Our Picks
[VIDEO REVIEW] LIV GX-Diver Full Lume
Sporting a completely lumed-out dial, an ETA automatic, 300 m of water resistance, and a 5-year warranty, there are a lot of things to like in the GX-Diver Full Lume. Let’s explore this after-hours superstar in more detail, shall we?
MHD SA2 REVIEW
The SA2 collection, penned by Matthew Humphries, formerly the Chief Designer of Morgan Motor Company and someone with a resume centered around the auto (he is also the “MH” in MHD), is a watch that I love to show to people. It’s a great example of what makes a mechanical watch a genuine connection with time.
Orion Watches “Hellcat” Review
The Hellcat is Orion Watches fifth model and is a sensibly-sized Pilots watch. Powered by a Miyota 9015 automatic and sporting a gorgeous sunburst burgundy dial, the Hellcat is an awesome addition to anyone’s wrist.
Kronhauser Automatik Review
Sensible sizing and well-executed design come together in the Automatik collection from Kronhauser, which proves that nailing the basics is still a winning formula when it comes to microbrand watch design.
[Review] LIV Watches GX1-A in Sky Blue
This is my first taste of what LIV can do, but it’s a great one. Check out the LIV Watches GX1-A, which is my new favorite automatic microbrand watch.
On My Wrist: Akerfalk First Season
Akerfalk watches is a fashion-centric microbrand watch company based out of Sweden. The First Season, currently their only model, comes in many flavors and rings in at a reasonable $248 direct from their website.
My time with the First Season has been enjoyable for a number of reasons, in part because of its classic minimalist aesthetic and tasteful size. Another enjoyable part of my experience with the First Season is its personality, which is polished but quirky. Despite being a 40mm dress piece, I noticed that the watch caught the eye of a number of my friends and colleagues when I wore it to the office. It seems to be a hit- let’s check out why.
Review: Eoniq Alster Automatic
If you fancy yourself a watch designer but lack the technical or artistic ability to do so, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of companies out there that will let you “design” your own watch from the comfort of your web browser. Eoniq is one such company, and in the “design your own watch” niche, they’re also the brand that appeals to me the most.
Eoniq let me build whatever I wanted, and what I wanted was a racey three-hand watch with a small seconds subdial. I received it a few weeks ago, so let’s check it out!
On the Wrist: the Spinnaker Bradner
Not long ago I reviewed the Overboard, a 1000m overbuilt dive watch that can go deeper than you’d ever take it. At the same time I received the Overboard I also took delivery of the Bradner, a casual-wear moderately sized automatic watch that carries a 150m / 500ft water resistance rating. Not bad.
I like the Bradner’s casual style and wrist presence. Let’s take a closer look.
Hands-On: BOLDR Venture
BOLDR Supply Co. is releasing the Venture – a sub-$100 Swiss-quartz powered watch – with an expected ship date of November of this year. Pre-orders are taking place right now. They asked if I’d be interested in showing the Venture to my readers, and after assessing the watch hands on, I am happy to give you a look.
This is a pre-production unit, but if it’s representative of the final product, the Venture will be a good watch to buy.
Scurfa Watches Diver One
Several weeks back a reader emailed me asking if I’d ever seen a watch from Scurfa Watches hands-on. Scurfa, a microbrand based out of the UK, is owned by Paul Scurfield. A North Sea pressure diver, Paul created Scurfa in order to build dive watches that gave divers high-end capability… but at an affordable price.
Scurfa is a two-person brand – my favorite kind of company – and so I decided to buy a Diver One Blue and get my feet wet. Let’s dive in.
Hands-On With the Votum New Classic
Votum as a brand has an interesting legacy that spans the course of over five decades, and its new iteration promises to retain the personality and quality the brand has historically been known for. When they reached out to me approximately two months ago about reviewing one of their pieces, I was eager to accept.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub Auto Review
I have talked about Hamilton watches quite a lot on WYCA over the years because their mid-range price point puts them right in the upper-end of affordable for most people. “Watch people” might spend north of $1,500 on a watch without hesitation, but for most that’s simply a bit too much. $500 or $600, though? That’s more manageable.
Priced on the grey market in the $490 – $525 range, the Sub Auto is an affordable Swiss-made dive watch with an ETA 2824-2 in it. This is my favorite price range to shop in, and so I definitely appreciated a chance to assess the Sub Auto hands-on. Let’s check it out.
Hands-On With the James McCabe Heritage Retrograde
Six weeks back I received an e-mail from Drew Meyer, who represents several watch brands. Among them is James McCabe, a highly-stylized microbrand that is doing what brands like Lucien Piccard should have done. Not long after that e-mail, the Heritage Retrograde arrived at my doorstep – courtesy of Drew – and it has commanded my interest ever since.
As the photos within this review will undoubtedly show, the Heritage Retrograde – a sub-$300 quartz casual watch – is among the most excellently styled (and stylized) watches I have come across in a good long time (if not ever). The real question is: is it a good watch? I suppose you’ll have to read on to find out.
Timex Waterbury Classic in Rose Gold
The Waterbury collection is Timex’s dressier line of affordables, with timeless styling and a multitude of options in terms of sizes, straps/bracelets, and color schemes. On my wrist here is the is the Classic 36mm in rose gold and brown crocodile-grain leather (model: TW2R72500VQ), which is a unisex dress suitable for most occasions.
With an MSRP just north of $100, the Waterbury Classic is an affordable and upscale looking watch that fits in most circumstances. Thanks to its size, it’s also a unisex watch that is equally comfortable on the wrist of a man or a woman (as Melissa and Don demonstrate here).