Some major watch brands seem to really think highly of ceramic as a case material and Blancpain is among them. Previously a closely guarded field of expertise of Rado and Chanel, ceramic technology and production techniques have only recently evolved to a point where more brands are entertaining the idea of a ZrO2 case, since?a lot more control of things like colors and hardness is becoming possible. The new-for-2016 Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Ocean Commitment II wat [...]

I was surprised when Piaget announced the new Polo S and Polo S Chronograph watches in July last year.?Piaget already has a sports watch in the Polo FortyFive, but a new luxury sports watch in steel wasnt something I was expecting from them. But with the benefit of hindsight, a luxury sports watch in steel is something that Piaget absolutely needs. The new Piaget Polo S and Polo S Chronograph watches are important for the brand because, first, their designs are more appealing to younger audience [...]

Mido calls this newer entrant into their Multifort watch collection the Mido Multifort Escape. Escape from what? Im not sure. Perhaps Mido is trying to use this artistically pre-aged collection to suggest that its theme is an escape from the norm, or this is meant to be some manner of adventure or vacation watch or better yet, we can simply ignore the name and focus on what is an increasingly positive trend for watches like this coming from the Swatch Group.All images by Ariel AdamsPerhaps no co [...]

John ponders what watches brands would want to place on characters in Downton Abbey, if that was even possible given the era. We also discuss the ludicrously priced new Richard Mille watches and the new Devon Tread 2 timepieces.Listen to the HourTime Show watch podcast episode 130 here. Download the MP3 here. [...]

We recently featured an exclusive hands-on look at the new for 2013 Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra-Thin Perpetual calendar watch. We were excited both by the price and aesthetics of that sexy and slim perpetual calendar with its classic design. That watch represented one of the three pillars which we consider to be the strengths of Jaeger-LeCoultre as a brand. The other two pillars are sport watches, and wildly complicated watches (that may either be sport or classically designed pieces). While I [...]

The major mens watch release from Raymond Weil this year was a new Nabucco (the name sounds too much like Nabisco to me and I think of snacks) Va, Pensiero. The odd, comma containing name comes apparently from a famous Verdi chorus. Does this watch remind you of anything Verdi or Opera related? Cause it doesnt for me. Get this, Raymond Weil actually writes this in their press information, the Nabucco Va, Pensiero exudes the same power and nobility as the great Italian composers Opera. Wow, Ive o [...]

Swiss Hublot had one of the most inspired collections of new watches at the major Watches Wonders Geneva 2022 trade show. Always surprising us with colors, shapes, materials, and technologies, Hublot is one of our favorite brands to meet with when it comes to new luxury watch products. Among the more talked about new Hublot watches for 2022 is the Square Bang. Originally debuted on here, today I go hands-on with the full assortment of new Hublot Square Bang UNICO watches. The first thing I can [...]

Bronze-cased divers are one of the hottest trends in the current luxury watch market. The warmth, patina, and nautical underpinnings of bronze have made it a popular choice for enthusiasts, but for the most part, bronze divers have been restrained to highly traditional designs. On paper, this trend makes sense, with brands aiming to tie the maritime legacy of bronze to equally legacy-driven silhouettes, but it leaves a wealth of unexplored venues for the reddish metal. Bell Ross aims to shed th [...]

For SIHH 2015, Piaget will unveil a new ultra-thin flyback chronograph, further helping them to round out their range of worlds thinnest watches. The Piaget Altiplano Chronograph is not only very beautiful, but it finally adds another chronograph-based model to Piagets slim mens collection. Until now, if you wanted a Piaget Chronograph you needed to get a Polo Chronograph or a Gouverner Chronograph?C two decidedly niche designs, without as much mainstream appeal as something more classic, such a [...]

The Hublot Big Bang MP-11 Power Reserve 14 Days King Gold Jewellery is an attack on ones senses, that is a given. That name already should have prepared you, really. Under its diamond-studded exterior, however, lies HUB9011, a fascinating caliber straight from the in-house skunkworks of Hublot.Before we began, can I just say, with all thats been going on, I already miss photographing such fascinating and novel watches. These off-the-wall creations play a major role in making horology fun for me, [...]

Breitling continues to put a lot of stock into its Superocean collection - the standard Superocean and the more retro-themed Superocean Heritage are among the brands best-sellers among which you can find a heaping selection of products. A case in point is how the Superocean (not even including the Superocean Heritage) comes in so many different sizes. Currently, Breitling offers the Superocean Automatic in 42mm, 44mm, 46mm, and 48mm-wide forms. This generation of Breitling Superocean came out in [...]

Last year, I called the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba a standout value proposition and now the brand has updated and upgraded the collection. I spent some time with the new models, and I have to say that even with a relatively modest price increase, I would call these new models an even better value proposition than the previous generation. In fact, it seems like Hamilton took every bit of constructive criticism seriously and has delivered a sub-$1,000 dive watch that puts Swiss, Japanese, and even [...]

Watches and Wonders 2022 is in full swing, and as is the case each year, the lead-up to the event has been rife with enthusiast speculation about the expected novelties from omega. While this years speculation came in a wide variety of flavors, one of the boldest and most persistent rumors among the luxury watch community was that the Swiss giant was preparing to release a left-handed version of its coveted GMT-Master II. Given the brands conservative release strategy in the past few years, this [...]

I think Corum hit on a great idea with these limited edition Admirals Cup Challenger 44 watches. The basic idea is simple, to create bold, friendly looking versions of the Admirals Cup watch, just do it in as much brightly colored rubber as you can. These watches are each two toned and very enjoyable to wear. The steel cases are rubber coated, the strap is rubber, and the bezel is in rubber. Another key element in the design is that they are just two tones with really good contrast. It is like a [...]

One of the most modern IWC Portuguese watches actually has the term Classic in its name which is a very Swiss way of introducing a new timepiece. 2013 saw the introduction of this IWC Portuguese Chronograph Classic, that added a new in-house flavor to the iconic Portuguese collection. It was a quiet launch after SIHH as? 2013 was mostly about the Ingenieur family of watches. Nevertheless IWC is dedicated to expanding not only this successful and historical product family, but also continuing to [...]

Breguet Type XX 40mm from 1975I recently had the pleasure of being invited to look at a rare collection of vintage Breguet aviator watches and was treated to an uncommonly good time with old timepieces. While vintage watch love is deep amongst this (watch enthusiasts) crowd, it is the rare historic and interesting timepieces that really excite me on a tactile basis. Sure I can appreciate most vintage timepieces for their design and what they mean as part of the evolution of the watch, but I am n [...]

Cartier originally released the Drive de Cartier watch collection several years ago in 2015 as a new family of timepieces within the Paris-based luxury brands larger umbrella of products. Like most of Cartiers watch collections the Drive comes in a range of models, including both this elegant two-hand Extra-Flat model and a Drive Tourbillon. As a watch collector, my interest tends to involve more complicated watches or designs, but I think most of us have a soft spot in our heart for elegant and [...]

The Hamilton Jazzmaster Face 2 Face II Limited Edition is an update to Hamiltons 2013 Jazzmaster Face 2 Face with new redesigned dial layouts, the introduction of a passing-through chronograph seconds hand, and a new movement. Remaining from the first version is the very interesting rotating case, which pivots on the horizontal access of the oval-shaped stainless steel case, allowing the wearer the ability to have essentially two watches in one, and allowing Hamilton to pack in as many interesti [...]

Just released is the new Parmigiani Toric Tourbillon Slate watch, another halo piece by the brand that shows off some of Parmigianis finest decorative techniques in a thin case housing a tourbillon movement. As part of Watches Wonders 2020, the Toric Tourbillon Slate joins another tourbillon by the brand, the recently released Tonda 1950 Moonbow as a limited-edition knockout - albeit at the opposite end of the spectrum, when it comes to aesthetics and overall vibe.SPECIFICATIONS:Brand: Parmigia [...]

Last year we were thrilled by the introduction of Blancpains vintage-inspired Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe dive watch so when I heard that they had released a chronograph version I was both excited and a little worried. As Blancpain nailed the balance and proportions of the Bathyscaphe three-hander, I was worried that the inclusion of a chronograph feature might throw the original design off balance. UPDATE: As of October 2014 Blancpain has released a new limited edition (of 250 pieces) ref. 5200-0 [...]