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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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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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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Hamilton’s New Broadway Collection Hits The Stores

Hamilton’s New Broadway Collection Hits The Stores

News
Already announced at Baselworld, but now the new Hamilton Broadway collection is in the stores. One of the things that I personally like much about the brand is that fun and affordable go hand in hand, while you still get a build quality you expect from a Swiss made watch. A Hamilton rarely disappoint at its price level. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHeRNIJETwU The Broadway is no difference. The collection starts with a 40mm quartz powered day-date, priced at CHF 550,-. A nice watch that based on its size I would deem uni-sex, yet the day-date takes the design of the watch a bit off-balance. It is placed very clearly legible at three o'clock, but by doing so it also cuts into the stunning dial that all the Broadway models share. [caption id="attachment_1757" align="aligncenter"…
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Latest Issue Watchisthis?! Magazine Out Now!

Latest Issue Watchisthis?! Magazine Out Now!

Magazine, News
Nothing gives us at Watchisthis?! more pleasure than the launch of a new issue of our magazine! With this issue we continue to explore the world of affordable watches for you, and uncover creative new micro-brands, as well as speak with the CEO's of the leading brands. [caption id="attachment_1679" align="aligncenter" width="900"] TAG-Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver[/caption] We talked with marketing-legend, and current TAG-Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver about the brand and smart-watches. We also talked with Jin Nonogami, who founded the innovate smart-watch brand Veldt Watches. Their insights contribute greatly to a better understanding of the way the market is changing! [caption id="attachment_1680" align="aligncenter" width="900"] The Porthole by Pheidippides watches[/caption] In this issue also a lot of micro-brands, from the very creative Pheidippides, the bronze cases of Regia, the unusual regulator of…
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Moonphase And Manufacture: Frederique Constant’s Latest

Moonphase And Manufacture: Frederique Constant’s Latest

News
Yes, the only new thing on the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture is the dial. So why do we still feature it on Wathisthis?! Because it is the perfect example of how important such details are, and the impact that they have on the overall look. Yes it can even change the experience you have with a watch! Now, the Frederique Constant Moonphase Manufacture is already not a shabby watch to begin with. The word manufacture in its name already says it all. The automatic caliber that powers the watch, FC-705, is made completely in-house by Frederique Constant. At this price point, quite unique, especially since they didn't stop there. The FC-705 is cleverly designed and features for example a full bridge over the balance wheel for the best stability.…
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The Rado Ceramica Reborn (with interview designer)

The Rado Ceramica Reborn (with interview designer)

News
The Ceramica has always been an important watch for Rado. But even, or maybe especially, these watches need a refresher every once in a while. Rado trusted this to the capable hands of Konstantin Grcic, an industrial designer best known for his Chair_One design. The biggest change Grcic made on the new Ceramica was the use of matted High-Tech ceramics. It does indeed give the men's model a completely different look and feel, not to mention make it look far more masculine. Of the two models, the signature model is limited to 700 pieces, plus one for Grcic himself. Here the typography is making a difference. Grcic says that he was inspired by aviation watches, when he designed the dial. We can most certainly see that, and although it suits…
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Getting Creative With Vario Straps

Getting Creative With Vario Straps

News
Straps are such an essential part of the way you experience a watch. Over the last decade or two, switching out straps on a watch to change its look, or to match an outfit, mood or season, has become a staple. There are now many straps out there that make straps to especially do that, and one of them is Vario. Vario is the brainchild of Ivan Chua, a graphic designer from Singapore. He was bored with the plain looks of the ever popular NATO-straps and wanted to do something different. So expect straps featuring chevron's, plaids and even macaron's as decorations. We tested the Camo Green Nato strap on a Valachio. One of the first things you notice is that the weaving of the strap feels much finer then…
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Apple Is About To Launch The Apple Watch 2

Apple Is About To Launch The Apple Watch 2

News
The Apple watch is in trouble. Not that it is a bad product, but apparently it simply doesn't sell in the volumes that Apple was hoping for, or perhaps has gotten used to. The competition is fierce, and many are undercutting Apple's prices, like the Ticwatch 2 for example, while offering comparable or even better functions, leaving Apple in the dust. There are strong rumors that Apple will announce the Apple Watch II on September 7th, when they have scheduled another special event, which will be streamed world wide, and Apple is known to seize these opportunities to launch new products....like the Apple Watch 2. Of course it is very unlikely that Apple will wipe the slate clean. The design by Marc Newson is still very good, although the rest…
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Why Fake Watches Are For Losers

Why Fake Watches Are For Losers

Opinion
Who do you respect more? Someone with a Seiko 5 or someone with a fake Rolex? Perhaps a silly question, but think about it. Many will probably respect the person with the Rolex more, until they found out that its a fake. I am convinced that for many people who buy fake watches, this is exactly the reason why they do it. To gain respect based on something that is not real, and that is the hallmark of a loser. [caption id="attachment_1528" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie has been battling fake watches for years[/caption] Why? Well, first of all when people need to respect you based on the watch you wear, you must have a horrible personality! People that wear fake watches, say that they don't wear…
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