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Beyond Seiko and Citizen: Kiwame Tokyo’s Affordable Dress Watch
Seiko and Citizen tend to dominate the conversation whenever affordable Japanese watches come up. They’ve earned that attention, and I suspect most enthusiasts have owned something from at least one of them. But Japan has plenty of smaller watch companies worth getting familiar with, especially if you’re interested in designs that feel a little different from what’s available in the usual catalogs. Kiwame Tokyo is one of the newer names I’ve been following a lot this year, and its latest Kubo Momiji is a watch I think deserves a closer look.
Cartier Meets Casio in One of the Strangest Digital Watches of 2026
Somewhere between the Cartier Crash and the Casio F-91W, there’s apparently room for a $100 digital watch that looks like it spent a little too much time in the sun. It’s called the Crashio, and I think it’s one of the funniest watch designs I’ve come across this year.
Jacques Bianchi’s New Military Watch Has a Surprisingly Practical Twist
Jacques Bianchi Marseille is back with another collaboration involving former US Navy diver Brock Stevens, and this time, the focus is on combat diving. The new JB300 Professional builds on the pair’s previous release with a forged carbon case, a COSC-certified movement, and a handful of details developed around feedback from active military divers. I think there’s quite a bit here that deserves a closer look, especially if you’re into modern dive watches with a more specialized design.
The Citizen Eco-Drive Photon Might Be My Favorite Unexpected Release
I’ve been a fan of Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology for years, and I’ve owned several watches powered by it along the way. We’ve also recommended plenty of Eco-Drive models here at TBWS, and my blue Promaster Diver BN0151-09L is still one of my favorite watches of all time. With Citizen celebrating 50 years of Eco-Drive in 2026, I’ve been keeping an eye on some of the new releases, particularly the Photon.
Casio Nails Tudor Ranger Vibes With Its New Affordable Titanium Watch
I never really expected to see Casio making watches like this. The company has spent decades building its reputation around quartz movements, digital displays, and some of the most affordable watches you can buy. Now we’re looking at the new Casio CMK-100, a 38mm titanium automatic with a sapphire crystal and some pretty obvious Tudor Ranger vibes. Prices start at around $320, and I think there’s quite a bit to like here.
