1. EDITORIAL: Are Watches Too Expensive?

Are watches too expensive? If only we had a penny for everything we were asked this question… But yes, this is actually a very legitimate question to ponder, considering the direction that the industry has been taking in recent years. So what does this mean for the industry and collectors? Read to get a glimpse of what may be.

Source: Watches by SJX

2. A Week On The Wrist: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

If you are looking for a high-end solid gold chronograph, Audemars Piguet new Royal Oak Chronograph cannot be ignored. This article presents well rounded look at the brand in general and how AP’s new Royal Oak Chronograph compares against its closest competitors in the segment from Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe.

Source: Hodinkee

3. Rolex: Event Horizon, the birth of Rolexmania and the Daytona 16520

For younger enthusiasts like myself, this is a nostalgic post that takes us back to 1989 in the early days of “Rolexmania”. Back in those good old days, a Datejust costs just £1100 and a vintage reference 6200 went for just £600 at the auctions. The post also details the early days of the legendary reference 16520 Daytona.

Source: PuristSPro

4. A Factory Visit To Richard Mille

Is there a watch more glamorous and associated with the ultra-wealthy these days than Richard Mille? In some circles, a Richard Mille on the wrist is considered to be the billionaire’s secret handshake. To understand why a Richard Mille timepiece costs as much as it does, it is necessary to understand the philosophy of the brand and how the watches are made. Here then is a sneak peek into the Richard Mille manufacture.

Source: Fratellowatches

5. Seiko Marine Master Professional 1000m Automatic Diver SBDX011 – The Benchmark For All Dive Watches

If you are looking for a serious dive watch because you don’t wish to ding your expensive Submariner or Fifthy Fathoms, one good alternative is Seiko’s SBDX011. A solidly constructed watch made using titanium and outfitted with Seiko’s 8L35 movement (basically an undecorated variant of the 9S55 found in Grand Seikos), this is a true blue tool and dive watch.

Source: Wrist Review

6. Icon: The NATO Strap

If you are a frequent aBlogtoWatch reader, chances are you own a NATO strap or two. They are fairly ubiquitous these days and are an inexpensive and fun way of dressing up a watch. But have you ever wondered how they came to be? How did it gets it name? Learn about the history of the humble NATO strap in this post.

Source: Gear Patrol