18Oct 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment
Retrospect Review: Don Kylne Chaplin

Retrospect Review: Don Kylne Chaplin

News
Sometimes it is good to let things sink in a bit and then look over them again. We already reported on the Chaplin when it was launched, about a year ago. In that past year not only many people received their Chaplin, but also a lot of new brands and models were launched. Did the Don Kylne Chaplin hold its ground?   The cushion shaped case still remains attractive. With all the new micro brands out there I am still surprised how few of them actually utilize this beautiful case shape. The relatively small lugs add a nice vintage detail to the watch, as do the screws. The best part is that they not only look good, but they are actually fully functional.   My favorite part of the watch…
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17Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
TIMe22 Robusto: Gain Without Pain

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…
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16Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Defakto Goes For Purity With New Dialog

Defakto Goes For Purity With New Dialog

News
Defakto has always been a brand that believed that less was more. It challenged itself on how to be creative by using only as fewer lines as possible, not only when it came to their case designs, but also their dials. Now they have added another dimension to this with their new watch, named Dialog. With this watch, Defakto also applies the less is more philosophy on the price of their watch. Now, Defakto has always offered value for money watches, and of all their watches that I reviewed, I never felt that they were even the slightest inflated. With a price tag of 210,08 euros (without VAT) the Dialog is the least expensive of all Defakto models, yet it still offers all the characteristics. The Dialog is available with…
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13Oct 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
The Open And Closing Doors In The Watch World

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,…
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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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11Oct 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment
1291 Swiss Mountain Trooper: Ready For Anything

1291 Swiss Mountain Trooper: Ready For Anything

News
A helicopter flies over the Swiss alps, landing just long enough to deploy a team of the Swiss army mountain infantry, who take immediately defensive positions. In a scenario like this, it is not difficult to imagine these soldiers would be wearing a Swiss Mountain Trooper made by 1291. Although 1291 is not the official supplier of watches to the Swiss Army, a soldier or officer might opt to one as their personal watch. Considered a micro-brand, 1291 is as Swiss as any of the big name brands. It prides itself on being designed, manufactured and assembled in Switzerland, and its name is a direct reference to the year Switzerland was founded as a country. Technically we would consider the Swiss Mountain Trooper a military watch, but its characteristics make…
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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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05Oct 2016 by Martin Green 2 Comments
MEW Hydroforce X1: A Nautical Beast

MEW Hydroforce X1: A Nautical Beast

News
There is not a shortage for divers watches in today's market. They are the favorite watches of many collectors, even those that hate to get wet. In fact, the market for divers watches is so large, that it even allows for very specific niches within the theme. The MEW Hydroforce X1 is not only a beast of a watch but also filling in one of those niches. What niche that is? The one for people who enjoy a unique divers watch, that might not be recognized by random people on the street, but that is crafted with care in very limited quantities. Those people will be very pleased with what the Hydroforce X1 has to offer. Apart from its cool name of course, which for some reason made me think…
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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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