Independent watch news and in-depth reviews covering new releases, heritage models, and modern tool watches—reported with context, history, and perspective.
Independent watch news and in-depth reviews
Rado True Round x Les Couleurs Le Corbusier Special Edition: Concrete, Colour, and Memory
By Ken Syrmopoulos Inspired by architecture and design When the team at The Calibrated Wrist reached out to me and asked if I was interested in doing a review of the new Rado Le Corbusier lineup, I didn’t hesitate. This line means something to me because I attended university for architecture and, in my second… Continue reading Rado True Round x Les Couleurs Le Corbusier Special Edition: Concrete, Colour, and Memory
Hands on with the Urbanite GMT from Lacité
By Matt Black Montréal on the Wrist, the World on the Mind For some microbrands and independents, the first release can feel like a proof of concept. Wait, stop– et me get this out of the way: I don’t even mean that as a slight given the amount of vision, dedication and sacrifice that go… Continue reading Hands on with the Urbanite GMT from Lacité
This Week in Time (May 16th-22nd)
Welcome back to This Week in Time. Your time matters to us, and we’re committed to keeping this space sharp, thoughtful, and easy to read. Below, you’ll find a quick, curated summary of everything we’ve published this week—your ready-made guide to the conversations, releases, and reviews shaping the watch world right now… and a little more.… Continue reading This Week in Time (May 16th-22nd)
Micromilspec x Black Badger Broken Hour GMT Introduces Comic-Book Chaos to Tool Watch Design
By Brent Robillard Not your average watch brand Having encountered Micromilspec at three different watch shows now, one thing is clear—you have to wait your turn. Even at their double-wide corner booth at the Vancouver Timepiece Show, brand representatives were beset by enthusiasts all weekend. Sometimes three and four people deep. I might also add,… Continue reading Micromilspec x Black Badger Broken Hour GMT Introduces Comic-Book Chaos to Tool Watch Design
Elliot Brown introduce the Beachmaster Automatic Signature
By Brent Robillard No nonsense tool watches After spending time with numerous Elliot Brown watches here in the studio and at a number of shows and industry events, I’ve come to appreciate that the brand occupies an interesting middle ground in modern watchmaking. Their watches are clearly designed with hard use in mind, but they… Continue reading Elliot Brown introduce the Beachmaster Automatic Signature
OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph 007 First Light Introduced
By Brent Robillard Bond, But Not as We Know Him Let’s start here: I am not a gamer. Not really. My adult gaming experience has largely consisted of trying to remember guitar chords in Rocksmith or leading the Gunners to another disappointing FIFA season. Yet somehow, OMEGA has still managed to trigger a completely unreasonable… Continue reading OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph 007 First Light Introduced
George Russell Visits IWC Royalmount Boutique Ahead of the Montreal Grand Prix
by Brent Robillard F1 comes to town Yesterday evening at the IWC Boutique in Royalmount Mall the line between motorsport and watch collecting blurred almost completely. Inside a packed reception area, invited guests gathered shoulder to shoulder for an intimate meet-and-greet with George Russell, while in the wings, spectators filled the mezzanine levels hoping to… Continue reading George Russell Visits IWC Royalmount Boutique Ahead of the Montreal Grand Prix
Serica Ref. 7505: A Compact Field Watch Done Right
By Brent Robillard How it all comes together Certain brands take up a disproportionate amount of my attention. I try to stay abreast of developments in the watch world, of course. But the enthusiast in me plays favourites. And Serica is just one of those brands that lives rent free in my mind. In the… Continue reading Serica Ref. 7505: A Compact Field Watch Done Right
AWAKE Sơn Mài Guilloché Main: Handcrafted Métiers d’Art Dials
By Brent Robillard Artisanal detail I’ve always admired what AWAKE has been doing. Ever since I first encountered the brand last year, there has been a sense that they were approaching dial design from a different angle than many of their contemporaries. Their watches have never relied solely on specifications or familiar luxury cues to… Continue reading AWAKE Sơn Mài Guilloché Main: Handcrafted Métiers d’Art Dials
Atelier Wen Perception V3: French Calibre Meets Chinese Guilloché
By Brent Robillard Take three I first encountered the Atelier Wen Perception the way many good watch discoveries happen: across a table at a RedBar meetup. In this case, it was during an event in Ottawa-Gatineau. My friend Daniel told me there was something that I had to see. That tends to happen with guilloché,… Continue reading Atelier Wen Perception V3: French Calibre Meets Chinese Guilloché
Longines Legend Diver 59: The Return of the 42mm Compressor-Inspired Classic
By Brent Robillard Forward to the past The first time I saw the new Longines Legend Diver 59 was back in March during a Longines novelties presentation in Mexico City. Truthfully, I had a hard time deciding whether this or the new HydroConquest was my favourite dive release from the brand this year. They approach… Continue reading Longines Legend Diver 59: The Return of the 42mm Compressor-Inspired Classic
Ollech & Wajs: The OW Compendium – ‘PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY’ Edition
by Brent Robillard Seventy years of watchmaking When I first met Charles LeMenestrel in Geneva in 2024, I was already a fan of Ollech & Wajs. What I didn’t realize at the time was that a simple dinner—and the opportunity to handle pieces from his personal vintage OW collection—would set both Ollech & Wajs and The… Continue reading Ollech & Wajs: The OW Compendium – ‘PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY’ Edition
This Week in Time (May 9th-15th)
Welcome back to This Week in Time. Your time matters to us, and we’re committed to keeping this space sharp, thoughtful, and easy to read. Below, you’ll find a quick, curated summary of everything we’ve published this week—your ready-made guide to the conversations, releases, and reviews shaping the watch world right now… and a little more.… Continue reading This Week in Time (May 9th-15th)
Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A: Vintage Skin Diver Charm Reimagined
By Brent Robillard Nostalgia A good skin diver awakens a sense of nostalgia within me. Not just about the watches themselves, but about the world they came from. The early recreational diving boom of the 1960s carried with it a certain optimism. Sunny coastlines. Wood-panelled station wagons. Surfboards strapped to roofs. Cigarette boats bobbing offshore.… Continue reading Sheffield Allsport Diver 1A: Vintage Skin Diver Charm Reimagined
Isotope Marks 10 Years with Five New Releases Across Moonshot, Mercury, and Flyway Collections
By Brent Robillard Tin Anniversary Isotope has been particularly active throughout its tenth anniversary year. The independent British brand, led by founder José Miranda, has steadily expanded its catalogue over the past decade without ever really settling into one predictable aesthetic lane. That was evident again during Watches and Wonders week in Geneva, where I… Continue reading Isotope Marks 10 Years with Five New Releases Across Moonshot, Mercury, and Flyway Collections
Swatch × Audemars Piguet “Royal Pop”: provocation or a new grammar of visibility?
By Sylvia Bonfanti Shifting the logic For years, collaborations in luxury watchmaking have followed a predictable pattern: limited editions kept within corporate groups, tightly controlled heritage, selective distribution, and a clear separation between accessibility and high-end horology. Then came the MoonSwatch. Queues outside boutiques, immediate resale, social media saturation, and a conversation that extended far… Continue reading Swatch × Audemars Piguet “Royal Pop”: provocation or a new grammar of visibility?
Marathon Watch Unveils Limited-Edition 41mm Navigator to Celebrate the U.S. 250th
By Brent Robillard Happy Independence Day That Marathon would choose to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a Navigator couldn’t be more fitting. Few collections in the brand’s catalogue feel more closely tied to military history and practical service than the long-running Pilot’s Navigator line. There is also a nice sense of… Continue reading Marathon Watch Unveils Limited-Edition 41mm Navigator to Celebrate the U.S. 250th
This Week in Time (May 4th – 8th)
Welcome back to This Week in Time. Your time matters to us, and we’re committed to keeping this space sharp, thoughtful, and easy to read. Below, you’ll find a quick, curated summary of everything we’ve published this week—your ready-made guide to the conversations, releases, and reviews shaping the watch world right now… and a little more.… Continue reading This Week in Time (May 4th – 8th)
The Sheffield Solar Steel and Diver 1 White
Article by Russ Michaud; photography by Brent Robillard Value for money Sheffield has quietly cornered the market lately with affordable quality in their dive watch lineup. Offering varying options of movements, colours, and price points, they’re bringing a degree of accessibility to a hobby often associated with much larger brands like Timex, Casio, Citizen and… Continue reading The Sheffield Solar Steel and Diver 1 White
HAUTE-RIVE, Stéphane von Gunten, and the Honoris Strato in Steel
by Brent Robillard One thousand hours I first met Stéphane von Gunten in the attic of Villa Sarasin during Time to Watches a couple of years ago. It was warm, slightly chaotic, and full of the kind of independent energy that tends to collect under old wooden beams. I can’t really forget the moment as… Continue reading HAUTE-RIVE, Stéphane von Gunten, and the Honoris Strato in Steel
Tennet Argonaut: A Design-Driven Dive Watch with Personality
Article by Marc Levesque; photography by Bob Allaby Worth the wait I had the chance to write about Tennet in late 2024 for an article published on Worn & Wound. It was part of my monthly Micro-Brand Digest column, and I selected Tennet because their watches genuinely stood out as well-designed and authentic. They are… Continue reading Tennet Argonaut: A Design-Driven Dive Watch with Personality
Kaplans Important Watches, Spring 2026: On the Edge of the Auction Block
by Brent Robillard Between owners and eras Maybe it’s just me, but I think there is a particular kind of tension that comes with an auction catalogue. Or perhaps it’s just excitement. It is not the same as browsing a retailer’s site or even stepping into a boutique. Here, every watch exists in a kind… Continue reading Kaplans Important Watches, Spring 2026: On the Edge of the Auction Block
Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26”
By Brent Robillard C26 There’s a certain rhythm to Tudor’s involvement in motorsport now. Each season seems to bring with it a new chronograph tied to the grid, and for 2026 that watch is the Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26.” And the timing feels bang on. With the Canadian Grand Prix just around the corner—and… Continue reading Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Carbon 26”
Nodus Obscura II: A Mechanical Exposure Tool for Photographers
Article by Marc Levesque; photography by James Cornish Thoughtfully designed tool watches Nodus has carved out a unique niche in the enthusiast market with its well-crafted, thoughtfully designed tool watches that emphasize wearability and practical use rather than gimmicks. However, the Obscura II marks a distinct departure from their usual offerings. At first glance, the… Continue reading Nodus Obscura II: A Mechanical Exposure Tool for Photographers
Outline Watches 3-6-9 Special “Honeycomb” Tropical
by Tyler Frederick I had a blast I sit here typing, reflecting on the last few years, the time I’ve spent connecting with so many creators, brands, and friends, and it all started with posting my Fossil watches back in 2016. Ten years later, I’ve had so many beautiful experiences, and one that I’m writing… Continue reading Outline Watches 3-6-9 Special “Honeycomb” Tropical
Retrovivo RV02
by Tyler Frederick Orange Daze Retrovivo is back at it again with another release. I had the opportunity to check out their initial release of the RV01, which was a tool/field watch-adjacent design that had a slight dress watch vibe. It was super comfortable, lightweight thanks to the Seiko VH31, and was a watch that… Continue reading Retrovivo RV02
CIGA design Hunter
by Tyler Frederick Black on gold Oh man, I’ve been waiting for this. I’m such a big fan of CIGA design, and having the chance to check out their previous Eye of Horus, Magician, and the recent review of the Edge Exploration, I’m always stoked to get their watches to see what “weird” they’re bringing… Continue reading CIGA design Hunter
Sheffield Chrono II
by Tyler Frederick – Photography by Brent Robillard Beauty in Gulf Livery Blue I’m back with yet another review, and I’m stoked to get into this one. My last Sheffield watch was the pretty-in-pink Allsport 1A 38 Pink Steel—a budget-friendly pleasant surprise that felt great on the wrist, and that pink dial popped. Now, we’re… Continue reading Sheffield Chrono II
Spinnaker Piccard in Volcano Black
by Tyler Frederick Dive deep (like really deep…) This review won’t be as long as my usual for two reasons: this is a watch I’ve personally been obsessed with for a long time and might carry a slight bias, and two, it’s so unnecessary, but I’m so happy a watch like this exists. Brands have… Continue reading Spinnaker Piccard in Volcano Black
Sheffield Allsport 1A 38 Pink Steel
Written by Tyler Frederick – Photography by Brent Robillard Pretty in Pink (Steel) There are two things I’m an absolute sucker for: budget-friendly watches and pink dials. Put the two together, and I’m a very happy camper. Brent approached me recently about a couple of watches from Sheffield, and when he told me one of… Continue reading Sheffield Allsport 1A 38 Pink Steel