Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

The SalonQP event in London, held from the 11th of November till the 13th of November, was a great success. Ive been to the event on Thursday (opening night) and Friday, and on Friday Ive made a few pictures to give my precious readers an impression of SalonQP.Of course, I also took some pictures of the timepieces that were there on display. However, for all photos, please visit the Photo Report topic over at WatchUseek (by clicking here).If you havent been there this year, try to visit the SalonQP 2011. I surely had a great time looking at all these magnificent watches, talking to the people over there and meeting with Gerard Nijenbrinks of Horloge Platform Nederland, Ariel Adams of aBlogto [...]

A Rolex 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 Rolex 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 [...]

Sinns EZM (Einsatz Zeit Messer) watches were always dedicated for professionals who need to depend on their watch, like firefighters They need to know how long one can stay in a building burning with all the smoke (even with air tanks), to take someones pulse etcetera. While Sinn used to have the EZM4 for firefighters, it ceased production a while ago. Now, Sinn introduces the EZM7.Click here to read my article on the EZM7 on MotoringExposures Wednesday Watch. [...]

If you are into collecting watches, it seems to be some kind of quest or grail to at some point get a watch from your year of birth. Just recently, I paid attention to some topics on TimeZone and the UK based TZ-UK watch portal about getting a watch from your birth year. It seems that Omega, Rolex and Breitling are very sought-after brands for the birth year purpose, as they are when it comes to watch collecting in general as well.Earlier this year, I had the same goal, getting a nice watch from my year of birth, 1977. Since Omega is the brand that started this watch madness for me, I was always on the lookout for a Speedmaster Professional ref.145.022 that dates back to 1977, but it seeme [...]

Xetum is a relative new brand that should be followed closely by fans of modern design watches.? Xetum uses proven watch manufacturing techniques combined with a fresh design of cases and dials. Ive met Jeff Kuo CEO and founder of Xetum in 2009 and he showed me some prototypes of his watches. I was really impressed by his work and am very glad to see that his watches made it to production shortly after.Xetum deserves attention, not in the last place because of their eco-friendly production methods and initiatives. Italian cork lining in Xetums watch straps, a rubber wood watch box and a protective outer carton box made of ecological fibers, to name a few. Inside their well designed watches [...]

The design of the Submariner 114060, is unmistakably Rolex, despite the size and use of modern materials such as ceramics. Compare the modern 114060 to the 1953 Rolex Submariner 6204 and you will immediately notice that these watches share the same DNA.Owning and wearing a Rolex Submariner is one thing, but to dive into the history of this watch is quite a task. To make it somewhat easier for you, we hereby show you the history of the Submariner in a nutshell, including a table with most important references since 1953 till the current line-up of Submariner watches.Diving Into Rolex SubmarinerThe Rolex Submariner is a watch with an interesting story. Introduced over 60 years ago, the current [...]

The Rolex Explorer II gets a lot of attention lately on the Rolex Forum, I found out that there isnt much out there concerning its history. My attempt to do so, can be read over at MotoringExposure. My automotive counterpart, where I am the editor for the Wednesday Watch blog.Explorer II, ref.1655 dial. Photo courtesy of my friend SubGMT.Explorer II, ref.16570 with tritium dial. Photo courtesy of XoFF.Click here to read about the Rolex Explorer II history and possible future, and let me know what you think by leaving a comment. [...]

Introduced at the BaselWorld 2010 exhibition, the Tudor Heritage Chrono was the talk of the day for months to come. Authorized Rolex/Tudor dealers created waiting lists for people who desperately needed one. The vintage Tudor Monte Carlo Chronographs ref.7149, 7159/0, ref.7169/0 and the 7031/0, the original models on which the Heritage Chrono is based, skyrocketed to 10K Eur and over. I have written an in-dept and chronological story on the Tudor Monte Carlo a while ago already for MotoringExposure, click here to read it.The Heritage 70330N and the Monte Carlo ref. 7169/0, photo courtesy of Ryan5446A few months after the Heritage Chrono became available in stores in June, I see them popping [...]

On the 1st of July (2010), a prominent member of the Panerai community (Paneristi) introduced a limited edition Panerai PAM 360 model, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Paneristi Home Base, www.paneristi.com. A limited edition of 300 pieces only, which is far less than most Panerai production numbers, would be available for members of the Paneristi community. Moderators of the Paneristi community designed the concept of the watch pictured below. A 44mm Panerai Luminor in PVD, painted patina dial, the OP logo on the dial and an inscription engraved in the case back.Indeed, a great looking wristwatch by Panerai, although I would have preferred DLC and white hour markers instead of pai [...]

A GTG (short for Get Together) organized by a few members of the Vintage Rolex Forum is always good for a lot of photographs of impressive watches and watch collections. Vintage Rolex Forum calls these GTGs Passion, because of the passion for vintage Rolex watches. Looking at the photos, the guys also share passion for cigars, bags and watch boxes.Below youll see a Rolex ref.6200, a very nice vintage early Submariner without the printing on the dial being a Sub. The gilt dial is very nice on this experimental Submariner. Probably produced around 1955.And this is not a Rolex, but being an AP fan and all, I though this might be worth posting here. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept on a mesh [...]

During my holiday in Italy, Ive missed the delivery of the new 39mm Rolex Explorer hitting the local authorized dealers. Ive kept my eyes open in Italy (see this link), but aside from the new Tudor Heritage Chrono, there wasnt much new to see in the displays. The new Submariner in black and green were already available before my holiday, and the green model surprised me in a positive manner I have to admit.Anyway, when I got back last weekend, I immediately noticed the availability of the new Rolex Explorer ref. 214270 on some of my sponsor websites. There was also this private seller on the Dutch Rolex Forum offering a BNIB Rolex Explorer 39mm for just above 4K euro.The picture above is a B [...]

I am very proud to present to you, the first ever (real) pictures of Ian Flemings watch and the exhibit interior, published on the internet. Below, you will see an excerpt from the press release, a picture?of the actual watch that Ian Fleming wore and used as inspiration for his James Bond novels and a picture of the exhibit room. Note that pictures of the museum nor the watch have never been published before. Taking pictures inside the museum is strictly prohibited.From the press release:?Ian Fleming's personal James Bond watch is not kept wound while it's on display as part of the increasingly popular Bond Watches, James Bond Watches exhibit.So when attendees arrive for the special Bond [...]

The design of the Submariner 114060, is unmistakably Rolex, despite the size and use of modern materials such as ceramics. Compare the modern 114060 to the 1953 Rolex Submariner 6204 and you will immediately notice that these watches share the same DNA.Owning and wearing a Rolex Submariner is one thing, but to dive into the history of this watch is quite a task. To make it somewhat easier for you, we hereby show you the history of the Submariner in a nutshell, including a table with most important references since 1953 till the current line-up of Submariner watches.Diving Into Rolex SubmarinerThe Rolex Submariner is a watch with an interesting story. Introduced over 60 years ago, the current [...]

Time and Gems friend of Fratellowatches proudly introduces the first Black Gold Rolex watches. Stainless steel (904L) and 18ct gold Rolex watches have been coated with Time and Gems ultra hard scratch resistant PVD. For now, Time and Gems re-worked the Submariner and the Daytona, both iconic time pieces for the Giant from Geneva.Below you can see the introduction video by Time and Gems, presenting the Black Gold Sub and Black Gold Daytona. The deep black on these watches, in combination with the 18 carat yellow gold is simply stunning.Price are unknown yet. Keep an eye on the Time and Gems blog for more information. [...]

Ateliers deMonaco is just over one year old (6th of April 2009) and time for Olivier Muller (The Watch Lounge) to do an excellent write-up on this Dutch / Monaco haute horlogerie brand.From left to right:Christain Arbili, business development manager Ateliers deMonacoHSH Prince Albert 2 of MonacoRobert van Pappelendam Initiator and co-founder Ateliers deMonacoPim Koeslag Master Horloger ateliers deMonacoPlease read more about this brand at The Watch Lounge or read an earlier article on Fratellowatches here and here. [...]

It seems that every Monday, visitors of the German Rolex Forum (www.r-l-x.de) who are fortunate enough to own a Rolex Oyster Day-Date, should post a picture of their precious time piece. In the meanwhile, Monday has been replaced by every day. Although it is not an everyday watch of course.Although the original Day-Date is only 36mm in diameter, I still prefer it over a Day-Date II (which is 41mm). To me, the Day-Date is the classic wrist watch in precious metal (available in gold or platinum) that you cant go wrong with.Enjoy some of the Day-Date photos sent in by visitors of R-L-X.Photo by HannesPhoto by Savoy TrufflePhoto by KurtPhoto by KurtPhoto by RO.lexThe Day-Date models were introdu [...]

This year Hamilton is releasing some excellent watches for women. These are well designed, high grade, mechanical timepieces that bring to women the value and vintage-like, classic style that is at the base of the companys success.There are many mechanical watches for ladies to choose from in more expensive price brackets. This is not so in Hamiltons set range of CHF 500 to CHF 1,500 for which the market of female watch enthusiasts is under-served. Hamilton, who holds perhaps the strongest position at the entry price level for luxury watches, is coming to the rescue. After seeing Hamiltons new JazzMaster Medium, Seaview Medium, and RailRoad 38mm for myself, it appears as if they will succeed [...]

Bas van Dorp, friend of the show for many years now, is always keeping his eyes open for a cool chronograph. He found this vintage Cyma Watersport chronograph from the 1940s in a watch shop in Maastricht, in the southern part of The Netherlands. Cyma is a brand with a history dating back to 1891, however they didnt survive the quartz crisis in the 1970s only to be reborn in 2005. The current Cyma company has nothing to do with the one that stopped about 40 years ago.Bass Cyma Watersport is a classic looking round chronograph with a tri-compax dial lay-out, which means it has the sub dials at 9, 6 and 3 oclock. In my opinion, the perfect chronograph design symmetry-wise. A fairly large watch [...]

Between the 5th of June and the 2nd of July 2010, the (Europes very first) Rolex boutique in Berlin is showcasing their most important or better yet, meaningful watches of their 105 years of existence. The watches are chronologically displayed starting with their oldest timepiece dating 1905 and includes their first Oyster watches, produced in 1926 and worn by Mercedes Gleitze while she swam the Channel in 1927.Also on display, the very Oyster Perpetual that Sir Edmund Hillary wore during his 1953 climbing adventure on the Mount Everest and the Deep Sea Special prototype from 1960 with the crazy domed crystal. This particular watch was taken to a depth of 10916 metres, being attached on the [...]

After I graduated in 2002, I bought this Rolex Sea-Dweller from my first (few) salaries. A used 1997 model with tritium dial (boy, did I want the Super Luminova model back then) with just minor scratches from every day use by its previous owner. In December 2007, I decided this watch needed a complete overhaul since it was 10 years old already and I had been wearing it almost on a daily basis for years. Schaap ~ Citroen is the local Rolex dealer here in The Hague (they have 8 stores in The Netherlands) so I brought the watch with me and asked for a complete overhaul. The sapphire crystal needed replacement (scratched), a new bezel inlay was required and a fresh brush on the bracelet and case [...]