Watch News

Welcome to WatchTime’s watch news section. Here you will find the latest breaking news about watches, watch industry updates, watch auction results, clock news, watch quizzes, technology coverage and more watch news.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Citizen Acquires Frédérique Constant

For the second time in four years, Japan’s Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. has purchased a Swiss watchmaker. In May, Citizen agreed to buy Switzerland’s Frédérique Constant Holding SA and its three watch brands — Frédérique Constant, Alpina and the tiny Ateliers DeMonaco — for an undisclosed sum.

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May 31, 2016 by Norma Buchanan

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ronda Returns: Introducing the R150 Mecano Caliber

Ronda, the big Swiss quartz-movement maker, is back in the mechanical business after an absence of nearly 30 years. The company announced at a press conference at Baselworld 2016 in March the unveiling of the new Ronda Caliber R150, also called the “Mecano.”

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May 30, 2016 by Norma Buchanan

From Watch-Insider.com:

Vacheron Constantin Adds World Time Watch to New Overseas Collection

A watch showing 37 zone-times, including zone-times offset by a half-hour or quarter-hour in relation to UTC time. That´s the ultimate travel companion!

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May 26, 2016 by Alexander Linz

MB&F Teams With Alain Silberstein for New Legacy Machine

MB&F collaborated with renowned French watch designer Alain Silberstein in 2009 on the HM2.2 "Black Box," the first MB&F "Performance Art" timepiece. Today, the brand announces the latest in the series — and one imbued even more deeply with Silberstein's distinctive design DNA — the MB&F LM1 Silberstein.

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May 25, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Richard Mille RM 35-02: The First Rafael Nadal Watch with Automatic Winding

As the French Open swings into high gear in Roland Garros, we take a look at the latest luxury sports watch designed specifically for one of tennis's greats, nine-time French Open champ, Rafael Nadal. The new watch, the Richard Mille RM 35-02, is the very first in the Nadal collection to feature an automatic movement.

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May 24, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Preview: Ralph Lauren’s New 867 and RL Automotive 39-mm Models

Named after Ralph Lauren’s luxury flagship at 867 Madison Avenue in New York, the Ralph Lauren watch brand’s latest 867 models continue to feature a combination of Arabic and Roman numerals on their dials. The watch is going to be available in three sizes, 21.5-mm, 27.5-mm and 32-mm in diameter. The 27.5-mm and 32-mm men’s version...

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May 18, 2016 by Roger Ruegger

WatchTime’s May-June 2016 Issue is On Sale Now!

The May-June 2016 issue of WatchTime is on newsstands now, featuring our test of the Panerai Luminor Submersible Flyback, complete coverage of the new timepieces from SIHH, a timeline tracing the history of the pilot watch, and more.

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May 17, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Getting to Know Mido: 5 Swiss-Made Watches Under $2,500

Though it's been around since 1918, Mido has been largely under the radar in the U.S. despite strong popularity in Latin America. Here are five Mido watches from the brand's five major watch collections, all with Swiss-made mechanical movements, all priced under $2,500.

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May 16, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Former NYC Mayor Giuliani Donates Historic Yankee-Owned Watch for Online Auction

Former New York Mayor and Yankees superfan Rudy Giuliani has donated a precious timepiece, once owned by a heralded New York Yankees player, for a charity auction. The watch is a vintage Wittnauer Electro-Chron originally presented to Yankee shortstop Dick Bartell in 1962.

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May 14, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

CLOSE-UP:

Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Limited-Edition Chronographs

Since 2002, Chopard has been the partner and official timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, a biennial competition featuring classic race cars from the pre-War period through the 1970s on the world-famous Monte Carlo circuit, along the same route as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. For this year’s race, which starts tomorrow, the...

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May 13, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Close-Up: Breitling Superocean II

We take a take a look at the new Breitling Superocean II to see what distinguishes the latest generation of the Breitling Superocean watch from its forebears.

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May 13, 2016 by Jay Deshpande

SIHH 2016 REVISITED

Three World-Traveler Watches From Indie Watch Brands

World-time and GMT watches were popular at this year's watch fairs, and several of the independent haute horlogerie brands that exhibited at SIHH in Geneva for the first time offered some very interesting new takes on these timepieces aimed at world travelers. Here's a look.

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May 11, 2016 by WatchTime

CLOSE-UP

Patek Philippe Ref. 5230: A New World Time Watch for a More Complicated World

Patek Philippe has been producing some of the world’s most coveted world time watches for nearly 80 years. At this year’s Baselworld, however, the brand announced that it is retiring all existing references in its so-called Heure Universelle collection and launching a new, upgraded model in their place: the Patek Philippe Ref. 5230 World Time....

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May 10, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Eyes on the Boat:

Hands-on with Bremont’s America’s Cup Watch Collection

Bremont sponsors the defending champion Oracle Team USA (OTUSA), and is also the official timing partner to The America’s Cup, a fact reflected in special-edition watches that celebrate its involvement, the more elegant Regatta AC and the Regatta OTUSA

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May 9, 2016 by Roger Ruegger

Sporty Traveler: Breitling for Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body

This year's new Breitling for Bentley watch, the Bentley GMT B04 S Carbon Body, continues Breitling's 2016 theme of using new materials, with case made from a cutting-edge carbon material used in the chassis of Formula One race cars.

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May 7, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Countdown to Mother's Day

Blancpain Ladybird, a Pioneering Ladies’ Watch, Celebrates 60 Years

Mother’s Day, May 8, is just a few days away, and many watch aficionados are still looking for the right timepiece gift with which to express their appreciation to moms, wives, sisters, and other important ladies in their life. As we at WatchTime.com continue to showcase notable ladies’ watches we discovered at this year’s watch...

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May 6, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT: A New Milestone

On May 18, Officine Panerai will open “Panerai: Dive Into Time,” an exhibition showcasing the company’s history, in its birthplace city of Florence, Italy. The exhibition will also mark the debut of the new Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater Carillon Tourbillon GMT, the most complicated Panerai watch ever made. The Panerai Radiomir 1940 Minute Repeater...

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May 3, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

Both Sides Now: Chanel Launches its First Men’s-Only Watch

The Chanel watch brand has never had a watch aimed specifically at men. Enter the Chanel Monsieur, an elegant, high-end watch with a movement designed by Chanel itself: another first for the brand.

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May 2, 2016 by Norma Buchanan

Countdown to Mother's Day

Introducing Solo-32, Bremont’s First Ladies’ Watch Collection

Mother’s Day, May 8, is right around the corner, and many watch aficionados are looking to express their appreciation to moms, wives, sisters, and other important ladies with a well-chosen timepiece. Today, for your consideration, we put the spotlight on an entirely new ladies' watch collection from British watch brand Bremont, the Bremont Solo-32.

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Apr 30, 2016 by Mark Bernardo

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Five Rare Vintage Rolex Watches in Phillips’ May Auction of Steel Chronographs

On May 15, Phillips auction house, in association with Bacs & Russo, will host "Start, Stop, Reset," an auction devoted to important stainless steel chronograph watches, including some highly coveted vintage models from Rolex. Here are the top five Rolex watch highlights from the upcoming auction.

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Apr 26, 2016 by Mark Bernardo