The chairman of Cartier-owner Richemont is heaping praise on Swiss watchmakers who cut production in response to weak demand from China to avoid oversupplying the global market. Johann Rupert, who controls the Swiss-based luxury conglomerate that owns many brands including Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, and Panerai, says some of the biggest names in watchmaking have adjusted volumes…

Happy Friday, and welcome back to Bring A Loupe! We’re back to regularly scheduled programming with the Spring Geneva auction season wrapping up on Monday. The clear theme this week is chronographs. Maybe I’m just in a chronograph mood, or maybe it’s completely by accident—who’s to say? Speaking of schedule, there will be no Bring…

The revival and resurgence of Breitling since 2017 has been a serious business. Led by CEO Georges Kern, the private equity-backed company has vaulted itself back into the top 10 Swiss brands by sales, refocusing around heavyweight names in its collection, most notably the Navitimer, Chronomat, and Superocean models. For 2025, however, the less earnest…

What We Know Today, Omega introduces a new generation of the Railmaster. Gone are the vertically brushed dials and printed crosshairs of the previous generation introduced in 2017. The Railmaster is now represented by two new 38mm designs that bring the line closer to the 1957 original while ensuring alignment with the modern Aqua Terra. …

What We Know Serica has just announced a new limited edition of the brand’s 5303 dive watch, which was developed in close collaboration with the French Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Divers Association. With a few aesthetic changes, most notably a new diving scale for the bezel, it’s a unique addition to the brand’s 5303…

What We Know For the first time in its history, Marathon Watch Company has introduced a bold splash of color to its tough-and-ready Navigator series with a limited edition they are calling the “Blue Yonder.” Since the Navigator’s inception in 1986 as a purpose-built instrument for military pilots and parachutists, the series has maintained a…

Patek Philippe is the Swiss custodian of high watchmaking. Think ref. 1518, 1526, 2523, 2499, etc. Today, broadly speaking (i.e., outside of watch enthusiast circles), Patek is best known for being the maker of one product: the Nautilus — a model so sought-after, so embedded in the cultural vernacular, that its presence is nearly inescapable.…

Covering watches offers me an excellent opportunity to witness the evolution of products. While turnaround times for major watch upgrades can be years or decades, accessories such as straps evolve before your eyes. It feels like only yesterday that Artem achieved its zenith with the Loop-Less Sailcloth strap. But taking that design and producing it…