I have had quite a few different case materials cross my desk over the last three years, though most of them tend to be a metal of some sort. I have also had a handful of watches with carbon fiber dials, so I’m not unfamiliar with the material. That all said, I have not spent any time with a carbon fiber monocoque case – that is, until the ITAnano Phanton Carbon 43 Quartz came in for review.
What makes a watch cheap, and what makes it inexpensive? In both cases, the watch itself has to be sold at a low price point, but the former only has that going for it, while the latter offers something else, a deign, a point of interest, some reason to like the watch other than the price. The Twigs Woodwear Natural Time is an inexpensive watch, not necessarily a cheap one. At $50 or less, it hits a low price point, but it offers something back in the way of the materials of construction.
A trio of watches have popped up on Kickstarter lately, one from a brand we know, one associated with a brand we know, and one from a newcomer. There is the Portsea by Melbourne Watch Company, a brand who’s previous watch I reviewed, and liked a lot. Second up is the inaugural model from Throne Watches. Though it is a new brand, assembly is being outsourced to Smith & Bradley, a brand Patrick has covered. Finally is the newcomer, Instrmnt Limited, with the Instrmnt 01.
You learn something new every day. I had seen Tsovet watches on-line and in stores, and with the “Swiss Made” designation, I just figured they were a European brand selling their wares on these shores. Little did I realize that the brand is actually out of Newport Beach, a mere couple of miles from where I sit writing this review. The Watch Co., an authorized retailer of Tsovet watches was kind enough to send me one a Tsovet SVT-RS40 men’s analog watches for review, and I have really enjoyed wearing it.
When it comes to military-inspired watches, we really don’t have a shortage of options. When it comes to watches that have actually been issued to a military force, and then made available to the general public, well, that’s a much smaller pool of companies. One of the latest to join those ranks is the Gavox Squadron.
Steinhart is a brand that gets a lot of mention when one is looking for a value brand in Swiss watches. Most of their offerings are well made and attractive, and come at price points that are reachable for the average beginning collector, or someone looking to step up from a quartz watch. A new watch from the firm, the Marine Chronograh, fits nicely in that mold.
I know it is Spring for everyone else, but I live in Southern California, and it is pretty nice year round, so I don’t really get the winter blues (but I did love seeing your weather troubles Patrick). So with great weather around, my mind automatically turns to hockey, with the LA Kings playing the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. No matter who wins, So. Cal. is headed to the next round. So when I saw the Noble Watch project, the Pursuit, on Kickstarter, my immediate association was ‘hockey puck.’
Christopher Ward C5 Slimline 03
Christopher Ward is a name that is well known to the site. My favorite watch that I own is a C11, I am pretty sure Patrick has at least one CW, and a friend of mine recently picked up a dress quartz from the company. With direct sales, quality products, and a broad design appeal, they are a company that I can easy recommend to anyone looking for a watch. Right now, they are accepting pre-orders for the C5 Malvern Slimline, due to ship at the end of June.
I have long been fascinated with skeletonized watches. Apart from the sweep of the second hand, there is not a lot to indicate that a watch is an automatic, especially if it is on your wrist and the caseback is not in view. With a skeleton, the guts are on display with the balance wheel, at the very least, ticking away the time. The Earnshaw Longcase brings a skeletonized automatic down to an attractive price point, with the list at $600, but the street price often significantly lower.
Arnold & Son, the Swiss haute watchmakers, have been busy of late and have announced several new watches to be shown at Baselworld. 2014 is also the 250th anniversary for the brand, so it seems that parties are taking a back seat to new watches.
