Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

As every wednesday, it is Wednesday Watch over at MotoringExposure. Today it is time to put Marvin Watch in the spotlight This brand, over 150 years old, has recently been re-invented and the on-line promotion and presence is unbelievable. This brand knows how to put themselves back on the horological map again.Reasonable priced (mechanical) time pieces with great eye for detail In Basel I had the chance to have a look at them and was impressed by these classic looking (see below) watches.Check out my latest MotoringExposure article about Marvin Watch and let me know what you think Click here [...]

Almost all watch forums seems to have these weekly or even daily threads about whats on your wrist today. Well, in my case it is quite easy, the vintage Submariner I recently got is hard to beat on a sunny day like this ??Our friends over at the German Rolex Forum (Das Rolex Forum) are clearly having fun with this What are you wearing?-thread, hence the 469 pages (and counting) filled with the most beautiful watches AND photos. Forum member Kurt tops the last few pages with his white gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (I love the dial on the white gold version), this picture could easily be in the Rolex catalogue if you asked me.This white gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona has reference number 116509 [...]

Wrist Game or Crying Shame is here again and its time to have a look at the Tudor Heritage Chrono. This is the watch that brought Tudor back in the game, but will you let it play? Before we answer that questionLast week, I showed you a discontinued delicacy with the Seiko Spring Drive Tuna. You gobbled up that ahi with a convincing 67% and hoisted it to a 67% Wrist Game win. This week, with the Tudor Heritage Chrono, we look at a watch that has just begun its second decade completely unchanged. Whether Tudor just plain forgot about this watch or if this watch soldiers on because its so good is a topic for another day. Today, were here to hear a little yarn from me about this watch because it [...]

One of my favorite Rolex watches is the GMT-Master. With the introduction of the 116710LN and 116713LN models, I feel that the classic GMT-Master has been phased out by Rolex. The new updated model with its bulky lugs and ceramic bezel surely is a nice timepiece and probably suits all modern requirements, but it cleary stands further away from the original 1954 model than its more recent predecessors (i.e. 16710, 16760, 16700).The first GMT-Master (ref.6542) was introduced in 1954, in the same year as Pan Am took the Boeing 707 in operation. Since the Boeing 707 was demanding the highest of Pan Ams pilots in terms of psychological well being. Pan Am thought that at least a time piece that co [...]

This Sea-Dweller ref.1665 wasnt owned by Steve McQueen and neither did James Bond wear it during one of his missions. According to the seller of this 180,000 USD Sea-Dweller from 1967,???? it is:The first version of the Double Red Sea Dweller was produced in 1967. It is said that approximately 50 to 100 early versions were sent to dealers for promotional use. The existence of the Double Red Sea Dweller starts with the helium valve, it had been developed and the patent had been applied, but Rolex had not yet received final approval. Therefore, these watches were engraved on the case back with the words Patent Pending.This watch comes without box and papers, which makes me wonder what the pric [...]

As soon as you buy (or collect) a few nice timepieces, make sure to store them safely to protect them for dust, moisture, children, hungry pets etc. The best way to store your watches would be in a safe, so make sure you pick a watch box that will fit your safe or the safe you have in the bank.One of my favorite on-line accessory shops, watch-winder.co.uk, sells a few great watch boxes. I have ordered some watch winders from them before, but never a suitable watch box. Their black piano finish watch box with this orange effect for holding 8 timepieces was the way to go for me. The compartments are 35mm wide, which means every strap or bracelet will fit on the pillows. Since I have a collecti [...]

Today would be the birthday of Steve McQueen (24th of March), him being an avid Rolex wearer, I though it might be a good day to write about one of the new introductions based on an all time classic sports watch. The Rolex Explorer.Perhaps the classic Rolex sports watch of all times is the Explorer (or Explorer I, as it is sometimes referred to). Even James Bond wears an Explorer in the original books by Ian Flemming. The first Explorer models (1953) are quite similar to the current model, although it has ? of course been updated through time to keep up with modern requirements of the consumer. However, what didnt change was the diameter of 36 mm.Now, in 2010, Rolex introduces the 39mm vers [...]

Today, it is the press day for BaselWorld 2010. However, tomorrow the doors are opening for everyone whod like to attend the biggest watch expo in the world. I will be there, together with Ernie Romers of WatchUseek and Frank of Monochrome.Soon, we will know if there will be a new Rolex Explorer or a new Submariner in stainless steel ??Please keep an eye on my own forum over at WatchUseek, where I will be posting daily blogs, stories, pictures, movies etc of this superb event! [...]

A timepiece that has been produced in your year of birth, seems to be an all-time favourite wish for many watch collectors. Ill have to admit that I once almost pulled the trigger on a Speedmaster Professional from my year of birth (1977). However, after a phone call to the seller in France to discuss last details, it seemed that this watch was not made in 1977. One of the inscriptions on the inside of the case back clearly stated that this watch was produced in 1978. Bummer.I can have more luck with a Rolex from my year of birth, however, the prices of these vintage beauties are becoming annoying. Just a few days ago, I noticed that friend of the show Henrik over at SubGMT has a Rolex Subma [...]

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 [...]

I havent seen this one before, a DLC Rolex GMT-Master. This neo-vintage Rolex GMT-Master with tritium dial has been treated with the famous Diamond Like Carbon coating by Time and Gems.The coating on this timepiece is a mixture of polished and brushed parts, which is a bit different from the regular ref.16700 and ref.16710 models. The center links have been polished, as well as the lugs of the watch case. The anthracite colour on the brushed parts is a bit darker than the coating colour on the polished parts, giving it a bit of room to play with the light.The cool thing about the GMT-Master in DLC edition is that the red GMT-hand stands out. I have seen the newer GMT-Master version (ref.1167 [...]

When I started buying mechanical watches about 10-11 years ago, there wasnt much on the market (new) that I could afford. Last few years, this has changed drastically. One of the brands that offers mechanical watches for a decent price (for starters in collecting mechanical watches for example) is Orient. Orient is a Japanese watch company that exists for over 50 years and has a production run of 2 million watches per year. They are promoting themselves heavily on the web and are now also available in the US and Europe Actually, before I got this Orient CFH01001B from OrientWatchUSA to give my opinion, I didnt even know that a jeweller in my neighbourhood (I think its only 75 meters from my [...]

Last weekend, I was able to try a Rolex Milgauss with a Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) finish. Watch-Site had both this Rolex Milgauss and the Deepsea Sea-Dweller DLCed, where the Milgauss is ready for sale and the Deepsea needed to be assembled again. I took some pictures of the Deepsea to show the difference in color with the DLC Milgauss and to show how thick the crystal is, since the bezel was not re-attached yet.When the the new Milgauss ref. 116400(GV) just came out in 2007, I was very impressed with it (as you can read here) but noticed that the watch didnt get picked-up as I thought it would be (as I wrote here). Along the way, this watch really grew on me and I already decided that this [...]

In April 2009, just after I returned from BaselWorld 2009, I temporarily switched my Rolex Yacht-Master 16622 with a friends Submariner 16613.Although I really had to get used to all that gold on this Submariner, the watch was definitely an eye-catcher and felt right in terms of weight, size and looks. The blue dial was amazing, espcially during daylight.Since BaselWorld 2009, Rolex introduced the new stainless steel/gold Submariner 116613. Using their new style case, like the GMT-Master IIc 116710LN and the earlier introduced white gold Submariner 116619, it is evident that this is Rolexs way forward. It seems that Rolex listened to a lot of customers, and is firing their innovations to us [...]

Tiger Woods, a golf pro hero that sees his career end-up in pieces in just a few weeks, only because he doesnt live up to the high standard of being a role model for every kid in the US who wants to achieve something. Who cares what he does in his private life? He didnt kill anyone, didnt steal.. The hypocrisy of the ones who judge and dropped him is unbelievable imho. I think golf pro Nick Faldo had the same sort of problems in the past (early 1980s) and he recovered quite okay-ish. Anyway, just like his sponsor TAG Heuer, Tiger saw his name/image going down rather quickly due to some bad Public Relations/Communication.I hope that TAG Heuer at least has the decency not to drop him like some [...]

WatchUseek, considered to be the No.1 interactive watch portal, is having a Grande Finale 2009 event This means that WatchUseek, in combination with its sponsors, will celebrate the end of 2009 and the start of 2010 by giving away a number of watches to registered members of WatchUseek that enroll for the contest!The instructions are quite simple Ernie Romers, director of WatchUSeek, wrote a small FAQ for all attendees.How can I participate?Simple, enter the competition as soon as it is published in here.What else should I know about this Grande Finale?The Grande Finale 2009 is for WatchUseeks members, moderators and sponsors only. Not yet a member? Register here!What does WatchUseek need fr [...]

I have to be honest, I dont like the new Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep Sea very much. It is not that I dislike the inner ring that everybody is talking about, with the Sea-Dweller subscription, it is the size of the watch and the rather small bracelet attached to it. Perhaps the watch has to grow on me, like the GMT-Master IIc (ref.116710) and the Milgauss (ref.116400(GV)) did in the meanwhile. I happen to like these last two a lot actually. So who knows, I might be able to like the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep Sea in the (far) future as well.However, I do not seem to be alone with regards to the new and [technically] improved Sea-Dweller Deep Sea 116660. The former Rolex Sea-Dweller ref.16600 (pictured [...]

About a year ago, I wrote about Mondanis book 100 years of Rolex, which is a must have if you are a (serious) Rolex passionate. Now, especially for the iPhone user, Mondani Editore created an iPhone app (Apple users like to use this shortcut for application) that contains 182MB of information about Rolex wristwatches. Since Rolex, and especially vintage Rolex, is booming this might be a well-aimed shot from the creators of this iPhone [killer] app.For a fraction of the price of the book (which is around 299 Euro), you will buy your own electronic copy of 100 years of Rolex, which contains over 500 high quality pictures, updated prices and enables you to search Rolex models on model, product [...]

More than half a year ago, I posted this blog about the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep Sea Jacques Piccard edition, a Dutch initiative from Philipp Stahl (Steiner) and Jerrel Manbodh (Manbodh Watches). Just today, Christies had one of the 86 pieces on auction, number 60 of 86. When still available, these watches changed owner for 12.900 Euro. The official Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep Sea Jacques Piccard website is www.singlereddeepsea.com, which is still on-line and contains some more background information regarding these watches.Number 60/86 is not a coincidence???? Number 60 stands for the successful deep sea diving mission in 1960 and 86 is the age of Jacques Piccard, who passed away last year. The au [...]

600 pieces only, a weight of 12 Kgs and 600 pages telling the story of 130 Rolex Daytona watches in prestine condition, dated from 1960 and on. Pucci Papaleo Editore did an amazing job on describing these watches with this level of detail, delivering it in one book that is entirely bound by hand with a leather lined 8mm wood binding. The team of Pucci had some help from only the best vintage horology specialists, who consist of collectors, watchmakers and retailers.For photographing all these time pieces, the most advanced photography techniques have been used and in the end (it is about the result) it has been printed with the highest resolution possible.This said, it perhaps gives you more [...]