These New Watches Actually Impressed Me!

I don't know what's gotten into the watch industry this year, but I can't remember the last time we saw so many unique, innovative releases dropping back to back. Today we've got a really impressive mix of new watches, from some of my favorite big name players to a few standout micro brands. There's a lot to get into, I'm Eric, and this is One Watches. Farer is one of those indie brands that does things really well and is kind of under the radar. They've got dress watches, world timers, divers, integrated bracelets, sports models, pretty much a full lineup. But what really separates them from everyone else is how much variety they put into their collections. The new Pilot Series 2 is a perfect example of that. On paper it's a 4 watch release, but it feels like much more because each one has its own personality. The Curtis is probably the easiest entry point, it's got that classic WW2 Pilot Watch vibe with bold Arabic numerals, a big triangle at 12, and a really clean, legible layout. But then of course, in classic Farer fashion, they add their own twist. With a deep blue segmented dial with pops of yellow on the minitrack to give it just a bit more life. Then you've got the Barnwell which leans into that typey, fleeger design. With the outer minitrack and inner outer ring, it's a bit more technical looking, a bit more niche, but super cool, especially if you're into that whole aviation history aesthetic. The matte brown and sky blue combo just hits differently in a really cool way. And the Hewlett goes in a totally different direction. It's more modern, more understated, with this grainy navel dial, crosshair layout, and a cleaner overall look which probably makes it the most versatile of the bunch. And then we've got the wild card, the Curtis Eastern Arabic, which takes that same Curtis layout but swaps in Eastern Arabic numerals, and you don't really see that very often so it instantly stands out. Across all four you've got alpha hands with lume, a long arrow seconds hand, and everything sits inside a new 40mm titanium case. So it's lightweight, super wearable, and looks like a proper tool watch. There's a domed sapphire crystal on top, solid case back, and inside there's a Sellita SW300 automatic movement, which has a 56 hour power reserve, plus they've added a soft iron cage for anti-magnetic protection up to 500 gauss. The watch is priced just a bit over $1500, which I think is a fair price for this level of finishing and everything else that's packed into Ferris watches. Last summer Norkain proved that they're not just a one hit wonder with the Wilds one when they released something totally fresh. The Freedom Chrono Enjoy Life. It was basically an ice cream themed chronograph, but somehow it worked. You had a clean white dial, pastel subdials in blue, green, and pink, a matching multicolored tachymeter, and then the wild part, a little ice cream cone popping up in the date window every 7th day to remind you to just chill and enjoy life. It blew up way more than anyone expected, especially after Mark Wahlberg started hyping it up as the watch of the summer, and just like that, it went viral. And now fast forward to just a few weeks ago during Watch & Wonders and Norkain is back at it again, but this time they leans all the way in. They just dropped two new versions called the Sprinkles, and they literally added sprinkles to the dial. You've got two flavors, blue raspberry and strawberry, and yeah, I'm not kidding. With the reverse pan to layout this time around, so pastel blue or pink dials, white subdials, super clean contrast, but then they scattered across the dial these colorful little sprinkle shapes in blue, green, yellow, and pink, just to make the whole thing pop. When I first saw these watches, the first thing I thought of was Rolex's Oyster Perpetual Celebration dial, and I think that's a good thing. But here's the coolest part, those sprinkles actually glow in the dark. They're filled with superluminova, so at night, the whole dial lights up in this mix of green and blue, and just adds this extra layer of fun that the original didn't even have. Everything else is still solid and classic Norkain. You've got a 40mm steel case, 100m water resistance, a Sellita-based automatic chronograph movement with a 62hr power reserve, and that same ice cream cone date complication is still there doing its thing. This watch is definitely out there and very unique, but I think it's a great reminder that watches should be fun. They're releasing 500 pieces per color, it's priced just a little over $6,000 on the steel bracelet, or a little bit less on a rubber strap, and I think this watch is just a total home run. When people first think of NASA watches, they immediately jump to the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. But that's not the only one with legit space history, because one of the coolest and most affordable options out there is the Bulova Lunar Pilot. This is based on a prototype that an astronaut actually wore on the moon, so it's got some serious street cred, or shall I say, moon cred. For years, it's been a fan favorite because it looks great, well-built, and got real history. But if it had one drawback, it was quite big. Thankfully, that's finally changing because they've dropped a 41mm version that I think is right in that sweet spot. That alone makes a massive difference. It just feels way more wearable, more everyday-friendly, especially compared to the 43.5 and 45mm versions. But they didn't just shrink it and call it a day. They went full stealth mode with this new Black Hole edition, and it might be the coolest version they've done yet. You've got a blacked out steel case and bracelet with this sandblasted texture, a super clean, almost tactical look, and then the dial is painted with this black ink that absorbs 99% of light. So it basically just disappears and everything else pops around it. The grey hands and markers with lume stand out like crazy, and the layout is still that classic lunar pilot setup with the tachymeter, sub-dials, and all that good stuff. You've also got caseback engraving which nods to the lunar heritage, which is a nice touch. And where this watch has always crushed its competition is the accuracy. It runs on the brand's high-performance quartz movement, so it's way more precise than your typical quartz. Accurate to around 1 minute per year. And it can measure down to 1 twentieth of a second, which is pretty wild at this price point. Speaking of price, this one does come in a little higher than previous versions at $1600. But you are getting that full blacked-out treatment and a more wearable size. Plus it comes on a full set with the travel roll and even a matching desk clock, which is kind of a nice fun bonus. But overall, I think this is a total knockout from the brand. So far this year, Grand Seiko's released a lot of impressive new watches. From a new diver to this wild platinum dressy piece with engraving everywhere. But the one that's really caught my eye is the SBGY-043. This watch is just pure, understated beauty. It's smaller than what you usually see from Grand Seiko at 38.5mm and super slim at just over 10mm. So on the wrist, it wears incredibly comfortable and looks fantastic, especially thanks to those nicely curved lugs. But what really caught my eye is the case. It's a little more rounded, a little more fluid, almost cushion-like, which gives it a subtle vintage 60s vibe without feeling like a straight-up reissue. And of course, the polishing, as expected with Grand Seiko, is on another level, thanks to that Tsuratsu finish. The dial and handset are also slightly refined as well, sharper daffian hands, cleaner indices, but let's be real, the dial is definitely the star here. The texture gives this look of natural stone, like something carved out of earth, and then you've got this really gorgeous deep indigo blue that really pops on the wrist. In classic Grand Seiko form, the texture and color play working together is really just a sight to see, especially under the dual-curved sapphire, so everything shifts and moves depending on the light. Inside you've got one of Grand Seiko's spring-drive movements, so timekeeping is going to be really impressive. The 9R31 keeps things nice and slim and gives you crazy accuracy, and a 72-hour power reserve thanks to the dual-barrel setup. It also comes equipped on a really comfortable and stylish steel bracelet, using a nine-link design that you don't really see too often from Grand Seiko, and just makes the whole package look even more wearable. It's not the flashiest release from GS, but I think that's the point. It showcases really nice craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and something you could actually wear every day. The watch is priced just under $10K, and I think like every other release from Grand Seiko, this one is an absolute hit. Over the past decade, no watch has had a bigger impact over a brand's success than Tudor's Black Bay. Although prices have continued to go up, no surprise there, for a long time it was the best affordable Swiss-made dive watch in the game, but Tudor has proved countless times that they're not just a one-trick pony. The new Royal is an absolute stunner, and I don't normally gravitate towards dressy watches, but I absolutely love what they did with this new version. We now have new sizes, in-house movements, and a ton of variations. The watch is sharp, walks the perfect line between sporty and dressy, and it looks way more higher-end than the price would suggest. I would even go as far as saying this is Tudor's best release in a long time. The bezel is deeper, sharper, way more reflective, it actually pops now and gives off that fluted Rolex vibe from a distance. The case and bracelet are cleaner as well, since they are a little more refined, less rounded, and overall, the integration feels tighter and more modern. They even fixed the end links and ditched the drilled lugs, which helps make the watch look a bit more premium. I also like how we now get the T-Fit clasp, which features a micro-adjust system to help get the perfect fit any time of day without tools. On the inside, we now have proper Tudor-manufactured in-house movements across the board. Kask certified, solid power preserve, the whole deal. So it's not just a pretty face anymore. The dials are where the design really comes together. Some still have the Roman numerals from the past, but the cleaner versions, especially that light blue with baton markers, completely transforms the watch. It looks awesome, sporty, and when compared to Rolex's land dweller, I'd take the Tudor any time of day. There's definitely something for everyone, because the lineup is big. 23 references across 30, 36, and 40mm sizes. The watch is priced at $3400, and for what you're getting, Tudor-level finishing, the reworked design, and an in-house movement, it's not a cheap watch, but definitely value-packed. Although the Black Bay will likely forever be Tudor's most popular watch, the new Royal Collection is an absolute home run, and a great option for anyone looking for a dressed-up tool watch. Well, that's it for the watches. Definitely let me know which was your favorite, or if there's one you just didn't like at all. I am curious what you all think of that ice cream watch, so do share your thoughts. That's it for today. As always, thanks for watching. I'll see you next time.