Gear Patrol

Tissot started designing classic timepieces back 1853 and has served as the official time keeper for major sporting events in motorcycling and downhill skiing, in addition to sponsoring Lotus, and Renault’s Formula 1 teams. Located in LeLocle, Switzerland, the watchmaker’s quality remains unmistakable, and the all-new Tissot Seastar 1000 Chronograph stunner, is no exception. Unlike…

Usually, when materials like carbon fiber, steel, ash wood and hand-sewn leather come together you expect to hear them with the likes of Bentley or Rolls Royce. But in this case, they form the components of Hublot’s luxury luge. Only ten of these sledges have been made, built in collaboration between Hublot and Lausanne University…

Like a Navy Seal let loose in a haberdashery, the Leffot Horween Leather NATO watch straps ($225) look like they could perform double duty in a firefight and a cocktail hour with the Queen. NATO straps are becoming ever more popular among not just the watch cognoscenti but also in the mainstream crowd for their…

The Timex Men’s T18581 Classic Camper Watch ($20)could not be more aptly named. With timeless (not literally of course) styling, and durability you can rely on, this is a watch that is a true American classic. Its sleek black profile means it will accent any wrist, at any age, anytime. Yet the engineering and design…

A lot of fuss has been made over things coming in small packages lately. From the sound of it, only the finest and most enjoyable wares the world has to offer can come in small packages. For certain types of “things” this small package business can be the truth, the new and improved Amazon Kindle…

Most men can probably provide the time with a flick of their wrist. Unless they’ve got a yard stick tattooed on your inner arm though, they probably can’t help with measuring out a door frame. That where the Stanley Tap Measure Watch ($44) comes in. It features an integrated 3 ft tape measure along with…

Gear Patrol recently had the opportunity to attend Parmigiani’s unveiling of the new Bugatti Super Sport watch as part of one amazing weekend (but more on that later) in Monterey, CA. Created as a predecessor to the now famous Bugatti 370 by Parmigiani, at the core of the new model is a specially developed PF…

Britain has a wealth of history. With the exception of being responsible for Greenwich Mean Time, most of that history has little to do with the watch world. Bremont, from our account, seems ready and poised to change that by bringing a British timepiece to the table and producing some awe-inspiring timepieces. GP got to…

If you’re looking for a handmade strap to distinguish your timepiece from the rest of the 20mm-26mm watches out there, look no further than Bas and Lokes straps ($94+). Made by two experienced strap makers with a passion for quality and luxury, all of their straps are suited for large watches with wide lug widths….

One way to measure the success of a movie is if any of its themes, characters, or terms, continue to be referenced by society long after the film’s promotion engine slows to a stand still (Think: “The Dude Abides”). Avatar’s hype machine clearly isn’t done in the wake of Blu-ray and DVD sales, but the…

Whether you’re in the market for a serious watch for deep sea exploration that doesn’t require an ocean of cash, or just in search of some rugged arm candy, Dievas is a brand worth researching. Created recently in 2006, Dievas is an independent manufacturer founded on the principle that quality and customer service mean everything….

Based on a Rolex Submariner LV, Project X Designs heavily modified it to be what amounts to an authentic homage to the esteemed Sub Ref 6538. For those of you not geeked out by Subs, the 6538 is the model Sub that Sean Connery wore as James Bond, and one of the most sought after…

Headquartered in San Francisco, Xetum is a rising watch brand that anyone who’s into timepieces should definitely keep an eye on, especially if mid-market pricepoints represent your own personal sweet spot. Designed in the U.S. but built in Switzerland around high-grade Swiss movements, these timepieces provide tremendous value that both fashion lovers and watch aficionados…

Take the U.K. MOD (Ministry of Defense) spec as your basic watch strap, then over engineer it. The result? One of Maratac’s NATO watch straps. NATOs are a favorite of watch geeks everywhere, and there’s reason why. They look great on almost any sports watch (no, not a Timex Ironman) and serve as a lighter,…

WIS (watch idiot savants) like to hold long and protracted arguments over what constitutes a tool watch. R.E. Smith went a different direction. He started RESCO and built the tool watch he wanted – the Patriot. As a Navy SEAL instructor and SEAL Team member, he had an exacting vision of a watch that could…

As the brain child of the German Jewelery and watch manufacturer, Heinz Schwarz, the TeNo brand stands out primarily for its creative mixing of new and old materials. Distinguished by its bold use of red, white, and black, the New TeNo Steel DyRon Sport II Chronograph is no exception and in many ways seems designed…

Working for a Gear site while cooped up with a bunch of watch nuts eventually starts to rub off. Now if I had actually hit that Lotto jackpot like I was supposed to in my life plan, this new found love for time pieces would have led me straight to the high end luxury brands…

Whether it’s a Panerai, Hamilton, Citizen, or Lum-Tec, they all have one thing in common: power. Specifically, a need of an energy source to power its lume. Swiss Military Watch (SMW) takes a different approach to illumination. They use H3 technology in their watches. H3, or tritium, is the third isotope of hydrogen and when…

By Guest Writer and Outdoor Enthusiast Roger Dawkins The Citizen Promaster Aqualand is the everyman dive watch. It’s cool to lust after a Breitling Superocean, a Blancpain 500 Fathoms, or even an Oris TT1 Carlos Costa LE, but it’s way cool to get a watch like this and keep it real, too.

Before I ever knew my fellow Gear Patrol watch fiend editors, Skagen always appealed to me as a brand for two reasons. As someone cursed with chicken wrists, their thin casing and small faces fit my arm well. Secondly, the entire line’s minimalist styling always seemed to give off a classy sleek look that belied…

I’m not ashamed to admit that, compared to several of Gear Patrol’s other staffers, my knowledge of timepieces is limited. For instance, Brian’s primer on upgrading your watch knowledge was a revelation, and frankly I appreciated someone stating all the basics in such an easy to consume fashion. That said, based on my brief exposure…

The new Korsbek Oceaneer is another high-quality dive watch emerging from the growing boutique market. We’ve touched on this trend before here at Gear Patrol, introducing you to companies like BaliHa’i and Zinex. These lines are a great place to find yourself a watch on par in quality with any well known brand; plus, you’ll…

By Brian Huang and Gear Patrol Reader Ty Alley: We at Gear Patrol love watches. There’s no doubt that we have a fascination with timepieces here. While we enjoy talking about and introducing you to all manner of watches, we realize that not everyone understands the terminology involved. Similar to how we introduced you to…

TSOVET watches stormed onto the scene this past November and have been making a splash ever since. Being a naturally inquisitive person and finding myself seduced by their utilitarian looks, I decided to investigate.

By Benjamin Clymer | Hodinkee A lot of what we do at Hodinkee is identifying brands that deserve some attention from watch fans around the world. In this article, we are going to be talking about five brands that fly under the radar at the moment, but that probably won’t be for very long. These…

American Design. Swiss Engineering. Killer Price. The Hamilton Jazzmaster Power Reserve, as shown here on my desk at the GP office. Between the double-digit crew here at Gear Patrol, there are tens of thousands of dollars worth of time pieces between us. Yet, lately I find myself appreciating well-priced goods and gear out there. You…

Runners, your watch is here. The Garmin Forerunner 405 continuously monitors your time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate. The GPS enabled watch will store the data in memory and send it wirelessly to your computer. The touch bezel (a la iPod) will let you scroll and select features on the run, not being hampered…

Casio has rolled out a new watch to commemorate the US Open of Surfing – the largest ocean front sporting exposition. The watch combines: G-Shock technology 200 meter water resistance Afterglow backlight Countdown timer Stopwatch White resin case we’re a little obsessed with What this means to you: Sure, it’s a watch designed specifically for…

If you haven’t noticed, rugged vintage is in and it extends itself to timepieces. The 40mm Flieger Cockpit by Fortis comes in a limited edition black/orange horizon scheme we endorse. Don’t think of it as a vanity watch though. It’s radiation-free super luminova markers and numerals literally shine beneath it’s anti-glare crystal sapphire and he…

When all else fails, stick with simplicity. XEMEX watches embody just that. Their commitment to functionality, readability and comfort never infringe on their uncompromising design. The Offroad series stick with coherent round time pieces while retaining a sporty and robust feel. 40mm case Brushed Stainless Steel Sapphire Crystal Screwed back and screw-down crown 100m water…