When most brands introduce a new watch, they make the bracelet look more like an afterthought than an integrated part of the design. It s often a derivative of or a variation on the classic Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, which isn t a sign of much imagination. Serica has never given in to that strategy. The brand introduced its debut watch - the W.W.W. (Wrist. Watch. Waterproof.), a military-inspired field watch - on a newly developed Bonklip bracelet. The brand s 5303 diver debuted on a tapering Vesper Mesh bracelet with proprietary end links. And now, for its 8315 Travel Chronometer, Serica introduces the sophisticated and functional Expedition Bracelet. I own both Serica s Bonklip and Vesp...

Admittedly, I don t try many microbrand watches. I have nothing against them, but I haven t found many here in the UK. This all changed when I attended the World Time UK event in late September with my buddies Dave (of Fratello fame), Lawrence, and Parm. I saw some nice things, but one of the standout brands was Clemence. For a young, Leith, Scotland-based brand founded in 2021, the watches were impressive. It was after this that we opted to go hands-on with the new Photic MKII divers.There are?numerous excellent microbrands today, making it almost seem silly to overlook them, especially when considering affordable watches. Still, some are better than others, and it almost seems like the val...

Hublot teamed up with Ahmed Seddiqi for a mutual celebration. Hublots greatest hit, the Big Bang, turns 20 this year. Meanwhile, the brands longstanding retail partner in the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, celebrates 75 years in business. Together, the two companies launch two Hublot Big Bang Ahmed Seddiqi 75th Anniversary limited editions.The team at Seddiqi will not let this occasion pass quietly. The house does a host of collabs with many of the brands it represents, including Hublot. For this particular collaboration, we get two altered versions of the Big Bang 20th Anniversary models. The first, limited to 10 pieces, comes in full black ceramic. The other features a tit...

You re familiar with Max Bsser and his friends. The creations MB&F produces are incredible, wondrous, and imaginative, but theyre also out of reach for the majority of watch enthusiasts. Let me introduce you to Schaefer & Companions, a brand recently founded in Le Locle that positions itself as an artistic platform. Christophe Schaefer, the brand s founder, cultivates the conviction that 1 + 1 = 3, meaning that collaboration and the sharing of ideas among artists open new horizons. This vision is the foundation of this independent brand s originality. The three Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie creations presented here are made in collaboration with Sabine Aucou...

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we enter the depths and declare the greatest dive watches of all time. Yes, there are some expected entries, but we also offer a surprise or two. Enjoy the listen!This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings While neither Balazs nor I dive, we ve realized that the style of watch used for this activity has probably become the most popular genre. Not so long ago, a dive watch was relegated to casual and sporty environments. Now, these capable pieces, for better or worse, are worn everywhere. So, what made us want to take on a topic like the greatest dive watches? Well, we l...

In January, Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam announced that it became the exclusive authorized dealer for Fears watches in the Netherlands. During the launch party at the boutique, people were surprised that there wasn t a limited-edition collaboration between the two parties yet. After all, Ace Jewelers is very active when it comes to collaborative watches. It seems as though the two companies just needed some time because, today, Fears and Ace Jewelers present their Brunswick 38 De Stijl Edition. It s the classic cushion-cased Brunswick we all know and love, but this time, it has a dial inspired by a Dutch art and design movement that was focused on reduction, clarity, and primary colors.De Stijl...

Though 2025 may be drawing to a close, Panerai isn t ready to stop just yet. Just in time for the holiday season, we have a new limited-edition piece that should please collectors who love retro details. The new Luminor Marina PAM01759 is the type of watch I love seeing from the brand due to its vintage charm and simplicity.From the early to mid-2000s, Panerai would announce its limited-edition models once a year. The news was always highly anticipated. Once the models broke cover, the Paneristi forum was abuzz with opinions and hopes to score a favored piece. Now, Panerai, like most other brands, releases its new watches throughout the year. I suppose it s better that way, but at least toda...

For a while, we thought we had seen it all when it came to the Tissot PRX. As most of you know, the brand rapidly expanded the collection with a wide variety of dial colors, a smaller size, and different executions of its big hit. This begged the question of what the creative folks at Tissot could come up with next. Well, they had another trick up their collective sleeve. The introduction of two titanium models a few weeks ago made me properly excited about the Tissot PRX again. I had a chance to go hands-on with one of the two versions.When I wrote the introduction article about three weeks ago, there was one glaring omission. Tissot unveiled two variants of the new lightweight titanium PRX...

The 1900 Paris World Exhibition was quite the event. The Grand Palais and Petit Palais were built for the occasion, and visitors could marvel at technological marvels, like the first escalators, the Rue de l Avenir moving sidewalk, the city s first metro line, as well as recreations of old Paris and a Swiss village, along with exhibits on electricity and the first-ever movie theaters. The fair also hosted the first Olympics outside of Greece and showcased a diverse range of art and cultural displays. Among the fascinating exhibits was the A. Lange & S?hne Centennial Tourbillon, a pocket watch featuring a complicated movement and an enameled depiction of the goddess Minerva. The watch bea...

When you think of Blancpain, you probably see a mental image of the Fifty Fathoms, Bathyscaphe, or perhaps even a Villeret model. At least, those were the watches I had in mind when the folks at Blancpain invited us over to Le Brassus and see their latest creation a few weeks ago.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Blancpain Grande Double Sonnerie C check out my melodiesAccording to Blancpain, this new grand-complication watch took eight years to develop. But the concept came earlier, in 2013, when Blancpain CEO Marc A. Hayek started to develop this idea of having a grande sonnerie in the collection. But he didn t want a grand sonne...

Sometimes, all you need to know is right there in the name. AVI-8, pronounced Aviate, leaves little question about the brands mission and inspiration. You might know the company for its highly affordable and highly specced pilots watches inspired by specific combat airplanes, such as the Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, or Bell X1. Today, though, I get to experience an AVI-8 watch that isnt the horological embodiment of a historic aircraft. Instead, the AVI-8 CVRT 3775A Automatic aims to form a cornerstone for the brand as a tactically inspired everyday tool watch.Our friends over at Worn & Wound debuted their Worn & Wound Creative Services branch on this watch, providing the concept and ...

Atelier Wen has spent the last few years building a very different picture of Chinese watchmaking. After the recent launch of its flagship Inflection collection, the brand has shifted attention back to the Ancestra line, which was always meant to serve as the more artisanal counterpoint. That timing feels deliberate. The Inflection models reintroduced Atelier Wens modern design language, and now the new Ancestra Yao shows how far the brand can push the craft-driven side of its identity. Created with our friends at Revolution to celebrate the publications 20th anniversary and unveiled at Dubai Watch Week, it arrives positioned as a meeting point between Chinese heritage and Middle Eastern inf...

Circula, known for its collection of high-quality mechanical tool watches, recently presented its fourth diver. We put it through its paces on dry land and weren t disappointed. Inspired by the brand s ProTrail and ProFlight models, the ProSea combines conventional diving watch design with modern elements and techniques.Hands-on with the new Circula ProSea AutomaticFor the ProSea, Circula once again reached out to internationally renowned designer Guy Bove. Probably best known for his role as creative director at Breitling and TAG Heuer, Guy was the one who said, Less is more, but too little is not always enough. And that shows. Guy s designs are often strikingly bold and legible. Ideal for ...

Welcome to another installment of Sunday Morning Showdown. This week, we put the new Omega Planet Ocean 600M to work. Were not giving it an easy start to life, pitting it against the mighty Submariner No-Date ref. 124060. Jorg has the honor of defending the new Omega, while Thomas sides with the .Now, before you pull out your pitchforks, we are aware that the Planet Ocean spiritually competes with the Sea-Dweller, while the Seamaster Dive 300 challenges the Submariner. After much debate, we opted to pit the PO against the Submariner nonetheless. Why? Because it is the most direct competitor in a realistic shopping scenario. After all, the Planet Ocean costs $9,100 and the Submariner costs $...

Talk about releases you didn t see coming! When Zenith released the third model of the much-praised Lupin the Third series in early 2022, it looked like the remarkable trilogy was complete and the series had concluded. But more than three years later, Zenith surprises us with a fourth model! The new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Daisuke Jigen Edition is a brilliant continuation of the collection inspired by the Lupin the Third anime. This lightweight fourth model combines a sandblasted black titanium case and bracelet with a stylish beige dial. Let s find out more.If Zenith s Lupin the Third series does not immediately ring a bell, you will remember what at least one of the watches looked like...

Jaeger-LeCoultre has a reputation for revered watchmaking, all within a single facility in Le Sentier, in the Vallee de Joux. For 2025, La Grande Maison unveils two new Master Ultra Thin timepieces. Both feature a soft, almost terracotta-like shade of copper. The grainy texture also lends the aesthetic a touch of ruggedness. Yet, the playful palette does not diminish the Master Ultra Thins sophistication. It retains its classical layout and brings a tone that warms the soul as the Northern Hemisphere shifts into winter. The new Moon and Date versions share the excellent dial color and texture, and both feature a 39mm stainless steel case. So lets go right to the core of these new JLC watches...

Seemingly out of nowhere, Tudor surprised us with a new series of Ranger models this week. The brand introduced a smaller 36mm version of its explorer-style watch alongside the existing 39mm model. Additionally, the brand introduces a new Dune White dial that completely changes the look of this popular watch. Let s take a closer look at the new lineup, which now consists of four versions rather than just the one introduced in 2022.Just reading that the current-generation Tudor Ranger debuted over three years ago makes you realize how quickly time flies. Ever since its introduction, the Ranger has become a dedicated group of fans favorite field watch from Tudor. Back in 2022, the reason Tudo...

Over the past few years, we have seen a ton of fun watches with famous comic characters, from the return of Disney characters on several Gerald Genta watches to famous DC characters on the dial of Audemars Piguet s much-praised Royal Oak Concept models. Of course, there are also the famous Omega Speedmaster Snoopy models. However, I would categorize those differently due to their significant historical importance. Another fun, famous character that returns to the dials of a series of Spinnaker limited editions is Popeye. The world s most famous cartoon sailor livens up the dial of the brand s Anchor Arms Limited Edition. Let s find out more.Earlier this year, Spinnaker introduced the Popeye ...

Another Friday, another list! This week, we shine the spotlight on five recent highlights that may make it onto our year-end lists. Just when you thought 2025 was coming to an end, we have seen some amazing new watches. With Dubai Watch Week, the horological calendar has an event late in the year that is a last big moment for participating brands to unveil their exciting new releases. Additionally, some non-participating brands time theirs to coincide with the momentum of the event in Dubai and the upcoming holiday season. So, just before we start making your year-end lists, let s take a last look at some recent standout releases.It s fun realizing that right after I wrote an article about T...

After introducing a series of 28 Hommage La Placide biretrograde perpetual calendars last week, Roger Dubuis launches a second version of the tribute watch, debuting at Dubai Watch Week. The Roger Dubuis Hommage Sukoon Al-Layl is a unique piece, featuring a 38mm platinum case and again showcasing the characteristic and historic biretrograde perpetual calendar. The Arabic word sukoon means serenity, and al-layl means night. The second tribute watch in a short period pays tribute to the watchmaker and founder of the brand, Roger Dubuis. As you would expect from a watch with an Arabic name, it features distinctive design elements, such as a guilloche dial that mimics the texture of desert sand....