swordsman

 Sometimes you need to continue a good thing. That was the case with the initially limited-edition Mr. Jones Watches “The Silent Thief,” which debuted in 2021 as a set of 100 pieces with a black-coated steel case. The artistic timepiece, with a dial designed by British artist Andy Wilx, proved too compelling, and the decision was made to bring back The Silent Thief watch as part of the core collection at Mr. Jones Watches. Of course, the non-limited production model has a few small differences, mainly in the form of cosmetic colors, that distinguish this model from the 2021 limited edition version. Watches like The Silent Thief are Mr. Jones Watches at its best. Founder Crispin Jones is an MFA-equipped artist and, likewise, has a tendency to hire fellow (mostly also UK-based) artists to contribute designs. That is the case with The Silent Thief, which, as I said earlier, has a dial designed by Andy Wilx. The dial motif in my opinion is quite stunning and takes an interesting approa...

Successful vintage-redo watches can be very satisfying to own and wear, even if I personally am getting a bit tired of the trend for luxury watch brands to focus mostly on the past as opposed to the future. I get the thinking, however, because often a novel design from a smaller brand can take years to gain popularity with audiences. When a brand comes out (again) with a classic, it is able to benefit from existing demand and appreciation for that style. And this is part of the larger context within which German Hanhart released this really satisfying 417 ES 1954 39mm-wide watch that I am reviewing for you today. Hanhart is one of the traditional German wristwatch makers that produced pilot watches and other timing instruments in the mid-20th century. From about 1954 to 1963, Hanhart produced the origin piece of this redo watch known simply as the 417. The original 417 watches are very rare but follow a common “Type XX” style dial design that has been popularized by a lot of different ...

 The latest collection of timepieces from Canada-based hand-painted dial specialist watchmaker Ematelier is a men’s-focused range known as “Elements.” The goal of the collection is to offer a platform for enthusiasts to order bespoke-made watch dials using a range of techniques that all fall under the larger category of “enamel dials.” Ematelier even produces a few serial-production Elements pieces with more basic, albeit still traditional enamel dials that start at just under $5,000 in price. What you see here is an example of a more complicated enamel dial technique that combines hand-enamel painting as well as a cloisonne construction. This Ematelier watch as configured costs about double the price of the entry-level Elements models, but is still an incredible value compared to what the same artistic dial would cost you from a traditional Swiss watchmaker. Hence the noteworthiness of this Ematelier Elements watch with the grand feu cloisonne enamel “earth map” dial is directly r...

 When was the last time you handled or even saw a watch that made you feel happy? What about one you thought was actually fun and looked good? Watches and watch enthusiasts often take things too seriously, which inevitably leads to what others have termed blanding: the copy-pasting of product design that leads to a flattened market segment saturated with sameness (How many white/black/orange GMTs have you seen?). Aren’t you tired of the seeing the same three or four diver designs over and over? The same chronograph design to the point where you have to wonder if the brands are using the same designer? Call me cynical, but when was the last time you saw a watch that wowed you because of how unique it was. That’s the reaction I had when I first saw the Sō Labs Layer Two watches. A bit of whimsy, repliki zegarków a bit of joy, a bit of happiness at what I saw as an almost entirely novel watch. Sō Labs is the sister brand of the Chicago-based microbrand Astor + Banks, which makes argu...

 Times change, styles change — nowhere is that old adage truer than in the watch world, where each year seems to bring a hot new color or style. Tiffany blue dials and integrated bracelet sports watches may be the trends du jour at the moment, but one trend that’s been building steam for the last several years is the reversion back to modestly sized watches. Sub-40mm dive watches, while a decade ago seemingly only available on the vintage market, have seen a huge resurgence in popularity. More options in watches and watch sizes is never a bad thing, but it raises the question: are oversized dive watches dead? Spending time with the Squale Matic has made it abundantly clear that the genre of large, replika órák overbuilt dive watches is still alive and well. With a charming vintage design steeped in diving history and a range of vibrant colorways, the Squale Matic is a fun and colorful diver and one that’s a pleasure to wear. Think back to the sun-bleached days of the 1960s and 70s...

 What happens when a world-renowned independent watchmaker known for creating watches with bold case designs and incredibly intricate dials decides to create a brand for the masses meant to be easily worn day in and day out? The answer is S.U.F Helsinki. Created by Stepan Sarpaneva, S.U.F Helsinki (short for SarpanevaUhrenFabrik) represents a major departure in terms of both style and price from Stepan Sarpaneva’s eponymous brand. Whereas Sarpaneva watches feature extensive hand-finishing and a nouveau-Gothic design language, watches under the S.U.F moniker, while still assembled in the same workshop, are typically much simpler and design, but all evoke the love of Sarpaneva’s Finnish homeland. In the case of the S.U.F Helsinki 180, reviewed here, the idea was to craft a classic field watch that was distinctly Finnish in its interpretation of the form. With a field watch, how much can you really do to create a watch that’s fresh and interesting within the austere constraints of the...

 Founded in 2006, Dievas is a German brand that specializes in highly capable, professional-grade timekeeping tools. The latest addition to Dievas’ lineup is the Maya MK III: the third generation of the brand’s no-compromises, hardened stainless steel dive watch. With that in mind, the Dievas Maya MK III is a notable departure from its two predecessors. Its case profile has been significantly reduced in order to create a much more versatile everyday wearing experience, while still offering users all of the obligatory professional dive watch features such as a helium escape valve and a downright excessive depth rating. Crafted from 316L stainless steel, the case of the Maya MK III is CNC machined in Germany before being hand-finished to remove tool marks, and then bead-blasted to give it a smooth matte appearance. The case then receives a dark-gray DLC finish that brings its surface hardness up to three to four times that of normal stainless steel, fake rolex while also further add...

 The Patek Philippe 5207P is a smart watch. To be clear, it’s not a smartwatch, but Patek Philippe’s 41mm platinum marvel is an extremely smart watch. It understands the Gregorian calendar better than you do. It can memorize the phases of the moon for 122 years. It’s clever enough to read and chime the time if you’re pressed for lighting. In addition, its caseback tourbillon regulator is smart enough to keep chronometer-grade tabs on the time. As with many standout intellects, the 5207P boasts a legacy of high achievers. 1993’s reference 5016 was the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to combine a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon, and a minute repeater. The 5016’s diminutive 36.5mm diameter marks that pioneer as a product of another era, but the precedent it set leads directly to the 5207 series. Baselworld 2008 was the overheated watch industry’s last outburst of 2000s exuberance. In that era of junk bonds and junk mortgages, watch size, complexity, and price were king. The Patek Phi...

 When it comes to the vast landscape of small-scale independent watch brands, not all options are created equal. Making a watch and making a good watch are two very different things, and while there are plenty of brands that really aren’t worth anyone’s time or money, some companies like Zelos offer some of the best bang for your buck when it comes to watches that can be purchased brand-new for under a thousand dollars. Founded in 2014 by Elshan Tang, who is a lifelong watch collector and enthusiast, Zelos has a strong following of dedicated fans, and it is one of those brands that you frequently see within the collections of those who own multiple watches that each cost thousands of dollars. Launched earlier this year in 2022, the Zelos Spearfish 40mm Diver builds upon the core design of the brand’s popular Swordfish dive watch with a more refined profile and a hardened stainless steel case and bracelet, plus a self-winding movement made by La Joux-Perret. Available with a handful...

 Since 1986, Swiss Mondaine has been producing wristwatch versions of the distinctive clock face design that you can find represented in each SBB (state railway) station in Switzerland. These “Swiss railways” watches are easily the most popular product produced by Mondaine, and the global popularity of these Bauhaus-style timepieces has made Mondaine a serious force to be reckoned with. Now, the group includes the Mondaine brand, as well as Luminox. Today, I want to look at a brand-new wall clock released by Mondaine, along with two of its more recent SBB Swiss Railways wristwatches in the brand’s “Classic Collection.” The clock is the bigger story because it brings the look and feel of the railway station into your home or office. While I know that most people don’t want to think of a railway station in their home or office, Switzerland’s train stations are a different story. Not only are they clean and safe, but Swiss trains also have a deserved reputation for being among the mos...

 The last few years have seen a huge groundswell of interest in watches from both newcomers to the industry and long-time enthusiasts, especially in the form of splashy modern watches made famous by tidal waves of social media content. One byproduct of this increased attention has seen those interested consumers eventually embark upon a deep dive into the heritage of the brands they’ve discovered, or rediscovered. Though perhaps cloaked in the background, wonderful vintage watches have remained consistently present, a steady contrast to the ups and downs of pandemic-era hyped pieces and brands. While those over-discussed modern watches have recently begun losing some favor with the general public, the vintage side of things has continued to reveal its strength, even gaining steam as more lights have been shined on marvels from the past that will never be manufactured again. What has surprised some of the new explorers is that not all brands are happy to be celebrating their patrimo...

 It seems as if Top Gun, that testosterone fuelled action-adventure movie franchise which gave Tom Cruise his seminal role as adrenaline-junkie fighter pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell has given the 60-year-old actor a taste for aviation watches. Eagled-eyed watch fanatics might have noticed that Cruise has been showing off a new timepiece from his extensive watch collection recently, which already boasts action-hero worthy timepieces and tool-watches such as the Breitling Chronomat (the grail of aviation horology) and the adventure-proof Panerai Luminor. fake watches uk This new bit of arm candy? The Rolex Sky Dweller. It was the buzz of the watch industry when it was first shown in 2012, hailed as one of the most complicated watches that Rolex has ever made. Why? The stainless steel, black dialled, timepiece has a unique approach to telling the time unlike any of the other watches the brand produces. See, the dial of the sky-dweller indicates local time via the centre hands and 3 ...

 There are many rivalries between top Premier League managers this season. Will Pep Guardiola have the tactical edge over Erik ten Hag? Can Mikel Arteta finally overcome Jurgen Klopp? How will Frank Lampard far against David Moyes? Only time – and a few football matches – will tell. When it comes to the far more important matter of watches, however, we don't need to wait to know who among the top flight gaffers is on top.   A quality piece of wrist candy is a vital component of the ongoing style evolution taking place in dugouts of English football – see Pep’s fine-gauge sweaters, Arteta's growing confidence in tonal tailoring, Klopp's strong cap game, Frank Lampard’s Thom Sweeney suits – with a high-end Swiss timepiece now an essential part of the modern football manager’s touchline uniform. And while some of the watches you’ll clock in press conferences and studio appearances owe their presence to brand partnerships (looking at you, Hublot) other managers are demonstrat...

 For a quiet summer week, there has been a lot to see on the wrists of celebs, whether it's Ryan Reynolds and Idris Elba getting papped while out in carefully curated too-casual fits or off-duty F1 stars having a good time. And we start with a surprising musical number from everyone's favourite Billions star strumming his guitar… Who knew Damien Lewis could strum that six-string with such passion? While unveiling his debut solo album at Wilderness festival in the Cotswolds countryside, his wristwear was a studied vintage choice of our dreams. It’s an interesting sign of our times when the only Rolex in this story is a vintage Air-King ref.14000. With its 34mm diameter and timeless cool, replica uhren the understated Rollie matched Lewis’s intimate songs to a tee, and we’re off to pre-order a Spotify download. Gucci would struggle to find a stronger ambassador than The Idris, and he is rocking the sleek new 38mm 25H watch while cruising through Manhattan to prove the point. Its...