Over $500 Watch Reviews

The Breitling Navitimer 01 is the first Navitimer with the new in-house Breitling B01 movement. The Navitimer is maybe one of a handful of original classic aviator watch designs and Breitling can claim that it’s the only wristwatch chronograph in continuous production for more than 50 years. With the B01 movement, Breitling has recently extended the guarantee of the Navitimer 01 to five years from the typical industry standard of two years.

2012 sees the release of the special limited edition “Steampunk” version of the Tread 1, and I am happy to offer this exclusive review and first ever hands-on look at it. It is Devon’s answer to an artsier version of a mechanical art watch, and it is something which I am happy they decided to make.

This is the Bell & Ross WW1-90-S, a recent model inspired by WW1-era pocketwatch conversions, where the lugs were loops of wire soldered onto the case.

Girard-Perregaux is a solid name in high-end watch making. They produce their own movements in Switzerland, that are even used as base movements for other brands (even MB&F). Their movements are pretty spot on, but what does that mean in a world where it takes a nice movement and nice design to sell an expensive watch?

IWC fan boys (of which there are many) have a serious love affair with the Big Pilot watch family – and it is easy to see why with its large masculine looks and action-ready stance. For review I have checked out one of the new Big Pilot pieces that comes in an all ceramic case and is part of the Top Gun collection.

The Grande Seconde dial made the modern Jaquet Droz watch brand famous. Taken from an interesting 18th century pocket watch with a lovely figure eight style dial, the Grande Seconde wrist watch dial was not only visually appealing, but also resonated well with the Chinese consumer who has a penchant for the number “8.”

If you are in the market for a new mechanical Tissot dive watch then this is the model you probably want. Tissot released this limited edition model as a higher-end version of the standard SeaStar 1000 Chronograph (which we covered here).

When designing this i-Gucci watch I have a feeling I know what Gucci was aiming for. The goal was probably to produce a Casio that hip urban fashion types want to wear…

New analog-digital watches are few and far between, so when we heard that Ocean7 had one we contacted them for a review. It’s called the LM2-AD and I think you’re going to like it. Well, some will – analog-digital is definitely not to everyone’s taste.

I walked into the kitchen with this on and my girl said “nice watch.” I asked her if she knew what made it special or had any idea what it might be worth and she just said “I don’t really care.” That pretty much sums up most people’s perceptions of high horology on this planet.

It appears to me as though Japanese watch makers Citizen and Casio are in a fight. Both of them are doing appreciably better than competitor Seiko, and they are also both pushing forward with highly multi-functional analog watches.

Earlier in 2012 I traveled to Bassano del Grappa in Italy to visit the headquarters of high-end writing instrument maker Montegrappa. The brand has an interesting history both in product and business. Partially because it was acquired by the Richemont Group, and then re-acquired by the family which owned it. I did an interview with their esteemed CEO Giuseppe Aquila here on Centurion if you care to learn more about the brand.

This is the RGM 160. It is on the mid to upper range of RGM watch which don’t use in-house made RGM movements. With a versatile and useful set of complications from the ETA Valjoux 7751 automatic movement, this is a very attractive mix…

This bell-shaped watch is the Stirrup by Ralph Lauren. Equestrians now have another timepiece dedicated to their hobby…