Welcome back to Bring A Loupe, and happy New York Summer auction weekend Friday! Yes, it’s another week of major auction house sales, can you believe it? Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s do everything they can to maintain the attention of collectors during the Spring and early Summer months, touring the world and offering hundreds of…

Outside of relatively early advancements like the unidirectional bezel and the helium escape valve, there truly aren’t that many revolutionary “quantum leap” innovations in the history of dive watches. 40 years on from its initial release, though, the original Citizen Aqualand remains virtually unmatched in its electronic depth gauge functionality. Lending vital information to divers…

I have had the pleasure of meeting Josh Shapiro, owner of the eponymously named J.N. Shapiro Watches, several times. Hailing from Los Angeles, he has a wealth of knowledge about watchmaking history, movements, and finishing techniques. Until now, he has focused on exclusive and expensive watches with prices over $75,000 and wait times of nearly…

Year after year and watch after watch, I’ve never ceased to be amazed by Laurent Ferrier’s creations. Last year, I was captivated by the brand’s first moon phase complication, the Classic Moon. This model is gorgeous, featuring a lunar complication rendered in aventurine glass by Murano artisans and engraved to replicate the shape of celestial…

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Laurent Ferrier has created a solid gold version of the Sport Auto that pays tribute to a formative movement in the brand’s history that significantly pre-dates the year that the company was actually founded. Crafted entirely from 5N red gold, the new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 is based upon…

It’s Friday, so it’s time for another list. After visiting Rolex a few weeks ago to check out the novelties for 2025, we immediately agreed that the Genevan brand treated us to some amazing releases this year. Having a chance to see them all displayed at once gave us a good idea of the variety…

Originally founded in 1902, Schwarz Etienne is best known as a high-end Swiss movement supplier that caters to a premium segment of the market, which requires something a bit more elevated than the standard ETA/Sellita offerings. With that in mind, Schwarz Etienne also produces complete watches under its own name, and while the brand formally…

Let me present you with a dilemma. What dial type do you prefer — lush lacquer, enticing enamel, or pristine porcelain? It’s a difficult choice, right? Before reaching your verdict, please have a look at the new Seiko Presage Classic Series Craftsmanship Unglazed Arita Porcelain Dial Limited Edition. This watch highlights artisanal qualities, resulting in…