De Bethune creates style options with its new double-sided tourbillon by James Malcolmson While De Bethune has long been known as a champion of futuristic and Avant Garde design, its new DB Kind of Two Tourbillon offers potential owners access to a more rarely seen, classic side to the brand’s design ethos. By taking advantage of the “floating lugs” found on the DB 28 model, the brand created a swiveling case system that offers the option of two dials. One of these is the familiar face of the DB 28 Tourbillon, featuring the new-age finishing and tourbillon aperture of the open-works movement ..read more

Urwerk’s Latest T-Rex Roars In by James Malcolmson Showing just how adaptable Urwerk’s popular new UR-100 model can be, the brand has decorated it with one of the most dramatic surface treatments it has ever developed. The UR-100V T-Rex boasts the same concentrically ribbed pattern in bronze it developed in 2016 for its UR-105 T-Rex. The deeply etched bronze case clearly evokes the hide of a prehistoric reptile and perfectly fits with the brand’s highly tactile design ethos. The pattern has also been artfully adapted for this particular watch. The etching on the upper plate of the case has b ..read more

Urwerk delivers its UR-220 “All Black,” a solid step in its design lineage by James Malcolmson After the successful—and brief— launch of the new UR-220 Carbon (the 25 pieces were snapped up in days) Urwerk has announced a new version of the new model in black pvd-coated steel and titanium. The new UR-220 All Black adds a shiny, high-polished look to the model that accentuates its interesting and aggressive lines. The UR-220 possesses the most technically advanced of Urwerk’s hallmark “wandering hours” displays, and marks a continuation of the development initiated in the UR-210. The three-di ..read more

Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo gets a steel case, and a whole lot of new appeal By James Malcomson In just over six years, Bulgari has identified its now well-known Octo Finissimo model with both record-breaking technical qualities as well as envelope-pushing design. Now with only the slightest adjustments, Bulgari has poised the model to be a strong contender in what has become the most popular of categories: the everyday-wearable sports watch. Octo Finissimo Steel combines the brand’s record-setting ultrathin automatic movement with a slightly thicker (water resistant to 100 meters) case, m ..read more

Ressence Debuts 10th Anniversary Collection of Boundary-Pushing Wristwatches   By Victoria Gomelsky This month, Ressence, the independent watchmaking brand based in Antwerp, Belgium, will mark its 10th anniversary with the unveiling of the first of four limited edition timepieces. “Collection X,” as the range is known, will feature a new watch every other month through December. The first to be unveiled, the Type 1 Slim X is certain to delight fans of the brand. Like each of the 4 special editions to come, the Type 1 Slim X features a commemorative olive green hue on both the dial and ..read more

As more and more watch brands delve into the realm of high-tech materials for watch cases and bracelets, we are witnessing a host of wonderful new ceramic watches emerge on the market. However, not all ceramics are the same. High-tech engineered ceramic is one of the hardest and most scratch-resistant materials for watches. The cases and bracelets — as long as the watch is water resistant — can get wet without any impact, as the material is durable. As such, this is a great material for summertime watches because they can weather the elements and go the distance. Additionally, ceramic is a ve ..read more

Did you know that something as simple as using a cell phone (especially with a rechargeable cell phone cover), going through airport security and even flying can affect the accuracy of your mechanical watch? Microwaves, handbags with magnetic closures, certain electrical instruments and some medical testing equipment can also have a negative impact on your mechanical timepiece. Essentially, when a watch that is not deemed "anti-magnetic" comes into contact with a magnetic force field, the inner escapement of the watch can stutter, causing a slight-to-moderate impact on timing accuracy. Some p ..read more

Hermes Arceau Cavils watches with white mother of pearl dial and Cavales horse motif. True to its equestrian roots Hermes unveils the Arceau Cavales watch. Designed for the first time in 1978 by Henri d’Oringy, a master of design and a key to many of the important Hermes collections, the Arceau Cavales is special in a host of different ways. Top among them: the unusual lugs, with bottom lugs in classic form and top lug recalling a stirrup design. Additionally, the exquisite mother-of-pearl dials are created using marquetry that – at first glance – looks like swirls, but with a closer look, d ..read more

Inspired by jelly fish, the newest MB&F HM7 Aquapod is crafted in titanium with Green bezel.   Today, we are happy to introduce MB&F fans to the newest HM7 Aquapod watch — clad in green and looking mean. Indeed, after the two launch editions last year – one in 18-karat 5N rose gold with a black bezel and the beloved titanium version with a blue bezel — MB&F now unveils a second titanium HM7 Aquapod with a green sapphire crystal bezel, at a price of $108,000. Turning to water — or more specifically — jellyfish for inspiration, MB&F reached its tentacles into the deep blue ..read more

Last week we discussed some of the biggest watch trends emerging from Baselworld. One of those trends revolves around diving watches, as more and more people get involved in active sports. Understanding what constitutes a great diver's watch is important, as most high-precision diver's watches offer a series of functions that could prove useful. With summer approaching, one may want to consider a new purchase to accompany that deep dive. To be a true dive watch, a timepiece needs to adhere to certain ISO standards. These standards vary depending on whether one is snorkeling, scuba diving or d ..read more