THE HOME OF WATCH CULTURE

Club

Opinion

EDITOR’S PICK: We covered rockstars last week, but let’s revisit rappers…
Opinion
i/trending 12451

EDITOR’S PICK: We covered rockstars last week, but let’s revisit rappers…

We recently published a trilogy of stories as part of our Rockstars Rocking Vintage series and it got us thinking … but what about rappers?…
#shitcollectorssay Reader’s Choice: These are the three phrases you don’t want watch media to misuse anymore
Opinion
i/trending 22830

#shitcollectorssay Reader’s Choice: These are the three phrases you don’t want watch media to misuse anymore

Earlier this week, we shared our thoughts on phrases we are completely guilty of using at times, but wondered if it would be best to…
“I spat out my drink” – Zach’s honest reactions to 3 GPHG 2020 winners that make no sense
Opinion
i/trending 27915

“I spat out my drink” – Zach’s honest reactions to 3 GPHG 2020 winners that make no sense

As with any awards show, there can be a discrepancy between which watches fans think should have won and the watches that actually win. And…
Peter calls his Tudor Iconaut “weird” and “odd-looking” with looks “only a mother could love”. So, why did he buy it?
Opinion
i/trending 24565

Peter calls his Tudor Iconaut “weird” and “odd-looking” with looks “only a mother could love”. So, why did he buy it?

Editor’s note: Ask most watch enthusiasts what Tudor’s first GMT wristwatch was and they’ll tell you it’s the perpetually popular Black Bay GMT aka “The…
Phillips auction battle of Swiss vs. Japanese handmade haute horology – which is better value?
News
i/trending 25333

Phillips auction battle of Swiss vs. Japanese handmade haute horology – which is better value?

Last night saw the Phillips’ and Blackbird thematic auction Retrospective: 2000 – 2020 play out, with some truly incredible watches reaching truly incredible prices. Two…
Cut costs, not quality: 5 superb Rolex Explorer alternatives, including Grand Seiko, Tudor and more
Lists
i/trending 42870

Cut costs, not quality: 5 superb Rolex Explorer alternatives, including Grand Seiko, Tudor and more

I’m not alone in considering the Rolex Explorer one of the best examples of clean, sharp, monochromatic watches out there. But it’s fair to ask…
#shitcollectorssay: Dear everyone, please stop saying these six phrases. Thanks in advance.
Opinion
i/trending 21817

#shitcollectorssay: Dear everyone, please stop saying these six phrases. Thanks in advance.

Editor’s note: Andrew here. And of course I’m chiming in because I’m nervous. Which is a polite word for the Australian equivalent: shitscared. For example,…
10 of the best sports watches of 2020 under $10K, including Seiko, Longines and Bulgari
Lists
i/trending 13445

10 of the best sports watches of 2020 under $10K, including Seiko, Longines and Bulgari

Sports watches have established themselves as the most sought-after and worn watches in the world. With a greater emphasis on outdoor activity and physical health,…
NOT ON MY WATCH: For the love of Mary, make watches small again. All the reasons I hate big watches…
Opinion
i/trending 20694

NOT ON MY WATCH: For the love of Mary, make watches small again. All the reasons I hate big watches…

As times change, the perception of the perfect fit evolves. When wristwatches were created, they were lauded for finally miniaturising the timepiece and making it…
You voted on your favourite Fantasy Watch Collection 10K and the winner is…
Opinion
i/trending 22923

You voted on your favourite Fantasy Watch Collection 10K and the winner is…

The people have spoken, and it is clear that within the Fantasy Watch Collection 10K I was the people’s champion. I take great pride in…
Patek Philippe online sales have not kicked in the crisis, and 3 other key takeaways from Eric Ku’s lecture for the HSNY
News
i/trending 13916

Patek Philippe online sales have not kicked in the crisis, and 3 other key takeaways from Eric Ku’s lecture for the HSNY

With the ongoing pandemic, everything and everyone has had to adopt new means and methods of connecting and gathering. Each month the Horological Society of…
The Seiko Prospex SLA043J1 is the less expensive version of the $10k Seiko Prospex SLA037J1
Opinion
i/trending 27813

The Seiko Prospex SLA043J1 is the less expensive version of the $10k Seiko Prospex SLA037J1

For us, there was only one effective way to rate and review the luxurious Seiko Challenger diver, the $9995AUD Seiko Prospex SLA037J1, a re-creation of…
“The grey market is a creation of the brands, and they need to address it.” The virtual Horology Forum 2020, brought to you by Dubai Watch Week, kicks off with a bang
News
i/trending 15036

“The grey market is a creation of the brands, and they need to address it.” The virtual Horology Forum 2020, brought to you by Dubai Watch Week, kicks off with a bang

It feels like a lifetime ago that I was heading home from the DOXA Australia Launch Event to pack my bags for Dubai Watch Week 2019.…
If you missed out on the Sydney-based WatchFest 2020, prepare for SOMO (the Sadness Of Missing Out)
News
i/trending 17647

If you missed out on the Sydney-based WatchFest 2020, prepare for SOMO (the Sadness Of Missing Out)

Against all odds. That was spirit of the conversation I had with Paxton Wong a couple of weeks ago, when we were discussing what he…
“We thought the world needed a luxury Swatch watch.” Explosive Jean-Claude Biver interview tells the Hublot story like never before
News
i/trending 14561

“We thought the world needed a luxury Swatch watch.” Explosive Jean-Claude Biver interview tells the Hublot story like never before

Jean-Claude Biver and his team bought Hublot 24 years ago. At that time it was a tiny brand, big in Spain, but netting $24-million. But…
Why is the Rolex Explorer II Ref. 216570 the Luke Hemsworth in the Professional family?
Opinion
i/trending 24202

Why is the Rolex Explorer II Ref. 216570 the Luke Hemsworth in the Professional family?

Editor’s note: Right off the bat, let us confirm that Luke Hemsworth is in fact, a legend. Westworld Season 1 is among the best single series…
8 affordable watches under $1000 that get the nod from watch snobs: 2020 Edition
Lists
i/trending 26617

8 affordable watches under $1000 that get the nod from watch snobs: 2020 Edition

At first glance, many assume that in order to get your feet wet in the horology hobby you have to shell out thousands and thousands…
2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 3 – What would we buy with a budget of $1MUSD?
Opinion
i/trending 25929

2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 3 – What would we buy with a budget of $1MUSD?

If you’ve got $1mUSD to build a watch collection in 2020, you’re used to the finer things in life. But what would you do if…
2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 2 – What watches would we buy with a budget of $10,000 USD?
Opinion
i/trending 24440

2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 2 – What watches would we buy with a budget of $10,000 USD?

Like we said in the previous instalment, 2020 has been so bad that fantasy is often all we’ve had left. Fantasies of leaving our houses…
2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 1 – What watches would we buy with a budget of $5000 USD?
Opinion
i/trending 23664

2020 FANTASY WATCH COLLECTION PART 1 – What watches would we buy with a budget of $5000 USD?

I can’t remember the last time we conducted a Fantasy Watch Collection poll at Time+Tide. But I’ve noticed something in 2020 amongst the team. With…
3 reasons why Rolex fakes are getting so good, and some tips to avoid them from Watchfinder
Lists
i/trending 23379

3 reasons why Rolex fakes are getting so good, and some tips to avoid them from Watchfinder

Rolex fakes have existed for a very long time. But where it used to be pretty easy to spot an impostor – from the dull…
Does the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Steel truly belong with the big hitters? We put two Trinity Watches next to it to find out….
Opinion
i/trending 26459

Does the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Steel truly belong with the big hitters? We put two Trinity Watches next to it to find out….

While I have my loupe on and shirtsleeves turned up, consider this article an appointment with a hypnotist. Because, in my opinion, there is a…
Are there any bargains left in the current Rolex catalogue? We found four…
Lists
i/trending 16199

Are there any bargains left in the current Rolex catalogue? We found four…

It might be a coincidence, or it might be provenance. But what was once a supplier of professional tool watches for the masses has slowly…
5 of the best watches released in 2020 under $3k, including Grand Seiko, Bulgari and Monta
Lists
i/trending 16418

5 of the best watches released in 2020 under $3k, including Grand Seiko, Bulgari and Monta

This has been a bountiful year for the horologically inclined, and full of surprises. We have gone shopping with the virtual Time+Tide gold credit card,…
Why the Grand Seiko SBGE253 could be a great one-watch collection
Opinion
i/trending 24797

Why the Grand Seiko SBGE253 could be a great one-watch collection

For many watch enthusiasts, a somewhat paradoxical feeling can begin to set in after collecting for a little while. The more watches you collect, buying…
EDITOR’S PICK: Why it’s hard to buy an Omega Speedmaster
Opinion
i/trending 17296

EDITOR’S PICK: Why it’s hard to buy an Omega Speedmaster

Editor’s note: If you’ve been baited by the headline, prepare to have your jets cooled, because when this one popped up for me a second…
The breakaway Seiko of 2020 is this affordable, classic dive watch for under $1500USD, the SPB149J
Opinion
i/trending 22098

The breakaway Seiko of 2020 is this affordable, classic dive watch for under $1500USD, the SPB149J

Editor’s note: We knew the reception would be good, for lots of reasons noted below. We suspected the reception might be great, as the watch…
RECOMMENDED READING: 5 reasons why Patek Philippe is the most coveted watch brand in the world
Opinion
i/trending 26167

RECOMMENDED READING: 5 reasons why Patek Philippe is the most coveted watch brand in the world

There are lots of in-depth, scholarly dissertations of why Patek Philippe is, and always will be, immensely coveted by collectors. But, in the spirit of…
The 5 best Longines watches released in 2020 (in a very good year)
Lists
i/trending 39852

The 5 best Longines watches released in 2020 (in a very good year)

This year has been a big one for Longines — for a couple of reasons. They have continued down the purist pathway of vintage reissues through…
The dream brief: “No deadline, no restrictions on budget, no pressure.” Eric Ku’s Audemars Piguet restoration will make you melt
Opinion
i/trending 21339

The dream brief: “No deadline, no restrictions on budget, no pressure.” Eric Ku’s Audemars Piguet restoration will make you melt

The absolutely magical story embedded in our latest Watch & Chill Episode revolves around the unusual story of Eric Ku’s vintage Audemars Piguet chronograph restoration.…
The strong will get stronger, and the weak “will eventually disappear”, Jean-Claude Biver assesses the pandemic
Opinion
i/trending 12418

The strong will get stronger, and the weak “will eventually disappear”, Jean-Claude Biver assesses the pandemic

We spoke to Jean-Claude Biver recently for an upcoming feature-length video, and while we were on Zoom, the conversation turned to the pandemic. We took…
8 watches that are affordable and still get the nod from watch snobs
Lists
i/trending 20081

8 watches that are affordable and still get the nod from watch snobs

Editor’s note: It’s high time we updated this list, with some new additions knocking firmly on the door in 2020. But before we do that,…
This is the Rolex you can’t believe has just been discontinued (and these comments reveal how upset you are)
Opinion
i/trending 29978

This is the Rolex you can’t believe has just been discontinued (and these comments reveal how upset you are)

Editor’s note: Earlier in the week, I wrote about ‘The Rolex that got away’ in reference to the rhodium dial OP ref. 114300. Turns out…
Is Rolex trend-chasing with its new colourful range of Oyster Perpetual models? A look back into the brand’s colourful past…
Opinion
i/trending 28028

Is Rolex trend-chasing with its new colourful range of Oyster Perpetual models? A look back into the brand’s colourful past…

The wild profusion of colours in the new Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection caught many by surprise this week. And it immediately had people drawing parallels…
The best dials of 2020 – Part 2
Lists
i/trending 22005

The best dials of 2020 – Part 2

Editor’s note: If you missed Part 1, make sure you check it out as it includes the likes of Moser, Chopard and Greubel Forsey. In…
Hollywood’s fake watches: from Kill Bill’s dodgy Rolex Daytona to Drive’s phoney Patek
Opinion
i/trending 27337

Hollywood’s fake watches: from Kill Bill’s dodgy Rolex Daytona to Drive’s phoney Patek

Willing suspension of disbelief is part of the viewer’s contract with any film. But if you like watches, you still crave authenticity when it comes…
3 of the best beads-of-rice bracelets on the market and the differences between them
Lists
i/trending 47424

3 of the best beads-of-rice bracelets on the market and the differences between them

The beads-of-rice bracelet, a bracelet design only a few years ago lost to the winds of time — a memory of stretched-out and rattly bracelets on…
The Best Dials of 2020 – Part 1
Lists
i/trending 22545

The Best Dials of 2020 – Part 1

Me, I’m a dial man. Don’t get me wrong, I love a sharp bevelled case and intricate movements, but what gets me first is the…
New study: your smartwatch is making you more insecure
News
i/trending 19372

New study: your smartwatch is making you more insecure

The notion that “knowledge is power” has arguably become the guiding principle of our professional lives. Organisations are more reliant than ever on numerical evidence…
Do you still wear a watch when there’s no one to impress? COVID reveals two camps…
Opinion
i/trending 23754

Do you still wear a watch when there’s no one to impress? COVID reveals two camps…

Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal ran a story with the provocative headline: “Should You Wear a Watch if There’s No One to Impress?”…
5 mistakes I have made on my watch-collecting journey
Lists
i/trending 14391

5 mistakes I have made on my watch-collecting journey

Although I have not been collecting for decades, over the past five years or so I have definitely gained a lot of insight, through trial…
We asked the Longines VP of Marketing lots of questions about the new Spirit collection so you don’t have to
Opinion
i/trending 13648

We asked the Longines VP of Marketing lots of questions about the new Spirit collection so you don’t have to

The Longines Spirit release is a totally new collection this year, something that is already very exciting in and of itself, but also because it’s…
Seiko 5 Sports x STREET FIGHTER V Editions just released, and they are wild – preorder here
Introducing
i/trending 20282

Seiko 5 Sports x STREET FIGHTER V Editions just released, and they are wild – preorder here

I was always a Blanka man. There was something about the key combination to make him bring the voltage that came naturally to me. That…
4 watches that look like rip-offs that are actually legitimate
Lists
i/trending 28802

4 watches that look like rip-offs that are actually legitimate

Few things in watch world conjure more contention than the six letters that make up the word homage … and understandably so. Are homage watches…
IN-DEPTH: A top-of-the line Seiko diver, SLA037 Vs. the lesser-seen Omega Seamaster 300, same price, different experience?
Opinion
i/trending 29592

IN-DEPTH: A top-of-the line Seiko diver, SLA037 Vs. the lesser-seen Omega Seamaster 300, same price, different experience?

Editor’s note: Here we continue a new style of review that pits two similarly specced watches against each other, in an arena that is less…
The curious case of the Gevril Tribeca: 5 reasons why it is the king of homage watches
Lists
i/trending 35716

The curious case of the Gevril Tribeca: 5 reasons why it is the king of homage watches

Homage watches within the enthusiast community can be quite a contentious topic at times. Are they rip-offs? Cash cows? Sell-outs? Unoriginal? The reality is opinions…
We all have “the disease” of watch collecting, we asked a psychologist why we opted in for this…?
Opinion
i/trending 16042

We all have “the disease” of watch collecting, we asked a psychologist why we opted in for this…?

“Completely irrational”, “a horrible affliction”, “the disease” … that’s how Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary described his obsession with watch collecting in a Time+Tide interview…
5 watches that look good on any strap
Lists
i/trending 19624

5 watches that look good on any strap

It’s no secret that watches are expensive items. Whether it’s a $100 quartz Seiko or a $10,000 Rolex, you’re always trying to get the most…
The best JDM Seiko and Grand Seiko watches and how you can get them, even if you don’t live in Japan
Opinion
i/trending 46261

The best JDM Seiko and Grand Seiko watches and how you can get them, even if you don’t live in Japan

Within the thriving community of Seiko and Grand Seiko enthusiasts, some of the most highly prized watches are released only in the Japanese Domestic Market…
A detailed breakdown of why the Patek Philippe Nautilus is, and always will be, the best steel sports watch of all time
Opinion
i/trending 17234

A detailed breakdown of why the Patek Philippe Nautilus is, and always will be, the best steel sports watch of all time

Editor’s note:The furore over the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 in recent years – that we have covered exhaustively – is interesting to consider in the…
IN-DEPTH: The Omega Planet Ocean Vs. the Omega Seamaster 300, is there a winner?
Opinion
i/trending 32547

IN-DEPTH: The Omega Planet Ocean Vs. the Omega Seamaster 300, is there a winner?

Since 1948, Omega have been perfecting their formula for conquering the sea. What began as a splash-proof dress watch, quickly spiralled into a race for…
An owner’s perspective on the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight vs. a first gen Black Bay Red
Opinion
i/trending 24329

An owner’s perspective on the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight vs. a first gen Black Bay Red

Editor’s note: Yannick Chan, the author of this piece, loved the idea of the first Black Bay, but the reality did not match up. “I…
10 of the best digital watches you can buy in 2020, Part 1, including Braun, G-Shock, Hamilton and HD3
Lists
i/trending 23826

10 of the best digital watches you can buy in 2020, Part 1, including Braun, G-Shock, Hamilton and HD3

Digital watches may not be mechanical masterpieces that harken back to the romanticism of time-telling from a bygone era. But they’re an increasingly exciting corner…
Play it cool: the rules of “stealth bling” and what they mean for your watch
Opinion
i/trending 25186

Play it cool: the rules of “stealth bling” and what they mean for your watch

“To be truly elegant one should not be noticed.” So said Beau Brummell, who despite ultimately dying as a syphilitic loon, is still regarded as…
6 tips for avoiding dreaded watch buyer’s remorse
Opinion
i/trending 34942

6 tips for avoiding dreaded watch buyer’s remorse

Editor’s note: I don’t know about you, but all this turmoil and uncertainty in the world lately has had my watch browsing time going through…
Which Grand Seiko Snowflake is right for you? Four models that show the stunning dial’s diversity
Lists
i/trending 30040

Which Grand Seiko Snowflake is right for you? Four models that show the stunning dial’s diversity

Editor’s note: When people talk about the Grand Seiko Snowflake as being one watch, they are in fact forgoing the many and varied shades of…
What kind of blue is the new Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight actually? 4 side-by-side shots with the Pelagos, Patek, Lange and more…
Opinion
i/trending 18124

What kind of blue is the new Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight actually? 4 side-by-side shots with the Pelagos, Patek, Lange and more…

Well, one of 2020’s worst-kept secrets is out of the bag – Tudor has gone and released a brand new iteration of the best watch…
The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 brings the colour we all need in a dark year at a budget-friendly price
Opinion
i/trending 24214

The Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961 brings the colour we all need in a dark year at a budget-friendly price

There’s very little that hasn’t been done in watchmaking. That’s part of what makes vintage-inspired new releases so popular among watch enthusiasts, especially for diving…
OPINION: Will COVID hammer the final nail into the coffin of the dress watch?
Opinion
i/trending 14153

OPINION: Will COVID hammer the final nail into the coffin of the dress watch?

Having moved house last year, I finally got around to collecting the last remaining items from our storage facility last weekend. All that was left…
Buying a “birth-year” watch for your kids is the excuse you need to beef up your collection
Opinion
i/trending 24233

Buying a “birth-year” watch for your kids is the excuse you need to beef up your collection

Why do we have children in the first place? To anchor our rudderless lives with a faint sense of meaning? To give and receive unconditional…
Monochrome’s Rolex predictions are scary accurate, will they be right again in 2020 / 2021?
Opinion
i/trending 21763

Monochrome’s Rolex predictions are scary accurate, will they be right again in 2020 / 2021?

The most common, and irresistible, grist for the watch industry rumour mill each year is what new models Rolex and, to more of an extent…
What is ‘Revenge Spending’ and will it save the Swiss watch industry?
Opinion
i/trending 16676

What is ‘Revenge Spending’ and will it save the Swiss watch industry?

You’ve screwed up. Big time. Worse still, your partner has found out and they mad as all hell. To get their own back, said partner…
Why Rolex’s problem with American Psycho goes deeper than a chainsaw-wielding maniac
Opinion
i/trending 37310

Why Rolex’s problem with American Psycho goes deeper than a chainsaw-wielding maniac

Patrick Bateman is an unlikely pop cultural icon. Yet that’s exactly what the anti-hero of American Psycho has become. Almost 30 years since Bret Easton…