BuyingTime Daily - May 25, 2026
Richemont leans on jewelry, Rolex’s colorful OP surges, AP goes fashion-forward, and fake Rolex fears grow louder in today’s watch universe.
Time Graphing today’s watch universe
Today’s watch universe begins with Richemont, where jewelry is doing the heavy lifting while watches continue to look for firmer footing. Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier helped turn the group into a jewelry-led machine, while specialist watch brands such as A. Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin showed signs of improvement in the second half. The watch division is not exactly popping champagne, but at least it appears to have located the bottle.
The features today range from affordable sanity to extreme mechanical excess. One piece makes the case that Casio, Timex, and Seiko still know how to make cheap watches that do not look cheap, which remains useful information for anyone not currently shopping for a six-figure tourbillon. Bezel also gets a closer look, with its co-founders talking trust, AI, authentication, auctions, and the always-delicate subject of Rolex Pepsi pricing. Meanwhile, the legendary Leroy 01 reminds everyone that watchmakers were doing wildly impractical things long before Instagram rewarded them for it.
New watches arrive with plenty of sparkle and spectacle. Blancpain adds two gem-heavy Ladybird Colors models, G-SHOCK celebrates Coca-Cola’s 140th anniversary with a sold-out GA-2100 collaboration, Louis Vuitton turns its Color Blossom jewelry motif into timepieces, Marco Tedeschi advances the MT1.1 Tourbillon 7 Jours, MB&F gem-sets the LM Perpetual into Chromatic editions, and Union Glashütte gives the Noramis Date a Petro Surf automotive spin.
The reviews cover a very wide spread, from the approachable BA111OD Chapter 7 Skeleton and Raven Trekker to the more collector-intense H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Skeleton and Marco Lang Seven Spheres. Citizen also gets points for making a grown-up Star Wars watch with its ATTESA Mandalorian Beskar, while Serica and Unimatic continue proving that compact, useful, and distinctive tool watches still matter.
Comparison Time keeps things practical, with guides to GMT watches under $1,000, alternatives to the IWC Big Pilot, solar field watches from Timex and Vaer, and six sub-€1,000 watches that argue value collecting is still alive. Deal Time heads into vintage and auction territory, including diver finds on eBay, an Omega Marine Chronometer, a Zenith 2000, Christie’s Hong Kong exotica, and Phillips’ heavy dose of Patek Philippe complications.
The videos lean heavily into collector psychology today: why people keep buying watches, how collectors ruin their own collections, what seven watches to buy starting over in 2026, how to choose a dive watch, which Omega Speedmaster Professional to get, why Grand Seiko keeps gaining ground, and why fake Rolex watches may be reshaping the verified-versus-unverified market. There is also time for Czapek, A. Lange & Söhne at Villa d’Este, movie watches, and the ongoing Swatch × Audemars Piguet Royal Pop debate, because apparently the watch world needed one more thing to argue about.
At auction, Friday’s Patek Philippe Cubitus Instantaneous Grand Date in platinum was bid to $98,600 but did not meet reserve, which says something about both demand and ambition. Today’s highlighted GetBezel auction is the 2026 Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 Multicolored Jubilee Motif, currently bid at $18,750 ahead of its noon EDT close. It may be Rolex’s most playful OP in years, and naturally that means the secondary market has already decided fun should come with a premium.
–Michael Wolf
News Time
Jewellery compensates for Richemont’s challenge with watches
Richemont’s latest financial results underline how decisively the group has become a jewelry-led business, with Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccellati, and Vhernier driving the bulk of both revenue and operating profit. Jewelry generated €16.5B in sales and about €5.0B in operating profit at a ~30% margin, while watches delivered €7.16B in sales but far less profit contribution. The specialist watch division still saw declines, yet the second half improved in the Americas and for marquee brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin. Richemont is also reshaping distribution—reducing watch boutiques while investing selectively—and plans to sell Baume & Mercier to Damiani to sharpen focus on higher-performing segments.
Industry News: Richemont Reports Solid 11% Annual Growth for the Year Ended March 2026 - Read More >
Feature Time
The Best Cheap Watches Don’t Look Cheap
This piece argues that you don’t need luxury-brand prices to get a watch that looks good and performs well, and it highlights how mainstream makers like Casio, Timex, and Seiko offer strong options under $250. It pushes back on the idea that budget watches must be basic digitals or bland dress pieces, showing how much variety exists in affordable categories like divers, field watches, and retro designs. A curated list then grounds the argument with specific picks, prices, and buying links to make the “good and cheap” case practical. The takeaway is that smart curation and competitive pricing make entry-level collecting genuinely accessible without sacrificing style.
Bezel co-founders on trust, AI and Rolex Pepsi prices
Bezel positions itself as a tech-forward secondary-market platform built around trust, using strict authentication, transparency, and a concierge-style buying experience. It operates “asset-light,” letting sellers keep watches until sale, and complements standard listings with a faster auction format that now drives roughly half of sales. The company is scaling quickly—pointing to strong repeat buying and high average order value—while still rejecting a significant share of listings that don’t meet standards. Its AI-driven operations and discovery, combined with expert final authentication, are framed as the key to expanding liquidity and confidence in a market where buyers increasingly demand proof and service.
In Depth: Leroy 01
The Leroy 01 began as an ambitious late-1890s commission and went on to become the world’s most complicated watch for decades, combining an extraordinary set of indications across chronometry, calendar, striking, scientific, and astronomical functions. Built through a network of specialist Swiss artisans, it incorporated bespoke components like astronomical cams, a hygrometer, and interchangeable celestial charts tailored to different cities. After premiering at the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition and eventually changing hands over the 20th century, it became a museum piece with legendary status. Today it stands as a landmark of collaborative horological engineering and a symbol of the cultural ambition behind extreme complication.
Inside Audemars Piguet’s collab with Ambush on new Royal Oak Concept
Audemars Piguet and Tokyo streetwear label Ambush teamed up on a limited Royal Oak Concept that mixes high-tech watchmaking with a bold, fashion-forward design language. The watch pairs a smaller, more wearable case size with a flying tourbillon movement and a striking red tourbillon cage that becomes the visual focal point. Its semi-skeletonized architecture and dark, high-contrast materials emphasize transparency and technical drama while keeping the aesthetic tightly monochrome. The collaboration is positioned as part of AP’s broader strategy to stay culturally relevant by connecting haute horology with contemporary art, design, and fashion.
The ABCs of Time: A Guide to Movement Decorations
This guide traces how movement finishing evolved from early ornamentation into a deep craft tradition where decoration also served practical purposes like dust control and component protection. It surveys key techniques—engraving, Geneva stripes, perlage, black polishing, anglage, blued screws, frosting, and more—explaining how they’re created and why they matter. Modern brands often blend handwork with precision machining, aiming for repeatability without losing the artisan character that signals true high-end execution. The result is a clear picture of how movement decoration remains both functional and a defining marker of haute horology today.
French Riviera: Best Watches Spotted at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes 2026 doubled as a high-profile showcase for luxury watches, with celebrities and influencers wearing a wide spread of haute horlogerie on the red carpet. Audemars Piguet stood out with multiple statement pieces, while other brands like Omega, Tiffany & Co., and Boucheron added distinct style notes that complemented the festival’s fashion-first atmosphere. The roundup expands into a broader mix of maisons—spanning Louis Vuitton, CHANEL, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, and more—showing how deep the brand presence runs at a global cultural event like Cannes. Overall, it highlights the trend toward bold, artistic designs that blur heritage craftsmanship with modern celebrity-driven styling.
The Aston Martin x Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX is One of History’s Most Important Watch Collaborations
The AMVOX partnership between Jaeger‑LeCoultre and Aston Martin produced a run of watches that consistently pushed technical and conceptual boundaries over more than a decade. It began with a refined take on the Memovox alarm and then introduced standout ideas like the “vertical trigger” chronograph interface and a distinctive motorsport-inflected aesthetic. Later models layered on serious complications and even experimented with blending mechanical watchmaking with electronic functionality via a car-transponder feature. Taken together, the series is framed as a benchmark collaboration that fused automotive performance culture with meaningful horological innovation.
The Return of Corum and the New Admiral
Corum’s revival is portrayed as a return to Swiss ownership and a deliberate effort to rebuild credibility by leaning into heritage and real movement development. Working with Concepto, the brand created a new in-house calibre quickly and used it to relaunch the Admiral line with familiar design signatures updated through modern materials and dial options, including a skeletonized take. The refreshed models aim to re-establish Corum in the higher-end segment, with specs and pricing positioned accordingly. The story also signals that the Admiral is just the start, pointing to future releases like a renewed Golden Bridge and limited editions to sustain momentum.
The Latest Time
Blancpain
Blancpain’s Ladybird Colors gets a sparkling new look
Blancpain expands its Ladybird Colors line with two women-focused models—Diamond Bloom and Nude Moka—built around an 18k gold case, the Calibre 1163L, and a 100-hour power reserve. Diamond Bloom leans fully into high jewelry with extensive snow-setting across the case and dial, while Nude Moka offers a warmer, more understated aesthetic with optional snow-set detailing (including a very limited configuration). Pricing is positioned at the top of the segment: Diamond Bloom is about $136,360 (CHF 107,000), while Nude Moka ranges from about $38,870 to $49,840(CHF 30,500–39,100), depending on configuration.
G-Shock
G-SHOCK Collaboration Watch to Celebrate Coca-Cola®’s 140th Anniversary
This limited collaboration reworks the GA‑2100 platform with Coca‑Cola’s 140th-anniversary storytelling, using playful “contour bottle” cues, fluted motifs, and carbonation-like graphics while keeping the GA‑2100’s slim, rugged wearability. It also includes commemorative packaging and small details (like a bottle-cap engraving) that make the theme feel intentional rather than superficial. The release moved quickly—selling out its initial allocation shortly after launch—reinforcing how powerful nostalgia + scarcity can be in this price tier. The listed price is about $195 (SGD 249, incl. GST).
Liberum
Liberum RE-XHAUST
Liberum’s RE‑XHAUST leans into motorsport inspiration and sustainability by using recycled steel sourced from high-performance exhaust applications, paired with a 38mm case and a Miyota 9015 automatic movement. The watch emphasizes practical specs—sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance, and a highly legible layout—while adding a smoked sapphire dial and racing-style minute track for a more avant-garde feel. It launched via Kickstarter and is now being sold directly, with deliveries expected starting September 2026. Pricing starts around $638–$652 for the strap version (€550 / US$652) and about $711–$713 for the bracelet version (€600 / US$711).
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Reimagines Its Iconic Color Blossom Jewelry into a New Line of Timepieces
Louis Vuitton turns its Color Blossom jewelry motif into a 26mm women’s watch collection, keeping the four-petal flower identity while offering both round and pebble-shaped cases. The lineup ranges from more restrained steel-and–mother-of-pearl executions to bolder precious-metal versions with colorful straps, including a standout monochrome pink model. LV is positioning these as a permanent addition rather than a one-off capsule, with launch timing set for late May and broader boutique availability in June. Pricing is stated at about $5,340 to $22,055 (€4,600–€19,000), depending on materials and diamond embellishments.
Marco Tedeschi
The Marco Tedeschi MT1.1 Tourbillon 7 Jours, The Evolution of a Watch once Made by Kross Studio
The MT1.1 evolves the earlier MT1 Tourbillon with a power-reserve display and a full seven-day reserve, while keeping the brand’s unconventional, crown-less, openworked architecture and distinctive case profile. It’s offered across four materials (including titanium and pink gold) and runs on the in-house MT 7010 IRM, with winding/time-setting controlled via a pusher system rather than a traditional crown. Visually, it doubles down on modern independent-watchmaking drama—especially with the flying tourbillon and bold skeletonized presentation—while remaining wearable enough to function as a daily statement piece. Pricing starts at about $89,100 (CHF 69,900) and rises to about $114,600 (CHF 89,900), depending on version.
MB&F
The Gem-Set Trilogy of MB&F LM Perpetual Chromatic Editions
MB&F adds high jewelry to its Legacy Machine Perpetual with three gem-set “Chromatic” editions—each limited to eight pieces—built in 44mm precious-metal cases with baguette sapphires or rubies around the bezel. The design keeps the LM Perpetual’s signature suspended sub-dials and exposed mechanical architecture, making the gemstones feel integrated into the machine-like aesthetic rather than pasted on top. Underneath the spectacle is a highly complex manual-wind perpetual calendar movement with a 72-hour power reserve, underscoring that the watch is still fundamentally a technical statement. Pricing is listed at $312,000 (USD), excluding VAT.
Union Glashütte
Union Glashutte Noramis Date Limited Edition Petro Surf 2026
Union Glashütte’s Petro Surf 2026 limited edition (200 pieces) takes direct inspiration from classic Fuchs wheels, translating the spoke-like geometry into a blackened, three-dimensional dial treatment inside a polished 40mm steel case. It’s powered by the UNG‑07.S1 (a modified ETA 2892 with a silicon balance spring) and delivers a 60-hour power reserve plus 100m water resistance—strong everyday specs for a design-driven theme watch. The release is also tied to the Petro Surf Festival on Sylt, reinforcing the brand’s strategy of linking products to specific lifestyle events and automotive culture. The stated price is about $3,227 (€2,780).
Wearing Time - Reviews
BA111OD
BA111OD Chapter 7 Skeleton
BA111OD’s Chapter 7 Skeleton is a 40mm Swiss-made integrated-bracelet sports watch that aims to deliver the “skeleton look” with strong day-to-day specs, including 100m water resistance and a slim 10.5mm profile. The anthracite PVD case, decagonal bezel, and openworked dial are designed to feel more refined than typical entry skeletons while staying highly legible thanks to lume and layered architecture. Inside is the Soprod P024SQ automatic, visible through both the dial and exhibition back, with a 38-hour power reserve. Price is about $1,430 USD (CHF 1,120) and also cited as roughly $1,680 USD (€1,450).
Citizen
Hands-On: Is The Limited-Edition Citizen ATTESA Mandalorian Beskar A Star Wars Watch For Grownups?
Citizen’s limited-edition ATTESA “Mandalorian Beskar” uses Super Titanium and subdued Star Wars details to create a character-themed sports watch that still reads as a serious daily wearer. The design leans into a dark “beskar” look with subtle franchise touches like the mythosaur crown and themed caseback, rather than loud graphics. Functionally it’s packed, running on Citizen’s Eco-Drive H800 with chronograph, perpetual calendar, world time, radio sync, and a long power reserve, all in a 100m case. The listed price is $1,500 USD.
H. Moser & Cie
The H. Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Skeleton
This Endeavour Tourbillon Skeleton pairs Moser’s HMC-814 flying tourbillon with a more classic, compact Endeavour case, creating a skeleton watch that’s meant to feel elegant rather than industrial. The architecture is thin and anthracite-coated, with an open dial that still keeps the time display clean through applied markers and leaf-shaped hands. A double hairspring tourbillon and a visible barrel emphasize the technical side without turning the watch into pure spectacle. No price is listed in the database summary.
Marco Lang
The Marco Lang Seven Spheres, a 7-Axis Tourbillon Built with Pure Watchmaking Idealism
Marco Lang’s Seven Spheres is presented as a rare, idealist take on haute horology: a seven-axis central regulator surrounded by rotating rings that move slowly and deliberately to create kinetic “astronomical” theater. The engineering is intentionally complex, routing energy through multiple layers of gearing before reaching the escapement, prioritizing artistry and mechanical poetry over efficiency. Time is indicated via floating arrow hands on peripheral rings, and production is extremely limited at 18 pieces. The listed price is about $290,200 USD (€250,000).
Raven
Raven Trekker Review: The Microbrand Dive Watch That Keeps Getting Better
This review focuses on the Raven Trekker in Gloss Grey, emphasizing how the brand has refined the line into its slimmest and most comfortable version yet, with a compact 39mm case and 12.5mm thickness. The aesthetic leans modern tool-watch, with a grey dial and ceramic bezel that shift in different light, plus restrained orange accents for contrast. Build quality notes are largely positive, though the clasp gets mixed feedback for feel and looseness. The listed price is $690 USD.
Serica
The Serica Ref. 7505 Field Chronometer Offers A Compact Size With Big Presence
Serica’s Ref. 7505 Field Chronometer is a 35mm tool watch designed to wear small but look bold, with a wide bezel featuring polished studs and a distinctive enamel-dial aesthetic (including “Minute Critical” and tuxedo-style options). Despite the compact footprint, it’s built for serious use with 200m water resistance and a COSC-certified Soprod M100 automatic movement. The Bonklip-style bracelet and safety-lock clasp reinforce the utilitarian feel while keeping it visually unique in the field-watch category. Pricing is about $1,265 USD (€1,090) for the Minute Critical versions and about $1,381 USD (€1,190) for the TXD model.
Unimatic
This Affordable Titanium GMT Avoids The Typical Microbrand Watch Formula
Unimatic’s Ultratool reworks the Modello Quattro in Grade 2 titanium to dramatically cut weight (down to about 65g) while keeping a robust 40mm tool-watch profile. Both the time-only and GMT versions are limited to 99 pieces and go quartz (Seiko for time-only, Ronda for GMT), leaning into durability and low-maintenance ownership rather than spec-sheet prestige. A proprietary protection layer is used to improve shock resistance, and the dial stays minimalist with strong legibility and a subtle rotating 24-hour disc on the GMT. Pricing is listed at $700 USD (time-only) and $840 USD (GMT).
Comparing Time
Best GMT Watches Under $1000 That Don’t Feel Like Compromises
This comparison rounds up travel-ready GMT watches under $1,000, focusing on real-world usability—comfort, water resistance, dimensions, and movement choices—rather than brand cachet. It highlights options like the Vaer G2 Meridian for lightweight practicality, the Seiko 5 SSK025 for an accessible mechanical GMT, and Citizen’s Nighthawk for solar-powered convenience. Microbrand picks such as the Imperial Oceanguard, Steinhart Ocean 39, and Nodus Contrail broaden the field, with the article calling out meaningful trade-offs like bezel play, case thickness, crown quality, and crystal choices. The overall goal is to help buyers find a capable GMT that won’t feel like a “budget compromise” once it’s on the wrist.
Fratello’s Top 5 Alternatives To The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch
This piece compares five pilot-watch alternatives that capture the Big Pilot vibe—legibility, aviation styling, and tool-watch presence—without requiring the full 46mm IWC footprint. It includes IWC’s own Big Pilot 43 for a more wearable take, alongside competitors like the Zenith Pilot Automatic and the Longines Pilot Majetek for modern reinterpretations of classic military design. More value-driven options such as the Laco Pilot Watch Original Saarbrücken and the Sinn 104 add functional twists like a countdown bezel and day-date complication. Each pick is framed with size, movement, design details, and pricing to show how “pilot watch” can be achieved across a wide range of budgets.
Affordable Solar Field Watch Showdown: Timex Expedition vs Vaer C4 Tactical
This head-to-head contrasts two solar field watches by separating “simple everyday field watch” needs from “more tactical tool watch” priorities. The Timex Expedition Field Post Solar is positioned as the uncomplicated value winner, pairing classic field styling with a solar quartz movement, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance at a low price point. The Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar costs more but adds a more aggressive tool identity, a larger case, a 120-click bezel, stronger lume, and 200m water resistance for users who want extra capability. The conclusion is that Timex fits most wrists and routines better, while Vaer earns its premium for those who truly want the tougher spec set.
Where Value Meets Virtue, With Six Cool Sub 1K Watches
This comparison-style buying guide picks six sub-€1,000 watches meant to prove that strong design and solid mechanics aren’t exclusive to luxury price tiers. The selection spans categories—from a field-ready Timex Mk1 Automatic to the playful Swatch × Audemars Piguet Royal Pop collaboration, plus practical staples like a Seiko 5 Sports Field and a classic Tissot Visodate with Powermatic 80. It also includes a more spec-forward Titan professional diver and a dressier, manually wound Sero Watch Company piece to show breadth across styles and use cases. The article’s throughline is that smart choices under €1,000 can still deliver distinct character, reliable performance, and genuine collector appeal.
Sunday Morning Showdown: King Seiko Vanac Vs. Tudor Monarch
This showdown pits two angular, retro-leaning designs against each other: the King Seiko Vanac, rooted in 1970s aesthetics and colorful dials, and Tudor’s Monarch, positioned as a centenary-forward modern classic. The Vanac is framed as the stronger value play with its robust movement and compelling wrist feel at a lower price, while the Monarch argues for refinement and a higher-grade movement at a steeper cost. The author’s impressions suggest the Tudor’s premium may be hard to justify for many buyers when the Seiko delivers so much of the charm for less. Readers are ultimately invited to weigh the trade-off and vote for the winner.
Deal Time
eBay Finds: Special All Diver Edition!
This roundup curates a set of vintage diver watches currently listed on eBay, with notes on condition, case details, dial features, and movements to help bidders evaluate each listing quickly. Highlights range from a quartz Citizen CQ Crystron diver with an unpolished steel case and original strap to a 1960s Waltham diver with solid steel construction and a 17‑jewel manual-wind movement. The selection also includes a 1970s Zodiac Super SeaWolf with its distinctive case shape and original bracelet, plus a Bulova Snorkel “Devil Diver” noted for its clean finish and serviced automatic caliber. It closes with a colorful Wakmann chronograph diver powered by a Valjoux 236, offering a broader “collector’s spectrum” beyond standard three-hand divers.
Bring a Loupe: An Omega Marine Chronometer, A Zenith 2000, A Marvin Ocean Chief, And A Jaeger-LeCoultre Étrier
This “what’s selling where” style column spotlights several noteworthy vintage pieces and frames why each matters, mixing historical context with the realities of current auction availability. The Omega Marine Chronometer stands out for its technically extreme quartz approach—an ultra‑high frequency movement and genuine rarity—while the Zenith 2000 Caliber 135 is presented as a chronometer-heritage icon known for precision pedigree. The Marvin Ocean Chief is included for its distinctive case design lineage, and the Jaeger‑LeCoultre Étrier adds a dress-watch counterpoint with an elegant lug shape and limited production. Each section emphasizes condition, provenance cues, and timing so collectors can assess desirability relative to auction windows.
Exotic Mechanics at Christie’s Hong Kong
Christie’s Hong Kong auction preview gathers a high-end set of technically unusual and modern collectible watches, emphasizing rare mechanics and high-complication engineering. Standouts include F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre À Résonance (including a rare black-label “Parking Meter” variant) and the Credor Eichi II with its Torque Return System, alongside heavy-hitters like Greubel Forsey, Richard Mille, and A. Lange & Söhne complications. The piece frames the event as both a catalogue tour and a market snapshot, with estimates reflecting scarcity and technical significance. It also details the preview dates and the May 27–28 auction schedule for collectors planning to view or bid.
Highlights: Patek Philippe Complications at Phillips Hong Kong | SJX Watches
This preview focuses on Phillips’ Hong Kong spring sale and the depth of its Patek Philippe complications lineup, mixing pocket-watch history with flagship wristwatch references. Notable lots include an 1895 triple-complication pocket watch (minute repeater, chronograph, perpetual calendar), a white-gold Ref. 3448 perpetual calendar, and a highly coveted 1951 pink-gold Ref. 2499 “1st Series” perpetual calendar chronograph. Additional highlighted pieces broaden the catalogue with modern and rare references, each paired with major estimates that signal collector demand at the top end. The article also provides the preview window (May 26–31) and auction dates (May 30–31) to anchor the sale in time.
Watching Time - Videos
Why Do You Keep Buying Watches??? - YouTube - Burdeens Jewelry
This conversation digs into what keeps long-time collectors engaged, contrasting “dial-first” attraction with a more “movement/value-first” mindset. The point is that a dial has to keep speaking to you years later, but the movement remains the heart of why a watch matters. As collections mature, they argue many enthusiasts naturally gravitate toward simpler time-only or time/date watches rather than piling on complications. They also stress buying smart—often pre-owned, avoiding premiums for superficial differences, and treating collecting as a learning process that refines taste over time.
You Are Ruining Your Watch Collection. (The Brutal Truth) - YouTube - Theo and Harris
This video argues that collectors derail their own enjoyment by obsessing over resale value, hype cycles, and outside approval. The core takeaway is to stop treating watches like investments and instead buy pieces you genuinely love, can afford, and will actually wear. It recommends building a smaller, more intentional collection and avoiding FOMO-driven flipping. Ultimately, it frames the best collection as one that reflects personal taste—not the market.
If I Started My Watch Collection Over in 2026, These Are The 7 I’d Buy - YouTube - The Watch Bros
The host rebuilds an ideal seven-watch collection for 2026 by picking one watch per core category, from daily wear and dress to tool, complication, beater, independent, and grail. Key examples include an Omega Aqua Terra 38mm as the practical everyday anchor and a Longines HydroConquest as the value-forward tool option. For higher-end “stretch” categories, it highlights watches like the Christopher Ward Bel Canto Lumière and an A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Annual Calendar. Each category also includes more affordable alternatives, keeping the focus on building a collection that fits real life rather than chasing logos.
The definitive guide: Buying the right dive watch - YouTube - This Watch, That Watch
This guide proposes a simple framework: there isn’t one “best” dive watch—there are different types meant for different uses. It breaks the category into four buckets (luxury desk diver, luxury statement diver, classic diver, and technical diver) and explains what to prioritize in each. The emphasis is on matching design and specs to how you’ll actually wear the watch, instead of buying based on general reputation. It’s positioned as a practical decision tool for narrowing choices quickly.
What Omega Speedmaster Professional Should You Get? - YouTube - Teddy Baldassarre
This video clarifies what qualifies as a Speedmaster Professional/Moonwatch and then walks through how to choose the right variant. The main decision is between the Hesalite version (more traditional, NASA-spec vibe, and typically cheaper) and the Sapphire Sandwich (more modern feel with an exhibition caseback). It also covers more expressive options like panda and white dials, plus gold and two-tone models for buyers who want more visual impact. The goal is to match the “Moonwatch experience” to the buyer’s taste and priorities.
Is THIS the BEST Watch of 2026?! - YouTube - ᴢᴇʀᴏ ᴛᴏ ꜱɪxᴛʏ
This interview explores why Grand Seiko has been gaining momentum, framing its mission around building the best possible everyday watch—accuracy, legibility, durability, and beauty. It connects the brand’s emotional storytelling to specific icons tied to Japanese seasons and places, then pivots to key 2026 releases. Highlights include a hand-engraved platinum “masterpiece” in the 44GS design language and new Spring Drive divers aimed at a smaller ~40mm size without giving up capability. New dial tech and a micro-adjustable clasp are presented as direct responses to long-standing enthusiast demands.
Collector Conversation: Watches, Cars, and Gundam with Chris Li - YouTube - The 1916 Company
Filmed around a Ford GT backdrop, this collector conversation uses the TAG Heuer Carrera as a “keystone” linking a guest’s passions across watches, cars, and other collectibles. The discussion moves through highlights from a collection that includes pieces from TAG Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, Zenith, and Audemars Piguet, then expands into scale model cars and Gundam builds. It also touches on the idea of taking a build-your-own-watch class as another way to deepen engagement with the hobby. The broader takeaway is that multiple collecting passions—and clear goals or “grails”—can make the pursuit more meaningful than constant acquisition.
Fake Rolexes Just Changed the Market Forever - YouTube - My Watch Journey
This video argues that high-end “super clone” fakes haven’t collapsed the Rolex market, but have effectively split it into verified versus unverified tiers. It claims authentication has become much harder as counterfeiters copy materials, tolerances, and even clone movements closely enough to fool casual inspection. It highlights Rolex’s response—an AI-based acoustic authentication patent—as a sign of how serious the problem is at the brand level. The takeaway is that provenance and verification now function like a priced-in asset feature, with certified channels and documented history increasingly commanding premiums.
CZAPEK | Documentary - An Unexpected Renaissance - YouTube - Czapek Watches
This documentary traces Czapek’s revival from its 19th-century origins to a modern relaunch beginning in 2013, when a small group rebuilt the brand’s identity from scratch. It follows the early uncertainty and the turning point when limited-run Antarctique releases unexpectedly surged in demand during the pandemic. As the company scales, the focus shifts to investing in machinery and in-house capability—faster prototyping, more component production internally, and development toward higher complications like a tourbillon. A recurring theme is the challenge of growing output without compromising design integrity and quality, positioning Czapek’s culture as continuous improvement.
Only 4 Watches Allowed... The Core Collection | S02 EP05 Four Married Men Podcast - YouTube
This episode debates the idea of limiting a collection to just four watches and what truly belongs in a “core” lineup. It opens with a recap of watches the hosts have been loaning each other, including detailed impressions of a Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto—what works, what doesn’t, and what matters long-term. The main discussion then turns into a critique-friendly exercise: distilling bigger collections down to four essentials and defending those picks based on versatility, taste, sentiment, and practicality. Side discussions (like Cartier Tanks and classic Rolex references) underline how personal meaning and category balance shape the final choices.
NO ONE is Talking About These: The BEST Watches OUTSIDE of Watches and Wonders - YouTube - Britt Pearce
This video spotlights standout watches that tend to be overlooked when the industry’s attention is dominated by major events like Watches and Wonders. By focusing on less-hyped releases, it aims to surface innovation and design variety that can get buried under mainstream coverage. The format leans on visual analysis to highlight craftsmanship, distinguishing details, and why certain pieces may deserve more collector attention. It’s positioned as an “alternative highlights reel” for viewers who want to look beyond the usual headlines.
Lies Told About the Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop - YouTube
Tim Mosso argues that fears around the Swatch × Audemars Piguet “Royal Pop” are based on misconceptions, and that the collaboration is unlikely to meaningfully damage AP’s brand. He points to the MoonSwatch as evidence that playful, affordable collabs can generate attention without long-term harm to either partner. The video also pushes back on the idea that cheap hype watches are a reliable “gateway” into serious collecting, suggesting they more often fuel flipping culture and status-driven behavior. The conclusion is that the bigger threats to luxury brands are structural—overproduction, failed launches, trade wars, and macro downturns—rather than a single novelty release.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2026: Highlights with A. Lange & Söhne CEO Wilhelm Schmid - YouTube - Watchonista
This recap frames Villa d’Este as a “cars + craftsmanship” event that naturally aligns with A. Lange & Söhne’s focus on heritage, design, and handcraft. It features commentary from CEO Wilhelm Schmid on why preservation-minded collectors and concours culture connect with the brand’s values. Key moments include the Best of Show win for a 1937 BMW 328 “Bügelfalte” and the tradition of awarding a unique Lange 1815 Chronograph made specifically for the event. The video also highlights BMW’s forward-looking premieres, reinforcing Villa d’Este’s blend of historic icons and future concepts.
17 WILD Watches Spotted in NEW Movies - YouTube - Chisholm Hunter
This video runs through 17 watches spotted in recent movies and TV (2025+), explaining how each piece fits—or clashes with—the character wearing it while adding quick spec and price context. Examples range from accessible digital and field watches to recognizable luxury staples like Cartier, Rolex, and Omega, showing how watch choice can signal personality, status, or mood on screen. It also flags a few unidentified prop or vintage watches and invites viewers to weigh in, turning it into a bit of a crowd-sourced detective exercise. Overall, it’s a fast-paced look at how watches function as storytelling and styling tools in modern film and television.
BuyingTime at Auction
A few select current auctions that caught our eye on GetBezel.com
[Friday’s auction watch, the 2024 Patek Philippe Cubitus Instantaneous Grand Date Platinum / BlueX (5822P-001) - was bid to $98,600 but did not meet its reserve. - make an offer]
2026 Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 Multicolored Jubilee motif (126000-0016)
Auction Report: Rolex’s Most Playful Oyster Perpetual in Years Might Also Be Its Hardest to Get
There are conservative Rolex releases, there are mildly adventurous Rolex releases, and then there is the 2026 Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 Multicolored Jubilee Motif, reference 126000-0016, which looks like somebody at Rolex headquarters finally discovered color after decades of staring at silver sunburst dials under fluorescent lighting. And somehow, against all odds, it works.
The watch was introduced during Watches & Wonders 2026 as part of Rolex’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Oyster case, originally patented in 1926. Rather than commemorating the milestone with another platinum brick requiring a second mortgage and a security detail, Rolex instead produced what may become one of the most charming and culturally relevant Oyster Perpetual models in modern history. The multicolored lacquer dial revives the “Jubilee motif” first seen in the late 1970s, but this time the repeating ROLEX typography is rendered in ten separate colors layered individually onto the dial. Rolex itself admitted the manufacturing process is unusually difficult because each color application must align perfectly with the others. Translation: this is not a dial your local mall kiosk is reproducing anytime soon.
What makes this watch especially interesting is that Rolex paired such an exuberant dial with the most basic and historically understated model in its catalog. The Oyster Perpetual has always been the “entry-level” Rolex, though in 2026 calling a $6,750 steel watch “entry-level” feels a bit like calling a Porsche Cayman “budget transportation.” Still, the OP line has traditionally served as Rolex’s purest expression of simple watchmaking: no date, no precious metals, no ceramic bezels, no cyclops, no unnecessary theatrics. This release changes that formula without actually changing the formula at all.
The 36mm case remains classic Oystersteel with a smooth domed bezel and Oyster bracelet. Inside sits the automatic caliber 3230 with a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring, and Rolex’s updated 2026 Superlative Chronometer standards. In other words, mechanically it is exactly what you would expect from a modern Rolex: overbuilt, absurdly reliable, anti-magnetic, and likely capable of surviving a small regional conflict.
The market reaction has been immediate. Dealers and collectors instantly identified this reference as the spiritual successor to the wildly hyped “Celebration Dial” Oyster Perpetual from 2023. But unlike that watch, which leaned heavily into turquoise lacquer bubbles and Instagram-era whimsy, the Jubilee motif dial feels oddly more mature and collectible. It references actual Rolex history while simultaneously looking like something designed by a luxury fashion house having a very expensive nervous breakdown. Early commentary throughout the watch world has already positioned this as one of the most desirable Rolex releases of 2026, largely because Rolex almost never allows itself to look playful.
Retail pricing is listed at $6,750 USD, though that number is mostly ceremonial at this point. Realistically, secondary market premiums are expected to arrive quickly, particularly for unworn full-set examples like this one. Given Rolex supply realities and the immediate collector response, seeing these trade well north of retail throughout 2026 would surprise absolutely nobody. In fact, the biggest challenge with this watch will not be deciding whether you want one. It will be locating an authorized dealer willing to pretend you have a chance.
As for this particular example, the configuration checks every important box. Full set with box and papers, unworn condition, U.S.-based, and arriving essentially at the exact moment collector demand is peaking around the reference. The 36mm sizing also broadens appeal considerably. Unlike many modern Rolex releases drifting toward billboard-sized wrist occupancy, the OP36 wears cleanly on nearly anyone and feels refreshingly restrained in an era of watches attempting to compensate for personality deficiencies.
The auction ending at noon EDT today (Monday, May 25, 2026), will be worth watching carefully because it may offer one of the earliest meaningful public indicators of where secondary market pricing is heading for this reference. If bidding turns aggressive, it could confirm what many collectors already suspect: Rolex accidentally created one of the defining steel watches of the year simply by loosening its tie a little.
Current bid: $18,750