In 2024, ABTW readers made themselves heard over 20,000 times. Our comment section creates a small community, offers readers a chance to give their own thoughts on watches, and even seems to create friendships (or internet facsimiles thereof). There’s always plenty of negativity (though our moderators try to make sure things stay civil), but there are also jokes, praise, and storytelling. The focus is always on watches, but sidebars are a common feature. People check in when a regular hasn’t commented for a while. People share about their vacations. Some offer poetry as commentary, reference obscure films, or share about their latest purchase. The community is a large part of what makes ABTW what it is. This year, 10 stories stood above the rest as generating the most discussion, and I’m sure we can all guess a handful of them, though there were certainly surprises.
A Bit of Chatter About a Duo of New Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm Watches
You won’t be surprised to know that we cover a lot of watches here at aBlogtoWatch. In 2024, we went hands-on with over 400 watches, and while some unsurprisingly created lots of chatter, two new dials of an existing model from Girard-Perregaux wouldn’t have been anyone’s guess for one of the top spots. But here we are. Beyond the predictable price complaints (for 2025, maybe we can swear these off?), people admired the watch, but wondered who it is that’s buying any GP (it turns out it’s Will Ferrell). This disbelieving inquiry was a thread we saw throughout the year, as people wondered how so many luxury brands stay afloat.
Readers Sound Off About Their AD Experiences
In one of his columns, Ariel talked about what people should expect from ADs, and naturally asked readers to share their own experiences. Our readers, of course, were more than willing. People shared about big and small brands, online and in-person, good and bad. There were comparisons to buying cars, stories of outright disrespect, and a quick joke about Max Verstappen. In the end, people just want to be treated well and with respect, and that shouldn’t be that much to ask.
A New Watch Stand in the aBlogtoWatch Store Drums Up Discussion
We knew this was a fun product and something people would enjoy, but posts about the few items we sell in the ABTW store (none of which are or ever will be watches) weren’t on our shortlist for this Top 10 post. It’s always great when we get to bring something to our readers and get immediate feedback about how much they like it, what they want to see, and what they may change. Having that feedback include a mention of the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet is just a bonus.
Citizen Wows with “The Citizen” AQ4103-16E and Its Gold-Flaked Washi Paper Dial
ABTW readers have a soft spot for Citizen, at times swelling into a loin-burning idolatry. This particular Citizen is a bit higher end than the typical fare we cover, but no less deserving of our words or readers’ eyes. Once again, the response was almost universally positive (once again, allowing for pricing criticism). Just one person voiced his dislike for the watch. One. Everyone else either liked it or acknowledged its beauty while saying it wasn’t for them, though one reader did wonder if the flakes were made from celebrities’ used toilet paper. They’re not — the toilet paper is unused when applied to the dial.
Bremont’s “Reset” Leaves People Scratching Their Heads…
Was it the new logo, the discarding of brand DNA, or the forsaking of an established and enthusiastic customer base? Everyone seemed to take issue with Bremont’s brand pivot/turnaround/makeover. Perhaps the move to more mass-market designs like the Terra Nova was inevitable once outside money came in — investors want to make their money back, after all. Everyone seemed laser-focused on the Terra Nova, but the Supermarine got a makeover, too, which was arguably more compelling. Unfortunately, everything caught up in the abruptness and ham-handed execution of it all. And in any case, so few people had gone hands-on with the watches that any real conclusions were premature.
… And They Kept Right on Scratching with the Review of the Bremont Terra Nova 38
Until they weren’t. The Bremont Terra Nova collection was one of the most maligned releases of the year (scroll down for the most maligned), and we took it upon ourselves to review 4 different models, including the Bremont Terra Nova 38. The consensus from the reviews was that while the Terra Novae may not bear any resemblance to the Bremont many knew and loved, the watches are all well-made, nice timepieces — anyone willing and wanting to buy one likely wouldn’t be disappointed. While the reader response was somewhat more balanced than it was to the debut, the common feeling may be best summed up by one comment: “Mediocre effort.”
Mourning the Loss of Craftsmanship & Performance in Luxury Watches
Is the importance brands place on accuracy waning? That’s what David suggested in one of his Grinding Gears columns this year, lamenting the apparent disinterest from high-end brands in certifying the accuracy of their movements. While Patek came out with new standards for its own movements, David asserts that fewer and fewer brands are certifying their models and collections. This one generated a good deal of thoughtful discussion about the merits of chronometer certification, including some blunter statements that reminded us all that if you want accuracy in a watch, nothing will ever beat quartz.
TAG Heuer Teams with Kith for a Range of Old School Formula 1 Watches
What’s big in 2024? Color? Smaller case sizes? Collabs? Vintage inspiration? Check. Check. Check. Check. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Kith collaboration watches seemed to have it all. And sometimes even that isn’t enough. While very few took issue with the actual watches, the pricing, as always, took center stage. As one reader put it, these are $1500 “plastic quartz watches for kids.” The parallels with the MoonSwatch were hard to ignore, and as another reader remarked, “It’s cool to see how many brands are getting really invested in propping up the eBay reseller market.”
Patek Philippe Debuts the Cubitus… and People Have Thoughts
When Patek Philippe discontinued the steel Nautlius 5711, the thought was that something spectacular would take its place. After all, why kill your darling if you aren’t going to replace it with something equally praiseworthy? It’s not clear if anything could have ever fully filled the handmade oxfords left empty by the Nautilus, but what is clear is that the Cubitus cannot. The response to the watch was swift and merciless, the general sentiment being, “Wait, this is what you killed the 5711 for? THIS?” Much of the vitriol could be dismissed as kneejerk comments, but it was undeniably that the Patek Philippe Cubitus looked more like a homage than a watch that might soon be homaged. As a counterpoint to the masses, ABTW contributor Celine Simon wondered in her comment if the reaction was, in part, informed by our familiarity with the iconic Nautilus, and what the Cubitus may look like to someone unfamiliar with its predecessor.
Thierry Stern Does Not Like the Thoughts People Have About the Cubitus
If the Cubitus itself wasn’t enough to stir one’s pot, surely Stern’s response to criticism was. In a peak display of condescension and a demonstration of the haughtiness of the Patek Philippe brand, Stern essentially said anyone with a negative view of the watch is not and could never be a Patek owner. Much of the comments rehashed initial criticisms of the Cubitus with a dash of scorn for Stern. But many opined about Stern himself and how disconnected he was from the larger watch market and community. Some shrewdly observed that while the comments were hubristic, that didn’t make them inaccurate — to which still others pointed out that just because it’s right, doesn’t make it smart to say. Perhaps Stern would’ve been better off heeding the advice offered by Ariel, who commented, “The best rich people are the ones who don’t keep reminding everyone in the room how rich they are.”
What did we miss? These stories and reviews may have gotten the most comments, but what pieces did you feel generated the best discussions? Let us know!