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Worn & Wound · Page 14

A Look at the Novelties from Tiffany & Co., Gerald Genta, and Daniel Roth for LVMH Watch Week Worn & Wound
TAG Heuer Zenith Jan 22, 2026

A Look at the Novelties from Tiffany & Co., Gerald Genta, and Daniel Roth for LVMH Watch Week

Among the new releases at LVMH Watch Week this year were a series of novelties from brands that casual observers might sometimes forget sit inside the LVMH portfolio. Tiffany & Co., Gerald Genta, and Daniel Roth all unveiled new pieces this week to varying degrees of fanfare. And while these boutique luxury brands are very different in shape from the likes of TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Hublot, which really form the core of the LVMH watch business, it says a lot about the power and reach of LVMH as an entity that these brands fall under their purview. All three brands are recent additions to the LVMH stable, with Gerald Genta joining upon its relaunch in 2023, TIffayny & Co. when the sale of the company to LVMH went through in 2021, and Daniel Roth in 2011, when LVMH acquired Bulgari, then caretakers of Roth’s brand (LVMH relaunched Daniel Roth as a separate entity in 2023). These three brands also seem arranged in the LVMH ecosystem to compete directly with high end independent brands, particularly Daniel Roth, a name once seen as preeminent in the world of independent watchmaking.  Let’s run through the key releases from each brand at this year’s LVMH Watch Week. Tiffany & Co. debuted the Tiffany Timer, a three register chronograph with El Primero movement that flies under the radar, perhaps, in a few ways. First and foremost, that white metal case is not steel or white gold, but solid platinum. And the indices at each hour are baguette cut diamonds, which seems like a...

A Quick Look at the TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer Worn & Wound
Louis Vuitton Jan 22, 2026

A Quick Look at the TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer

LVMH Watch Week has become the first of the blast waves of new releases we can expect every year. Siloed to one group, it leans toward the high end. Actually, very high end, with the most eye-catching releases relegated to Daniel Roth, Gerald Genta, and the eponymous Louis Vuitton, the latter of which actually had the most intriguing releases of them all. “Über collector” brands the lot; there’s plenty to appreciate, especially as they lean into haute-indie aesthetics. Yet, the lack of accessibility for us mere mortals takes a bit of the fun out of it. LVMH is not exactly known as an “approachable” luxury mega-conglomerate, but at least with Zenith and TAG Heuer in its portfolio, it has some brands that lean toward enthusiasts. After spending an afternoon with Hublot, Zenith, and TAG Heuer, getting to see a sample of novelties (it was pretty clear that all are holding back for Watches & Wonders), the watch that left the strongest impression a day later was TAG’s Carrera Seafarer. A follow-up to their 2024 Hodinkee collaboration, the major differences are the new color, which is exquisite, the “beads of rice” bracelet, and widespread availability. Having never encountered the Hodinkee collab in the metal, getting to try the Seafarer on for the first time left an impression. IMAGE COURTESY OF ANALOG/SHIFT For those unfamiliar with the Seafarer’s heritage, here’s a tl;dr: they were a line of chronographs that included a unique additional complication, a t...

Swatch Expands their Art Watch Lineup with a New Guggenheim Collaboration Worn & Wound
Omega MoonSwatch line they’ve managed Jan 21, 2026

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...

Zenith Updates References Across the Defy Skyline Collection Worn & Wound
Zenith Updates References Across Jan 21, 2026

Zenith Updates References Across the Defy Skyline Collection

Earlier this week we brought you news of the latest in Zenith’s ongoing Revival series, but the big news for the brand coming out of LVMH Watch Week is a big expansion of the contemporary Defy collection at all levels. As a certified Defy-head, this move has my full support. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Defy has long been my favorite sports watch line, full stop. I’m a huge fan of the way the modern Defy combines a funky, avant-garde design sensibility with real sports watch chops (these watches are truly built like tanks, and have been since the 1960s). The latest Defys to enter the collection span the breadth of Zenith’s range as a watchmaker, from the simple and straightforward to the highly exotic.  We’ll start with the simple. The Defy Skyline 36 has a pair of new variants, with silver dials joining previously issued versions in blue, ice blue, green, and pink. You can have your silver dialed Defy Skyline 36 with or without a diamond set bezel. As with earlier versions of the Defy Skyline in this size, the option for a diamond bezel reveals that Zenith hopes to market these watches to the women’s market, but 36mm is actually a great size for an integrated bracelet sports watch for just about anyone. Watches in this style tend to wear a little bigger than their dimensions would suggest, and there’s something inherently appealing and comfortable about a watch like this that’s a little undersized, anyway. Like other Defy Skylines, thi...

Hublot Introduces the Big Bang Original Unico Worn & Wound
Hublot Introduces Jan 20, 2026

Hublot Introduces the Big Bang Original Unico

Sometimes an anniversary release isn’t actually released for the anniversary itself. Case in point: the new Big Bag Original Unico from Hublot. Last year, as readers will likely remember, Hublot focused on the 20th anniversary of the Big Bang, which launched in 2005 and began something of a wild ride for Hublot among watch aficionados with what would become their signature product. The Big Bang Original Unico is dressed in the clothes of an anniversary piece but comes one year later, and according to Hublot represents a return to the origins of the Big Bang. Fair enough!  The conceit here is that the Big Bang Original Unico “carries the Big Bang legacy into the next era” and features a variety of both mechanical as well as aesthetic upgrades. For one, the case now sits at 43mm, a middle ground between the 41mm and 44mm case sizes of past references. Case lines have been slightly softened for better ergonomics and wearability, as well as a more organic look overall. The lugs are a little more curved, and there’s now a beveled edge that lends a little hint of refinement to a piece that, frankly, has not frequently been associated with that concept. This feels like a less aggressive, slightly more subdued version of Hublot’s Big Bang chrono. My personal preferences when it comes to Hublot veer toward the more extravagant and avant-garde, but as we’ve seen with other LVMH Watch Week releases this year, it feels like a time for these brands to play to a wider audie...

Louis Vuitton Flexes their Watchmaking Skills with a Flurry of LVMH Watch Week Novelties Worn & Wound
Louis Vuitton Flexes their Watchmaking Skills Jan 20, 2026

Louis Vuitton Flexes their Watchmaking Skills with a Flurry of LVMH Watch Week Novelties

Fashion houses are often only as strong as consumers’ nostalgia for their heyday. As more time passes between a brand’s peak and its current incarnation, the connection to what it once represented can become increasingly tenuous. In some cases, that link barely holds at all. Balenciaga is a perfect example of a brand that leaned so heavily on its laurels that it fell on its ass. Thankfully, that isn’t the case with Louis Vuitton. The maison’s durability has come from its ability to evolve without losing sight of what made it relevant in the first place. Marc Jacobs is often credited with bringing Louis Vuitton into a modern context when he launched its first ready-to-wear collection in 1998, but the throughline has always been consistent: an emphasis on craftsmanship, materials, and design rooted in the principles established by Louis Vuitton in 1854. That same approach is clearly evident at this year’s LVMH Watch Week, where each release shows that the label is heavily invested in expanding Louis Vuitton’s legacy of craftsmanship into everything under the label’s umbrella. First up, we have the Escale Worldtime, which returns this year in a platinum case with a dial ring featuring 24 hand-painted city flags, each impressively applied at La Fabrique du Temps, the watch manufacture owned by Louis Vuitton that has been the catalyst for much of the brand’s advancement in watchmaking under their own name in recent years. If you are more interested in the Flying...

Maurice de Mauriac Introduces the Rallymaster IV for the Australian Open Worn & Wound
Maurice de Mauriac Jan 20, 2026

Maurice de Mauriac Introduces the Rallymaster IV for the Australian Open

Maurice de Mauriac and Racquet magazine are back with their latest tennis-inspired timepiece just in time for the 2026 Australian Open, a blacked-out version of their Rallymaster watch inspired by the night sessions at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament - and another unlikely source. “I was really thinking about the surf culture around Australia,” said designer Carlton DeWoody. The Rallymaster IV keeps the 39mm case of past editions, but adds a black PVD coating, a black nylon with a single luminous white stripe down the center, and a black dial with a white net motif and one burst of color - neon purple, navy, light blue - in the seconds subdial. It all comes together into something edgier than you’d typically see in the tennis world and even with the various nods to tennis in the Rallymaster’s design, that surf inspiration is still apparent. DeWoody has looked for inspiration in other sports since he started designing the first edition of the Rallymaster ahead of its 2022 release. “A lot of my inspiration that looks like it’s tennis kind of came from other sports,” said DeWoody. “That tennis net motif was actually inspired by a racing chronograph. When you take the checkered flag and you kind of zero out to black and white, it becomes a grid. And that has a direct relationship to the grid of the net.” The Rallymaster series has always been colorful, with past editions featuring pastel pinks and baby blues, but the Rallymaster IV may be the m...

TAG Heuer Upsizes the “Glassbox” Carrera Worn & Wound
TAG Heuer Upsizes Jan 19, 2026

TAG Heuer Upsizes the “Glassbox” Carrera

One of the big stories in watches over the last few years has been the evolution of TAG Heuer into a brand that is just a little more enthusiast minded than you might have given them credit for five or ten years ago. There’s always been a cult around the brand, of course, particularly when it comes to their historic vintage chronographs, but they had been tagged as a bit of a “mall brand” by some in recent years, and it’s been interesting to see how they’ve gradually worked their way out of that position. A big part of it has to do with the launch of the “Glassbox” Carreras back in 2023, which introduced a dramatic domed crystal paired with a curved dial for a look that played right into the hands of the vintage Heuer obsessed. The dials were clean and classic as well, and the sizing was a perfectly medium 39mm in diameter. This year, for LVMH Watch Week, TAG Heuer expands the Glassbox line with a selection of new chronographs in a slightly larger case, giving enthusiasts with larger wrists or who just might prefer a more contemporary vibe a solid option in this particular collection.  The case now measures 41mm in diameter, 47.8mm from lug to lug, and 14.17mm tall (so, the same height as the 39mm version). Two millimeters, as watch enthusiasts know, is going to make a significant difference in how a watch like this wears and appears on the wrist, so if you found yourself trying on the 39mm version and thinking it lacked a certain presence, the larger versio...

Bulgari Goes Big with a Pair of Opulent LVMH Watch Week Releases Worn & Wound
Bulgari Goes Big Jan 19, 2026

Bulgari Goes Big with a Pair of Opulent LVMH Watch Week Releases

There are two things I really like about Bulgari. The first being that I’m not entirely sure how to spell their brand’s name. Bulgari? Bvlgari? Both? A secret third option? At any rate, I find it a bit chic to have a bit of runic ambiguity in a modern-day brand. The second thing I enjoy is their commitment to glamour. In today’s fashion and jewelry market, there is an inundation of simplistic, minimalistic styles. Personally speaking, I’m quite fond of dressing like I live in the Nordics, but a bit of eye candy every now and then never hurt anyone. That is to say, I’m quite pleased to share the release of two new watches, which will be presented in Milan during LVMH Watch Week, beginning today. Let me introduce you to: Maglia Milanese Monete and Tubogas Manchette. First up, the Maglia Milanese Monete revisits Bulgari’s Monete concept from the mid-1960s, centered around an authentic Roman coin from the reign of Emperor Caracalla. It is paired with a rose gold Milanese mesh bracelet, marking the brand’s first use of the technique and giving the watch a more fluid look on the wrist, nodding more to Bulgari’s jewelry-making history. The dial itself is concealed beneath the coin, while the watch is powered by Bulgari’s Piccolissimo BVP100. The manually wound movement measures just 13.5mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick, and offers a 30-hour power reserve, which can be viewed through the sapphire caseback. Next, the Tubogas Manchette takes its cues from a 1970s des...

Zenith Introduces the Defy Revival A3643 for LVMH Watch Week Worn & Wound
TAG Heuer Hublot Jan 19, 2026

Zenith Introduces the Defy Revival A3643 for LVMH Watch Week

Once again, LVMH Watch Week is upon us. For those of us who work in watch media, this week has become something of what you might technically refer to as a “big deal.” It’s the beginning, in earnest, of the new release season, which peaks with Watches & Wonders week, and is now just months away (yikes). Over the past several years, LVMH has carved out this period in late January to debut new novelties ahead of Watches & Wonders (which all of the brands making announcements this week participate in) and get a jump on the competition. Usually the LVMH Watch Week releases are a little more consumer oriented and less ambitious than those that debut at Watches & Wonders a few months down the road, but honestly that just makes this week all the more interesting to us here at Worn & Wound. We’ll have a bunch of news on the latest from TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Bulgari later in the week (as well as hands-on coverage of the new novelties) but we start with Zenith, which has designated LVMH Watch Week 2026 as a Defy centric experience.  There are several new Defy references dropping this week in the Skyline category that range from modest sizing updates to some pretty bonkers watchmaking, but we’ll start with this year’s Revival piece, the A3643. Zenith, in recent years, has done an outstanding job when it comes to raiding their own archives for inspiration, and always offer tasteful reinterpretations of classic references that are pretty much one to one recreations, at le...

Watches, Stories, & Gear: Ricoh Goes Monochrome, Alex Honnold Scales a Skyscraper, and Volvo Introduces a New Typeface Worn & Wound
Jan 17, 2026

Watches, Stories, & Gear: Ricoh Goes Monochrome, Alex Honnold Scales a Skyscraper, and Volvo Introduces a New Typeface

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear. HSNY Announces 2026 Scholarships  The Horological Society of New York, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing horology through education, has announced its 2026 scholarship initiatives. Last year, HSNY awarded $160,000 in scholarships to 28 students across four watchmaking schools, and this year they are set to expand their scope, tripling their scholarship budget thanks to support from the Vogt Foundation. Applications for scholarships, for the first time, will be open globally, welcoming watchmakers and students from around the world. This year also sees an entirely new award, the Independent Watchmaker Grant, which specifically seeks to fund emerging independent watchmakers, encouraging traditional craftsmanship at the highest levels of horology. More information on this year’s scholarships, as well as applications, can be found at the HSNY website. Ricoh Goes Monochrome  A new camera caught our eye this week (confession: this happens almost every week). Ricoh’s GR IV Monochrome is a new spin on the cult favorite pocket camera, asking users to commit to black and white imaging. Like other monochrome cameras, this one ditches the color filter array, allowing the GR...

eBay Finds: A Pair of Vintage Omegas, an Accutron with a Tuning Fork Movement, and More Worn & Wound
Accutron Jan 16, 2026

eBay Finds: A Pair of Vintage Omegas, an Accutron with a Tuning Fork Movement, and More

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 Omega Constellation Here is a really nice and all original vintage Omega Constellation to start us off this week. This is a later iteration of the Constellation, which despite not being the classic 1950s version is still quite a watch. The watch was clearly worn and loved, but not abused. The C-shaped steel case has a nice patina but looks to be unpolished. The silver dial is clean, with stick markers and delicate stick hands. The crystal shows some crazing and/or scratches from use, but the seller states it’s original. Easily replaced or you can leave it be to maintain originality. But under that crystal the dial looks fantastic. Original signed crown and brick style steel bracelet complete the watch. No movement pictures but the seller states it runs well. Fantastic, all original vintage Omega Constellation in honest condition.  View auction here Wittnauer Diver  Next up is a super chunky vintage 1970s Wittnauer diver with a brilliant blue dial. The 38mm steel case has that classic 70s block-o-steel style and is unpolished with sharp edges. The electric blue dial has a lighter blue outer minute track with a day/date window at 3 o’clock and steel markers. The dial looks t...

VPC Introduces the Type 39VM, an Uncommonly Thin Dive Watch Worn & Wound
VPC Introduces Jan 16, 2026

VPC Introduces the Type 39VM, an Uncommonly Thin Dive Watch

Regular readers might remember our coverage of the debut watch from VPC almost two years ago. This was a special project as it comes from Thomas van Straaten, whose byline many of you may have seen over at his main gig, as a writer at Fratello. The Type 37HW, the debut release from VPC, was conceived as something as the ultimate enthusiast’s watch, with special attention paid to the small details that serious watch lovers are particularly attuned to. In practice, that means you end up with a watch that is very subtle, with lots of things that are special about it but perhaps don’t advertise themselves in big bold colors. VPC, after all, is an acronym for a Latin phrase that translates to “beauty through restraint,” and if that isn’t a mission statement of enthusiast focused watch culture, I don’t know what is.  For the second VPC release, the brand is back with a watch that builds on the design language of the Type 37HW but shifts it specifically into the realm of the dive watch. The Type 39VM is, according to the brand, the thinnest 200 meter water resistant automatic dive watch on the market, which is a bold claim but seems to be backed up by a cursory review of the data. The case height is listed at 9.34mm, which is quite thin indeed for a watch like this. In keeping with VPC’s design principles, van Stratten set out to create a watch that was purely functional but also didn’t sacrifice ergonomics or aesthetics. Through an exploration of figuring out wh...

Venezianico Updates their Most Ambitious Watch with the Redentore Utopia II Worn & Wound
Venezianico Updates their Most Ambitious Jan 15, 2026

Venezianico Updates their Most Ambitious Watch with the Redentore Utopia II

If you’re a Mad Men fan like me, then you may remember a particular scene in season 1 where Don Draper and Rachel Menken are having a conversation and the concept of utopia briefly comes up.  “Maybe,” says Rachel, “They taught us at Barnard about that word, ‘utopia’. The Greeks had two meanings for it: ‘eu-topos’, meaning the good place, and ‘u-topos’ meaning the place that cannot be.” While the latter may be true for an ad exec and his department-store-heiress-slash-mistress, it doesn’t have to be for you, dear reader. All thanks to Italian watchmaker, Venezianico, who has released their Redentore Utopia II. Inspired by the Lagoon of La Serenissima, there is undoubtedly a sense of otherworldiness that this watch brings to the market, with its dial decorated with hand-engraved waves, creating a kaleidoscopic effect.  Further inspired by the Neoclassicism of the Palladian Basilica, the textured dial is complemented by a 38mm stainless steel case that offers clean lines and simple ergonomics to balance the intricacies of the dial and the transparent caseback.Visible beyond it is the V5001 calibre, an evolution of the V5000 that marked a turning point for the brand. Made in Italy, the movement maintains a slim 3.5 mm profile and a 60-hour power reserve, all while improving upon previous iterations with elevated finishing, such as bridges and a mainplate treated with a 24-carat gold galvanic coating, radial Côtes de Genève, and fine perlage. The Red...

Teddy Baldassarre and RGM Collaborate on the New 501 Worn & Wound
Hamilton master watchmaker RGM has Jan 15, 2026

Teddy Baldassarre and RGM Collaborate on the New 501

Many a modern watch collaboration is born from a combination of content creation and independent watchmaking; larger companies are often not as open to letting YouTubers or other creators see their inner workings, leaving microbrands and independents (who need the press) as the ideal subjects of mini documentaries and deep dives. Because of this, many creators forge relationships with the folks who run those smaller companies, which paves the way for collaboration efforts that go beyond YouTube or podcasts. Teddy Baldassarre is one of the most recognizable talking heads on horological YouTube, and has taken his passion into the world of retail as well, heading his own website and business and rocketing his name into upper reaches of watch enthusiasm. So, it makes sense that Baldassarre has sought to link his name with actual timepieces as well, and the new RGM Watch Co. 501 Teddy Baldassarre Edition hits the market as his second collaboration with an established watchmaker.  Forged through a years-long friendship with RGM namesake Roland G. Murphy, the 5011 Teddy Baldassarre Edition takes the already eye-catching 501 model, and adds a touch of Baldassarre’s personality to the mix. First, though, it may be helpful to know a little bit about RGM as a brand: founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Murphy, an ex-Hamilton master watchmaker, RGM has long produced bespoke, custom-made watches with in-house movements. The company emphasizes domestic production of all part...

Omega Introduces the New Speedmaster Professional “Black and White” Worn & Wound
Omega Introduces Jan 14, 2026

Omega Introduces the New Speedmaster Professional “Black and White”

The Speedmaster family grows again today as Omega announces a pair of new Moonwatches to the stable. The new additions, which the brand refers to as the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Black and White, seem kind of obvious at first glance, but if you dig a little deeper (just a little) these watches actually say something interesting about what a Speedmaster Professional is, and it’s somewhat different than what that was only a few years ago. Broadly speaking, what we have here are a pair of manually wound Speedmasters with a classic reverse panda dial layout, one in steel and one in 18k Moonshine Gold. A reverse panda layout, with a black base dial and white subdials, is not in and of itself all that unusual, but in the world of Speedmaster Professionals it’s quite out of the ordinary. Apart from limited editions, which are really a separate category altogether, the Speedy Pro has always just been black, until it wasn’t. The introduction of the white dial Speedmaster a few years ago reoriented us to think differently about these watches, and this pair, in a small way, does it again.  The execution of these Black and White editions appears to be top notch. The black dials are varnished and lacquered, which ought to give them a more luxurious orientation than the standard matte black Speedy. The subdial frames are rhodium plated, and the white subdials have been given a lacquer treatment as well.  Specs match other Speedmaster Professionals exactly, as you’d ex...

Oris Introduces the New Big Crown Pointer Date “Bullseye” Worn & Wound
Oris Introduces Jan 14, 2026

Oris Introduces the New Big Crown Pointer Date “Bullseye”

Every year in January, Oris hosts a preview event for media in Vail, CO to show new novelties that will be introduced during the first quarter of the year, and previewing their focus for Watches & Wonders. While much of what we saw was under embargo and will only be revealed in the coming months, there was one new release that landed on the day of the brand’s presentation. The new Big Crown Pointer Date Bullseye joins the collection this week, and slightly rethinks the Pointer Date formula that has been so successful for Oris over these past several years. Many of the best watches in this collection have worked thanks to a bold use of color (teals, greens, reds, and of course last year’s vibrant canary yellow version all come to mind). But this watch is more about graphics and contrast.  The dial here makes use of gray and black tones in contrast to create what amounts, in practice, to a sector dial. Red accents provide some visual interest, but the dominant feature here is the cool “tuxedo” style presentation. At the preview event I thought it worked really well, particularly when you get the dial into strong natural light. The gray sections have a reflective quality that works well against the more matte black interior ring. It has a lot more depth than I was expecting, and legibility is really great thanks to the high contrast.  The Big Crown Pointer Date Bullseye is housed in a 38mm stainless steel case that at this point will be quite familiar to many. There...

Editorial: Tudor at 100 Worn & Wound
Vacheron Constantin Jan 13, 2026

Editorial: Tudor at 100

Tudor turns 100 this year. The same age as Dick Van Dyke and American Airlines. Anniversaries like this are a big deal in the watch industry – we’ve just been through a year where both Vacheron Constantin and Breguet celebrated major milestones, each with a series of special releases. That’s the playbook for a watch brand: milk the year for as long as possible with new releases that feel special. It’s a sensible strategy given that it inherently leans into heritage and prestige, both ideas that have been proven to sell watches successfully for years. This isn’t meant to be a prediction of what might be in store for Tudor this year – plenty of outlets and watch media figures have already weighed in on that topic. We don’t have any inside information, of course, so any guesses as to what Tudor might do would be just that. My hunch, though, is that we won’t see obviously anniversary inflected pieces dropped throughout the year in the same way we saw from the likes of Vacheron and Breguet in 2025. It doesn’t feel like that’s part of the Rolex DNA that Tudor shares. I expect we’ll see some very subtle 100 year mentions in Tudor marketing, a special watch or two that is not explicitly tied to the anniversary but as recognized as honoring it just the same, and perhaps something a little more celebratory around Watches & Wonders or an athletic event that Tudor is involved in (there will of course be many of those throughout the year). What I’m much more int...

Maen Upgrades their Hudson 38 Diver Worn & Wound
Maen Jan 13, 2026

Maen Upgrades their Hudson 38 Diver

Maen’s latest is an update to their well regarded Hudson 38 dive watch, now in a MK 5 version. It’s hard to believe that the first Hudson launched all the way back in 2018. Maen is a very different brand nearly a decade later, and has radically changed not only their image but the overall quality of their watches. This is perhaps most easily understood through their popular Manhattan line of integrated bracelet sports watches, which are uncommonly well engineered for the price. Over these last few years while they’ve built out the Manhattan collection, you could probably levy the critique that they’d become a bit of a one trick pony. But it feels like with the new version of the Hudson, they are applying much of what they’ve learned with the Manhattan into a watch that probably has a bit more mass appeal and is a simpler and more straightforward proposition on its face. The Hudson 38 MK 5 is, according to the brand, the biggest update to the watch yet. The case has been completely reworked and is much more streamlined, with a thinner profile (11mm thick excluding the crystal – pretty good for a 300 meter diver) and a thinner bezel, that gives the whole package a more refined appearance and leans harder into the vintage adjacent aesthetic. This new edition also features a box domed crystal for the first time in the collection, which fundamentally changes the personality of the watch when on the wrist. Other small enhancements include the addition of a lume pip (...

Seiko Introduces the Tonneau Shaped SPB537 to the Presage Collection Worn & Wound
Seiko Introduces Jan 12, 2026

Seiko Introduces the Tonneau Shaped SPB537 to the Presage Collection

While it’s tempting to build a collection of just tool watches and divers with beefiness and durability in spades, having a good dress watch is a boon for any collector. Not only can a dress watch give you an excuse to put on that dress or suit and accessorize, it can also help remind you that function isn’t everything then it comes to timepieces; style matters too.  Seiko’s Presage collection has long been a stalwart for dress watch shoppers on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice craftsmanship, and the new SPB537 reference is a tonneau-shaped addition to the Classic Series line. The enamel dial, paired with the tonneau case, is the major selling point for the SPB537, as it was designed by master artisan Mitsuru Yokosawa and his apprentice, Kazunori Uchiyama. This extra level of prestige elevates the SPB537, and adds a sort of intimacy to the design, despite it being introduced as a non-limited, continuous production model. The dial is white, a gentle contrast to the 46mm by 35.9mm stainless steel case and bracelet, and features sharp black Roman numerals, with a black minute track around the outer edge. A matching 24-hour sub-dial at 6 o’clock balances the dial, with the Seiko Presage logo just below 12.  Blued steel hands provide a colorful accent, with a balancing half moon on the tail end of the seconds hand. The blue, though on the subtler side, is a welcome addition to the otherwise very business-like dial, and it furthers the artisan craftsmanship promi...

Why Car Enthusiast Joe Ottati Collects Cars and Watches for the Same Reasons Worn & Wound
Casio Jan 9, 2026

Why Car Enthusiast Joe Ottati Collects Cars and Watches for the Same Reasons

Joe Ottati is the owner of Ottati Car Detailing, a founder of VALT Auto Club, and a part-time Auction Specialist for Cars & Bids. He is also a co-host of the VALT podcast, which can be found on YouTube.  Soft-spoken but always ready for a chat, many Bay Area car enthusiasts have likely had a conversation with Joe Ottati from the other side of a folding table, beneath a big VALT Auto Club tent. As one of the club’s founders, Ottati’s dedication to growing the car scene in the Bay Area and keeping it as inclusive and positive as possible can easily be seen in the way he interacts with everyone that comes through the tent: with kindness and small hints of the vast wealth of car knowledge within. But cars aren’t Ottati’s only hobby; he extends that interest in all things mechanical to his wrist, too. Like most of us watch nerds, Ottati’s first timepiece came in the form of a Casio. As an 8th grade graduation gift, he received a green G-SHOCK, a watch that he still owns. “It still keeps accurate time on the same battery, fourteen years later,” he says. We are currency outside his shop in Concord, where he details cars as his main job. Inside, a smörgåsbord of European beauties lie in wait, but he steers the conversation back to watches, first. “After graduating high school, I was gifted an Autodromo Stradale, which was my first mechanical watch,” he explains, “I wore it literally every day for years.” The exhibition caseback displaying the Miyota moveme...

Seiko Kicks off their 145th Anniversary Year with Four Limited Editions Worn & Wound
Seiko Kicks off their 145th Jan 9, 2026

Seiko Kicks off their 145th Anniversary Year with Four Limited Editions

I think it’s fair to say that for any watch enthusiast out there that Seiko has played some role in discovering this hobby. As a brand that encompasses a variety of styles and price points, anyone can be introduced to the brand at any level of their growing interest. Because of this, the Japanese watchmaker’s 145th anniversary feels particularly special for anyone who, like me, spent hours scouring eBay for a Seiko, and feeling, in a small way, like you’re a legitimate collector now that you’ve graduated away from the generic watch you grabbed at Wal-Mart on a whim. To celebrate this milestone, Seiko has released four limited-edition gold-accented models, across the King Seiko, Prospex, Presage, and Astron collections. While one may think that these four watches feel slightly disjointed when taken together, each showcases what Seiko does best: balancing form and function in equal measure without ever falling into the trap of ostentation. Take, for example, the King Seiko. This anniversary edition, which joins the KS1969 series, is the first of the four and nods directly to Seiko’s founder himself, Kintaro Hattori. The dial pattern is inspired by one that Hattori-san had engraved on his personal watches and is rendered here in a grey gradient that darkens towards the edges. Keeping with Seiko’s innate ability to add decoration without excess, we see the King Seiko has added gold-colored hands, indexes, and text for a bit of personality against the grey. Most not...

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Oris Collector Kurt Ozan Jan 8, 2026

Enthusiast Spotlight with Professional Guitarist and Oris Collector Kurt Ozan

For this Enthusiast Spotlight, proudly sponsored by the Windup Watch Shop, we sit down with professional guitarist Kurt Ozan, a musician whose life on the road is defined by precision, rhythm, and feel. Best known for his work alongside Luke Combs, Kurt brings the same intentionality to his watches as he does to his instruments, favoring pieces that earn their place through use, memory, and personal meaning. Kurt is also a watch enthusiast and a bit of an Oris collector. From stadium stages to quieter moments creating new tunes in the studio, Kurt’s relationship with time is shaped by craft, connection, and the stories carried on the wrist. The post Enthusiast Spotlight with Professional Guitarist and Oris Collector Kurt Ozan appeared first on Worn & Wound.

What We Want to See From the Watch Industry in 2026 Worn & Wound
Tudor give Jan 8, 2026

What We Want to See From the Watch Industry in 2026

As our collective holiday hangovers begin to finally wear off, we look ahead to a 2026 that, like any year, could bring any number of surprises. We thought it would be fun to check in with our Slack community, Worn & Wound+, to see what members were hoping to see from brands, the industry, and the community in 2026.  Their responses ranged from the predictable (yes, we all want micro-adjust clasps on our bracelets) to the pointed (there is some very specific heat thrown at some very specific targets). As always, the responses reflect the broad interests of our community. The responses below have been lightly edited for clarity, and attributed to the username handles used on Slack. Let us know in the comments what you would like to see in 2026 across the watch industry. Whether it’s a specific watch, a piece of content from Worn & Wound, or something more business or industry related, we’d love to hear about it.  KILO I’d like to see innovation in movement design. Specifically for off-the-shelf movements that wind their way into micros, indies, and even in legacy ‘big-watch’ manufacture. Example: the Miyota 9075 was a game-changer for the democratization of GMT watch design and manufacture. It’s time for more offerings for chronos (especially now that the ST19 is so hard for most manufacturers to source), small seconds, etc. IAN EHRENWALD I don’t know about market viability, but I’d absolutely love to see Tudor give the North Flag another chance.  I’d l...

Will 2026 Be Credor’s Year? Worn & Wound
Vacheron Constantin Jan 8, 2026

Will 2026 Be Credor’s Year?

As a new year begins, it’s always fun to think about which brands are poised to do something meaningful over the next 12 months. Obviously, every brand starts with high hopes and great intentions, but inevitably there are just a few who really become conversation drivers in the industry. It can be fun to speculate who is in a good position to do that. Lots of time, it will be a brand in the midst of a big anniversary celebration (Vacheron Constantin and Breguet in 2025 were great examples of this phenomenon). I’d like to posit that another way a brand can make a big splash is by simply having a presence at Watches & Wonders in the spring – any brand making their first appearance at the show is going to have a great deal of attention thrust upon them. This year, Audemars Piguet makes their first appearance at the show, and of course everyone will be keeping an eye out. But everyone’s always keeping an eye out for AP. I’m more interested in another brand coming to the Palexpo for the first time: Credor.  Credor of course is part of the Seiko family, and can be thought of as the high end, artistic, and craft forward expression of the watchmaking family. Credor’s watches are uncompromising and beautiful, but they are wildly underseen. They are rare, of course, and tough to find outside of Japan (similar to Grand Seiko a decade ago) but they also require a bit of a learning curve in how collectors and enthusiasts understand what the brand is all about. And that’s...

Inside the Watch Box: Collecting Goals for 2026 Worn & Wound
Christopher Ward Nomos Jan 7, 2026

Inside the Watch Box: Collecting Goals for 2026

If I’m looking back at 2025, it feels like the year I really embraced independent brands across price points. If you’ve listened to the podcast, talked to me at a watch event, or read between the lines of many of the articles I’ve written over the last few years, you’ll know that I’ve become increasingly bored with “big” brands and the new watches they push out to market on predictable release cycles, year in and year out.  2025 was the year that that boredom and frustration really made an impact on the purchases I decided to make. I won’t lie: I went a little overboard on new watches last year. Not having children, owning a car that’s fully paid off, and living in a world where retail therapy is often the most reliable form of comfort will do that to you. In the last year, I picked up new watches from Ming, Otsuka Lotec, Arcanaut, Louis Erard, Selten, Typsim, Christopher Ward, Nomos, and Arken. I’m happy to say that every single one of them is a little weird (Or special? Maybe that’s a better word.) and I’m very pleased to say that in just about every case I have some personal connective tie to the brand or the people behind it. That’s a thing that has become almost essential to me as I consider a new watch: I want to know the people who made it, understand their philosophy, and, if I can, develop an ongoing relationship with them. That’s a goal that’s easier to meet now than ever given the ease with which we all connect on social media, at ...

Oris Celebrates the Year of the Horse with a New Limited Edition Worn & Wound
Oris Celebrates Jan 7, 2026

Oris Celebrates the Year of the Horse with a New Limited Edition

One of the most reliable events on the watch release calendar every year is a glut of new watches in January celebrating the lunar new year, which this year begins on February 17. This is a very important holiday in many Asian countries, and brands with an international focus are not shy about dropping limited editions throughout the month to appeal (primarily) to customers in those territories. Of course, very often the watches themselves are quite cool outside the context of the lunar new year celebration itself, and it’s always kind of a fun spectator sport to see what brands come up with. Typically, brands will riff on the animal associated with a given year, and this year it’s the fire horse. First out of the gate: Oris, with the new Year of the Horse Limited Edition.  The Year of the Horse Limited Edition can be defined by two prominent features: deep red tones, and the use of the Calibre 113 movement. The movement is somewhat unusual and not used frequently in the Oris catalog, so we’ll start there. This is a manually wound caliber with an impressive ten day power reserve, and also includes a “business calendar” that provides the day, date, and also displays the week of the year via a scale at the dial’s perimeter. The week indicator is an unusual, old-fashioned feature that holds a lot of charm, and provides an easy visual reference for how deep we are into a given year.  The watch has a dark red dial with lighter red fumé subdials at 3 and 9 that in...

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