkee
Newport was always an enigma to me. For years, I heard tales of beautiful mansions, streets of opulence, centuries of history, a very endearing grass tennis court, a music festival, and, well, sailing. Yet despite living in New York City for over a decade, I'd never made the trip up I-95 (or the Northeast Corridor line) to see this historic town. So when the invitation came from A. Lange & Söhne to join them at the Audrain Concours d'Elegance, I leaped at the opportunity. I was excited to experience the car show, but I was equally excited to see the backdrop. The history is everywhere the moment you enter Newport, and the town offers so much that it's worth the trip regardless. Audrain just sweetens the deal. The timing, late September/early October, is smart. It's just at the tail end of the season, so you still get those beautiful summer sunsets and light, but the crowds have lessened. I think these picks would hold true if you were in town for the Newport Folk Festival, attending the International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, or just spending a long weekend here, but if watches (and cars) are your thing, there's no better place to be than Newport. With The Long Layover, I'll look at events and cities around the world and give a 24- to 72-hour watch (or watch-adjacent) guide to each. The idea is to paint a picture of the city and help contextualize the watches, or, in this case, the event. First up is Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week. The cars might be t...
SJX Watches
Louis Erard has become adept at translating the design language of pricey independent watchmaking into affordable watches, and the best proof of that is the Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur. Modelled on the Vianney Halter Antiqua perpetual calendar, the Futur Anterieur is a regulator-style watch powered by two separate automatic movements. Named after Vianney Halter’s collection of steampunk watches, Futur Antérieur is Louis Erard’s third outing with the independent watchmaker, and is arguably a more sophisticated version of the preceding collaboration. While both share the same inspiration, the Futur Antérieur tangibly embodies the Antiqua, reproducing the feel of the original at a fraction of the price. Initial thoughts The Futur Antérieur is clearly an affordable watch that is not an Antiqua, but it is appealing. It captures the ambience of the Antiqua well. The shape is similar, and even the feel on the wrist. In this price segment this stands out as one of the more interesting offerings. Though this costs more than preceding collaboration editions, this is arguably better value. More broadly, the Futur Antérieur illustrates the growing sophistication of Louis Erard’s collaborations. They started as stock models with a new dial superimposed, while the Futur Anterieur is a new model conceived from the ground up. It’s also worth noting the details that replicate the Antiqua, like the chamfered edges on the case and bezel, and the stepped, two-to...
SJX Watches
This November, Phillips will present Stopping Time, a selection of 16 Rolex chronographs owned by collector and publisher Pucci Papaleo, as part of The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV, taking place on November 7 and 8 at the Hotel President Wilson. The selection is the first instalment of Mr Papaleo’s collection of approximately 70 Rolex chronographs, dating from the 1930s to the 1970s – and all in outstanding condition and some can even be rightly described as “unpolished”. Phillips presents these 16 watches as a compact survey of the Rolex chronograph: early pieces made before the Oyster chronograph was established, the waterproof chronographs of the 1940s and 1950s, and finally the Cosmograph Daytona. The Rolex ref. 6239 of about 1969 with the “Paul Newman Musketeer” dial, lot 22. Image – SJX composite/Phillips The publisher becomes a collector To say that Mr Papaleo loves vintage Rolex is an understatement — he even gave his children watch-inspired names. Besides building an impressive collection of vintage Rolex, Mr Papaleo contributed to horological knowledge as a publisher and has produced a number of reference books regularly cited in auction catalogues. Pucci Papaleo and his Rolex ref. 3233 being offered by Phillips. Image – SJX composite/Phillips His interest in watches grew out of his work in publishing. He began his career managing a small publishing house of his own, making guidebooks to Rome, Venice, and Milan, always with fine photographs. By hi...
Hodinkee
When Seiko introduced its first dedicated sports watch, the Laurel Alpinist, in 1959, it was designed to provide reliable, legible timekeeping for outdoor enthusiasts amid Japan's postwar boom in activities such as hiking and skiing. The name "Laurel" paid homage to Seiko's first wristwatch, produced in Japan in 1913. Built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, the watch featured an airtight screw-down case back to keep out dust and sand, wedge-shaped indices at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock for legibility, a 17-jewel hand-wound movement, and a leather strap pad to protect the case from sweat. In 1995, Seiko expanded the Alpinist's capabilities with an inner rotating compass ring, controlled by a second crown at four o'clock. Wearers could use the hour hand and the sun to determine cardinal directions, aligning the "S" marker halfway between the hour hand and 12 o'clock. The updated model also offered 20-bar water resistance, reinforcing its role as a robust field watch built for demanding use. Several design details introduced with the 1995 model remain central to the Alpinist today. Although it was offered in several dial colors, the distinctive green version became a lasting favorite. Green was an unconventional choice at the time, and Seiko initially expected the color to struggle commercially. Seiko introduced mechanical GMT models in 2023. While the blue and black versions (SPB377 and SPB379) launched globally, the coveted sunray green dial version was initially reserved ...
Monochrome
At just 45 grams in weight, strap included, the Wild ONE Skeleton X-Lite is Norqain’s most advanced sports watch to date. It weighs next to nothing, but it is also built to withstand a proverbial beating if needed. The Norteq case, as well as the movement’s construction, are designed to withstand impacts of at least […]
Fratello
Sinn has no shortage of great watches. That became clear again last weekend at the brand’s stand at the WatchTime show in Düsseldorf, Germany. The big news was the new limited-edition 140 A S Anniversary chronograph, and it was a pleasure to try it on. Yet it was far from the only highlight. I was […] Visit A Long Overdue Encounter With The Impressive Sinn U50 Dive Watch to read the full article.
Fratello
At the start of this year, CIGA Design released the Time Cipher in two case variations — one in black and one in bare steel. Both have mirror-polished contours with capsule-shaped micro-sandblasted recesses. Also, both feature black dials with silver index tracks and steel “hands” with green inlays. Today, the brand adds a third version, […] Visit The New CIGA Design Time Cipher Gold Opts For A Classy Colorway to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Only a few degrees of separation separate the worlds of watches and cars. A passion for vintage motorsports first brought together Alto founder Thibaud Guittard and Raphaël Abeillon, now the brand's creative director, who spent a decade designing watches at Cartier. Contemporary art is perhaps slightly more removed from watches, but it's an inspiration and theme that has run through most of Alto's early pieces, particularly the limited-edition collaboration of its ART 01 with renowned French sculptor Bernar Vernet. Now Alto is going (just) a touch more mainstream and slightly less avant-garde with the launch of its ART 02, an important piece for the nascent marque that heralds the first watch in its permanent collection. The ART 02 continues the themes and design of the ART 01while refining and updating the original piece at a more approachable price. Available in an initial run of about 150 pieces in Grade 5 Titanium with a new matching bracelet, the watch signals that Alto is ready to play in the big show, and it debuted at Geneva Watch Days 2026 alongside more than 70 other brands. It was my favorite new watch of the show. It's damn hard to stand out in the crowded integrated-bracelet sports watch category, but Alto has done this from the start and has furthered its distinctive design elements in the ART 02. Almost no one presents a faceted sapphire glass like Alto does. Severe angles and beveled edges make the crystal a standout feature for the Alto 02. There isn't ...
Time+Tide
Meighan and Gabe go head-to-head at WindUp NYC 2026, picking their favourite dive, dress, field and GADA watches. Who wins the showdown?
SJX Watches
Audemars Piguet has finally launched its long-rumoured certified pre-owned (CPO) programme, The Watch Keepers. The digital platform acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, giving consignors the choice of selling at a fixed price or through an auction. Audemars Piguet is neither a buyer nor the seller, instead it is the facilitator. The move comes at a time when the secondary market for luxury watches is becoming increasingly professionalised, with brands taking a more active role through CPO. As noted earlier this year, the opportunity goes beyond earning revenue from watches already sold: it gives brands greater control over the pre-owned buying experience previously left to dealers and auction houses. A unique CPO model Unlike Rolex, which leverages its global network of authorised dealers to handle pricing and customer interactions for its own CPO programme, Audemars Piguet’s direct sales model means that it has to take on a bigger role. As a result, The Watch Keepers becomes the intermediary between the seller and the buyer, registering both parties and validating the authenticity of the watch. The Watch Keepers also handles all photography, and prepares the listings with verified technical details and a condition assessment. This takes much of the preparation off the seller’s hands and should give buyers greater confidence in the watch’s specifications and condition. It also helps level the playing field between sellers with different levels of exper...
Worn & Wound
eBay Finds is back! This bi-weekly 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 Hamilton Masterpiece First up this week is this super clean and sharp vintage Hamilton Masterpiece dress watch. The 33mm yellow gold filled case is crisp and unpolished, with stylish slim lugs. The caseback is engraved with a presentation award for 25 years of service to the Presque Isle company in 1980. The silver dial looks pristine, with applied gold stick markers and lume filled gold dauphine hands. Time only with no date, just clean, simple goodness. The winding crown is original and signed with the Hamilton “H” logo. The manual wind Hamilton caliber 832 movement is clean and runs well per the seller. The watch comes on a stylish leather strap that looks great on it. View auction here Vintage Seiko 5 Actus Here’s a nice chunky vintage Seiko 5 Actus sporty watch. The 41mm round case is unpolished with sharp edges and the original brushed finish. The dial is a silver/champagne color with cool hour markers and unusual hands. They are both steel with black and lume inserts, but the hour hand is really broad, which gives it a somewhat unique look. There is of course the ubiquitous day/date window at three o’clock. The small crown is recessed into the side of the broad...
Hodinkee
We're back in the saddle again, riding the bucking bronco that is the auction market. But as a salve to the wounds of the usual suspects of whatever the market is hyped on these days, today we're looking at the Monaco Legend Auction catalog, which takes place October 31 and November 1 in—you guessed it—Monaco. I won't be there this time (though I am hoping to return in the future), but here's my view from afar. I haven't seen any watches in person, so I won't go into depth on quality—do your own research—but hopefully this gives you a jumping-off point. The Top Lots Lot 50, Rolex ref. 6062, with an estimate of €1,000,000 to €2,000,000 As I like to do, I feel like I have to acknowledge some of the top lots. The auction feels more like a return to Monaco Legend's older catalog, where much of it is super rare, but it's not the loud, flashy stuff you'd find elsewhere. But to have your top watch be a very, very clean Rolex ref. 6062 in steel, carrying an estimate of €1,000,000 to €2,000,000, is a massive flex. The watch comes from the collection of Auro Montanari and, frankly, the estimate may be a bit conservative. Watches like this, especially in this condition, are rare, and the buyer pool is also thin. The watch could go for triple the low estimate without surprising me, as long as the right buyers don't already have one. Lot 208, Audemars Piguet Triple Calendar Moon Phase, estimate € 200,000 – 400,000. Lot 181, Patek Philippe ref. 3974, estimate € ...
Monochrome
There is a tendency to see watch collecting as a solitary pursuit. One imagines a lonely man sitting in a dank den, admiring his collection and spot-shining his timepieces with a polishing cloth before donning his sleeping cap and retiring to bed at 7pm. It has only recently occurred to me that watches, and the […]
Hodinkee
There's no way to keep up, Baller. It's true. There's too much to do and too little time, and somehow it's another Friday, and before we relax together and look at some interesting watches available over the next week, let's take some comfort in the fact that, here in the States, two small-market teams are squaring off in the World Series. Incredibly, the Brewers ranked 19th in total payroll for 2026, while the Rays ranked 25th. I bring this up only to note that anything is possible, and huge congrats to fans of both teams. Sure seems like it's gonna be an amazing series. Scorekeeping last week's picks, the Boucheron remains available, the Breguet sells today, the IWC Aquatimer passed at auction, and the LIP Paul Newman sold for €820. Strays Photo courtesy of Drouot. Mr Clymer, Mr Wind, and Mr Dunne raised a good point that Jaeger-LeCoultre is still underrated, and while this one's unlikely to be a $1M watch, I can think of a few DuoPlans that look more fetching. For those still seeking a slightly under-the-radar integrated-bracelet sport watch from the 70s and 80s, may I present this Omega 'Alveoles.' Here's a vintage anonymous beauty with an 18k gold case and running seconds at the top rather than the bottom of the dial, and, from the same auction, if there's a better-looking vintage regulator than this Eterna on auction anywhere in the coming week, I haven't seen it. Certina DS-3 Super PH1000M Photo courtesy of The Saleroom. The upcoming Dr Crott auction goes down on ...
Worn & Wound
At my rather hippie-dippie public elementary school, the entire student body performed an ocean conservation-themed musical number every year in a school-wide assembly. We decorated hats for different ocean ecosystems, and music was provided by a local band that had certainly shared a smoke with Steve Miller back in the day. It was my favorite event of the school year and while each grade level performed their own song, I most remember the “California Sea Otter” song assigned to fourth graders: a surfer-inspired romp through California kelp forests and the critters within. If you’re yelling, “get back to watches” at the screen right now, don’t worry—Oris has your back. In tune with their history of ocean conservation-benefitting models, the new Kelp Forest Limited Edition Aquis Date diver finally gives the spotlight to one of the under-appreciated and most vital aquatic biomes. Oris is no stranger to beefy dive watches, and the Kelp Forest Edition is based on the brand’s excellent Aquis Date model, with a 41.5mm case diameter. It boasts a properly robust 300 meters of water resistance and a unidirectional bezel, giving it legitimate diver pedigree beyond just the style. A screw-down crown and sleek tapered three-link bracelet with brushed and polished finish make it an elegant but heavy-duty piece. The Oris Calibre 733 movement inside allows for a day-date function and 41 hours of power reserve. It’s a properly beefy beast at 12.9mm of thickness and 49m...
Fratello
Many would associate Hanhart with flying and pilots’ chronographs. Today, however, the brand enters new territory. Together with 0260, a Miami-based hub for car and watch enthusiasts led by Lex Borrero, and streetwear store BAIT, with Eric Peng Cheng at the helm, Hanhart is releasing a new watch — the 417 ES × 0260 & […] Visit Shifting Gears: The New Hanhart 417 ES × 0260 & BAIT to read the full article.
Hodinkee
This story has been republished from our friends at Hodinkee Australia. Photos by Georgia Griffiths and Jack Shepherdson. The worst-kept secret in affordable watches is finally out. Casio has just pulled the covers off what might be their most hype-worthy affordable watch since the G-Shock 2100 "CasiOak": the G-Shock 2500 series. We’ve been aware of this watch for a while now, as it was briefly leaked by Casio in Japan - so enthusiasts have already nicknamed it the "CasioNaut" thanks to its Holy Trinity sports watch-evoking case sides. But don’t judge this book by its cover: the 2500 has some tricks up its sleeve, beyond any passing resemblance to a much more expensive mechanical watch. Hodinkee ANZ has had the chance to wear, review, and put this CasioNaut through its paces this month ahead of its official launch, and we’ve got some key insights we’re keen to finally share. So, to start: the 2500 series is a fully analog G-Shock featuring no screens, digital readouts, or Bluetooth connectivity: just a two-handed central time display, a small seconds subdial, and a date display. Prices also start at less than A$300 (not A$100,000+ like the recently-released "Blue Rose Project"!) However, this isn’t just a time-and-date watch. (More on that in a second.) Firstly, it’s fitted with Casio's Shock Release Hand system (that debuted on the GA-V01 in April 2025), which holds the minute hand in place with magnets instead of a conventional mechanical post. Watch hands ar...
Fratello
James Bond has worn some memorable watches over the years, but what about the people standing in his way? A villain’s watch needs to do more than tell the time. It can hint at character, signal status, or offer a subtle clue about the wearer. So, which watches would suit the villains of the Bond […] Visit Fratello Talks: Picking Watches For James Bond Villains to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
We’ve arrived at the time of year where we can finally highlight my favorite seasonal watch niche. Skull watches, most often created to underscore the philosophy of memento mori (an acknowledgement of our mortality) tend to pop up in October to coincide with Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations. This is a watch design rabbit hole that has snuck up on me over the years, but if you think about it, it makes a certain amount of sense that a skull represented on a dial surface could be an interesting platform for a variety of craft techniques. We’ll have a (long) list of some of our favorite skull watches on the website a little later this month. But today, we’ll focus on the latest addition to the skull watches canon, the Louis Erard Dia De Los Muertos Black. This is a fairly straightforward skull watch, with a bold and colorful skull clad in floral motifs dominating the dial. This limited edition (only 10 are being made) has a black coated case and black dial, which feels appropriate and also properly frames the colorful skull. The floral motifs on the skull are recessed, and the brand’s own images suggest a skull design with subtle depth when explored closely. The brand’s logo is blended into the skull at around 12:00, and the name of the brand appears across the skull’s teeth at 6:00. A total of 6 color transfers have been placed on the skull applique, with the dominant tones being white, gray, orange and yellow. The hands are pear shaped and anthracit...
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