Mario C 
As the holiday season comes to a head, we’ve taken the time to curate some of our favourite articles from the past. So, curl up close to the fire (or for the Aussies, the air con!) and relax as we give you a rundown of our best Watch Review Articles to date!
Here at WatchAdvice, we have a unique opportunity to go out and about with some of the watch industry’s finest offerings. While we have the privilege of wearing timepieces the world over, that doesn’t stop us from giving our honest opinions on them. We always make sure that – while we opt to review watches we actually like – we stay aware of how elusive perfection truly is in the watch world.
While this has allowed us to maintain a fairly even opinion of our watches over the years, there were definitely some we got our grubby mitts on that we were sad to see go. Similar to the Best of WatchAdvice: Education article I just wrote, we decided to compile a list of our favourite watches that we have ever reviewed, all for your reading pleasure. So as we creep closer to the new year, relax and enjoy some of our best Review articles to date!
Zenith Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow’: 2020 & 2024
Back in 2020, founder of WatchAdvice Chamath Gamage was able to get his hands on a then-recent drop from Zenith: The Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow.’ A modern reimagining of a 70s-era Zenith watch that was never produced, this watch was exemplary for several reasons. Its period-appropriate design was faithfully recreated by the Le Locle brand, but packed several technological upgrades courtesy of the modern era, such as a bead-blasted 37mm titanium case and the reliable high-beat El Primero 4061 movement. As the watch had a deep historical narrative behind it, Chamath at the time recommended it for those with a vested interest in the heritage of Zenith.
Four years later, however, Zenith would release a new version of the ‘Shadow’ which included a ladder-style titanium bracelet option. Chamath had already reviewed the shadow on its original black Cordura strap, so I decided to take the reins on this one! While the ladder bracelet is a contentious design element in the watch world, with some shunning the Zenith Revival lineup, I found that in my review it was quite useful for maintaining the comfort of the watch. That, compounded with a legible monochromatic design, and a lightness/toughness ratio that only titanium can provide, made me agree with Chamath in that the ‘Shadow’ remains a surprisingly well-built watch in a small package. I, however, recommend it more for a general enthusiast – especially ones that love wearing black.
Hublot Big Bang Integrated Blue Indigo Ceramic
Another watch that Chamath was able to review was the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Blue Indigo Ceramic. In a word, this watch represents ‘progress:’ It wasn’t too long ago that Hublot was considered to be the figurative punching bag of the watch world. While some of the community still perpetuates that stereotype, nowadays evidence to the contrary is much more abundant. Hublot is supremely dedicated to making serious watches for people who aren’t, and the level of craftsmanship found in the Big Bang Integrated Blue Indigo Ceramic only makes them harder to hate. As Chamath says, the watch feels like a toy in the best possible way, and the vibrance of the blue ceramic construction only serves to mask the engineering prowess that the in-house (yes, fully in-house!) Cal. HUB1280 flyback chronograph movement.
Breitling Premier B15 Duograph
But in the end, what’s better than one chronograph? Two, of course! Despite standing at a monstrous 42mm diameter x 50mm lug-to-lug x 15mm thickness, the Breitling Premier B15 Duograph represents one of the best value-for-money offerings in the chronograph subtype of the watch world. What makes it stand apart from other modern chronographs is that it packs an incredibly rare complication: A split-second function, which allows for the timing of two events at the same time! While most split-second chronographs often cost high five-to-six-figure sums, Breitling still manages to pull it off for (at time of speaking) under AU$20,000. Yes, that’s still a large sum, but compared to the likes of Patek Philippe, F.P. Journe and now TAG Heuer, this makes the Premier B15 Duograph a rare breed in the industry.
Speake-Marin Ripples Original
When the ‘sports watch’ market of the watch world is as jam-packed as it is today, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stand out. However, Speake-Marin and their eponymous founder beg to differ, with the Ripples Original. A uniquely designed watch in a market where everything looks the same, the Ripples Original takes almost every element prevalent in other modern watches and flips it all on its head: The watch itself comes in a rounded square case, almost Nautilus-like according to Editor-in-Chief Matt Clymo; The small seconds complication takes up space at 1:30 instead of the usual 6 o’clock placement; And the textured dial where the Ripples Original inherits its name is unlike any other dial finishing around. Alongside its SMA03-T micro-rotor movement, it would be hard not to recognise the Speake-Marin Ripples Original as a horological standout.
Panerai Radiomir Otto Giorni
Speaking of standing out, Matt has also had the opportunity to go hands-on with an interesting timepiece from Panerai, the Radiomir Otto Giorni. This means ‘8 Days’ in Italian, and it derives its name from its outstanding power reserve, enabling it to run for an entire week (and then some) in full wind. The signature Panerai sandwich dial makes its appearance, with lume no longer being of concern, but the real centrepiece comes from its Brunito, (burnished) eSteel case structure. The Radiomir Otto Giorni has been given special ageing treatment with PVD, similar to how one would distress a pair of jeans to make them look properly worn and loved. While for some, these takes away the joy of watching a timepiece age alongside you, both Matt and I feel that it is a great addition to the watch, making it stealthier in comparison.
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk
However, if Matt were to persist with wearing a watch like the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk, I’m afraid all pretences of stealth would be out the window. A recent review of his – and a personal dream watch of mine – the Zeitwerk is one of horology’s most incredible masterpieces. Words cannot describe the amount of jealousy I have towards Matt for handling this without me, but at least I can describe the watch: The Zeitwerk’s dial is an operatic combination of small seconds; a power reserve indication; and an incredible digital time display. Compounded with its luxurious 18k pink gold case, this one is for the cream of the crop – or, perhaps, those who inherited estates as the next-of-kin of the cream of the crop. Understandably, the watch may be gigantic on me, but if I had ever gotten my hands on it, good luck to A. Lange & Söhne if they want it back!
Seiko Prospex Alpinist Australasia Limited Edition
A bit of a spoiler alert here: I picked the following two reviews from Sam – another of our writers here at WatchAdvice – because I knew that he was going to pick both of them as his best releases of 2024. Sorry for spoiling the party, Sam!
In any case, the Seiko Alpinist had long cemented itself as a beautiful, yet reliable and affordable powerhouse in the watch market. However, once word got out that they were making a limited Australasia Limited Edition, naturally WatchAdvice had to jump and scramble to get our hands on it! As with most Seikos, there were some hiccups – namely the stiff leather strap and unremarkable movement – but one look at the dial of this watch, and you’ll forget you ever disliked it. Even if there was nothing left, Seiko and associates (Grand Seiko and Credor) represent some of the very best in the watch world when it comes to dial manufacturing. The Seiko Prospex Alpinist Australasia Limited Edition is one of many examples of this.
M.A.D.1 S
I also got to go hands-on with the M.A.D.1 S, but Sam’s review pretty much sums up all of my thoughts precisely. An absurd, science-fiction watch from the delightfully twisted mind of Max Büsser (and friends, of course!), the M.A.D.1 S is a significant upgrade from the original. Slimmer, Swiss-made, and spinning, this watch is a manifestation of everything that you could possibly dream of in a watch as a child. Is it the most accurate? No. Is it the most complex? Not really. But, most importantly, is it fun? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then I suggest you check this out for yourself! We certainly thought it was.
Owner’s Perspective: Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
It’s not all reviews and schmoozing up to brands, however. Sometimes, we take a look into our own collections and investigate how our own personal preferences hold up in the watch world. In Sam’s case, he has owned the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 for over a year – which makes him the perfect person to look back and review his experiences with it! While news of the Tissot PRX is fairly cut-and-dried these days, it’s like that for a reason, as it represents an incredible value proposition in the watch world. Yes, prices are slowly creeping upward, but the PRX is one of very few watches that has managed to gain universal popularity over a short amount of time thanks to the design and engineering chops of the Swatch Group. This is the watch I would point a beginner towards, and should the prices stay stable, it will remain the watch I point beginners towards forever.
Raymond Weil Millesime
These final three reviews are my own, so forgive me if I toot my horn a little. The Raymond Weil Millesime, after seeing its release in 2023, was a watch I had eagerly wanted to get my hands on for a long time. To be honest, it was everything I expected it to be: minimalistic and dressy, but versatile enough to be worn in regular situations. That’s only half of what drew me towards it, though, as the comeback story of Raymond Weil had also been one I had been following closely for quite a while now. To see them begin to make moves in the watch world again was certainly something to behold, and while they are only just getting started, I’m more than happy to be in their corner for the foreseeable future. This was also the first time I was ever noticed by the CEO of a watch company, so to Elie Bernheim – I wish you all the best, and I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with next!
Oris Aquis Great Barrier Reef IV Limited Edition
When it comes to summarising the article I wrote on the Oris Aquis Great Barrier Reef IV Limited Edition, I already have a sentence in mind: “Without a shadow of a doubt, the 2024 Oris Aquis is one of the most complete watches I’ve ever worn.” Granted, I’m quoting myself from the article, but it still rings true to this day! Is it my favourite watch ever? I’m not too sure I would say that, but I can confidently say that it felt damn close! I’ve not seen or handled another watch where, in both engineering and design, every single element had been taken into careful consideration. But the 2024 Oris Aquis is just that: carefully considered, and gorgeously decorated too!
Cartier Santos Dumont
For a young guy who used to work at Subway and a fishery, to be able to handle a watch from a brand as prestigious as Cartier was a pretty surreal moment for me. While I had already familiarised myself with the world of watches long before the Santos Dumont came into my possession, it was extremely difficult not to freak out at that moment. I’d only ever known about Cartier the way everyone else did: through music and rom-coms, so I can confidently say that I had an absolute blast writing this one. I loved every second of wearing it, and I loved every second of reviewing it, and I sincerely hope that you have as much fun reading it.
