Here is the first round this weekend on the Speedmaster World Cup Semi-Finals. In the quarter-finals, we saw the Speedmaster Snoopy 2015, the Tintin ultimately dominate their match-ups for the win. Some groups had clear winners, others showed a proper fight.In the Semi-Final 1, we will see a battle between the reporter and adventurer Tintin and NASA s watchdog Snoopy. Both cartoon characters, but with the difference that one didn t make it on the watch due to a tough crowd that watches over Herge s heritage and one that did make it to the watch, Snoopy. In the latter case, the cartoonist Charles M. Schulz that came up with Snoopy was a big supporter of NASA s race for the Moon. He officially...

While it often seems like everything has been done in the watch industry ad nauseam, there are certain strategies and concepts that receive less airtime than others. Whether new approaches - often termed as disruptive - are more effective than beating the same paper-thin drum that has been drummed to death over the past century is hard to quantify, but they do present an opportunity for us to reflect back on the industry and its practices in a way that would have been unthinkable 20 years ago. CODE41 s unusual tack is to pull back the curtain concealing production costs and profit margins. That same strategy has propelled the brand s first few launches toward success. And now, as the bizarro...

Typically, I bring a specific theme to Pre-Owned Picks to focus my choices to a brand, era or watch type. A theme can be a healthy challenge that uncovers some interesting watch listings that would otherwise pass me by. Luckily, the search and favorites functions of Chrono24 make sifting through the vast library an absolute breeze. Even after a year of covering Pre-Owned Picks, many watches fell off my lists. Either by disqualification from the theme or not demonstrating the traits of appealing to a mass audience. These watches did remain on my wishlist, however, for a rainy day.As luck would have it on this day, at least in my area of Ol Blighty, its raining hammers and nails. Of course, I ...

The Farer Maze GMT amazes and amuses me. Really, I havent worn such a playful and imaginative watch for quite some time. And that s in spite of the fact I am not a huge fan of its case shape. But the Farer Maze rocks on so many levels. Lets dig into it. When I?put on a divers watch, I?dont feel like I?have to go diving immediately. I?dont even think of water. The moment I?put the Farer Maze GMT on for the first time, I felt a jolt of energy course through me. It was the energy to do things. It sounds bonkers, I know, but I felt like I was suddenly some cool architect or crazy designer. No watch before made me feel like I want and could do other stuff, beyond that which had already been on my...

The recently introduced Airain Type 20 Re-Edition faithfully matches the design and specifications of the original 1950s Type 20. That even includes a hand-wound, two-register, column-wheel chronograph with flyback function. Plus the remarkable countdown bezel and a domed Hesalite crystal.Type 20 chronographs are post-WWII aeronautical instruments, made to French government requirements. They re basically based on WWII two-register chronograph from Hahnhart, Tutima, and Glashtte. However, Type 20 had to meet more stringent specifications. A flyback function was indispensable, plus the accuracy of within 8 seconds/day, a power reserve of more than 35 hours, and the ability to handle the star...

Earlier this week, we broke the news about our first ever Fratello Oris collaboration in the form of the Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. If you read the release, youll know this one is near and dear to me, so I thought Id share some additional views on this limited-edition watch.It was back in 2019 at Baselworld when I first saw the newest Big Crown Pointer Date models. I was truly impressed. As Ive mentioned before, I really enjoy how Oris manages to keep its models fresh by adding color. But Oris doesnt just run into the direction of trends by just adding the typical colors. Instead, they go in unorthodox directions that sound a little strange on paper but look incredible in person. The 4...

The Undone Aero Scientific is an homage to Philip Van Horn - short P.V.H. - Weems, who invented the rotating bezel. While rotating bezels nowadays are very much linked to diver s watches, their first application was aeronautical. The rotating bezel was invented in 1929 - and patented in 1935 - to aid pilots with navigation.Customizable watches are Undone s unique selling point. Hong Kong-based Undone produces watches with a personal touch to order. But the brand s ability to customize is used as well to produce various popular collaborations. And besides custom watches, it can be seen that Undone respects and loves the history of watchmaking.Most vintage-inspired Undone watches are found in ...

Y all hold onto your hats, now. This thing just got stormy. We are racing towards the Quarter-Final voting deadline (MIDNIGHT CET TONIGHT, December 3rd). Our predictions are beaten, battered, and bruised. Ultimately, we came pretty close to calling how this would go but there were some disgustingly unforeseen bumps in the road of this, the latest round of the Omega Speedmaster World Cup…So how did your favorites fare? Two of the four Quarter-Finals were one-sided affairs (as we d imagined they would be), but despite that, huge numbers turned out to vote for the losers. Despite not progressing, the FOiS and the Apollo XI 45th Anniversary model have their followers.…the overall fav...

Allow us to proudly introduce the Fratello-designed collaboration watch. This time, we ve teamed-up with Oris to bring you the Fratello Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date with oxblood red dial. With a festive palette and a heartwarming story behind its creation, it is the perfect watch with which to kick off the holiday season.RJ and his Fratello Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer DateFratello Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer DateRobert-Jan: It is with great pride that we are introducing the Fratello Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. This adventure to create a watch together with Oris has been a great experience from start till end. Michael Stockton s idea of creating a bronze watch with a...

Hello holiday shoppers and welcome to another installment of Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week we take a look at the modern GMT-Master II Root Beer. But first…It was just last week where we took a look at a 90s Omega Seamaster 120M in 18 karat gold. Clearly, this affordable looker still has the Midas touch because it shimmered its way to a 70% Wrist Game win. Folks, slowly but surely I will convert you to the splendor of gold. However, if you re not ready to go all the way, the horological industry has a compromise for you. The Europeans call it bi-color while us Freedom Fries refer to it as two-tone. Whichever descriptor you choose, this is a nice way to get a bit of everything....

The King Samurai is the latest Seiko Prospex dive watch to receive a serious upgrade. We take a closer look at two variants in the SRPE35K1 and SRPE37K1.It s hard to believe that the original Seiko Samurai first debuted way back in 2004. These models ushered in a very different look to Seiko dive watches and, by most accounts, they were popular. Therefore, it now seems odd that the line was abruptly cancelled in 2008. Perhaps the world wasn t ready for these modern style divers that eschewed any retro touches. Fast forward all the way to 2017 when Seiko brought back the Samurai and, due to the line s confirmed popularity, it seems they ll be around for the foreseeable future. Now, in 2020, S...

It is not often that we have the pleasure of reviewing a fine timepiece from Glashtte, the cradle of German watchmaking. Too bad, because the place is buzzing with brands worthy of our attention. Swatch Group even has two companies with very similar names. We are reviewing a sports chronograph, the Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase, from the smaller sisters line up.Union Glashtte, just like its big sister Glashtte Original hails from the eastern German watchmaking town-Glashtte. They are the only two German brands in the portfolio, with Union more accessibly priced.Union GlashtteNeedless to say, this does not mean that Union Glashtte watches lack quality. On the contrary, they are fine ti...

It s a never-ending question, which Speedmaster Professional should I buy? The one with sapphire or a model with Hesalite crystal? And then there s not just a single right answer. Both have their own advantages. But here s why every Speedmaster fan should at least have one model in their collection with a Hesalite crystal.Technology advances. Man developed new solutions for watchmaking constructions. That s quite understandable. New lubricants brought a better lubrification lifespan. New materials ensured better anti-magnetic properties. Different constructions made longer power reserves possible. And that s not the end of the list.A Speedmaster Professional with sapphire crystalWhy choose a...

I recently had the chance to go hands-on with the anOrdain Model 1 Iron Cream. It made quite an impression on me and my colleagues. So much so, Daniel Mller of Fratello fame added it to his collection. Throughout that review, I expressed my preference for the Model 2 Fume from anOrdain, largely thanks to the exquisite dial. Now, with the release of the anOrdain Model 1 Fume the cat has been thrown among the pigeons…Truth be told, my decision between the Model 1 and the Model 2 was always a quick one, but neither the cases nor dial layout played a part in my decision. It was all about the enamel. The fume style, which anOrdain reputedly stumbled upon entirely by accident, placed the Mo...

This year has been another solid year for the Longines brand. With such global appeal and consistently strong sales across a variety of price points and demographics, it would be easy for Longines to rest on its laurels. Throw into the mix the fact the brand is supported every step of the way by the Swatch Group and the impetus to innovate diminishes further. And yet, despite how easy Longines could have made life for itself, a constant desire to improve has seen some of the most impressive releases in the brand s history hit the market in 2020. The Longines Spirit Collection is no exception…There are many ways to sell watches in the modern world. Some brands focus on the product refin...

It s been a funny old year. Everyone has had to react and adapt to unforeseen challenges. The watch industry could little have imagined the shift in the landscape. While restructuring release calendars has proved a challenge for all, some brands have had the added stress of managing an unpredictable market in an anniversary year! For NOMOS Glashtte, 2020 marks a very special year in the history of its hometown. Glashtte is celebrating 175 years of watchmaking. Thankfully, despite all the tumult of 2020, NOMOS has done that sleepy Saxon treasure-trove justice…I ve very much enjoyed covering the releases of my former company this year. There have been some solid additions (like the int...

With the year that we ve had, it has been somewhat overlooked that 2020 marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War. While of course we should pay remembrance to our veterans and fallen heroes every year, 75 years is an important milestone. Soon there will be a time that every man, woman and child who experienced World War II first hand will no longer be with us. We should savor any opportunity to pay thanks and respect.My grandfather served as an RAF navigator on a Lancaster bomber, operating in 93 successful missions. I was always fascinated to hear about the camaraderie of his squadron but also the sacrifices made. The latest watch by Vertex pays tribute to all who served during ...

It s been a good year for Bobsled Bobby s Box of delights. Not only has it got its own nickname now, but it s also welcomed several new additions from all over the more affordable end of the luxury watch spectrum. Nothing on this list of my Top 5 watches exceeds $3,000. Some of them come in at ridiculously affordable prices. And when I say affordable, I mean affordable. I m not the kind of guy to assume that everyone can easily lay their hands on $1,500 to buy a new watch at the drop of a hat. But $28? I reckon that s something we can all at least aspire to…I know these lists aren t often ranked, because, as all parents find, it s tough to choose between your kids, but here I ve taken ...

If you didn t wake up this morning having dreamt of owning a new Raketa watch built with genuine submarine steel, go back to bed right now and try again. For those of you that rolled back the duvet with this rather specific desire locked in mind, welcome. If you re looking for more information on (and some awesome images of) the new Raketa Leopard 24, you came to the right place.Oddballs always stick in the memory. Raketa has quite a track record of creating charming anomalies imbued with an on-brand character. Not all of them hit the mainstream mark, but then, that s kind of the point. Raketa is a long-running, fervently supported brand in its domestic market. It knows what its followers li...

The Group Stage is in the books. It s time for the head-to-head contests to begin. Over the next two weeks, we will run two quarter-final match-ups each weekend. One on Saturday; one on Sunday. Our intrepid warriors made it through blood baths of their own making, but now they need your help to fight another day. Only one man can progress from each quarter-final to the next stage. The choice of who receives that honor rests with you. Will it be the Snoopy III or the ST1? You decide…With three Quarter-Finals in play, the sharp end of the competition is, well, sharpening.?It looks likely that the Final Four will comprise the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 2015, the Tintin (having ...