We recently published an article on the Yacht-Master 16622 that I bought last October. I used to have one in 2007, but it had to pave the way for another purchase. Regrets, I have only a few. This is one of them.Sometimes you regret selling a watch, which was also the case with the omega Yacht-Master 16622. I managed to buy one back, from the same year as my previous one. And in better condition. Together with Karina, I sat down and discussed the most under-appreciated sports omega out there.We hope you enjoy our video on the Yacht-Master 16622. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch our videos. We are currently publishing two per week....
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A omega Cosmograph Daytona in stainless steel is probably the most sought-after timepiece in the world, at least it is together with the Omega Speedmaster Professional the most recognized and iconic chronograph timepiece in the world. Since a year or so, a stainless steel Daytona is easier to get than it ever was before. Long waiting lists (+2 years, at some point even more) were maintained by authorized omega dealers, where the sales people succeeded in giving you the idea that it was actually an honor to be on that list at all. No more. Oh no. Stainless steel Daytonas can now be found at list price ($10.400 USD / 7570 eur), sometimes even below that.John Holbrook, owner of Luxurytyme and...
With the F1 of Spa-Francorchamps coming up this weekend we look back at our trip there some weeks ago. We joined IWC and AMG for the 24hrs of Spa and had the opportunity to wear an IWC Big Pilots Watch. Having that watch on the wrist for a few days, I got quite used to it despite the fact that I feel that 40mm is the perfect size for a watch. That being said, lets have a look at the IWC Big Pilots Watch IW501001 and if I would buy one.IWC Big Pilots Watch First ImpressionsMy initial thought when opening the box was that its clearly called Big Pilots for a reason. With a stainless steel case that measures 46.2 mm its one of the biggest watches I have ever worn. With a thickness of 15.6 mm its...
The Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman has been introduced on July 10th and sold out within two hours. Today we show you some beautiful images of this new Ultraman, from watchmaker, collector and Speedy Tuesday fan, Abel Court. He picked up his Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman last week and already had the time to shoot some great photos.Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday UltramanMost details regarding this Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman we shared with you in the introduction article on July 10th. In a nutshell, the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman has the following specifications:Reference?311.12.42.30.01.001Case diameter: 42mmLug Width: 20mmMovement: Calibre 1861Crystal: HesaliteStrap:...
For this weeks Speedy Tuesday article, we talk to a guy who has been featured here before in 2015. He calls himself TLIGuy on the Australian based OmegaForums and is occupied with creating an overview of historic moments in manned spaceflight between 1965 and 2015, using Speedmaster case backs.He started in 2013 with this massive project and we thought it would be nice to talk to him where he stands today. We ask him some questions about this impressive project that includes the involvement of many astronauts and NASA staff to be completed.Speedmaster Signature Case Back ProjectHow long has it taken to assemble the collection and are you finished with the entire project?I'm not finished yet;...
It has been almost a year since I ran a comparison between Forstner and Uncle Seiko aftermarket watch bracelets. Specifically, I compared both 19mm flat link polished and brushed variants that fit the Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space. Over these past twelve months, the article grew to become one of my most well-read write-ups. To this day, I still receive comments, emails, and direct messages on Instagram about the review (P.S. follow me on Instagram @benjameshodges). Today, I am following up this review with the new 20mm all-brushed Forstner Flat Link for the Calibre 3861 Omega Speedmaster. So how does the new bracelet stack up against its predecessor? Let's find out.Firstly, the flat...
The Omega Speedmaster Moon 345.0809 or Speedy Moon is one of those grail watches of mine. Its not the small production of 1,300 that makes it so desirable for me, but rather its complications combined with the classic Speedmaster design.It is no secret that the Speedmaster is my favorite chronograph. I love the design of the case, the clean and readable dial, and the history of this watch. Now, the Speedmaster Moon 345.0809 combines two of the complications I love the most the chronograph and a moon phase indicator. It makes the dial a bit more cluttered, but the beautiful moon and stars on a disc make up for that. The Speedymoon was produced between November 1985 and January 1989. Lets have...
In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. This time, two top echelon chronographs trade blows. The Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon in ceramic and the IWC Pilot's Chronograph Tribute To 3705 in Ceratanium.In some ways, these watches sit at opposing ends of the spectrum. The recently-announced IWC Pilots Chronograph pays tribute to the 90s ...
Perhaps it is the BaselWorld buzz, but?we are really excited about the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time (5164) timepiece. With its crown protector on the right side and correctors on the left side, it is moving towards the legendary design of the Nautilus. This 40.8mm Aquanaut features an extra timezone (as its name implies), a day/night indicator and a date sub dial. Despite all this useful functionality, Patek Philippe made sure to keep the dial as clean and readable as possible.Shot through a display under bad circumstances, this photo doesnt do any justice to the watch of course. I advice you to hop over to the official Patek Philippe website to get a better view on the Aquanaut Tra...
When I was asked to write my article about my grail watch, I didnt answer immediately. The reason for that was personal but simple. Working as a watch journalist allows one to check out incredible timepieces up close. But the reality is that a great number of them are so expensive that the thought of wanting them doesnt even arise. Call it Dutch level-headedness or maybe a Weppelink family trait because I recognize the tendency to be very down to earth in both of my parents. But there is one brand that passionately fights that family gene, and thats A. Lange Sohne. The brands 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold Homage to F. A. Lange feeds into the dream of lusting after something I will most likely ...
With the latest special edition release, the Breitling Aviator 8 Mosquito bolsters the brands lineup while taking a look backwards.The way of the (watch) world today appears to require a steady stream of new releases.? With near-instantaneous supplies of news, social media posts, and endless collaborations between brands and influencers, it seems that the only way to succeed is to join in the torrid pace.? Gone are the days of the annual watch shows and then waiting another 12 months for the next stream of products.? Its pretty funny because the formerly (albeit sometimes still) antiquated watch industry held true to this annual pace of introduction up until just a few short years ago.? But ...
Last week, I shared my journey to owning the omega Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116520. This time Im looking at the references of the illustrious Daytonas history that came to shape the modern 116500. The newly re-named Oystersteel omega Daytona features five distinct design cues: A black Cerachrom bezel, screw-down chronograph pushers, crown guards, black sub-dial rings, and an Oyster case. But how did these elements gradually integrate into the steel Daytona? And which references form the basis of inspiration in its 60-year history?Crucially for this article, I am predominantly discussing the design elements that mold the Daytona. I refer to the movements that power each reference, but only reg...
I can cut a long story short by giving you the quick answer to why I don't consider myself a watch collector. First and foremost, Im a watch journalist. A bit of distance between subject and journalist is preferable, in my opinion. But when I went through my little troupe I don't dare call it a collection of watches, I did find something like a common denominator. It also made me reminisce about the collection that could have been.Before I started writing about watches, I looked at them, talked about them, saved money for them, and rationed myself for them. When I was a poor student but had already caught the watch bug, I bought them, sold them, and went through that process all over aga...
Given the central role Bvlgari played in the organization of Geneva Watch Days, it may not be fair to attempt to summarize the brand's efforts in such a short post, but given that we'll be dedicating separate posts to the major releases in due course it's worth outlining our immediate takeaways of what was a really fantastic event.Jean-Christophe Babin is a force of nature. That's a description often (correctly) used to describe the other JCB, but it is just as appropriate for Bvlgari's energetic CEO. I had the opportunity to sit down with him for the best part of an hour. We talked about Geneva Watch Days and Bvlgari's new releases. As you will see from the video interview we have on the wa...
Gerard Nijenbrinks over at Horlogenieuws.nl (Dutch website covering novelties on watches and the watch business) mentions the new Sinn 142.ST-II.It will be introduced at the coming Basel Fair (30th March) as the successor of the Sinn 142.ST with Lemania 5100 movement. Because the Lemania 5100 is not in production anymore (see earlier posts about this), the 142.ST-II will feature a Dubios-Depraz caliber 2070 chronograph.As you can see below, the lay-out of the dial remains the same.Photo by Sinn.deThe official Sinn announcement can be read here....
The dust clouds have barely settled after Watches Wonders 2021, where Bvlgari introduced another record-breaking marvel. The all-new Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar is the seventh record-breaking Octo Finissimo. While this breaking of records is without a doubt spectacular and does wonders for the reputation of the brand, in the end, its all about having people buy your watches. Without a doubt, the one Octo Finissimo to end up on most peoples wrists is the Automatic version in steel. But another great option is the titanium Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT. I had a chance to go hands-on with it to find out how good it really is.Back in January, I also wrote the introduction article for the...
SIHH was just two months ago and yet we have again something awesome and new from Panerai, the PAM00968.The Italian-Swiss manufacture is releasing a new model today; the Panerai Submersible Bronzo PAM00968. As you might remember 2019 is the year of the Submersible for the brand. Their SIHH line-up only consisted of said models, some of which weve already featured for you. You can find those articles here and here. Today, however, Panerai is introducing a watch to the market that we have not seen in Geneva this January. The Submersible Bronzo PAM00968 isnt the first but the latest Panerai that comes in a bronze case. 2011 was the year when the brand came out with their first bronze case watch...
New Panerai releases are always a guilty pleasure for me. Whether its new materials, colors, or sizes, the bold brand always comes through with something that I like each and every year. Today, we break down a trio of new divers, the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro collection.The Submersible models are the true divers in the Panerai lineup. With their rotating bezels and more impressive depth ratings, the watches do battle in the crowded luxury diver market. They compete in a way that only a Panerai can. Submersibles utilize the locking crown and bring big, beefy dimensions or at least they always did the latter up until 2017. When the Submersible debuted in 1998, it was 47mm. Theyre sti...
Welcome to todays edition of The Fast And The Fratelli. Im making it easy for myself and adding two contestants with vintage vibes to our competition. Vintage style is still incredibly hot. In the days those vintage-styled watches refer to, mechanical chronographs and racing were inextricably linked. You read it in the title: Sinn is going to confront Zenith here. Sinn has a reputation regarding tool watches, which is what were talking about. But how could that German brand have any chance against a more than 150-year-old Swiss watchmaking heavyweight? Well, read on to find out!The goal is simple, and so is the race. During The Fast And The Fratelli Grand Prix, its up to you to elect the bes...
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly series that aims to make all of your New Years Resolutions come true This week, we take a look at the Omega Speedmaster Reduced, reference 3510.50.00Fear not, Mike fans. Im not taking-over this column permanently. Im just standing-in for everyones favorite bargain (or not) hunter for one week and one week only. So what have I decided to put to you during my time in the hot seat? Ive chosen a model that has given me some sleepless nights. Is it a quiet classic? Is it an unfortunate misadventure? There are strong opinions on both sides, so Im turning it over to you, the Fratelli, to make a sound judgment. I bring you the Omega Speedmaster ...