12Oct 2016 by Martin Green 3 Comments
Archimede Announces New 42MM Pilot

Archimede Announces New 42MM Pilot

News
Archimede is one of those small brands that doesn't make a lot of fuzz, but just makes some nice watches. We recently already reported on their Outdoor-collection, but now they introduced a new pilot's watch. Next to divers watches, must pilot's watches rank very high as most desired watch model. Archimede has understood very well that you shouldn't take this concept out of its perspective, but keep it pure. The new 42mm is most certainly that. It clearly draws its inspiration from the famous Flieger-uhren from WWII and beyond in terms of styling. Yet this time not with a centrally mounted seconds hand, but a sub dial at six o'clock Although the dial has the classical design elements of a Flieger-uhr, Archimede gave it a few nice individual touches. Like…
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06Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Willis Judd: Raising The Bar

Willis Judd: Raising The Bar

News
In Haute Horlogerie there are many jewelry makers that turned watchmaker. Often this results in watches, with very refined details. In the world of affordable watches this transition is rare, but there is one brand that recently made this step: Willis Judd.   Offering a wide variety of different jewelry a reoccurring theme in their jewelry collection is carbon fiber, which they also picked that material as center piece for their very first watch collection. Remember that years ago you had these oversized fashion watches that looked so cool from a distance, but when you came closer you where horrified by the complete lack of quality? Well, these watches by Willis Judd are the complete opposite of that. Lets start with the price to put a few things into perspective.…
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04Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
TACS Automatic Vintage Lens: Quality Fun

TACS Automatic Vintage Lens: Quality Fun

News
Have you ever had that feeling that you are having too much fun? Because that is how I felt since yesterday afternoon when Fedex delivered the TACS Automatic Vintage Lens automatic for a review. Normally we take our time reviewing watches, but in this case, I could simply not control myself and needed to write about it! The TACS Vintage Lens is inspired by classic photo cameras, but it is the execution of this inspiration that really sets it apart from any other watch. There are details everywhere you look, and they are all of a very high quality. The dial of the watch is as you are looking into the lens of an old-fashioned photo camera, complete with the fish-eye effect. The bezel is turnable, although it has no…
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03Oct 2016 by Martin Green 6 Comments
5 Things You Need To Know When Buying A Micro Brand

5 Things You Need To Know When Buying A Micro Brand

Opinion
Micro brands have slowly, yet steadily eating up market share in the affordable watch market. They have become a respected alternative to the established brands, but there are a few things that are good to realize before you actually buy a watch from a micro brand. Scams are rare and can be avoided Most micro brands either sell through their own website or through a crowd funding page like of Indiegogo. In either case, you probably end up buying a watch you have never seen before in real life, and you part with the money before it is even being delivered. Although scams happen, they are quite rare, and you can build in a bit safety by doing your due diligence. First of all, most micro brand owners are known…
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02Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Introducing The Hourglass By Pheidippides

Introducing The Hourglass By Pheidippides

News
After The Porthole, which we discuss in depth in the latest issue of Watchisthis?! Magazine, Dutch-based watch brand Pheidippides now launches The Hourglass. A totally different concept, yet designed and crafted with the same painstaking attention to detail.   When first seeing The Hourglass it reminded me of "Montre a Tact", a watch created by the godfather of independent watchmaking, and mentor of many great watchmakers, Svend Andersen. Although the concept is the same, the execution is different, and fortunately also the price tag. While Svend Andersen makes his watches completely by hand, Pheidippides uses a clever combination of Swiss parts and German jewelry makers to create his watch.   [caption id="attachment_1835" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Svend Andersen Montre a Tact[/caption] This works surprisingly well, with as a result a watch who's…
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29Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Affordable At Auction: Cartier Pasha C GMT

Affordable At Auction: Cartier Pasha C GMT

Affordable at Auction
Cartier is not really a brand many people think of when they hear the word "affordable". However, older models can sometimes be found for surprisingly low prices. A good example of this is the Pasha C GMT that Antiquorum is offering as lot 301 for their October 8th auction in New York City. They have set the estimate at US$ 1.000,-/ US$ 2.000,-. When introduced the Pasha C was the entry-level for the Pasha-collection. Don't take that "entry-level" too literally because Cartier didn't cut many corners when making it. The corner that they did cut is one you might actually be happy about. Instead of using Girard-Perregaux or Frederic Piguet movements, the Pasha C collection is powered by ETA-movements. Although this might disappoint hard-core Haute Horlogerie connoisseurs, it does provide…
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28Sep 2016 by Jonathan Kopp 1 Comment
Smart Move For Michael Kors

Smart Move For Michael Kors

News
Michael Kors enters the smartwatches market with a line of luxury products called Access smartwatches. Right now, The Bradshaw and Dylan are the first two models presented by the fashion brand, but do expect more to come! Don’t forget, Michael Kors watches are part of the Fossil Group and the watch group announced that it will launch wearables devices for eight brands in 2016, including Chaps, Diesel, Emporio Armani, Fossil, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Misfit and Skagen. So it looks that finally a big watch group understood the power of this new market. The pieces are run by Android Wear and come in two styles. First, the "Dylan" which is a sporty style watch and that target the men’s market, and the second the "Bradshaw" which is all-metal…
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27Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
The Power Of Femininity With New Meistersinger Phanero

The Power Of Femininity With New Meistersinger Phanero

News
Meistersinger hit a homerun at this years edition of Baselworld with the Phanero. With a diameter of 35mm this watch is not only their smallest, but also their thinnest with a height of 7.5mm. Perfect for a lady? Indeed, and especially the two new models that Meistersinger just introduced within the Phanero line! The most distinguished difference between these two models and the existing ones, is the mother-of-pearl dial. It adds a generous dash femininity to the watch without making it too fragile. This is mainly because the case still has the same straight forward, no-nonsense design of the other Phanero's. Combined it makes the watch look contemporary, powerful, and yes, feminine. Staying true to the Meistersinger code is also the Phanero a mechanical watch, and you can admire the…
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26Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Would You Rent Your Watch?

Would You Rent Your Watch?

News
The Swiss watch brand DuBois is nothing but original. They pioneered with direct sales to the public, opened up their brand for individual investors like you and me, and now they offer their watches for rent. They combine this entrepreneurial spirit with good old-fashioned watchmaking. Their watches are of a very good quality, quite original in design, and of course fully Swiss made. [caption id="attachment_1798" align="aligncenter" width="732"] Limited Edition Big Date, Small Seconds for 80 CHF per month[/caption] Renting a watch is an interesting concept, and DuBois is not the first to experiment with it, although they might be the first brand that does it on their own. You have to be a shareholder to participate, but when that hurdle is taken you can pretty much rent your choice of…
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22Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Rhino Band: Turning Apple Watch Tough

Rhino Band: Turning Apple Watch Tough

News
One of the clever things that Apple did with the Apple Watch, is that it is quite easy to change the strap. What contributed to the success of Panerai in the late 1990's, now also works for Apple. Not only Apple itself, but also a lot of after market straps have hit the market. A lot of colors, textures and materials, but none like the Rhino Band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_cKy9oLw9U The Rhino band, basically turns your Apple Watch into a G-shock. All you have to do is remove the current strap from your Apple Watch and click it into the Rhino band. Of course it doesn't make the Apple Watch indestructible, but what it does add an extra layer of protection, much in the same way are the rubber bumper protects the…
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