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17Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

TIMe22 Robusto: Gain Without Pain

News

First impressions are always important, yet then can be very deceptive. Like when I first saw the TIMe22 Robusto. The affordable watch world has its fair share of heavyweight champions, but I thought that we found a new one in this watch. One that actually would send me to the gym before I could even consider wearing one. Fortunately, I was wrong. The Robusto is big (45mm) and blunt in its design. It is an imposing watch, that turns out to be a gentle giant. Crafted from grade 5 titanium, which is also used to make airplane parts and surgical implants from, the watch is not nearly as heavy as its looks. With a weight of 130 grams, it weighs about the same as the much smaller, steel Omega Seamaster…

13Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

The Open And Closing Doors In The Watch World

Opinion

There is no doubt that the watch world as we know and love it, is in great distress. In true Swiss fashion, this is not being discussed much, probably afraid to make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fact of the matter is that we are already there. This became very publicly clear last week when quartz movement manufacture ISASWISS announced that it would close its doors. Next to this company, many other smaller suppliers closed their doors as well. [caption id="attachment_1922" align="aligncenter" width="900"] In a sad turn of events, ISASWISS is closing its doors[/caption] This is not only hurting the Swiss watch industry, but also the existing micro brands. Although the Swiss watch industry has for sure become more open to new entrepreneurs who want to start a watch brand,…

03Oct 2016 by Martin Green 6 Comments

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…

02Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

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…

29Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

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…

25Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

The Revival Of Swiss Mechanical Watch Brand Votum

News

When you want to start a watch brand there are two roads that you can take: you can start from scratch, or find a historic brand that is available. That is the route Votum took, and although they start from scratch as well, they have the brands history as inspiration. [caption id="attachment_1791" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Vintage Votum Divimat[/caption] The original Votum did not make it past adolescence. It was founded in 1962, but did not survive the quartz crisis of the 1970's. However, in that short period of time, it did create watches impressive enough to make an impression on Rolf Bodmer, a designer and graphic artist from Zurich, and François Zahnd, a watch manufacturer and industry expert from Biel. The combined forces and revived Votum. I would have said to its…

21Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

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"…

02Sep 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment

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…

29Août 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment

Seven Tips For Starting Micro-Brands

Opinion

Every week several new watches are launched on crowd funding websites. Often they are being introduced by a micro-brand that is less then a year old, and this is probably their first product. When you have already started your journey as a micro-brand owner, good for you, for people looking to start, here are a few tips: 1. You are not alone!! The world is not waiting for your watch, in fact, we don't even need your watch! You are going to create something that will enter a market place that already has too many offerings, and that market place is even a shrinking as we speak! Sounds mean? Yes, but it is absolutely vital that you realize this before you start. This is as much a challenge, as it…

19Août 2016 by Martin Green No Comments

The Importance Of The New Swatch Sistem51

News, Opinion

Swatch is one of those brands that seems to deliver when its parent company is struggling with difficult markets for its more high end brands. Unfortunately that time is also now, and that is why the latest addition to the Swatch line-up, the Sistem51 Irony, is probably more important than most people realize. The Sistem51 in steel is basically a watch many of us have been waiting for. Thanks to the very innovative movement, this is a Swatch that not only appeals to the brands regular consumer pool, but also to watch collectors who usually buy more upscale brands. People that normally wear an Omega, Tudor or Bell & Ross around the wrist, have often a hard time getting used to the feel of plastic on the wrist, so the…

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