Swiss Watches
The new Hamilton Broadway Day Date Automatic (refs. H43515735 & H43515135) wristwatch, the Swiss brand's recent attempt at grabbing their own share of a growing "affordable dress watch" market, offers a nice blend of interesting exterior, good build quality and one of the best "long-play" mass-produced automatic movements that you can get in the sub-$1k price range. Unexpectedly elegant and amazingly refined, right now this may be one of the best choices for the money.
Japanese watches / Quartz watches
With its new Casio PRO TREK PRG-600 "outdoor" world-timer, the Japanese watchmaking giant delivers a stylish, surprisingly tastefully designed wristwatch. Primarilly targeting people who lead an active lifestyle and do need a time measuring device that would do a good job during a hiking expedition, it will also look great with a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt in a safe coworking environment. Although inevitably having limitations of its own, the watch seems to give you a great combination of good build quality, reasonable price and an almost overwhelming list of functions that would make an owner of a Swiss made analog/digital timekeeper literally drool. The only thing that spoils the fun is the "cased in Thailand" insription on its machine-brushed back.
American watches
Introduced to celebrate the brand's tenth anniversary, the new Deep Blue Master 2000 10 Year Anniversary collection of self-winding diving wristwatches is currently offered in a choice of three color schemes including two versions in black and blue that feature a combination of white and orange accents. However, the version in black and orange (ref. M2KILBLKORGBLKORG,) which is reviewed in this article, seems to be the most interesting -or at least the most striking- among them. Delivering an impressive level of legibility in basically all lighting scenarios that I can imagine and combining good build quality of the case and bracelet with dependability of a time-proven Swiss made movement, the watch may be a bit expensive compared to their earlier models of similar design, but still seems to offer good value for money if you can afford one.
Swiss Watches
The new Alpina Startimer Pilot automatic chronograph wristwatch (refs. AL-725B4S6, AL-725GR4S6 & AL-725N4S6) is available in three colors of its laconic, extremely sober dial and in two colors of the geunuine leather strap. It is a bit expensive, many people may (and probably will) call it boring, and it is clearly not a match to majors like IWC and Omega in terms of mojo and percieved value, yet the combination of a highly ergonomic design, reliable mechanism and acceptable price make it a very nice everyday watch for a person who can afford one.
Swiss Watches
Recently bought by a Chinese investment holding company, the Swiss-based watchmaker Eterna keeps on churning out great (while a bit overpriced) time measuring devices that also happen to be quite elegant accessories. Although clearly far from being "groundbreaking," their new Eterna Super Kontiki Chronograph (refs. 7770.41.49.1382 & 7770.41.49.1718) collection of self-winding diving watches was presented earlier this year and is now available not only in the brand's numerous stores around the world, but also at some online retailers albeit at very small discounts.
Swiss Watches
The new limited edition Frederique Constant Peking to Paris (ref. FC-303WBRP5B6) automatic wristwatch may not be revolutionary or groundbreaking in any meaning of the words, but it still looks like a really interesting (albeit a tad overpriced) timekeeper for a person interested in a nice three-hander with a tad of sportiness to it. While the "limited edition" part may be a bit gimmicky (in a sense that you can't seriously expect a watch limited to almost 2900 pieces to become rarity in any foreseeable future,) all the rest about this watch is absolutely legit: it is an expertly designed, solidly built piece that is powered by a robust mechanism.
British watches
In less than two months, the British watchmaking brand will start selling their new Christopher Ward C8 UTC Worldtimer timekeeper. Styled as a pilot's watch and featuring an appealing combination of a robust Swiss made movement with their new distinctive approach to design, the new timekeeper seems to be well worth the serious chunk of cash that the watchmaker plans to charge for it.
Swiss Watches
If you noticed the sporty Chronoliner collection from last year, but decided to pass on it for the lack of bling, this new 2016 Breitling Chronoliner Triple Time-Zone Chronograph limited edition model may make you want to reconsider. Preserving the same energetic (some may even call it assertive) styling of the original, the new watch comes in a lot dressier rose gold case that, thanks to careful balancing the mix of materials and textures somehow manages not to look too offending and arrogant in all of its polished rose gold and glossy ceramic glory.