Tag Archives: Watches

Only 100 Will Own This $84,300 See-Through Hublot Watch

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I have a theory about luxury watches: the best ones don’t just tell time, they start conversations. The Hublot Big Bang Sapphire Sky Blue is exactly that kind of watch. It’s a 44mm piece of sky-blue transparency that makes you stop mid-sentence and stare, not because it’s flashy in the traditional sense, but because it looks almost impossibly light. Like someone poured an afternoon sky into a case and sealed it with titanium screws.

Hublot has been working with sapphire as a structural material since 2016, earning a reputation as the go-to house for pushing what this material can actually do. What started as a clear sapphire case has evolved into something more ambitious, and this new limited edition is a strong example of that progression. The 44mm case and bezel are crafted from fully polished sapphire crystal, not coated or tinted, but rendered in a genuine sky-blue transparency that shifts subtly depending on the light. Depending on how the light catches it, this watch can feel cool and airy or warm and atmospheric, a kind of visual fluidity that’s rare even in this price category. It’s the kind of color that doesn’t settle for one mood.

Designer: Hublot

The case is held together by Hublot’s signature H-shaped titanium screws, and if you’ve spent any time with the Big Bang line, you know those screws are as much a design statement as a structural one. The six-screw bezel is recognizable at a glance, and pairing that hardware with a transparent sapphire case feels like the right call. Nothing hides, everything is intentional. The strap continues the color story in structured sky-blue rubber, and the matte sky-blue skeleton dial and matching movement bridges create an immersive, coordinated picture that somehow avoids feeling one-dimensional.

None of that would matter as much without something genuinely interesting happening inside. The movement powering the Big Bang Sapphire Sky Blue is the HUB1201 Manufacture Meca-10, a caliber that debuted in 2016 and remains one of the most visually distinctive in modern watchmaking. It was designed around the movement itself rather than squeezed into a conventional watch architecture, and the influence of mechanical construction systems, almost Meccano-like in its visual logic, is impossible to miss. Two parallel mainspring barrels give the watch a 10-day power reserve, meaning you won’t be winding this one every morning. A rack-and-pinion mechanism moves two sliding racks across the dial to display that power reserve in a way that reads more like industrial art than traditional horology. Running seconds at 9 o’clock, power-reserve display at 6 o’clock, and through the sapphire caseback, you can see all of it in motion.

Most skeleton watches look beautiful and stop there. The Meca-10 is different because the architecture actually makes sense when you study it. The structure has visual logic even for someone who’s never read a watchmaking manual, and the sky-blue bridges and dial frame the movement rather than compete with it. That restraint is harder to pull off than it looks.

At $84,300, the Big Bang Sapphire Sky Blue is not a casual acquisition. With only 100 pieces produced worldwide, it lands firmly in serious collector territory, and the scarcity here feels genuinely earned. Crafting a colored sapphire case at this scale is a real engineering challenge, and that material ambition justifies the exclusivity more convincingly than a simple limited-edition number ever could.

Could you wear it every day? Possibly. Should you? That’s a more personal question. At 44mm with a very deliberate visual presence, this watch commands attention. With 50 meters of water resistance, it handles daily life comfortably, though anything more demanding than that would be pushing it.

The concept itself is what’s worth sitting with: a watch that bets entirely on material and mechanics, and asks you to find that more compelling than a gem-set dial or a celebrity campaign. For the right collector, that’s a very easy bet to take. The Big Bang Sapphire Sky Blue makes transparency, literal and otherwise, its entire argument. And it’s a persuasive one.

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Casio upgrades the classic F-91W watch with smart functions, and it’s already sold out in Japan

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Without a doubt, the Casio F-91W is a legendary timepiece that is still available to buy for $20. While the digital watch has retained its nostalgic charm all these years, it is indeed a little left behind when it comes to smart functionality. Casio is set to change that now with the F-B100W timepiece, which adapts the modern functions expected in a smart timekeeper. The classic 1980s digital watch in the rectangular silhouette, upgraded with the goodness of step counting – I’ll take that any day!

On the outside, this Casio timepiece looks like the trusted F-91W, but inside it has more to offer, making it a sweet deal. For now, the watch is available in Japan for ¥8,800 (around $55), and it’s not surprising it has already been sold out, at least for now. That’s almost double the price tag of the original, which is still up for $22, but you’ll also have to factor in the generational leap in smart features this new model touts.

Designer: Casio

Most of the F-B100W’s functions are fairly straightforward, and the specifications are also very close to the original, measuring 41.9 × 38.1 × 8.8 mm and weighing 26 grams. The timepiece retains features including an amber LED backlight with adjustable glow, water resistance, an hourly time signal, and five daily alarm options. For improved comfort during long hours, the bio-based plastic strap now has improved ventilation slits. Major changes come in the form of a watch battery (as opposed to a rechargeable cell), which lasts for almost two years.

What’s making this Casio timepiece a big buzz already is the inclusion of Bluetooth, which automatically syncs time or toggles the alarms or dual time display. In the mix is the phone finder feature, which can be a really useful addition without all the unwanted nuances. What I’m most excited about is the addition of the step counter and lap split time function, which can be directly synced to your phone with the companion app. You can set goals, record up to 200 laps, and monitor the progress on the watch screen as well. For times when you get too engrossed in work, the F-B100W also sends an inactivity alert via a beep and on-screen prompt. Of course, that is an optional feature that can be turned off as well.

It doesn’t have any other smartwatch features like a heart rate monitor, sleep diagnosis, or even BP monitoring, but that’s the point. The retro-modern Casio watch has all the timekeeping functions, and the most essential smart features without making the wearer too finicky about the vitals. F-B100W comes in three color variants: 1AJF, 1BJF, and 3AJF, which have a black case with a positive LCD and retro blue, red, and yellow dial accents, and all black with a negative display and gray text, respectively.

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Fossil’s New Spider-Man Watch Is $425 and Actually Worth It

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Fan merchandise has a reputation problem. Most of it sits somewhere between “impulse buy” and “regret”: a coffee mug you stop using after a month, a T-shirt that fades after two washes, a keychain that feels like an afterthought. So when Fossil dropped its latest Marvel collaboration, a limited-edition Spider-Man automatic watch, my first instinct was healthy skepticism. Then I actually looked at it.

The Marvel x Fossil Limited-Edition Spider-Man 42mm Automatic Watch (model LE1247SET) is not a novelty item dressed up as a timepiece. It’s a timepiece that happens to carry serious pop culture weight, and the distinction matters more than you’d think. The watch actually has to earn your attention on design merit first, and it does.

Designer: Marvel x Fossil

Let’s start with what makes this watch genuinely worth the conversation. The dial draws from Spider-Man’s character-defining ’90s comic era, a period that holds a specific kind of nostalgic gravity for anyone who grew up reading Marvel. Spider-Man himself strikes his classic pose on a dark gradient dial that fades into an exposed automatic movement, revealing the mechanical heartbeat of the watch underneath. The visual effect is deliberate and theatrical in the best way. It’s not just a pretty face slapped onto a watch case. The design actually tells a story, which is exactly what good watch design should do.

The webbing detail is where the execution really commits to its concept. Tonal black webbing drapes across the crystal and continues onto the leather strap, which means the theme isn’t confined to the dial. It carries through the entire piece. That kind of design consistency is what separates an intentional collaboration from something rushed out for a licensing deal. I’ve seen enough lazy collabs to appreciate when a brand actually puts thought into the object as a whole rather than just slapping a logo on it.

Flip it over, and the display caseback keeps the energy going. The Spider-Man logo appears in red against the visible movement, and both the dial and caseback feature archival Marvel comic art. Each watch is also etched with limited-edition numbering, which is the kind of detail that matters to collectors and to anyone who wants to know they’re not just buying something off a shelf that thousands of others picked up too.

The movement itself is self-winding, powered by the motion of the wearer’s wrist. It supports manual hand-winding but doesn’t hack, which is standard for Fossil’s automatic movements. For anyone new to the world of mechanical watches, that means it won’t stop the movement when you set the time. It’s an entry-level automatic in the best sense: approachable, functional, and genuinely mechanical.

The packaging deserves a mention too, because it’s doing real work here. It comes in a comic book-style box featuring authentic cover art from the Marvel Comics archive. Inside, alongside the watch, there’s a lapel pin depicting The Hulk and Spider-Man facing off. It’s a small addition, but it elevates the whole thing from a product purchase into something that feels more like an unboxing event.

Now, where I land personally: I think branded watch collaborations succeed or fail based on whether the watch would hold up without the IP. Strip away the Spider-Man branding, and the Fossil LE1247SET is still a well-designed 42mm automatic with a thoughtful layout and solid finishing for its price point. Add the Marvel identity back in, and it becomes something a lot more compelling, an object that connects to culture, memory, and identity in ways that most watches simply don’t.

The appeal is broad too. It works for the collector who already knows the difference between a skeletonized dial and an open-heart. It works for the Marvel fan who wants something more meaningful than a poster. And it works for anyone who simply likes the idea of wearing something with a bit of personality on their wrist. Fan culture and fine craft don’t have to exist in separate lanes. The Fossil Spider-Man watch makes that case quietly, on your wrist, every single day.

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The new Timex Retroware Digital Watch Just Rekindled My Childhood Memory

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When I was growing up in the 1990s, there was a Timex I would kill for. If you remember the Timex Men’s Ironman Triathlon, you’d know what I mean. Not only was it the first to introduce the Indiglo backlight, but it was also the dominant sports watch, slayed with its rugged resin case. I owned one briefly before my brother, who had more muscle than me back then, coerced it out of my wrist to his advantage one day.

I had, in the last three decades, almost forgotten about it, but the moment the new Timex Retroware Digital showed up on my screen this morning, some memories were definitely rekindled. Thriving on the old digital sports watch charm of the ‘90s, the Retroware Digital is nowhere close to the Ironman for me, but it has its own retro vibe, which will find takers. Me… maybe, maybe not!

Designer: Timex

Taking nothing away from the new Timex sports watch, let me walk you through what’s changed in approach for the company and how this one, with retro looks, has a way forward to chime with Gen Z. It starts right at the bold and oversized display featuring huge, curved numerals that occupy the larger part of the dial. And this display we are talking about is not small by any means. It’s set in a 46 mm lightweight resin case. The size gives the watch a strong wrist presence, while the curved numerals remain arguably easy to read.

The Retroware Digital watch has a large case, but it’s not very thick, even for not-so-big wrists. It measures only 11 mm high and the 46 mm case ensures the distance from lug-to-lug is a large 50 mm. So, you definitely have a great Timex you’re dealing with. That said, it’s packed with features you’d appreciate whether you’re an ‘80s kid or a young athlete setting pace on a 400-meter track.

The watch is equipped with a chronograph and has a timer to make sure you’re never late for practice. The retro charm on the dial is rekindled by the Indiglo backlight. For the unaware, INDIGLO (how it’s stylized) was developed by Timex in 1992 for the, yes, Ironman Triathlon. It is an electroluminescent blue-green night light onboard that allows a wearer to tell the time in low light conditions with the push of a button.

The large display of the Timex Retroware perpetually ticks with the power of a quartz digital movement inside, which is driven by a CR2025 battery under the hood. The watch is 50-meter water-resistant, so you can definitely take it for a light swim in the pool or to shower later. Don’t go deep diving with it or try and set the stopwatch underwater. If you’re interested, Timex offers the Retroware Digital watch in two colors, blue and green-gray, with matching resin straps for $149.

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This NASA-inspired Kojima Watch lets you wear Ludens’ futuristic vision on your wrist

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NASA-inspired timepieces have always been hot property for astronomy fanatics and watch collectors alike. The minimalist Nova Watch, geeky  NASA Artemis Watch 2.0, and the ultra-exclusive Amida watches prove it, all right. Now, Anicorn Watches has unveiled another space-themed creation that channels the spirit of interstellar exploration through its collaboration with Kojima Productions.

According to Anicorn, the timepiece captures the essence of Hideo Kojima’s iconic Ludens character. Conceived by the legendary artist Yoji Shinkawa, Ludens is imagined as an astronaut venturing into the digital universe, symbolizing the studio’s philosophy of exploring the unknown through creativity. Described by the watchmaker as a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration, the Space Ludens transforms that futuristic vision into a collectible mechanical watch.

Designer: Anicorn Watches

The NASA “worm” logo serves as one of the defining visual elements, reinforcing the idea of “bringing fun into the unknown universe.” Housed in a 42 mm 316L stainless steel case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the watch embraces an industrial aesthetic inspired by the Ludens EVA Creative Suit. Four exposed screws on the bezel echo the suit’s structural details, while the monochrome dial is accented with subtle futuristic graphics that stay true to Kojima Productions’ signature visual language. Super-LumiNova-coated hands and hour markers ensure the watch remains easy to read after dark without compromising its clean appearance.

Powering the Space Ludens is the dependable Miyota 8215 automatic movement with 21 jewels and a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour. A transparent exhibition caseback reveals the movement in action, giving enthusiasts a glimpse of the mechanics behind the design. The watch also offers 50-meter water resistance, making it practical enough for everyday wear despite its collector-focused appeal.

Comfort hasn’t been overlooked either. The timepiece comes paired with a durable black FKM rubber strap that complements the rugged case while providing a secure fit for daily use. Each watch is individually numbered and presented in custom collector packaging that celebrates the collaboration between Anicorn and Kojima Productions.

For enthusiasts seeking an even more exclusive offering, Anicorn also introduced the Space Ludens with Ludens Mask VIP edition limited to just 100 units. In addition to the watch, the premium set includes a detailed Ludens mask display piece presented in a collector-grade package, turning the release into a display-worthy tribute to one of gaming’s most recognizable creative icons. Priced at $1,540, the rare edition is without doubt “EVA Creative Suit on the wrist” for enthusiasts to own.

 

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Rogbid SpinR is a rugged, budget-friendly smartwatch with optical scroll wheel for navigation

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Rogbid believes traditional crowns are so dead. The watches now need mouse-style scroll wheels because, why not? If you think that’s a good idea, and want to give yourself a head start on the design idea without committing too much on the price front, check out the Rogbid SpinR – a budget-friendly smartwatch with rugged features and an optical scroll wheel for navigation.

SpinR is an entry-level smartwatch. Rogbid has priced it at a very affordable $49.99. But what you get for the price – minus onboard GPS – is pretty noteworthy. First up, you have the metal case of the watch, which is made from zinc alloy and features a vacuum-plated finish. Offered in two colors – black and orange- the watch feels quite premium on the wrist. Despite the price and material usage, it’s not one of those chunky watches. It’s smart enough to go from work to gym, and anywhere else your adventure may take you.

Designer: Rogbid

The case, however, is not small in any way. It measures 51 mm diagonally and is 13.4 mm at the thickest point. As noted, the main highlight of the SpinR is not its case. It’s that optical scroller built into the side crown. A jewel on the large case, the optical scroll wheel functions somewhat like the crown on the Apple Watch – for navigation. You can navigate the menu, adjust settings, and control apps with the scroll wheel without touching the screen at any time. This can be particularly helpful when you have sweaty hands or your fingers are covered in chip crumbs.

According to the company, to simplify the interactions, the scroll wheel uses light to register scrolling movement when you are changing the volume, scrolling through your music library, or increasing the flashlight intensity. The process of the wheel’s functioning is pretty similar to that found in gaming mice.

Besides the innovative wheel for navigation, the Rogbid SpinR smartwatch wears a 1.7-inch display. It is unclear whether its LCD or AMOLED panel, but what we do know for certain is that it features a 360 x 360-pixel resolution. The watch draws power from a 7074 A7 chipset with 128 MB of flash storage and comes with some standard smartwatch features such as heart rate tracking and a pedometer. What the SpinR misses is built-in GPS. For precise location tracking, therefore, the watch featuring Bluetooth 5.4 will rely on the paired phone.

You want the smartwatch you own to work for a few days without requiring a recharge. The Rogbid SpinR could be one such offering with its 1100 mAh battery, which the company claims has 100-plus days of standby time. In real-world usage, of course, it’s going to be way less, but with the magnetic charging, it will give you a quick way to refuel if you’re caught up running out of power on the go. SpinR has a plastic caseback and comes paired with a silicone strap. The watch is rated IPX8 and features 30-meter water resistance.

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Bell & Ross BR-03 Helipad gives iconic square watch a helipad dial with a spinning helicopter

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A watchmaker who cannot have enough of aviation inspiration has launched a recognizable silhouette with a display that never stands still. Meet BR-03 Helipad, the latest Bell & Ross Flight Instrument timepiece that replaces the traditional hands on the dial with a helicopter hovering over a helipad. The only thing missing is the “whomp-whomp.”

Yes, that’s for real! For some it may be a surprise. But for the Bell & Ross community, it’s another iteration of the interesting BR-03 Horizon, which itself pushed aviation-inspired horology to the next level. Designed again to make you green in envy, the Bell & Ross BR-03 Helipad “is especially extraordinary,” the company says. While it wears a very reminiscent set of features including an identical square-shaped case and those four screws on the four corners, the BR-03 Helipad is a different league altogether.

Designer: Bell & Ross

A horological interpretation that pays homage to the oft-overlooked part of aviation, the helicopter, the BR-03 Helipad is way beyond the aircraft cockpit dashboard instruments that most of the watch displays in the brand’s Flight Instrument series are inspired by. While each model in the series released before this has faithfully translated the aesthetic codes of the flight cockpit, this one puts an entire functional helicopter motif on a helipad-esque dial.

The new BR-03 Helipad, powered by an automatic BR-CAL.327 movement with a 54-hour power reserve, does follow the same DNA of the Flight Instrument series, but adds a new dimension to it, which is equally immersive and distinctive. To that accord, the Bell & Ross BR-03 Helipad is a limited-edition pilot’s watch priced at $4,800. Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, the watch features a 41 mm case made from micro-blasted black ceramic, which keeps the timepiece lightweight and makes it durable.

The case is only 10.6 mm thick, packing a distinct dial under its sapphire crystal complete with an antireflective coating. The dial, as mentioned earlier, is styled after a helipad with a white “H” marker in the center. A helicopter can be seen hovering over the helipad, which sits inside a rotating disc with the hours marked on a yellow circle inside the chapter ring. The minutes are indicated by the rotating helicopter fuselage, while the spinning blades denote the seconds.

The hour markers and the yellow helipad outline coated with Super-LumiNova, for clear night visibility, mimic the nighttime landing scene on the dial. The BR-03 Helipad is water-resistant up to 100 meters, and comes with two interchangeable straps. One is a yellow rubber strap that matches the visual aesthetics of the watch, while the other is made from black synthetic fabric. The black ceramic caseback is pretty modest, it’s only etched with the details of the watch.

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C2H4 x G-Shock turns the iconic GA-2100 into retro-futuristic space age timepiece

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G-Shock is reminiscent of watches that keep you ahead of their time. This time, the collaboration between the Casio brand and Los Angeles-based streetwear label C2H2, however, takes you back. This is possible with the new retro-futuristic analog-digital watch inspired by the Space Age aesthetic. Based on the G-Shock GA-2100 (a timepiece that has already been through a rainbow of colorways), the C2H4 × G-Shock is a translucent resin model featuring a brushed silver dial with metallic silver detailing.

The collaboration model that appeared straight out of the 1960s was launched on the C2H4 website this past week, on July 17. The G-Shock is reasonably priced at $245; it features a dial that you would want to appreciate, even if you don’t want to own it. The dial matches the translucent resin casing with a brushed finish. But it is the metallic silver plating enhanced by vapor deposition here that makes this iteration of the C2H4 x G-Shock stand out.

Designer: C2H4

The basic idea of the C2H4 × G-Shock Vol. 2, which is the second model of the collaboration between the two brands, is pretty much similar to the previous model. Only that the retro-futuristic watch is now more metallic and angular. The metallic silver and blue watch is vintage-inspired and visually, a model pulled out of science fiction, thanks to its smoky translucent resin that’s apart from the blacked-out treatment in the previous offering.

Since the new C2H4 × G-Shock is based on the familiar design of the GA-2100, the new G-Shock GA-2100C2H426-8A arrives with the tagline “the future of design lies in the past.” The watch retains its inspiration’s shock resistance and is water resistant to 200m. The watch hands and hour markers are also provided with a refined metallic appearance with vapor deposition to match the watch details.

Like its base model, the collaboration model comes with 31-timezone world time, a 1/100-second stopwatch, five daily alarms, and a countdown timer. The watch features a double LED Super Illuminator and comes with a full auto-calendar. It can keep track of the date accurately through the year 2099. The translucent resin bezel and a matching strap reflect the usual CasiOak silhouette, with the metallic dial mimicking the Space Age aesthetic.

The watch is not a marvel on the front alone. Flipping it over reveals a caseback engraved with the Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport, which is one of the finest architectural examples of the Space Age design style. This retro-futuristic C2H4 × G-Shock comes in equally impressive packaging to entice collectors. A metallic silver and blue case has been designed to hold the watch. The case is shaped like a time capsule, which splits in half to reveal the G-Shock in its translucent appearance inside.

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Martin Smith creates sculptural watch winder to mark MB&F M.A.D. Gallery’s 15th anniversary

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The 15th anniversary celebration of the M.A.D.Gallery, MB&F’s network of spaces dedicated to “Mechanical Art Devices,” was kicked off with the first commemorative ML15 Helios earlier this year. The 9kg sculptural lamp made from 120 handmade parts by Berlin-based artist Frank Buchwald is now followed by Solar Orbiter, a 60-centimeter-tall kinetic sculpture that doubles as a silent watch winder.

Solar Orbiter watch winder is made by prominent British kinetic artist and designer Martin Smith through Laikingland, his design house, co-founded with engineer friend Nick Regan. The sculptural watch winder’s design is inspired by the 1957 Eames Solar Do-Nothing Machine, which showcased one of the first uses of solar electricity to power an aluminum toy in random dance.

Designer: Laikingland x MB&F

The Solar Orbiter is not an experimental toy; it is designed to be a conversation starter in Smith’s own studio in West Yorkshire. A device enticing enough to sit in the middle of your living room or office and make some heads turn. Instead of showcasing the application of solar power, this marries kinetic sculpture with high-end watchmaking to commemorate the long-term association between MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser, Martin Smith, and his company Laikingland.

As is the norm with Martin Smith creations – case in point, the applause machine – viewers become part of the Solar Orbital through physical and visual interaction. The highly sophisticated, limited-edition kinetic sculpture is handmade from nearly 300 gear trains and moving limbs that are set into motion by human interaction.

Turning a physical knob onboard puts the otherwise abstract Orbiter into a kinetic performance with a watch at the epicenter. Each element used in the construction of the Smith’s Solar Orbiter is either made from steel, aluminum, brass, or carved from wood. From what we know, Smith generally produces almost all the components used in his creations himself, using traditional equipment; we are presuming the same is the case with this sculptural watch winder.

There is no definite information to validate the same at this point, but the intricate details of the winder, which Smith describes as “chaotic, mesmerizing, sophisticated in its construction, and a bit quirky,” are worth appreciating nonetheless. The exclusivity of this creation is maintained by its limited-edition availability. Priced at CHF 9,900 (approximately $12,000), the watch winder’s production is strictly limited to just 10 pieces worldwide.

For collectors who like to tinker with just about everything to personalize it to their requirements, the Solar Orbiter allows swapping out different kinetic elements – including a hand, a heart, and a star – sitting at the top of this watch winder. If you happen to order one of these kinetic watch winders, Martin Smith will ship it your way inside a bespoke wooden crate, personalized with screen printing, and an A2 Certificate of Authenticity signed and hand-numbered by the artist himself.

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Honor Watch 6 Review: Great Endurance, Not Quite Perfect

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PROS:


  • Excellent battery life

  • Great AMOLED display

  • Unique soccer and badminton sports mode

CONS:


  • Honor Health app lacks polish

  • Twilight Brown leather strap feels stiff

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Honor Watch 6 pairs a gorgeous display with excellent battery life, even if its software and leather strap feel less refined.

With the Watch 6, Honor has given the series a complete visual reset. After the square-faced Watch 5, this new model arrives with a round case that feels more in step with the look of a traditional wristwatch. That redesign is backed by a fairly clear set of priorities. The Honor Watch 6 focuses on the things users are likely to notice first, such as a bright, attractive display and battery life that can stretch beyond a month.

After spending time with it, the Watch 6 comes across as a smartwatch built around practical strengths rather than bold innovation. The hardware makes a solid first impression, and the core experience is clearly aimed at people who want something dependable and easy to live with. At the same time, a few details, from the software experience to the quality of the leather strap, keep it from feeling quite as refined as it initially suggests.

Designer: Honor

Aesthetics

The Honor Watch 6 leans heavily into the visual language of a traditional wristwatch, and that gives it an immediate sense of familiarity. Its round face, sculpted lugs, and restrained detailing make it feel more like an everyday timepiece than a piece of sporty tech. That approach gives it some welcome versatility, allowing it to fit easily into casual or more polished settings.

At the same time, the design also feels a little too safe. There is nothing awkward or unattractive about the Watch 6, but there is also very little that feels surprising or distinctly memorable. It is clean, balanced, and easy to like, yet it stops short of making much of a visual statement.

Honor offers the Watch 6 in two versions. The Twilight Brown model I received pairs a silver-colored 316L stainless steel body with a brown leather strap, giving it the more classic look of the two. The Shadow Black version uses a black aluminum alloy body with a matching black fluoroelastomer strap, which feels more understated and fitness-oriented.

The leather strap on the Twilight Brown unit is where the aesthetic story loses some of its polish. From a distance, it looks fine and complements the silver-toned case well, but up close, it feels stiff and a little synthetic. Thankfully, it uses a 22mm quick-release system, so swapping it out for something better is easy.

Ergonomics

With its 46.5mm case and 10.8mm thickness, the Honor Watch 6 sits squarely within the familiar modern smartwatch zone in terms of size. It is large enough to feel substantial on the wrist and give the display room to shine, yet it never looks ridiculously bulky, even on my relatively small wrist. There is a definite presence here, but it is handled with enough restraint that the watch does not feel visually overwhelming in daily wear.

The Shadow Black version comes in at 41 grams, while the Twilight Brown model weighs 50 grams, both figures excluding the straps. That makes the Watch 6 relatively light for something this large, though not dramatically so. You are always aware that you are wearing a sizable device, but it does not become overly cumbersome during normal daily use.

The physical controls are straightforward and familiar. On the right side of the case, Honor places two buttons in a layout that will feel instantly recognizable to most smartwatch users. The top control is a rotating crown that lets you scroll through apps, while the lower button serves as a shortcut to the workout menu. The crown is responsive, and the haptic feedback is satisfyingly strong.

Gesture navigation is equally easy to grasp. Swiping down brings up the quick menu, swiping up reveals notifications, and swiping left or right cycles through panels. The touch experience is not completely foolproof. I noticed a few instances where a scroll gesture was interpreted as a tap instead, which led to accidental selections. It is a minor frustration, but it chips away at the sense of polish.

Performance

The Honor Watch 6’s display is easily one of the best parts of the entire experience. It uses a 1.4-inch AMOLED panel with a 464 x 464 resolution, and the result is exactly what you would hope for from a modern smartwatch screen. The bezel is not especially thin, but colors look rich, and text appears crisp, giving the display a bright, polished quality that stands out in everyday use. Brightness is another major advantage. With a peak brightness of 3000 nits, the display remains clearly visible even under bright sunlight, which makes a real difference during outdoor use.

The Watch 6 covers the broad health tracking essentials that most mainstream users actually want. It handles heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, step count, and general day-to-day wellness features in a way that feels accessible and easy to understand. Nothing here feels especially groundbreaking or deeply specialized, but that could also be part of the appeal. Honor has focused on delivering a practical set of features rather than overwhelming users with more data than they are likely to need.

The same can be said for the fitness experience. The Watch 6 does not try to present itself as a hyper-technical performance tool for elite athletes, but it does offer enough depth to keep active users engaged. The data is presented clearly, the core features are easy to access, and the overall experience feels designed for people who want useful feedback without having to decode a mountain of analytics.

There is also a healthy amount of variety for exercise tracking. The watch includes 122 sports modes, which should be more than enough for most people, whether they are casual walkers or more active users looking for something specific. If you are inspired by the World Cup, there is a professional soccer mode that adds a little more personality than the usual generic workout presets. During exercise, you can view step count and distance in real time, while post-workout data includes top sprint speed, average speed, and even a heat map.

Another unusual addition is the badminton mode, which goes beyond simple calorie tracking and actually tries to capture the rhythm of play. Here, you can check swing count, swing speed, shot power, forehand to backhand ratio, and stroke type. Features like these do not transform the Watch 6 into a specialist sports device, but they do make it feel more considered than a smartwatch that simply piles on empty exercise labels.

Other smart features include notifications, the ability to make and answer phone calls, and a remote shutter function. If the watch is connected to an Android phone, you can also control music playback. When paired with an Honor phone, it can be used as a voice recorder as well. Honor also says NFC support will roll out to available markets in July, which should add a little more convenience depending on where you live.

On the software side, the Watch 6 is functional but not especially refined. It works with both Android and iOS through the Honor Health app, which is good news for users who do not want to be locked into one ecosystem. Pairing and everyday syncing are straightforward enough, and the app gives you access to the usual health data, settings, and customization tools.

Still, the interface does not feel especially sophisticated. It gets the job done, but it lacks the polish and clarity found in the better smartwatch companion apps. Some of that lack of refinement shows up in the workout menu as well. Instead of grouping activities with the kind of color coding seen on many rival smartwatches, Honor presents them in a much plainer way. It gets the job done, but it makes the interface feel less intuitive and less thoughtfully designed.

That lack of refinement becomes especially noticeable when you start looking for watch faces. There are plenty of options available, which is great in theory, but the browsing experience could be much better. Instead of organizing faces in a way that helps users quickly narrow down what they want, too much of the selection feels thrown together. Compared to other smartwatch apps that sort faces into clearer styles or categories, Honor’s approach feels less curated and more cluttered. It is not a deal-breaker, but it does make personalization feel more cumbersome than it should.

Battery life, on the other hand, is impressive. The Watch 6 packs a 980mAh battery, and Honor claims it can last for up to 35 days. That figure is only possible if you turn off features like automatic blood oxygen detection, automatic stress detection, and raise to wake, while limiting exercise to light weekly activity. Even so, the claim gives a good sense of what the watch is aiming for, which is endurance far beyond what most smartwatches in this category can offer.

Honor says regular usage should deliver around 17 days of battery life, and based on my experience, that sounds believable. I have been wearing the watch for about 10 days and still have 55 percent battery left, so I have little reason to doubt the company’s estimate. When it is finally time to top up, charging is handled through the included magnetic pin charger.

Sustainability

Sustainability is rarely a headline feature for smartwatches, but the Honor Watch 6 does make a few sensible moves. Its IP69 and 5ATM ratings suggest it should hold up well against sweat, water, dust, and the wear of everyday use. In practical terms, that simply means it is built to take more abuse before becoming a problem.

Honor also says the watch uses recyclable aluminum alloy, which adds a small but welcome nod toward material responsibility. Paired with the excellent battery life, the Watch 6 feels like a device designed to stay in use rather than one that constantly asks for attention. It does not do anything groundbreaking on the sustainability front, but for a smartwatch, it makes a decent case for itself.

Value

At £229.99 for the Shadow Black version and £249.99 for the Twilight Brown model, the Honor Watch 6 sits in the upper mid-range part of the smartwatch market. That works out to roughly $295 and $320, respectively. It is not exactly cheap, especially for a smartwatch that does not offer the most polished software experience, but it does bring a few strengths that help justify the asking price.

The strongest part of its value proposition is that Honor has clearly invested in the features users will notice most often. The display is gorgeous, the battery life is genuinely excellent, and the core health and fitness features are broad enough for most people. At the same time, the stiff leather strap on the Twilight Brown version and the merely functional software keep it from feeling like a complete home run. The Watch 6 offers solid value if your priorities are battery life and screen quality, but it is a little harder to recommend purely on refinement alone.

Verdict

The Honor Watch 6 succeeds by keeping its priorities simple. It delivers a lovely display, excellent battery life, and a broad enough set of health and fitness features to satisfy most people who want a smartwatch for everyday use. Just as importantly, it wraps those strengths in a design that feels far more wearable and familiar than the square-faced direction Honor took before.

At the same time, it does not feel like a fully polished package. The software works, but it lacks the refinement and thoughtful organization that would make the experience feel truly premium. The leather strap on the Twilight Brown version also lets the hardware down a bit, since it looks better from a distance than it feels in the hand or on the wrist.

That leaves the Watch 6 in an interesting spot. It is not the most exciting smartwatch in its class, and it is not the one I would point to as the benchmark for software or overall finesse. But if your priorities are a gorgeous screen, long battery life, and a classic watch-like design, Honor gets a lot right here. The Watch 6 may not be the most memorable smartwatch of the year, but it is an easy one to live with.

The post Honor Watch 6 Review: Great Endurance, Not Quite Perfect first appeared on Yanko Design.