15Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Alpina Introduces Alpiner GMT Business Timer

Alpina Introduces Alpiner GMT Business Timer

News
GMT watches are a Watchisthis?! favorite, so when Alpina announced the Alpiner GMT Business Timer this got our attention. Now, the Alpiner GMT already exists. It is part of Alpina's "4" collection. The principles of this collection date back to 1938 when Alpina founder Gottlieb Hauser introduced the first "Alpina 4". In order to handle the extreme conditions of all the Alpine sports, from high altitude mountain climbing to alpine lake diving, he set out four criteria to which all his watches needed to stand up to: Anti-shock Water-resistant Anti-magnetic Stainless steel The Alpined GMT meets them all, but is especially handy when you travel with the watch. Alpina redesigned the 24-hour ring, and indicated standard business hours on it in red. This makes it that when ever you are…
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14Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Valachio Takes The Next Step With The Avantiam

Valachio Takes The Next Step With The Avantiam

News
After celebrating his big success with the Pantiam Jack Zhang was ready for the next step and took it with the Avantiam. Another tier up on the watchmaking pyramid, the Avantiam has some design clues of the Pantiam, but is mostly a fresh and new design. With the open heart movement and dial, it is hard to miss that this Valachio runs on an automatic movement. In fact it is Miyota's caliber 90S5, which features hacking seconds as well as manual winding. Where the dial on the Pantiam was very minimalist, the Avantiam features a Bauhaus inspired design. There are two versions: a rose gold plated case with a white dial and red seconds hand and uneven hour markers. The other one is a black dialed version, fitted in a…
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13Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Meet The New TAG-Heuer Link Ladies

Meet The New TAG-Heuer Link Ladies

News
The Link has become one of TAG-Heuer's iconic designs that even seduced Jason Bourne. On an everlasting quest to stay current the brand introduces the new Link Ladies.   It is actually hard to believe that the Link-collection was first introduced in 1987! That makes it almost three decades old, yet regular updates have kept the model still fresh. The new TAG-Heuer Link Ladies is no difference. It's design has been made a bit more abstract, and more in-line with the men's model. The design definitely very strong! It is very fresh and current, yet you still recognize the original link in the design. The case is 32mm which is a very nice size, and adds to the versatility of the watch. It can be comfortably worn on a daily…
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11Sep 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment
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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08Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Apple Watch Series 2: We Told You So!

Apple Watch Series 2: We Told You So!

News
Today Apple held one of their famous press conferences. While most attention was focused on the new iPhone 7, Apple also announced the Apple Watch Series 2. Many of the predictions I made earlier actually came true! The Apple Watch Series 2 comes with GPS, and is water-resistant to 50 meters. Its packed now with a dual core, and the display can set twice as bright as the previous version. And of course it will be fitter with watchOS3, but when you have an "old" Apple watch you will get that too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2_O6M1m6xg Are these updates enough to let the Apple watch stand out? Regain market, or even maintain their current position? That is all to be seen, because the battle for the  smartwatch consumer is really heating up! Samsung…
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07Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
Anticipating The Gruman Sputnik

Anticipating The Gruman Sputnik

News
One of the watches I am really looking forward to be launched is the Gruman Sputnik. The watch is actually inspired by Russian Special Forces and spy agencies. No wonder that the watch has a generous doses of Bond (or actually his literary opponents) in its genes, and is not afraid to show it! Although clearly a sports watch, the good people at Gruman fortunately restrained themselves in terms of diameters. Bigger is not always better, but a 42mm diameter for a watch like this is near perfect for most people. Also the height of 13mm makes it that the watch can still be a comfortable choice for us civilians! The Sputnik comes as two different models: a time-only and a GMT-version, both available in four different color scheme's. Both…
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06Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
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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05Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
SaStek Time Speed Indicator: Ready For Take-Off

SaStek Time Speed Indicator: Ready For Take-Off

News
With the entry barriers to start your own watch brand at a historic low, many new brands pop up. One of the great things is that this has enabled many creative people to finally realize their vision, and one of them is Saket Sharma. His brand SaStek just released its very first model on Kickstarter, the Time Speed Indicator, for which he reinvented the classic aviation watch!   That is quite a task, but SaStek really succeeded in it by thinking outside the box. The Time Speed Indicator features a regular dial, but this only houses the hour hand which seems to float over a ring marking the hours and stamped with a circular guilloche motive. The center of the dial is covered, with a cut out for the running…
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02Sep 2016 by Martin Green 1 Comment
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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01Sep 2016 by Martin Green No Comments
The Patina Project With Regia Timepieces: Episode II

The Patina Project With Regia Timepieces: Episode II

Projects
A couple of weeks ago we started our Patina Project with a Regia Skull Dial watch crafted from brass. It has proved to be a loyal companion, comfortable on the wrist and reliable in its timekeeping. But how about the brass case? Because this material is influenced by the atmospheric environment you use it in, not two Regia Skull Dial watches will turn out to look the same. In Dubai or Singapore the brass will most likely discolor and tarnish in a different way then here in North America. When I started the Patina Project, the Regia Skull Dial was pristine, as you can see in the previous article. Now there are a few subtle differences. The watch has lost its polished luster and now has more of a bushed…
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