When you think of watchmaking, Switzerland is probably the first country that comes to mind. The Swiss reputation for watchmaking is well-earned. Many of the world’s top brands, including Rolex and Omega, are produced there. But this doesn’t mean that other countries are incapable of making their own good watches. In recent years, American and […]

Simply put, the term “tool watch” refers to a watch that’s designed to achieve a specific purpose. For example, a dive watch will have a high depth rating, a rotating bezel, and a high-visibility dial. Similarly, a pilot’s watch will have built-in tools for navigation. One thing that all decent tool watches have in common […]

If you’re buying a mechanical watch, you’re looking for more than just a way to tell the time. If all you want is an accurate timepiece, you can plunk down $20 for a Casio and call it a day. In fact, there’s a good chance that a cheap Casio will be more accurate than an […]

It’s no secret that different countries are known for being good at producing different things. If you want the best electronics, buy Japanese. If you want a precision-built power tool or motor, buy German. And if you want a good watch, buy Swiss. That’s where they make all the best watches, right? It’s true that […]

Just like old-school hand-wound watches, mechanical watches work on the basis of mechanical energy stored in a wound spring. The more tightly wound the spring is, the longer the watch will continue ticking without the need to be wound. The only real difference between a hand-wound watch and an automatic is the way the spring […]

When you think about everything that goes into a mechanical watch, it’s a miracle they can even exist. You’re looking at a set of tiny gears, springs, and rotors that keep time within a few seconds per day. In many cases, there needs to be additional space for dial complications, date windows, and so on. […]

There are watches, and then there are watches. You know what I’m talking about. The first kind of watch can be just fine. They can even be great in their own right. For example, I’ve reviewed a ton of limited-edition racing and aviation watches that can be worth their weight in gold to the right […]

The term “sector dial” is a little bit vague, and the exact definition can vary depending on who you ask. As a result, manufacturers have a lot of fudge factor when they design one. In general, when I’m looking for a sector watch, I’m looking for a watch with concentric outer rings. One of these […]

In the world of automatic watches, Swiss manufacturers get a lot of attention. This is to be expected. After all, Switzerland is the world capital of watchmaking, and most of the best movements are manufactured there. Going over my past reviews, I’d estimate that 80 percent or more are manufactured in Switzerland, and even more […]