The Battle of Elegant Time-Only Watches Part 3 - Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat vs. Grand Seiko SBWG231 - The Verdict - Monochrome Watches
There are moments in life that call for an elegant, time-only watch. Situations in which a strapping tool watch with protruding pushers and a glowing dial won't look quite right. If you are in the market for a handsome, straightforward time-only watch we have two very interesting candidates as different in looks as their cultural backgrounds. The Drive de Cartier is a tres French take on elegance and refinement; the Grand Seiko SBGW231 is also a very elegant and refined watch but interpreted from a Japanese aesthetic. Let's put them side by side and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of each watch before we formulate a verdict. Case size and presence on the wristThe Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat has a diameter of 39mm and a case height of 6.6mm, proportions that categorically affirm its status as a dress watch. The cushion-shaped case of the Drive spells Cartier over and over again and seems to have been a member of Cartier's renowned family of shaped watches forev

Value Proposition - Delma Continental Chronograph (Hands-On, Price)
Throwback chronographs are everywhere these days with pricing all over the map. At the upper end, there are truly iconic pieces like the Breguet Type XX and Daytona. A wide variety of brands offer more affordable options for us common folk - the Hamilton Intra-Matic Automatic Chronograph and Longines Avigation BigEye come to mind. Delma recently introduced an intriguing, vintage-inspired chronograph that harkens back to its 1960's bicompax models. Available in a surprising amount of dial and case colour combinations, the new Continental Chronograph is a value proposition for those seeking that mid-century vibe without breaking the bank.?BackgroundDelma is among the increasingly rare independent, family-owned brands with a history going back almost a century. Founded in 1924 in Lengnau, Switzerland by brothers Adolf and Albert Gilomen, the company was originally called Thuya. The Delma name was first used in 1933 for pocket and wristwatches and became the brand's official name in 1966

Hands-On - Certina DS Powermatic 80 Collection 2021 (Specs & Price)
When a few weeks ago Certina presented its new DS Powermatic 80 Collection, I personally thought “OK, that looks quite cool and has some serious mechanical content.” But it also made me think about the first mechanical watch… If like me you’re a watch lover, the first mechanical watch is important. And at the same time, you think about spoiled kids on Instagram… There’s a certain balance to find. Which made me think again that this new model could well be a strong candidate for this job. And now that we’ve seen the Certina DS Powermatic 80 in the metal, it’s time to look at this question.What is the DS Powermatic 80 Collection? In short, a watch from the Heritage collection, inspired by the DS Chronograph Automatic of 2020 – a re-edition of a Certina chronograph from the 1940s – but here in a time-and-date context, with retro style, serious execution, strong movement and just a bit of fun in its design. And a price that feels

Introducing the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Enamel, Engraved and Diamond-set - Monochrome Watches
Ultra-thin timepieces and the name Piaget have gone hand-in-hand for many decades. So it will not come as a shock that Piaget introduced a number of?varieties on the?ultra-thin skeletonized calibre 1200S. That’s the movement of the Piaget Altiplano 1200, which is the world’s thinnest automatic skeletonized watch. As if that wasn’t enough Piaget now adds engravings, diamonds and even enamel, to the tiny, tiny, skeletonized bridges. And that looks pretty awesome.?The Altiplano models with calibre 1200 measure 38mm in diameter and are of course ultra-thin (the “standard” version with calibre 1200S?is?5.34 mm thick.) Today we’ll focus on the version with the enamel filled bridges, dubbed calibre 1200E. The other new models?featuring fully engraved skeletonized bridges (calibre 1200E) or diamond-set skeletonized bridges (calibre 1200D) are also magnificent masterpieces of the craftsmen at the Piaget manufacture, where they are specialized in engraving en

Introducing The Tissot PRX Blue Panda Chrono & New Rubber Straps
The PRX Collection, Tissot’s take on the 1970s-inspired sporty-chic watch with an integrated bracelet, seems to be a never-ending story. Last week, we broke the news about the imminent launch of a highly anticipated version, the Ice Blue edition of the Powermatic 80 – a colour first seen on the 35mm quartz version. But there’s more… The Ice Blue PRX was only one of the new models released for this season, and Tissot has more under its sleeve. And that includes the long-awaited rubber strap, which will finally make the quick-change device useful. And there’s a new, rather appealing chrono too.?The New Silver-Blue Panda PRX ChronographFirst, and following the two inaugural editions released last year, Tissot adds a new colour scheme to its big and bold Valjoux-powered PRX Chronograph. The first two models had vertically brushed dials in blue with silver counters or silver with black counters and gold accents. Now, the brand adds a sportier touch with a new s