Posts

Fall Watch Rotation

The seasons dictate my watch choices more than I’d like to admit.

Summer was all about the Veles and dive watches. Casual straps, bright dials, pieces that could handle sweat and water.

Omega Updates the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon for 2025

The Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon gets a refresh. Ceramic everything, updated movement, refined details.

The Changes

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The new DSOTM keeps the 44.25mm black ceramic case that defined the original. But the internal movement has been upgraded to the Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 3861 - same as the current Moonwatch Professional.

You Don't Need a DSLR to Photograph Watches

People ask about my watch photos. What camera do I use? What lighting setup?

The answer disappoints them: a phone and a window.

Natural light does 90% of the work. Position the watch near a window on an overcast day. The diffused light minimizes reflections on the crystal and brings out dial texture.

Citizen Promaster Aqualand Returns - 40 Years of Depth Sensors

The Citizen Aqualand is back. And for once, a 40th anniversary edition actually matters.

Why This Matters

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In 1985, Citizen released the original Aqualand - the world’s first watch with an electronic depth sensor. While other brands were making analog dive watches with rotating bezels, Citizen built something that could actually tell you how deep you were.

Saw Three Speedmasters Today

Record broken. Three Omega Speedmasters spotted in one day, all on different wrists, none at a watch event.

First one: Hesalite Professional on a guy getting coffee. Worn bracelet, scratched crystal, clearly loved. We nodded at each other.

Vintage Watch Prices Have Lost All Connection to Reality

I’ve been watching the vintage watch market for 15 years. What’s happening now makes no sense.

The Numbers

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A beat-up Rolex 1016 Explorer that sold for €4,000 in 2015 now commands €25,000+. Same watch. Same condition. Different decade.

The Servicing Dilemma Nobody Talks About

Got a quote today for servicing my vintage Omega. €450. The watch cost me €600 five years ago.

This is the hidden cost of mechanical watches that gets glossed over in every “value proposition” article.

What I'm Wearing on Holiday This Summer

Two weeks in Greece. One watch decision.

Normally I’d agonize over this. Bring the nice one and risk damage? Bring the beater and feel like I’m missing out? The eternal collector’s dilemma.

Tudor Black Bay 58 Burgundy: Finally Got Hands On It

Three months after the Watches and Wonders announcement, I finally handled the Black Bay 58 Burgundy at my local AD. First impressions matter, and this one impressed.

The Color

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Photos don’t capture it. The bezel insert shifts from deep wine to almost brown depending on lighting. In direct sunlight, there’s warmth. Indoors under artificial light, it goes darker.

Seiko Speedtimer Tokyo Athletics 2025 - Official Timekeeper Edition

Seiko has been timing world athletics events since 1964. For the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, they’re releasing a limited edition Speedtimer that actually looks worth buying.

The Watch

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The Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph in blue and gold colorway. The blue references the Tokyo skyline at dusk. The gold accents celebrate the championship medals.

Perun Veles Review: Why I'm Obsessed With This Croatian Watch

I rarely get excited about new watch brands. The market is flooded with Kickstarter projects that promise the moon and deliver mediocrity. Another microbrand with a Miyota movement and generic case? Hard pass.

Grand Seiko UFA: The Most Accurate Mechanical Watch Movement Ever

Grand Seiko just claimed the accuracy crown. The new UFA (Ultra-Fine Accuracy) movement achieves ±20 seconds per year. Not per month. Per year.

That’s staggering for any watch using a mainspring.