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I’ll Never Own It, but AP’s 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph Finally Feels Right
I’ve never pretended that Audemars Piguet lives anywhere near my financial reality, and at this point I’m comfortable admitting that it probably never will. But that doesn’t stop me from paying attention. You don’t need a locker in the NBA to care about basketball, and you don’t need a Ferrari in the garage to understand when an automaker finally gets something right. For me, AP sits firmly in that same category. Which is why this update to the 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph caught my attention, even a little while after the initial announcement cycle moved on to the next thing.
Christopher Ward’s New Dive Watch Channels Military Rolex Design
Collaborations in the modern watch space usually announce themselves loudly, but every so often one lands that feels more considered, more rooted in enthusiast logic than marketing momentum. The new C60 Trident Lumière ‘Green Fifteen’, created by Christopher Ward in partnership with Bark & Jack, sits squarely in that territory.
I Never Thought I’d Say This, but Orient Star Is Winning My Attention Over Seiko
I’ve been spending more time than expected with recent Orient Star announcements. For years, the brand sat just outside my personal buying instincts. I respected the mechanics and the consistency, but when it came time to actually consider a purchase, my attention usually drifted toward Seiko or, occasionally, an entry-level Swiss option that felt safer by default. Lately, that hierarchy has started to feel less fixed. This Orient Star 75th anniversary collection does a good job of explaining why.
Traska Pushes Its Design Philosophy Further With a Mechanical Chronograph
It’s been amazing to see Traska evolve over the years, along with the deep enthusiast-driven following the brand has nurtured. I still love the fact that I got to review one of the divers a while back. But this feels like a totally new brand these days. The new Traska Chronograph reads like a brand working through a set of design problems in public and inviting collectors to follow the logic. Traska has built its reputation on functional restraint and material durability, and this chronograph fits squarely within that lineage while allowing itself a few deliberate departures from convention.
An Affordable Titanium Dive Watch From Timex Just Took a Brighter Turn
As usual I’ve been paying attention to what Timex has been doing with its dive lineup, mostly because it feels like the brand is testing how far it can push a familiar name without abandoning its roots. The Timex Deepwater Reef Titanium 200 has felt like a statement piece in that effort ever since we first covered it. I don’t find it flashy or precious. It just seems like a clear signal that Timex wants a seat at the modern tool watch table without pretending to be something it isn’t.
