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Decoding Watch Model Numbers: Breitling

Decoding Watch Model Numbers: Breitling

Model numbers: those sometimes short and sometimes long strings of numbers and letters associated with every watch must serve some purpose. Each watchmaker has their own style; Rolex uses four to six digits, Grand Seiko uses four letters followed by…

How To Use A Chronograph Watch

How To Use A Chronograph Watch

This Article is part of a series written by editors of Hodinkee.com. This Article was written by: Tony Traina. A chronograph is a versatile tool that can be used to time all kinds of things. Here’s how to use it.  What Is A Chronograph?    If you're the owner of a chronograph, you know that it'…

Pre-Owned Picks Two Time Zones, Two Hour Hands, Zero Problems. The GMT Watch.

Pre-Owned Picks Two Time Zones, Two Hour Hands, Zero Problems. The GMT Watch.

Traveling across timezones for the holidays? Grab a GMT, a watch that's built for the task. The holidays are here again, and it's time to pack that ugly Christmas sweater sweet Aunt Mary gave you and start the annual pilgrimage to meet up with the family. As you travel across time zones, keeping tra…

Original vs. Reissue – TAG Heuer Carrera

Original vs. Reissue – TAG Heuer Carrera

The Value of Vintage In recent years, the appeal of vintage or vintage-style timepieces has steadily increased. As a result, countless brands have created reimagined versions of their classics. This trend has certainly seen a particular surge in the past decade. However, watchmakers are no stranger…

Profiles in Time: Dwayne Johnson

Profiles in Time: Dwayne Johnson

The Rock - A Powerful Part of Modern Culture He went from the idol of every professional wrestling fan in the 1990s to the highest paid actor in 2016. No matter how you slice it, Dwayne Johnson has made an impact on our culture in the past 30 years. He doesn’t have plans to slow down anytime soon. H…

Watch Materials: Evolution of the Bezel

Watch Materials: Evolution of the Bezel

Changes in Bezel Preferences in the Watch Industry Advancements in technology have inevitably driven the progress of modern watchmaking. These new tools and discoveries have allowed both the function and design to improve. During the past century in particular, there’s been a growing interest in the…

Candy and Watches – A Valentine’s Pairing

Candy and Watches – A Valentine’s Pairing

Our Top Matches of Timepieces and Treats Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If watches aren’t part of the celebration with your special someone, is it even love? There’s only one thing more essential on Valentine’s Day than the gift of a fine timepiece: candy. The history of Valentine’s Day…

2019 Grammy Artists and Their Watches

2019 Grammy Artists and Their Watches

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards will take place this Sunday in Los Angeles. This season, fifteen-time Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys will be hosting the show. Each year, music fans anticipate performances from prominent artists and nominees. With the lineup this year, the 2019 event certainly won’t d…

The Difference in a 4, 5, and 6-Digit Rolex Reference Number

The Difference in a 4, 5, and 6-Digit Rolex Reference Number

Insight into a Rolex Reference Number For die-hard Rolex fans, the appeal of a certain model isn’t just about the dial color or type of strap. The reference number can signify the authenticity and cult status of a specific Rolex watch. In fact, the reference number indicates the defining characteris…

Military Watches: Dirty Dozen

Military Watches: Dirty Dozen

Britain's Call for a Military Watch Military watches are among some of the most popular and prized vintage timepieces. They don’t just have rich backstories and an important place in the heritage of horology and our culture. Watchmakers produced them in limited quantities and specifically for milita…

The Big Game 2019 – Our Picks for Player’s Wrists

The Big Game 2019 – Our Picks for Player’s Wrists

This Sunday is the big game. This year, we’re especially excited because it’s all going down in our hometown, Atlanta, Georgia. The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Patriots, will be taking on the Los Angeles Rams. It’s football’s biggest matchup of the season. At Crown & Caliber, we certainly…

How To Change a Bracelet or Strap

How To Change a Bracelet or Strap

How to Change a Watch Strap or Bracelet Changing your watch’s bracelet or strap is a great way to update your timepiece and give it a fresh look. However, you may be wondering how to replace a watch band. The safest way to change your bracelet or strap is to have it done professionally. You could us…

Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2019

Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2019

  Notable Highlights from the 2019 SIHH The first watch show of the year kicked off this week in Geneva, Switzerland: the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie. In an ever-evolving industry, annual fairs like the SIHH have met the challenge to adapt with the times. As a result, they set ou…

Profiles in Time: Steph Curry

Profiles in Time: Steph Curry

Steph Curry - Basketball Legacy and Role Model Basketball runs through Stephen Curry’s blood. His father, Dell Curry, played in the NBA, and he followed in his footsteps. The Golden State Warriors drafted Steph Curry in 2009 after two years of impressive college play at Davidson. He’s been loyal to…

TAG Carrera vs. TAG Monza

TAG Carrera vs. TAG Monza

TAG Heuer's Mark on the Racing World TAG Heuer has a history with the sport of racing that dates back nearly 90 years. As the popularity of motorsports grew in the 1930s, they began producing dashboard timers for automobiles. Soon, the brand reinvented these instruments as watches. The 1960s mark a…

OMEGA Speedmaster Patch Edition

OMEGA Speedmaster Patch Edition

Honoring NASA Through the Speedmaster Patch Campaign A mission patch is a highly symbolic memento given to NASA teams after they embark on an exploration. In 1997, the legendary OMEGA Speedmaster celebrated its 40th anniversary. So that year, the brand created a special edition set of models called…

Splurge vs. Steal: White Gold Rolex Submariner and Tudor Pelagos Blue

Splurge vs. Steal: White Gold Rolex Submariner and Tudor Pelagos Blue

Close Brands, Closer Competition The legendary Hans Wilsdorf established Rolex in 1905. When he founded Tudor just over 40 years later in 1946, fans immediately put the two brands in competition. For decades, Rolex always seemed to trump Tudor in the eyes of the watch world. However, in more recent…

History in Watchmaking: Glashütte

History in Watchmaking: Glashütte

The Humble Beginnings of Glashütte Glashütte is a small, unassuming town in Saxony, Germany. Centuries ago, it was just a sleepy farming village. Today, it’s much more: Glashütte is the birthplace of German watchmaking. The industry first shifted in Glashütte in the early 1500’s. The discovery of a…

OMEGA Speedmaster Skylab Special Edition

OMEGA Speedmaster Skylab Special Edition

NASA and OMEGA's Close Bond In May 1973, NASA launched the first American space station, the Skylab. Likewise, over the next twenty-four weeks, three manned missions took place on the space station. The second was just two months later. On July 28th, three astronauts rocketed to the Skylab. For the…

Watch Materials: The Different Dial Types

Watch Materials: The Different Dial Types

Distinctive Appeals of the Dial The watch dial is one of the most visually important components of the watch. To the style-conscious, it’s one of the most noticeable features. Some may even buy a watch based on the aesthetic of the dial. Like the watch movement, the finishing of the dial is what dis…

The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Winners

The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Winners

Highlights from the GPHG Awards Last month, we shared the nominees and finalists for the 2018 Oscars of watchmaking: the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie (GPHG). The ceremony took place on Friday, November 9th at the Theatre du Leman in Geneva, Switzerland. This special gala event attracts members of the wat…

Splurge vs. Steal: Lange 1 vs. Glashütte Original Panomatic

Splurge vs. Steal: Lange 1 vs. Glashütte Original Panomatic

Comparing and Contrasting Glashütte Natives For true watch nerds, the industry goes far beyond watchmakers with massive brand power, like Rolex or Omega. Some companies have a rich history in the field of watchmaking that far outdates big box brands. Two examples of this are A. Lange & Söhne and…

The Different Rolex Bracelets

The Different Rolex Bracelets

The Best of Rolex Bracelets The bracelet is quite possibly one of the most overlooked aspects of a timepiece. Sure, the case, dial, and bezel are the star of the show because they display the primary function and style of the watch. Still, the bracelet is an incredibly important aspect. It plays a b…

Entry-level Watches to Luxury Brands

Entry-level Watches to Luxury Brands

Best Entry Level Watches from Top Brands Whether you’re starting a collection or adding a new brand to your collection, selecting your first model can be tough. There are so many different options to choose from, all at an array of price points. Keep in mind that every watch collection has to start…

Rolex Submariner vs. Tudor Submariner

Rolex Submariner vs. Tudor Submariner

Rolex Submariner vs. Tudor Submariner: A Comparison of Similar Models Since Hans Wilsdorf created Tudor in 1946, people have compared the brand to their parent company, Rolex. For decades, many watch aficionados and collectors believed Rolex to be the superior manufacturer. Wilsdorf’s original inten…

The Story of NORAD and Timing Santa’s Deliveries at Christmas

The Story of NORAD and Timing Santa’s Deliveries at Christmas

NORAD's Military Background As people who spend a lot of time thinking about time, tracking time, and talking about time, we’ve been curious. Have you ever thought about how Santa has the time to travel around the entire Earth in a single night? You can follow his exact trajectory, in real time, wit…

Omega Seamaster USA Winter Olympic Edition

Omega Seamaster USA Winter Olympic Edition

Comparing Olympic Sledding Skeleton is one of the most mysterious Winter Olympic sports. Sledding events, such as skeleton, are also some of the most exciting and potentially dangerous competitions. Just like many of our favorite watches, skeleton has its roots in Switzerland. The sport originated i…

Panerai Luminor Oracle – A Special Edition for the America’s Cup

Panerai Luminor Oracle – A Special Edition for the America’s Cup

Claiming the America's Cup When you think of Panerai, you might immediately conjure up an image of a dive or yacht watch. The brand has a deep history of producing instruments optimized for the deep blue sea. It started around the turn of the twentieth century when they began developing timekeeping…

Splurge vs. Steal: Patek Nautilus vs. Piaget Polo S

Splurge vs. Steal: Patek Nautilus vs. Piaget Polo S

Sport watches are consistently one of the most popular types of timepieces. The name of the category may make you think of a watch with a more casual or rugged appearance. However, as sport watches have grown in demand over the years, watchmakers have pushed the boundaries of their design. Even bran…

Hans Wilsdorf: A Founder and Innovator

Hans Wilsdorf: A Founder and Innovator

An Early Calling to the Watch Industry Today, we know Hans Wilsdorf as the father of two of the greatest watchmakers of all time: Rolex and Tudor. But before his name was forever etched into horological history, he was merely a boy from Germany with humble upbringings. Wilsdorf overcame incredibly c…

2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Women

2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Women

Watch Favorites for the Most Important Women in Your Life Maybe she was your first phone call when you landed the leading role in your school play. Maybe she taught you the secret family recipe for out-of-this-world cinnamon rolls. Or maybe she gave you your first watch. Sister, mom, grandmother – t…

2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Men

2018 Holiday Gift Guide for Men

Watch Favorites for the Most Important Men in Your Life Maybe he was there when you scored your first hole in one. Maybe he taught you how to drive a stick shift. Or maybe he gave you your first watch. Brother, dad, grandpa – there are so many important guys in your life. Every holiday season, you w…

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