Love how everyone complains this has fixed lugs. THAT IS THE POINT!!!!!!!! Quit even bringing it up.

It's certainly different, too large of course, but I like the case finish and crystal. The thing that bugs me is watches where the hands never pass over acres of dial, the rectangular extension is completely vacant apart from the name, for the money they could have added a power reserve, small seconds or something in that area, but that would require a new movement and decreased profit margin 🙄

It's an interesting and well crafted design for sure. They should have been a bit more bold and made it a little smaller.

It looks like my neighbors window when we were playing backyard baseball

Finally, a watch for the Oligarch who has everything 😎.

Another Dune watch. Cool

I'm flabbergasted Dennis.! And this was inspired by a past model? It certainly has a retro sci-fi /early 70's period look about it. Perhaps we should stop joking about the boring old Royal Oak company lol.

The historical model, as usual, has much better proportions to my eye, and probably wears a lot more comfortably (much like your Ming, I would imagine that crown just digging into your wrist).

Sorry I couldn't see this live, you chose interesting watches 👍. I agree the lumed case looks like a novelty toy, I like the Oris divers, but definitely too expensive as you said. The mirror dial Isotope has a really nice case design, but I agree, a reflection of the owners face every time they check the time has to be designed for narcissists.

At what point is a microbrand no longer a microbrand? Monta? Christopher Ward?

The 1860 has a guilloché dial which will also contribute to the higher price.

since you mentioned yard work … Them Your Sticks!

The Credor for $12k in Ti and limited ed is interesting. I agree that the Alpine Eagle is better looking dial. I'd be interested in the feel of this bracelet and the weight on wrist in Ti. I'd not cross off but would not be my top pick

Who asked for a lumed case? Why???

I thought the exact same, it reminds me of the toys and snacks as a kid. Lume is really overrated, makes it look cheap more than anything. I dont know if id even buy a moonswatch if it glowed in the dark.

Can't believe i watched this. Watch community can be toxic. Like high school girls taking sides and pointing fingers. Who cares? Just wear the damn watch..

Good video

I ordered this watch but the crown was very wobbly, so I returned it. Baltic paid for the return label, and their customer service was fantastic. Even though the watch didn't work out, the experience left a positive experience, and I may give them another try.

I am not a Fautina fan, but that is a nice looking watch overall. Enjoy.

Awesome; looks like it will be a great summer watch.

Nice choice Dennis! Looking forward to your review of your Baltic!

Congrats Dennis! I can see you indeed were missing that Tudor Bronze! I do like this one, its a very cohesive design. Wear it in good health as they say! PS I'm a huge fan of that movement but you might not be, its a unidirectional winding movement. I have several watches with it and I never notice it but I know you had that Hamilton disaster of a watch so just a heads up. I really like the watch so I hope its not an issue.

Hi Dennis. After taking the micro-brand plunge, this looks like a nice choice.

Great looking watch. Congratulations. I just bought my first Tudor - the Black Bay 41 with the smooth bezel. Also, a no date.

Great view point.

Used to be best blog ever. amd C&C does provide excellent service. But yes, It feels awkward owning all those things. Don't trust them anymore.

Fantastic video Dennis, I didn’t expect to watch the whole thing twice but did. You are right: they need to acquire credibility like Jack Forster, they need to get the hell out of selling watches, and they have to change their culture totally. It’s going to take leadership just like in all of our businesses. Am I optimistic? No.

Similar to Hodinkee and selling watches they review… I don’t trust Teddy Baldassarre

Honestly my input would be if you don’t want to dip into microbrands would be to get into independents. You get the flavour without too much of the risk as they’re more or less established.

I completely agree about Jack although I think he was more of a canary in the coal mine. He didn’t like the direction things were going so he left. Then the quality dropped even more without him.

As long as LVMH Group is a shareholder - how can they be independent if they are partially owned by a group that owns Zenith, LV, Tiffany, Bulgari, TAG Heuer and Hublot?

The movement is atrocious.

I think you’re on point. The steps that you mentioned are pretty much the only way for Hodinkee to survive and hopefully get back to what they once used to be when they were respected, or at least more respected.

Sorry you ran into such bad luck with the build quality on a couple of those. Nothing sours me more than a flaw in a new watch.

Good advice!😊

In the watch space, being Rolex just gets better and better. The watch media is not an area i'd want to work or invest in, when a KZfaqr or IG account can create a business that competes with Hodinkee for a fraction of their cost.

We kind of touched on the topic of journalistic integrity during the microbrand livestream and from what I can tell all the major watch publications with the exception of ABlogtoWatch are anathema to criticizing watches or watch brands. They absolutely will not do it and I think that's what you can expect when reviewers are handed the product they are supposed to be reviewing from the company that made it. They think if they say something negative the brands will never send them another watch to review. Compounding the issue further for Hodinkee, they have business relationships with the brands they are selling or collaborating with, and even further still, if the criticism is of a watch they themselves are selling, they'll be even more likely to paint an overly rosy picture of it. What you end up with is an 'article' that is nothing more than a fancy description of a watch in Hodinkee's store. IMO Hodinkee's entire model is flawed, they bought C&C VERY high but somehow those are not mistakes. Seems Ben Clymer is anathema to criticism of himself as well.

The writing, so to speak, was on the wall before the C&C acquisition when virtually all their reputable and wonderful writers left, as you rightly pointed out

Aah……………………..losing trust and credibility in the watch community plus having an inventory of devalued watches-Hodinkee is dead 💀! They lost me with the $6000 travel clock.

Moser was founded 1828 (sry for being the bitch to cerrect u )

I agree

Can you give your thoughts on Christopher Ward? I am a fan of the Trident Pro 300 and I own the black dial 42mm

Sorry I missed the livestream, I lost track of time admiring my BB58 movement. In this phase of my watch journey, I have little to no interest in micro brands. It seems that these appeal to those who like homages at a lower price than an original or if you have everything and you like to check out some oddities.

Out of your narrowed down choices, I think that red dial Farer Aqua Compressor is a stunner! If the Aussie dollar wasn't in the toilet, I'd be very tempted to get one myself!

Denis my wallet thanks you 😜 That leaves my wish list at six not including the two watches on order (Erebus Ascent + Loresom LSO4) AND the Mr Jones Watches Mare Adesso I just bought😱 Cheers mate!

I gotta say when I saw an advertisement for this watch it made me buy my first watch. I managed to find something as similar as possible within my budget.

Christopher Ward’s customer support and tracking is atrocious, but the quality of their timepieces is fantastic, based on two purchases I made. Both times the fit and finish was incredible but yeah - the buying experience wasn’t great. This was two 39mm Sealanders - one a 3 hander, and the other a GMT. Their designs over time are getting better, but their prices are also going up. That’s the whole industry though. I think they are onto a good thing though, and I wish them well.

So excellent

I really like the Serica Watches designs but I have some concerns about the reliability of the Soprod movements they use. I’ll need to do more research before I pull the trigger.