While sapphire and other transparent case materials have become a popular way for high-end brands to distinguish their products in the upper echelons of the luxury watch market, the look of a transparent or translucent case has gained popularity among more mass-market enthusiasts as well. Casios rugged G-Shock series has long been at the forefront of bringing this translucent case aesthetic to a more affordable price bracket, and for its latest release the Japanese giant has unveiled a trio of w [...]

Even in the exceedingly turbulent times that the watch industry has been enduring for nearly two years, it is rare news to see?major brands exchange hands-and that is why today is a notable day, as it?has just been announced that?Breitling has been?sold to CVC Capital Partners for more than 800 million euros-that is about 873 million US dollars or 866 million Swiss francs.Until this moment, Breitling had been one of only a handful of properly?independent major brands out there-Chopard and Patek [...]

Any watch collector who has watched the market in any depth is familiar with the gradual price increases happening throughout the industry. For years, brands have been slowly raising the retail prices of luxury timepieces at a rate that far outstrips inflation, making already exclusive watches even more costly. One of the prime examples of this in recent years is omega, which has steadily moved its product line further upmarket over time. The Swiss giant continued this trend for 2020, quietly in [...]

A few hours ago I tuned in to a special Advanced Research presentation by Patek Philippe that I must admit made me rather nostalgic. I recall years ago at Baselworld when youd have to specially-ask the Patek Philippe booth attends for a press kit on the first day of the show (to get it early), and then youd proceed to review 20-page plus (yes in some instances) printed press kits about new Patek Philippe watches. It was often an exercise in reviewing sometimes loosely relevant information for wh [...]

Effervescent. Its the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra, in a word. Its the twist and the crack, the soft hissing of bubbles, and the satisfying clear liquid cascading from a tall frosted bottle into a cold rocks glass. Its the soft clinking of ice cubes at waters edge. And with its colorful array of offerings, its bubbly personality, and its sharply rendered dial, its also arguably the platonic ideal of the summer watch -?one for overnight backpacking trips, beaches backyard cookouts, but also weddin [...]

Baselworld has ushered in a season of dramatic change for Grand Seiko. Not only has the brand announced it will be presented as a separate brand from Seiko from 2017, it also is undergoing a rebrand of sorts-discontinuing all Grand Seiko watches in the collection as of February 2017 and replacing them with updated dial branding, interesting new finishes, and new price points. Amongst those riding atop the great Kanagawa wave of change is the reference SBGH255 Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 Profession [...]

While it may not be the marques highest-profile model line, the Constellation series is one of Omegas most enduring nameplates as part of the collection since 1952. The design-focused model line has always been a showcase for Omegas chronometer movements, but the most enduring change came in 1982 when the brand introduced a distinctive, streamlined new design that has remained the Constellations signature look ever since. For 2020, the Omega Constellation Gents Collection introduces the fifth ge [...]

Even at prices around $8,000, the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Chronograph Skeleton watch is a decent value if you are in the market for a skeletonized chronograph. Skeletonization is popular in mechanical watches these days for good reason. In an age of smartwatches and quartz watches, of course, being able to visually appreciate the mechanics of a traditionally non-electronic watch is appealing. Not just to the wearer themselves, but also to onlookers who view these watches on the wrists of peo [...]

Biel, Switzerland. In a press conference jointly presented by the Swatch Group Chairman Nick Hayek Jr., the President and CEO of Omega Watches, Raynald Aeschlimann, and Senior Mission Command team members at NASA, the intention to launch a rocket to the moon in June 2019 with a novel mission was announced. The conference came less than a month after the Baselworld watch trade show, where Omega and the rest of the Swatch Groups luxury timepieces makers were absent this year - a fact that set the [...]

Its the shopping season, and that probably means at least one thing-you are stressed out from shopping. The last thing any of us wants to do is visit more stores, so good thing the internet has us covered. In the context of luxury watch sales (for the purpose of this article I mean watches with a retail price of $5,000 and up), more and more brands are launching official e-commerce boutiques this year, which means you can buy safe and buy direct. Even though the sale of wristwatches online is an [...]

There are few activities that excite me as much as diving. So when Oris proposed to send me their Aquis Depth Gauge Chronograph reference 01 774 7708 4154-Set RS watch to accompany me on my annual diving trip (this year, in Key Largo, Florida) I could not wait to get in the water. What follows is a full review of this watch and my experience diving with it. I also include my thoughts using it as an everyday watch at the beach and during my vacation.Ive been diving now for just over five years, a [...]

Following the conclusion of a whirlwind week of watch releases for the inaugural Watches Wonders digital tradeshow, our twice-weekly Instagram Live show ABTW at HOME is back on the rails, this time with a new pair of guests who were also quite busy in April preparing and promoting a slew of important new releases for their respective brands.FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM WEDNESDAY, MAY 22nd at 10:00am PST // 1:00pm EST: CHRIS GRAINGER-HERROur first guest this week is on Wednesday with IWC CEO Chris Grai [...]

A sky-style dial in deep blue and 18k pink gold is a very pretty thing in this new Geo.Graham The Moon watch by Graham. Geo stands for George who is the Graham guy that the brand is named after. George Graham was a British watch and clock maker from the 17th century. Even as the brand of today is totally Swiss, they still like to celebrate the English heritage of their namesake.This new timepiece is a lovely limited edition and quite high-end for Graham. Only 10 or 20 pieces will be produced (th [...]

Earlier this year, A. Lange Sohne released the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar, an otherwise demure-looking Lange 1that reveals itself as a masterpiece of watchmaking and finishing. Twenty years after the debut of its first perpetual calendar, this new Lange 1 QP (as I will refer to the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar) now stands as the only pure perpetual calendar in the brands lineup, and that seems fitting considering how high the bar is set.Complex without being too complicated and refined without be [...]

The following timepiece auction analysis post is by Chris Meisenzahl. He is a long-time watch enthusiast and daily Speedmaster Pro wearer. He blogs at http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/ and can be followed on Twitter at speedmaster.On May 15th, 2011, Genevas Mandarin Oriental will host the next watch auction from Antiquorum, titled Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces. I expect to see strong bidding (and winning) from Asia during this event. We may see a new high for an exquisite and rare B [...]

Back in 2010 Hermes released a now very rare limited edition of 173 pieces designed by Marc Berthier known as the Hermes Carre H. I never actually got around to writing about this watch on , but I always admired it. When brands like Hermes entrust talented designers to produce contemporary watch designs and more or less actually build the vision of the design, the result is usually lovely (and very expensive). For 2018 Hermes returns to this design with an updated set of models, but the exact sa [...]

I think that this will be a pretty well-received watch for 2010, and that a lot of people are going to dig this. Another of the many many historical rereleases we have been seeing lately. So, a long time ago Hamilton released the Pulsar. It was the first digital watch. This was in 1970, just a year after Seiko introduced the first quartz watch (that was analog). The Hamilton Pulsar was not an LCD (liquid crystal display) watch, but rather had a red colored LED (light emitting diode). With an LED [...]

The new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 easily ranks among the more important watch releases of the year. Amidst a global pandemic and canceled events, such as Breitling Roadshow presentations, we were looking forward to seeing the very new Chronomat face-to-face. That time, at last, has come - along with a quick comparison with the chunky and brash Chronomat 44!For a rundown on the whys and hows behind this - frankly, timely - update to a Breitling staple, read our debut news article here. Now, let [...]

As one might expect from a manufacture thats been around for more than a century and a half, IWC is known for several watch lines. One such example is a watch that recently received an update in the IWC Pilots Watch Mark XVIII Edition Tribute to Mark XI (Ref. IW327007), which, for the sake of readability, can be simply referred to as the Tribute to Mark XI.?In a year underscored by brands tapping into heritage offerings, the Tribute to Mark XI isnt entirely surprising, but has been updated thoug [...]

The cool ways of the jazzy Rotonde de Cartier Flying Tourbillon Skeleton watch are discussed by me over at Haute Living. This cool cat of a watch really knowns how to impress technologically. Plus you have the fine Cartier name, so you know all the know-nothings out there will at least recognize the watch is worth noting. God it feels good to be a watch snob sometimes.See my article on the Cartier Rotonde Flying Tourbillon Skeleton watch here at Haute Living. [phpbay]cartier, num, 14324, [/phpb [...]