Watch Reviews

Swatch Originals "Swiss Around the Clock" SUOR106

Swatch Originals “Swiss Around the Clock”

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The Around the Clock – newly released in 2017 – takes a similar approach to its appearance the Irony, displaying its quartz movement visible through its open heart dial. Not quite a skeleton, but satisfying nonetheless.

It’s somewhat rare for quartz-powered watches to show off the movement, and that’s a shame: a quartz might have fewer gears to look at, but they’re still interesting in their own right. Clearly, the Around the Clock agrees with my sentiment

It’s true, though: you either love it or you hate it. More than one person that I asked about the AtC found its intensity off-putting, but just as many thought it was awesome. I suspect by now that you already know which camp you’re a part of.

Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer FC-270SW4P5

Frederique Constant Classics Business Timer Moonphase

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In December, I had the unbelievable luxury of being able to pick any watch I wanted to photograph and review. So, I thought it’d be nice to check out another Frederique Constant and picked the FC-270SW4P5 Business Timer. This upscale quartz is packed with the usual trimmings (sappphire/etc.) and three subdials: day/date, and moonphase.

Seiko Prospex Solar World Time SSC509

Seiko Prospex Solar SSC509 World Time Review

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If your New Year’s resolution involves travel plans, you’re going to want a watch to come along for the ride. Frequent fliers will especially appreciate this Seiko Prospex World Time, both for its functionality (more on that below) and its build quality. Currently listed for just under $300 on Certified Watch Store ($278 actually), the Prospex Solar World Time is price competitive with most Citizens (in fact, it’s priced much better than most Citizen world time’s) and offers its wearer an assortment of functions/complications (including an alarm and chronograph function).

Timex Easy Reader 40th Anniversary Edition

Timex Easy Reader 40th Anniversary Edition Review

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The Easy Reader series from Timex is quite popular. According to SEMRush, the keyword “Timex easy reader” is searched nearly 2,000 times per month in the USA on its own– nevermind all the permutations of it. When considering Canada and the UK, as well as variations of “Timex Easy Reader”, monthly search volume climbs to north of 12,000 searches per month. Suffice to say, it’s a popular piece.

Why it took me so long to order one off of Amazon (this one is a gift for my father in law) I don’t know, but here we are: Timex Easy Reader on the wrist, and with great things to say. Let’s check it out.

Evarii Vader Automatic Hands-On Review

Egard Evarii “Vader” Hands-On Review

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Check out this modular/interchangeable watch from Egard! On my wrist is the Vader, which is the name of the collection of parts used to build the watch as opposed to that of the watch itself. The dial is named the Dillishaw, and the other components (case, bezel, strap/bracelet) are given no name at all, so Vader it is (rolls off the tongue easier than Dillishaw).

Movado Luno 0607041 Review

Movado Luno Review

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The Luno I have here is the first Movado I’ve actually reviewed and worn hands-on. It’s funny how 100+ watches have come across my desk, and yet none from Movado. As one of the few Swiss watchmakers that is known and appreciated by “non watch people”, it’s about time I wore one and checked them out.

Mido Commander II Datoday Automatic

Mido Commander II Review

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The Commander II is quite typical of an entry-level luxury watch from a Swatch-group manufacturer: it’s an automatic, made with upper-end materials, priced in the $600 range in the grey market ($1,000ish MSRP – like most of the Hamilton’s and Tissot’s of a similar caliber I’ve reviewed).

In any case, I was excited to get some hands-on time with the Mido Commander II (in gold, of course).

Mido Multifort Automatic Day/Date Review

Mido Multifort Review

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The Multifort Day/Date I have here is my first hands-on experience with Mido; it’s also one of the better-looking versions of the Multifort collection (though all of them are attractive). I prefer clean, purposeful design, and the gold/white dial/brown leather combination I have here is well-styled by such definition.

This watch scratches all the right aesthetic itches.

Casio Edifice World Time

Casio Edifice World Time Review

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I’ve wanted to spend more time with some of Casio’s other lines, such as the G-Shock and, yes, Edifice, for a while now. Back in September Don posted a great piece on Casio watches, and since then I’ve been actively looking for a way to get some wrist time with an upscale Casio.

I’ve wanted to spend more time with some of Casio’s other lines, such as the G-Shock and, yes, Edifice, for a while now. Back in September Don posted a great piece on Casio watches, and since then I’ve been actively looking for a way to get some wrist time with an upscale Casio.

Frederique Constant Classics Automatic - FC-306MC4S36

Frederique Constant Slimline Classics Automatic Review

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The Slimline Classics is the first Frederique Constant I’ve reviewed on WYCA, and when I received it I was quite excited to get some wrist time. At this price point, Frederique Constant competes directly against brands I’ve gotten plenty of hands-on experience with (Hamilton, Tissot, and Seiko) and I was curious to see how it compared.

The model I have here is among the lease complicated in the collection, featuring a guilloche dial and a date display at 6 o’clock. Other models in the range feature small seconds, moonphase complications, and an assortment of styles. Regular readers know that my style is conservative, and the one I have here is my preferred version.

Mileneal Classic Watch Review

Mileneal Classic Hands-On Watch Review

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Ahh, that new watch smell- gotta love it! Here on my desk is the Mileneal Classic Rose Gold White, which is – you guessed it – a classically-designed watch in rose gold and white. Smartly dressed, affordably priced, and available for pre-order now on Kickstarter, you may be asking yourself: is this micro worth my money? Is it it a smart buy? Why should I buy it? All good questions, and ones I hope to answer in this hands-on review.

Swatch Irony "Body & Soul" YAS100G

Swatch Irony “Body & Soul” YAS100G Hands-On Review

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Every watch geek goes through a “skeleton” phase. If you’re there now, the Swatch “Body & Soul” YAS100G is a pretty affordable pick. But is it any good? That’s the question we’re looking to answer today!

The MSRP on the Body and Soul is just north of $175, but astute Amazon shoppers will see it for around $150. For $150, you can get a lot of mechanical or automatic skeletons. So, is the Swatch better, and if so, why?

Oath Black Tie

Oath Black Tie Review

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In a price point dominated by the Weekender, Seiko 5, and other affordable heavyweights, it’s easy to overlook the microbrands out there offering something different for the same money. You’d be forgiven for doing so, but the omission can be a real shame. Take this Oath, for example: currently on sale for $50 (shipping included, $110 regular), it’s an ultra-affordable quartz that’s definitely worth your eye.

In true WYCA fashion, I warmed up the Tamron macro and got to shooting. Let’s check it out.

Svarntai Cordova Rose Gold

Svarntai Cordova Rose Gold Review

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This Svarntai hit my desk at a great time- wifey was looking for a larger rose gold piece to wear on the daily. Something that would keep looking good week after week, wear after wear. This ivory and rose gold beauty, equipped with sapphire (of course), fits the bill nicely.