Best Super NEWS Watches
Buying, Selling, & Collecting: How To Build A Watch Collection With $1K, $10K, Or $100K
Watch collecting. A rich man's game? To an extent, sure. Rich people do collect watches. And with all the noise generated by record-breaking auctions such as Phillip's Racing Pulse last year, where buyers stumped up $27.6 million for 135 lots, you can see where watch collecting gets its silk-stockinged reputation. But in the same way my kids collect Panini stickers during a World Cup, collecting is a numbers game only in relative terms. I collected Swatch as a teenager. I've also met people with their own runways who'll only buy when the price tag has so many zeroes it seems to be written in binary code. Both of us are, or were, collectors. ...
It's hard to believe Seiko is 140 years old, but the calendar doesn't lie. The firm, founded by Kintaro Hattori in 1881, has been in the watch and clock business for fourteen decades and is celebrating with a slew of new watches from both Seiko and Grand Seiko. Grand Seiko's just announced a new watch for the 140th Anniversary festivities: The Grand Seiko SLGH007 Hi-Beat "Tree Rings," with a textured dial meant to evoke the growth lines which give wood its characteristic grain. The design of the watch, aside from the specific texture of the dial, is an example of Grand Seiko's new Series 9 design, which is characterized by a dist...
Culture Of Time: The Art Of Swatch
Born in 1983 and forever associated with the '80s, Swatch was the brainchild of businessman (and a future face on the watch world's Mt. Rushmore) Nicolas Hayek as a way of offering a second watch C that's what Swatch stands for C to both watch enthusiasts and casual fans alike. The Swatch Spot Mickey and Mirror Spot Mickey designed by Damien Hirst for the Swatch Art Special in 2018. The outcome was a truly egalitarian Swiss watch. An inexpensive, lightweight, and reliable watch with a plastic case, a quartz movement, and, crucially, limitless potential as a canvas for a remarkable array of designs. ...
Introducing: The Seiko 5 Sports 140th Anniversary Limited Edition SRPG47 (Live Pics & Pricing)
Launched alongside three other blue-and-white-themed models for Seiko's 140th anniversary, this is the SRPG47, the entry-point to the special collection and a rather good home for the 140th color scheme. Based on the same Seiko 5 Sports range I dug into for this Week On The Wrist, the SRPG47 is a diver-effect sports watch produced in a limited edition of 11,000 units. Yes, 11,000 units. That number is so big that I'm not sure I've ever seen a larger shared production number for a limited edition. In the past, I've teased Omega for making 7,007 of some Bond-themed watch, but Seiko is going with the nice, round number of 11,000. Th...
Introducing: The Seiko Prospex 140th Anniversary Limited Edition SPB213 (Live Pics & Pricing)
It has a white dial, a blue bezel, and looks decidedly pretty.At its core, that's about all I've got on the latest Prospex SPB "20MAS" version from Seiko. Announced today as part of a white and blue-themed four-watch collection in honor of Seiko's 140th Anniversary. It's a watch I have talked about. Like, a lot. Maybe even too much. But here we go. Launched last year to great (even personal) fanfare, the Seiko Prospex "First Diver's Modern Re-Interpretation" is a 40.5mm spin on the brand's first dive watch, the 62MAS. Initially offered in four versions including one 5,500-unit limited edition (the blue dial SPB149), the 140th Ann...
Sometimes, the most universally well-liked and respected things prove themselves as the best time and time again. In movies, you'll find titles like Citizen Kane, The Godfather, and Pulp Fiction at the top of most "best" or "greatest of all time" lists because, well, they're just really that special. The classics are the classics for a reason. This week's drop features models that would pop up near the top of a similar list in the world of vintage watches. Rolex's Submariner, Omega's Speed- and Seamasters, and Heuer's Carrera are classics and, while they pop up from time to time in our drops, this week we curated some really special examples with a few added deta...
Introducing: The Seiko Prospex 'The 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-Interpretation' (Live Pics & Pricing)
A Seiko isn't really a Seiko unless it has a cult following. The green Seiko Alpinist, released in the mid-1990s, is one of those watches. Its double-crown, internal rotating bezel, and striking green dial have garnered a serious and passionate fan base. But it wasn't the first Alpinist. No, that watch came out in 1959. And now Seiko has revived the granddaddy Alpinist, both as an LE revival and a modern re-interpretation. Here we'll focus on the latter. The new Seiko Prospex "The 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-interpretation" (SPB241, SPB243, and SPB245) represents a reinvention of the 1959 Alpinist C what many consider to be Seiko's first sport watch. Taking design cu...
My Watch Story: The Jaws Watch, A Michael Jordan Story, A Marine Officer's Gift, And More
Welcome to another installment of "My Watch Story," a video series starring HODINKEE readers and their most prized watches. The submissions continue to stream in, and we couldn't be happier to share them with the watch community. Today, we have five new stories submitted by Austin Byrd, Thomas Hayden, Jae Chung, Wilhelm Layer, and Myra R.?Enjoy! Austin Byrd And His Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller To kick off this week's My Watch Story, Austin shares the story of his father, who spent a year in Switzerland C which led not only to the purchase of this Rolex Double Red Sea-Dweller, but also to his eventual marr...
Finally, Seiko has created a watch to honor the legacy of Naomi Uemura, one of the greatest Japanese explorers in the modern era. To this day, the disappearance of Uemura remains a mystery. The last contact made with Uemura was on February 13, 1984. He had just summited Denali and was on the initial leg of his descent when two Japanese photographers in a spotter plane communicated with him on the radio. And that was the last anyone had heard from him. Uemura left behind an incredible legacy. He rafted the Amazon River solo, he reached the North Pole solo, and he had alread...
Found: An Insanely Rare Platinum George Daniels Anniversary Watch
Here at HODINKEE, we talk a lot about watches being "rare," but the truth is that rarity exists on a sliding scale C and when you're comparing a limited-edition mass-produced watch to a watch that is legitimately handmade, it's no longer an apples-to-apples scenario. Recently, our pals at A Collected Man announced that they're selling a watch of an entirely different variety than your usual rarity: A one-of-four platinum George Daniels Anniversary Watch. And it is capital "R" rare. Part of a collection designed by Dr. George Daniels and made, by hand, by Roger Smith, the Anniversary watches span 35 examples in yellow gold, four i...
The Grey NATO: Episode 139 C Challenge: Sinn
Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Google Play and Spotify). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review here, and tell us what topics you'd like us to chat about (or email [email protected]). thegreynato The Grey NATO C 139 C Challenge: Sinn The TGN boys are back with the second-ever challenge episode where they select a brand and a hypothetical budget and chat about how they would spend those dollars (and why!). Following episode 115's lead with Seiko, the challenge brand for this episode is Sinn! Jason and James have $7,500 TGN-dollars to spend only on Sinn C what will they pick? ...
Introducing: The Seiko Presage Sharp Edged GMTs (Live Pics)
When you see the new Sharp Edged GMTs from the Seiko Presage line, you may experience a feeling of dj vu. Have we been here before? While technically, mechanically, and budgetarily different from a certain sporty travel watch at Grand Seiko, the Sharp Edged GMTs of Seiko's Presage line pack a similar design punch to last year's Spring Drive GMTs. I'm thinking of references SBGE257, SBGE255, and SBGE253, as well as the limited edition SBGE263 Eagle. The comparison may be imperfect C some of the colors are not precisely the same, and we are talking about a different level of craftsmanship, but from about ten feet away, Id call 'em dead ringers. Each of the new P...
The 140th Anniversary Limited Edition Astron SSH093 (Live Pics, Pricing)
The name "Astron" is a big deal at Seiko and comes with a lot of historical weight C it's the name of the very first quartz watch Seiko ever made, in 1969 which was of course, also the first quartz watch anyone ever made. The name therefore stands for something: Technical innovation, specifically in quartz timepieces. One of my very favorite Seiko limited editions carries the Astron name C the gold 50th Anniversary Astron, which is the very spit and image of the original, but updated with a solar powered movement and a slew of other technical upgrades (which is not to be wondered at, quartz movements have come a very long way since 1969). However the name in general nowadays, refers to the A...
Introducing: The 1959 Seiko Prospex Alpinist Re-Creation SJE085 (Live Pics)
The Seiko Alpinist is a fan favorite that enthusiasts love for its classic, fairly compact design, its durability, and its affordability. Launched in 1959 with a screw back to prevent the intrusion of dust or sand particles, the very first Alpinist came on a bund strap that offered further protection from perspiration (plus a comfortable wearing experience). The watch you see here, all 36.6mm of it, is a tribute to the 1959 original, which was the Seiko Laurel Alpinist. In addition to this watch, Seiko is also introducing three vintage-inspired Alpinist core models, two of which come on really swell-looking bracelets. We have tho...
Introducing: IWC Pilots Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert
On the heels of the under-the-radar release of the IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN in white "Lake Tahoe" ceramic, the brand has just dropped another surprise 41mm ceramic pilot's watch with the new "Mojave Desert" variation. Still ceramic, still measuring 41mm by 11.4mm, the new sand-colored beige/brown case is something that I expect a lot of fans will be excited to see, as it's one of the brand's favorite ceramic colorways.? To get that brown ceramic, IWC's materials scientists blend zirconium oxide with other metallic oxides in a precisely defined mixing ratio C one that had to be discovered via trial and error, as the ...
Dispatch: H. Moser & Cie. X Alpine Motorsports At The F1 Spanish Grand Prix
The noise is deafening, the heat is stifling. I'm sunburned and not properly hydrated. This is because I'm in motorsport heaven, at the practice session of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. I am also attempting to remain composed, sane, and act more like a journalist than a fanboy. As you may have read in TanTan's story last week, Moser has released an even more surprising two-pack than the flamboyant Studio Underd0g duo from 2024. The most unexpected of the pair is a tech-packed hybrid analogue-digital and connected edition of their distinctive Streamliner, the brand's signature range. Was it a step too far? ...
Introducing: Merci Instruments Unveils A Quartet Of New LMM-01s
Around the corner from Muse Picasso in Paris' third arrondissement, you'll spot what Arthur Gerbi, president of Merci, calls "the most photographed Fiat 500 in the world." Just beyond that 499 cc, 18 horsepower machine lies Merci Paris, the retailer, gallery, studio, restaurant, and since 2017, a watch creator. Fans of Hodinkee should know Merci and its emblematic red Fiat, as we've partnered with them twice via our Limited Editions program, creating our own LMM-01 in 2020 and the Beaumarchais H02 in 2024. Yesterday, Merci Instruments, the in-house brand for its watches, launched a series of four new versions of its LMM-01, a mo...
Gatherings: UBS House of Craft Honors Jaeger-LeCoultres Timeless Legacy
The latest installment in the UBS House of Craft series featured an exclusive preview of the 1931 Polo Club Traveling Collection and conversation with Jaeger-LeCoultre Americas President Anne-Laure Ritter, and Hodinkee Editor Rich Fordon. UBS House of Craft is a global initiative celebrating excellence in craft across diverse disciplines. Designed as a platform for dialogue and discovery, UBS House of Craft invites guests to engage with true masters of craft through intimate events, with the goal of fostering meaningful exchanges. Whether you call it craftsmanship or savoir-faire, watchmaking at ...
Reading Time At HSNY: The Bound And The Beautiful
This post is part of a series, Reading Time at HSNY, written by its librarians. Today's post was written by Head Librarian Miranda Marraccini. When visitors come to our library at the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), we encourage them to pull books off the shelf that catch their eye. Sometimes, what draws people in is obvious: a big-name watch brand in the title, the sparkle of a diamond-set bezel on the cover, a book that looks ancient. Other times it's something quirkier. One of the best-thumbed books in our collection is the straightforwardly named "Problems in Time and Space." Image 1 ...
Hands-On: Breguet Type XX Chronographe 2075BH
Breguet is on a roll right now, and what better timing could they have? The brand is embarking on a world tour to celebrate its 250th birthday with a series of exceptional releases that reflect its storied heritage. First was Paris with the Classique Souscription. Then Shanghai with the Tradition Seconde Rtrograde, which was inspired by their Montre Tact pocket watches. Now they've brought back the Type XX the way it should have been done years ago: manually wound and 38mm C albeit in a Breguet gold case to celebrate the anniversary. But we'll get to all that in a second. The (re)relaunch of the Type XX Chronographe with the 2...