Another June has come and gone (well, almost) — and with it, a spate of summer-ready watches. There were some truly notable releases from the likes of Oris and Seiko, but also subtle updates to existing collections that just might add up the watch you’ve been looking for. We’ve got all that, some crazy high-end horology from MB&F, the announcement of interesting new brands Elka and Protek and more for you to check out below.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar
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Jaeger-LeCoultre announced new models in its Master Control collection including this Calendar watch and a more complicated Chronograph Calendar. They both incorporate a new interchangeable bracelet system for the brand.
Italian microbrand sensation Unimatic released versions of is Modello Uno (U1) and Modello Due (U2) in mocha brown (MB) colors. We’re huge fans of the all-brown look that seems to reference “tropical” patina on vintage watches. Not only do they look great, but (unlike many Unimatics) they’re powered by Swiss automatic movements.
Sometimes you see a new IWC chronograph and say “damn that’s cool-looking.” And they you look closer and say, “oh, it’s 46mm??” Well, we’re happy to say this very attractive bronze and deep blue Pilot’s Watch Chronograph is an approachable 41mm. More like this, please, IWC.
Resurrecting a watch from the 1990s, Oris has one of the coolest releases of the year with its Hölstein Edition 2022. A 36.5mm worldtime watch with the unique feature of plus and minus buttons on the case side that allow you to easily adjust local time forward and back.
The same people that founded Luminox have just launched a new brand, Protek. If you like old-school Luminox’s tough build and military vibes, there’s plenty to check out from Protek — from tritium-equipped, carbon-cased dive watches to field watches and more.
Eleven, Mike, Dusty and the gang are all back for a new season of the Netfix series Stranger Things. And timex is braving The Upside Down and the ’80s with three new Stranger Things-themed watches appropriately based on very ’80s watch models.
In its ongoing partnership with carmaker Austin-Healey, watchmaker Frederique Constant has released its newest, retro-styled chronograph in “British racing green.”
Believe it or not, this is a relatively conservative looking watch for MB&F, best known for avant-garde horology that borders on the abstract. The brand is a darling of the high-watchmaking world, and this is their first chronograph. It actually offers two separate stopwatches in a single watch.
The James Brand teamed up with Timex to offer an EDC box set including a pen, knife, keyring and a version of Timex’s automatic Expedition North watch — all in titanium. It sold out quickly but more stock is expected in a week or so, so be sure to check back.
It’s not quite a vintage reissue, but Citizen brought back a cult favorite, solar-powered diver from as recently as 2006. Dive watch design is often inspired by aquatic life, and this one is based on the “apex predator of the sea,” the orca, or killer whale.
Italian watchmaker Echo/Neutra adds a hardcore diver in the spirit of the Rolex Sea-Dweller to its growing collection of tool watches. It’s water-resistant to 500m with an elaboré-grade Swiss automatic movement offering a power-reserve indicator at 6 o’clock.
The new Luminox Pacific Diver is a quite badass, quartz-powered, tritium-equipped, Swiss-made, 44mm chronograph that comes in nine variations from colorful to stealthy.
This Timex takes the form of a dive-style watch (30m water resistance) made from recovered and recycled ocean plastic. With a neat, speckled texture in a couple colors, it even offers a full bracelet in the material — unlike most other such ocean plastic watches.
Elka revives a defunct watch brand name with refined, sixties-inspired designs, Swiss construction and La Joux Perret automatic movements. Led by an industry veteran, Hakim El Kadiri, the brand is (re)launching on Kickstarter (now fully funded), with a dressy range and this sportier one featuring double-digit Arabic numerals. With early-bird pricing you can get one starting at 999 CHF instead of the final price of 1,490 CHF.
The fruitful partnership between Timex and Todd Snyder blazes on. The newest watch from that collaboration is an automatic version of Timex’s Navi XL watch with olive green dial, orange bezel and 41mm black case.
Four new US-exclusive watches from Grand Seiko are each expectedly stunning. There are a couple of GMTs (SBGJ261 and SBGJ259) and manually winding models in the Elegance collection with stunning dials. The black dial version (SBGK017) is also cool, but this popular hue of blue (SBGK015) stands out in particular.
Bear with us. This isn’t a watch or clothing, but it is an incredibly slick appointment for your home or office space. And it’s the result of a collaboration between high-end watchmaker De Bethune and celebrity designer Marc Newson. Yes, it’s an elevated hourglass based on Newson’s design and filled with, instead of sand, tiny polished steel “nanoballs” in De Bethune’s signature hue.
Serica is a French microbrand that makes a field watch and a dive watch, and that’s it. They’re not one of those brands constantly releasing endless new colorways — in fact, the brand previously made monochromatic watches, exclusively. So this new version of their 5305 dive watch with a dark blue dial and “crystal blue” ceramic bezel insert got our attention.
We’re fans of B&R watch straps of all kinds. The new Endurance line of rubber straps combines a kevlar-like finish on top in a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) material and a FKM rubber underneath with grooves for air and water flow. It’s all waterproof and, with a range of stitching color options, it’s perfect for dive or other sport watches.
Not your typical dive watch by far, but a striking one to be sure. With dials that themselves turn to display the time, Ressence watches are exotic to begin with, but this one’s only for sale in the Monaco boutique called Art In Time. Only 12 examples are being made.
Mido Ocean Star 20th Anniversary Inspired By Architecture Edition
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Since 2002, Mido has regularly released watches based on architecture and landmarks. A limited-edition version of the brand’s flagship dive watch now celebrates 20 years of the concept with a vibrantly deep blue dial and orange highlights.
German watchmaking star Nomos’s dive watch doesn’t look like you’d expect a dive watch to: most notably, it lacks the rotating timing bezel. It does, however, boast 200m of water resistance and a generally sporty disposition. And the brand has refreshed the existing watch with some subtle updates, such as the dial’s specific hue of blue.
German watchmaker Circula has announced a new automatic field watch developed with the input of watch fans. It comes in three versions and will be available in fall 2022.
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