Watch Features

Welcome to WatchTime’s watch features section. Here you will find watch feature stories, watch reports, interesting watch technology coverage, interviews with watch brands, background articles about watches, watch brands and technical stories.

FEATURE

Flight Fight: A History of IWC and Breitling Pilots’ Watches

When longtime IWC head honcho Georges Kern left became CEO of Breitling, some saw it as the latest salvo in the two Swiss brands' historical duel for horological supremacy in the air. Here we explore how both brands have made their marks on the history and evolution of pilots' watches.

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Dec 1, 2020 by Jens Koch

Strength in Numbers: Five Watches with Big Date Displays

Some watch connoisseurs find date displays of any kind on a watch dial distracting, unnecessary, and disruptive to a harmonious design. Others not only appreciate them, but also want them to be as legible and prominent as possible. For the latter group, we’ve assembled this list.

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Nov 30, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

FEATURE

Tools for the Depths: The Dive Watches of Rolex

Dive watches from Rolex are highly sought after. And it’s no wonder with such an exciting history, a number of noteworthy collaborations, unique designs and robust, accurate in-house movements. We explore the various models in this feature from the WatchTime archives. Rolex currently produces four different dive watch models: the Submariner and Submariner Date, the...

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Nov 30, 2020 by Jens Koch

Black Friday Special: 30 Ladies’ Watches for the Holidays

In spite of the challenges of 2020, watch manufacturers introduced many outstanding timepieces designed especially for women during the year. Here we present 30 newly released ladies’ watches that offer a wide range of options for holiday gift giving. ALEXANDER SHOROKHOFFInspired by the changing seasons, this new “Autumn” model from Alexander Shorokhoff has a handmade...

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Nov 27, 2020 by Dara Hinshaw

FEATURE

Flying Ace: Tracing the History of the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch

IWC's Big Pilot’s Watch became an instant classic when it was re-released in 2002. But its history stretches much further back in time. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, we explore the Big Pilot and its many evolutions over the decades.

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Nov 27, 2020 by Jens Koch

WATCH REVIEW:

Borrowed Time: Reviewing the Arnold & Son Globetrotter

There are timepieces built to serve a useful function and there are timepieces intended to dazzle the eye and draw attention to one’s wrist from across the room, and it is rare when the twain meet. But Arnold & Son has accomplished it with the Globetrotter, a visually arresting world-time watch released in 2018.

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Nov 27, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

Circles of Time: Reviewing the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Time Zone

Fifteen years after its introduction, the Lange 1 Time Zone from A. Lange & Söhne has been equipped with a new manufacture caliber. The time in two different time zones can be read intuitively from the dial. But this watch offers much more, as we can confirm after scrutinizing one we were able to preview...

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Nov 25, 2020 by Martina Richter

FEATURE

Horological Homecoming: Tracing the Creation of the Parmigiani Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde

“Success has many fathers,” the old saying goes, “while failure is an orphan.” The Parmigiani Toric Hémisphères Rétrograde, which took home the prize for Best Travel Time Watch at the 2017 GPHG, can certainly be deemed a success, and the “many fathers” concept is a truism considering the diverse artisans involved. In this feature from our August 2019 issue, we trace the origins of the watch through each of the five workshops within the Parmigiani Manufacture.

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Nov 25, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

Great Briton: The Watchmaking Wizardry of Roger W. Smith

Once an apprentice to the revered George Daniels, Roger W. Smith is considered the greatest British watchmaker today. In this profile from our sister magazine, WatchTime Middle East, editor Nitin Nair finds out what makes him tick.

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Nov 25, 2020 by WatchTime

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Debuts in Three Case Metals

Audemars Piguet can look back on a long history of high horology and sophisticated complications, and for its latest feat in this arena the manufacture has installed a flying tourbillon, for the first time, into its flagship Royal Oak Selfwinding collection. The new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon, comprising three distinctive models, incorporates the recently...

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Nov 24, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

What Makes Rolex so Successful? Here Are Nine Reasons

Rolex is viewed by many as the Number One among major Swiss watch manufacturers. Why? Rüdiger Bucher, Editorial Director at WatchTime's German sister magazine, Chronos, lists nine reasons for the success of Rolex.

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Nov 24, 2020 by Ruediger Bucher

FEATURE

On the Cusp: A Brief History of the Zenith El Primero

Zenith’s El Primero automatic chronograph caliber — unveiled to the world 50 years ago this year, in 1969 — is regarded as one of the world’s best and most accurate movements. In this historical feature from the WatchTime archives, contributor Thomas Gronenthal takes a look at its development.

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Nov 23, 2020 by WatchTime

FEATURE:

Undercover Wrist: Six Noteworthy Camouflage Watches

Not just intended for outdoor recreation these days, camouflage has emerged as a trendy and bold alternative for your daily wristwear. Found on both watch straps and dials, the military-focused hue isn’t one normally associated with the luxury world of watchmaking but it has evolved into a distinct look for those in search of a...

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Nov 23, 2020 by WatchTime

BANG FOR THE BUCK

Ticking Admission Tickets: 10 Entry-Level Mechanical Watches

Every watch collection has to start somewhere, and often that initial watch purchase is on a somewhat restricted budget. Here's an introduction to entry-level mechanical watches from 10 brands. To narrow the field down, we only considered men’s watches with a case diameter of 37 mm or greater.

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Nov 20, 2020 by Alexander Krupp

FEATURE

Touching the Past: Six Modern “Retro” Watches and the Historical Pieces That Inspired Them

When retro-inspired watches are modeled after specific predecessors, fans of mechanical timekeeping can “grasp” design history. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, we take a look at six watches that awaken a longing for the past.

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Nov 19, 2020 by Alexander Krupp

WATCH REVIEW

Mountain Guide: Reviewing the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere

In January 2018, Montblanc set out to conquer new peaks: the revamped 1858 collection not only celebrates the spirit of mountain exploration, but also the 160th anniversary of Minerva. We take a closer look at one of the collection’s highlights, the 1858 Geosphere with a new world-time complication. Montblanc’s Most Essential Watch Collection The 1906-founded...

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Nov 19, 2020 by Roger Ruegger

FEATURE

Il Dolce Orologio: Exploring the Eclectic Watch Families of Eberhard & Co.

While Italian watch enthusiasts have embraced the timepieces of Eberhard & Co. for well over a century, only a relative handful of American collectors are aware of the brand’s rich history and diverse offerings. Now, buoyed by a surprise Geneva Grand Prix win for its most historically significant model, Eberhard is making the U.S. sit up and take notice.

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Nov 18, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

FEATURE

Wake-Up Call: Five Watches With Mechanical Alarms

They’re not as sexy as tourbillons or as impressively complicated as perpetual calendars, but mechanical alarm watches possess one of the more useful complications for a weary traveler or an overworked executive needing a reminder about that big board meeting. In a way, it’s curious that more watch brands haven’t embraced them. Here are five that are on the market now.

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Nov 17, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

FEATURE

Seiko: A Chronograph Chronology

We survey Seiko’s half-century-plus of mechanical chronographs in this comprehensive historical feature from the WatchTime archives. Discover the Japanese brand's contributions to the world of chronograph wristwatches.

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Nov 17, 2020 by Gisbert Brunner

From the Firehouse to the Wrist: Hands-On with the William Wood Valiant Black Watch

William Wood Watches, established in London in 2016, is named for founder Jonny Garrett’s late grandfather, a distinguished 25-year veteran of the British Fire Service. The watches pay tribute to their namesake, and firefighting culture in general, in ways that go far beyond the name, standing out from the crowded pack of luxury sport watches...

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Nov 16, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

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