Tissot Heritage 1936 Mechanical: Affordable Vintage Homage

Tissot Heritage 1936 Mechanical: Affordable Vintage Homage

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Tissot has a long-standing tradition of offering affordable, value for money watches. They combine this with a very long and rich history. The result are watches like the Heritage 1936, a mechanical watch made with modern technology yet containing an old soul. The 1930's was a time when people finally made the full transition from pocket watch to a wristwatch. The designs still had strong ties with the pocket watch, often with slim wire lugs mounted on the cases to accommodate the straps. This is exactly what Tissot has done as well for the 1936. It makes the watch look period correct, but don't expect a spring bar hidden under the strap, because this Tissot has fixed bars! Based on a pocket watch also means that the 1936 is a…
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Matrix Powerwatch: Powered By Bodyheat

Matrix Powerwatch: Powered By Bodyheat

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It has been a modest holy grail in the world of quartz watches: a watch that is powered by your body heat. Bulova tried it with the Thermatron, later on, Seiko did it, but it was never successful. Now Matrix tries it once more with their Powerwatch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=q-fVyZSZxIw Unlike the Bulova or the Seiko, is the Matrix not a regular quartz watch, but a smart watch. The biggest issue today with smart watches, almost all smart watches, is the lack of sufficient battery power. Most require charging every two days, some even daily. When the watch is actually charged by simply wearing it, you could technically go on indefinitely, as long as you continued to wear the watch on a regular basis, and of course, continue to create body heat.…
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A Historic Offer: Rpaige Skyscraper Watch

A Historic Offer: Rpaige Skyscraper Watch

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When Rpaige Watch Co. launched its "Crash of '29" model on Kickstarter, a lot of mouths fell open. Yes, the “12 Size” vintage American pocket watch movement was a delight by itself, but wrapped in that uniquely designed case by Mark Carson propelled it into a higher stratosphere. Unfortunately for many the price-tag of $3.500,- was just a bridge too far. Hear, hear, said Rpaige, and he joined once again his forces with Mark Carson, for a more affordable variety of the "Crash of '29", the Skyscraper Art Deco Watch. What you get is the same iconic case, yet with a slightly different dial. That case is nothing less than a piece of functional Art Deco design, with its trapezoidal design and the crown on top. The case is large, 46.7 mm…
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New Gavox In The Works

New Gavox In The Works

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It is not often that we discuss a watch here at Watchisthis?! based on renders. But when there is a rule, there is usually also an exception. This time this exception is named Gavox. As some might know, Gavox is a micro brand based in Belgium. What makes this brand special is that they have a unique way of looking at watches. In the latest issue of Watchisthis?! Magazine, we reviewed the Avidiver. This watch is a cleverly executed combination of a diver and an aviation watch in one. The same can be said of the new watch, which remains nameless. Not many details are known yet about this watch, but it will feature an automatic movement with a power reserve complication which will be displayed prominently on the dial.…
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Lum-Tec Combat Predator: A Russian Limited Edition

Lum-Tec Combat Predator: A Russian Limited Edition

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Limited editions are usually desirable, especially when they are made in real low numbers. For that you don't have to buy a Patek Philippe, also more affordable brands are doing it. Like the Combat Predator that Lum-tec made for their Russian dealer, YSHIO.RU. The Combat Predator is the basic 43mm model, with the distinct bezel. Although the Combat collection is inspired by the military, the Predator has nothing to do with the combat drone that bears the same name or any other military machine. It is a reference to the imaginary alien species from the movie that bears the same name. You can find an image of them engraved on the case back. That case back might be cool, but it is the dial that is the real eye catcher.…
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FreakishWATCH!: Get Your Freak On!

FreakishWATCH!: Get Your Freak On!

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Clever design meets elegant execution. Unlike its name might indicate, the FreakishWATCH is elegant and sophisticated, and far from a freak. In fact, it is one of those watches that makes you wonder what they were thinking when they made up the name. Fortunately, are names easily forgotten (especially when they are not engraved in the case or printed on the dial) and the design stays. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1220569765/freakishwatch The design is for sure the strong suit of this watch. The way it displays time is somewhat reminiscent of the MOTION I wrote about earlier. A disc covers most of the dial and shows only the hour that it is. The minutes are shown by a regular hand. It works quite nicely and looks great. When it is the full hour, the…
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FEMÛR TRIQ: The Digital Triangle

FEMÛR TRIQ: The Digital Triangle

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Digital watches still have a special appeal to them. Ever since they were introduced in the 1970's, they were here to stay. But the digital watches of today have very little in common with the digital watches of yesteryear. That is why the Triq by Femur is so interesting. The Triq is a triangle shaped watch; that seems to have two identical sides. However, one side has a heat reactive surface, and the other side shows the time. A simple tap with the finger gets the job done, and the time is displayed in bright, big dots. It reminds of the old digital watches, yet with a refreshing and modern twist. Those watches you also had to activate to see the time, to prevent excess battery drain, although back then…
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Meshable 003: Well Balanced, Even Better Cased

Meshable 003: Well Balanced, Even Better Cased

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Some brands, even when they are a micro brand, just get it, and Meshable just proved with the 003 that they are among them. Kickstarter has been flooded lately with watches that are being sold under the term of being "minimalist" while in fact, they seemed to be ordered straight from Alibaba in bulk. The cool thing about Meshable is that they don't even use the word "minimalist" or anything related, while they can make a very viable claim to it. https://vimeo.com/181913052 For the 003 they put exactly the focus where it needed to be: the case. The way the bezel curves to the sapphire crystal, the shape of the lugs, and even the case back are all testimony to the fact that this was a labor of love. The…
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Movado Make The Museum Watch Ultra Slim

Movado Make The Museum Watch Ultra Slim

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The Museum Watch by Movado is one of those watches that hardly needs an introduction. Even since Nathan George Horwitt designed the watch almost seven decades ago, it has been one of those design that was simply there to stay. This is also thanks to Movado's continues efforts into keeping the classic up to date. They do this by exploring how far they can take the design, or meet market demand by changing the specifications of the watch. And now they do it by making the Museum Watch ultra slim! It is important to know that the Museum Watch has quite a few fans outside the usual realm of watch connoisseurs and collectors. Just as many Rolex and Rado owners, for example, are people who just want a great watch…
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Humbert-Droz, The Archetype of French know-how

Humbert-Droz, The Archetype of French know-how

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When shopping for a watch, many of us will praise the Swiss products, but if you want to be different, you might want to go the French way! Taking advantage of this opportunity, the French manufacture Reparalux created its own brand: Humbert-Droz. Reparalux was established by Marcel Humbert-Droz in Besançon, the heart of French watchmaking, 60 years ago. The core business of the company lies in repairing and assembling watches for prestigious watchmakers. 
Today, three generations work in the business, and they have created their first watch, the HD1. The latest has been totally created in Besançon, by great-grandson Julien, graduated from Métiers d’Arts and manager of the workshop since 2013. With a diameter of 41mm, bold numerals, large hands and an oversized crown protection, it is a substantial watch.…
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