The Automatic is a good example of a great everyday type of watch that I’m glad Christopher Ward released. Before the Sealander Automatic, the brand didn’t offer many options for a fixed-bezel everyday sports watch with reasonable dimensions (under 40mm.) So, with great proportions, a solid movement, and good finish, the Automatic is a solid contender for a one-watch collection timepiece. Continue reading Off the Cuff: Christopher Ward C63 Sealander
Enter Formex. The brand takes its name from the French term “forme extreme,” meaning “extreme shape.” They have been independently producing watches in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland since 1999, and I would argue that they have also been contributing to a new aesthetic that is both original, and just familiar enough to fire the imagination of the everyday watch wearer. Unlike the brands mentioned earlier, they are also producing watches within reach—watches like the REEF 2.0. Continue reading Off the Cuff: Formex REEF 300m Dive Watch
In another departure of sorts, the Superman 500 sports French text on the dial. The words “Automatique” and “Metres” appear just above the six position. It is both quaint and dignified at the same time. The history of French watchmaking–and French dive watch making in particular–runs deep. YEMA, at one time the largest exporter of French watches, has played a large role in that history. One might say it is “high time” they laid claim to it. Continue reading Of the Cuff: YEMA Superman 500
