0:04 I reviewed 82 different watches in 2025
0:06 from Seikko to Christopher Ward to some
0:08 underrated micro brands. Today I'm going
0:10 to give you a mini review of every
0:12 single watch that I reviewed throughout
0:14 2025 and then at the end of the video
0:16 give you my [music] top picks from all
0:17 the watches that I reviewed throughout
0:19 the year. If this is your first time
0:20 here on the channel, then welcome. My
0:22 name is Kieran. I wish you a happy new
0:25 year. This video took a very long time
0:27 to put together, so if you could hit the
0:28 like button, also hit the subscribe
0:30 button, it would make it all worth it.
0:32 Thank you. The very first watch we
0:34 checked out in 2025 was the Mr. Jones
0:36 Sun and Moon, an unusual piece that
0:38 features an hour cutout at the top of
0:40 the dial and a singular hand for the
0:42 minutes. This one, very unusual, but a
0:43 very good price, too. In the same video,
0:45 we also checked out the number cruncher,
0:47 which was even more insane than the Sun
0:49 and Moon. This one featured robots
0:51 playing a pinball machine with the time
0:53 told through a small cutout. This was a
0:55 mechanical jump power watch. Again,
0:57 unusual but very cool. One of the best
0:59 value watches of the year, the Bodery
1:01 Admiral was up next with a full titanium
1:03 construction and an automatic Seikko
1:06 movement. These came in for around £100,
1:08 which is very cheap for the spec on
1:10 offer. The first Benjamin James Scar 4
1:11 of the year was next. This is the
1:13 automatic version with the green dial. I
1:15 absolutely love this watch. It got a lot
1:17 of wrist time this year. I think they
1:19 nailed the size of this one and it's a
1:21 watch that is jam-packed with style. I
1:23 then made another attempt to solidify a
1:25 Fleer in my collection. I checked out
1:28 the Lacaco Aken Blue in 39 mm and it's a
1:30 brilliant watch for the money. I enjoyed
1:31 this watch for a few months, but the
1:33 search for my Fleer goes on because I
1:34 didn't fully gel with it. I then checked
1:36 out a couple of Arabus watches. The
1:38 first one being the Ascent Adventurine.
1:40 I think team Arabus did a great job with
1:42 this one, ticking every single box you
1:44 could possibly want, albeit lacking just
1:46 a little bit of individuality. In the
1:47 same video, we reviewed the Arabus
1:50 Origin 38. I think they nailed the
1:52 sizing on this one. It's a tool diver
1:54 that's nice and easy to wear. Again,
1:55 every box was ticked with this one, and
1:57 you simply can't argue with the price
1:58 these are offered at. We then reviewed
2:01 the stunning Varo Empire GMT, a made in
2:03 Japan watch that features a beautiful
2:05 art deco inspired dial. This was for
2:07 sure one of the best looking dials of
2:09 the year, and I thought the sizing was
2:11 absolutely spot-on. It's always a
2:13 pleasure to review Zlos because they
2:15 always deliver. The Skyraider 40
2:16 genuinely blew my mind that a micro
2:19 brand could make something so bespoke.
2:20 Skeleton watches aren't for everyone. I
2:22 can appreciate that. But this one hits
2:24 the spot. Custom movement, titanium, and
2:26 super duper thin. Islander then shocked
2:28 me by releasing an art deco inspired
2:31 dress watch. As a brand known for divers
2:32 and military watches, I couldn't believe
2:34 they made something so sophisticated.
2:36 The only problem for me was that it was
2:38 a bit too big for the style of watch. I
2:39 then picked up a Tisso Citell for a
2:42 quick fling. This features a carbon case
2:44 with 300 m of water resistance. My
2:45 favorite part of this one was actually
2:48 the loomshot, multicolored, albeit a
2:49 little bit weak. This is a very cool
2:51 tisso, but probably a bit overpriced for
2:54 the RRP. I then found this absolutely
2:56 gorgeous Seikko dress watch. It featured
2:58 a sapphire crystal for around £100,
2:59 which is probably the most shocking
3:01 part, but I still think this watch is a
3:04 bit of a gem. Nice and thin, decent case
3:06 diameter, and it will work on almost any
3:08 strap. Christopher Ward was up next for
3:10 review with the Super Compressor Elite.
3:11 I think they nailed the colors on this
3:13 one and the silhouette of the case is
3:15 effortlessly pretty. This is a genuine
3:17 compressor too which you don't often see
3:19 these days. Finally, I got hands on with
3:21 a secondhour watch with the Satleberg
3:23 M2, a field watch that felt more like a
3:25 pilot, but you can't deny the quality
3:27 for the money here. Great legibility,
3:29 loom was really good, and the watch was
3:32 nice and thin. UDC or Uni Design then
3:33 released their auto classic for
3:35 pre-order. This one features a very
3:38 70sesque design with a splash of Cartier
3:40 Santos. I think they did a great job
3:42 creating something unique here and I
3:44 think the dial design is, you know,
3:46 beautiful. Stratton then lit up our
3:48 world literally with the strongest loom
3:49 that I've ever seen on a watch. The
3:51 Synchro is a racing inspired dive watch
3:53 that features a day complication which
3:55 you don't actually see that often from
3:57 micro brands. Arabus then returned and
3:58 they did something crazy. They released
4:01 three new sizes of their Ascent range.
4:03 First was the Ascent 34, which was a bit
4:05 too small for me, but they captured that
4:07 ascent functionality in a small package.
4:09 The Ascent 36 is my pick from the whole
4:11 range. The smaller size really worked
4:13 with the case silhouette and the 20 mm
4:16 bracelet. This felt like a proper Rolex
4:18 OP alternative. And for some reason, I
4:20 felt the watch had more character at
4:22 this smaller size. But the Asen 41,
4:23 well, it was just a little bit too big
4:25 for me. As the watch is mostly dial, it
4:27 does appear much larger on the wrist.
4:29 Again, I think they captured the Ascent
4:31 style well, but I'm not the target
4:33 audience for this one with my smaller
4:34 wrist. An early contender for the best
4:36 looking watch of the year went to the
4:38 Vanexano Red and Toré Bronzo. The shape
4:40 of the case, the dial finish, the
4:43 general color scheme worked effortlessly
4:45 on this one. If this was just 2 mm
4:47 smaller, then it would have gotten a lot
4:48 of wrist time this year. I then picked
4:50 up the gimlet at British watchmakers
4:52 day. The first watch from the Fars
4:53 Studio underdog cocktail collection.
4:56 Cushion case, skeleton hands, and a full
4:58 loom dial. This one shouldn't work, but
5:01 it just does. This is such a cool watch.
5:03 Dougworth Pressex then released a Roman
5:05 numeral version of their Parker range.
5:07 Some may say this is a bit too close to
5:09 the tank for them to enjoy, but I think
5:11 this was a great release. The Parker
5:12 features a brilliant set of dimensions
5:14 and it looks effortlessly classy. I then
5:16 checked out another Great Value watch.
5:18 The Urban Adventure from Monroe was
5:20 packed with spec and style. The case was
5:22 super sporty. The dials are very
5:24 welldesigned and the price point is very
5:26 competitive. I even picked up the red
5:27 chronograph myself. I really liked this
5:29 one. Venetiano usually delivers a
5:31 brilliant watch with a brilliant design
5:33 and this one was brilliant but also a
5:35 little bit confusing. The Aquaforte
5:37 featured case detailing that made it
5:39 look like a piece of art. The only thing
5:42 was it made the other features like the
5:44 bezel and loom a little bit pointless
5:45 which for me was confusing for a dive
5:47 watch. Islander then released their take
5:49 on the Seikko Flightmaster with the
5:51 Calverton. For me this was inspired by
5:53 the iconic Seikko without being a
5:55 tasteless rip. They use some awesome
5:57 color combinations and fixed some issues
5:59 that the Seikko had. I thought this one
6:00 was a winner. We then checks out the
6:02 first release from a new micro brand.
6:04 The Rocket by Ember really blew me away.
6:06 Something completely different with its
6:08 unusual case and sandwich dial. But for
6:10 me, it all felt right. I like to see
6:12 brands making something unusual. We
6:13 followed that up with another new
6:15 release from a new brand. This time with
6:18 the Sator Companion. This was an unusual
6:19 field watch that features some bezel
6:21 detailing and some unusual military
6:23 dials. This was a tad big for me
6:24 personally, but generally I thought it
6:26 was a good watch. But an American brand
6:28 that also makes unusual field watches,
6:31 we checked out the A11 Pacific Memorial
6:33 by Precidus. Full black case with real
6:35 sand on the dial. Yes, this one is very
6:37 unusual, but I can appreciate something
6:39 that's a little bit weird. Another
6:41 Prescidus, this time less weird. It's
6:43 the Pathfinder 44. This one featured a
6:45 piece of parachute that was used during
6:48 World War II for the dial material. The
6:50 camo dial fit right in with the style of
6:52 watch and offered a nice bit of texture.
6:54 But one watch brand that never fails to
6:56 disappoint, it's Wise. These guys have
6:58 that Grand Seiko or Rolex style and
7:00 deliver some of the best quality for the
7:02 cash I've personally seen. The Adamascus
7:04 GMT was the perfect example of that.
7:06 This watch wasn't missing a single beat.
7:08 I then did a one-year owner review of my
7:10 beloved Omega C Master Professional.
7:12 It's crazy that I've almost had this
7:14 watch for 2 years already. Where does
7:16 the time go? I love this watch. It's a
7:18 shame Omega still doesn't make it today.
7:20 I don't need another diver because I've
7:21 got this. I then checked out an
7:22 incredibly impressive watch from
7:24 Christopher Ward. The 12X is one of the
7:25 most underrated watches from the brand
7:27 in my opinion because what it offers for
7:29 the money for me is insane. If a luxury
7:31 brand made this watch, they'd likely
7:33 charge 10 times the price. Our second
7:35 Scaraphor of the year, this time with a
7:37 gorgeous, and I mean gorgeous, mother of
7:40 pearl dial. It worked so well with this
7:41 style of watch and it was cool to get
7:43 hands- on with one of the manual wind
7:45 versions. Another absolute heater was
7:48 the Mirabbell GMT by Heron. Wow, another
7:50 watch that really blew me away.
7:52 Chocolate dial, golden case, and a
7:54 beautiful GMT dial design. This was a
7:56 big surprise from Heron, but they did a
7:58 brilliant job. Paulin then released
7:59 their Zapata collection, which is a
8:01 quirky little everyday watch. Playing on
8:03 astronomy, this one had a fun dial
8:05 design with a compact case construction.
8:07 I checked out the day version, but the
8:08 night model is far more beautiful.
8:10 Another wise watch, another banger. The
8:12 Fly Boy is the Thai brand's take on a
8:14 Fleeer. However, rather than playing it
8:16 safe with, you know, a vanilla dial,
8:18 they added some new elements with an
8:20 angular case. Again, Wise overdelivers
8:22 and this watch is very impressive.
8:24 Probably the best looking watch I
8:26 reviewed all year. The Venetiano Narid
8:29 Bronzo is simply a beauty. The way the
8:31 bronze case works with the cream dial
8:34 should be studied. Vanetso always makes
8:36 a good-looking watch. This might just be
8:37 the best looking one that they produce.
8:39 A big channel achievement this year was
8:41 working with German brand Nomos, a brand
8:43 that I have a lot of respect for. We
8:45 checked out two sizes of their everyday
8:47 range, the club, and these are brilliant
8:49 for the money. Bow House style with that
8:51 German attention to detail. However, my
8:53 favorite Nomos that we got hands-on with
8:55 was certainly the Tetra. I'm a big fan
8:56 of squared off dress watches, and this
8:58 one was the perfect example as to why.
9:00 Extremely classy, great proportions, and
9:03 that German style always hits the spot.
9:05 My least favorite Nomos was actually the
9:06 most expensive one. The Metro might have
9:08 the most complete design, but the
9:10 unusual lugs and the lack of quick set
9:12 day are two flaws that I couldn't look
9:14 past. Although, listen, props to Nomos
9:16 for doing almost everything in house. I
9:18 have a lot of respect for them. British
9:20 Portuguese brand Scudo then released a
9:22 new version of their seest dive watch
9:24 made in collaboration with magician Rich
9:26 Manley. This one featured a hidden
9:28 playing card etched into the sapphire
9:30 with a gorgeous orange and black color
9:32 scheme. Jodi then officially lost his
9:35 mind and released a monster 44
9:37 millimeter dive watch with the Titan. A
9:39 watch that I shouldn't like at all, but
9:41 just couldn't help but appreciate it for
9:42 being something a bit different. My
9:44 favorite was the black DLC case with the
9:47 purple dial. Zos then sent over another
9:49 incredible skeleton watch with the
9:51 Artemis. Again, Zeos proved why they're
9:52 considered one of the best micro brands
9:55 in the world. Damascus Case, a sapphire
9:57 crystal bolted to a titanium barrel, and
10:00 that custom Swiss movement just wow. The
10:01 biggest shock of the year came from
10:04 Welsh brand OJ Sinowski. Their scout was
10:06 an unusual take on a field watch. Lapis
10:09 dial loom blocks and an angular case.
10:11 This one hit the mark on almost every
10:13 single point, but the custom movement
10:15 was the cherry on top of the cake. For
10:17 this price, this shouldn't be possible.
10:19 I've mainly had a bad time with Timex,
10:21 but I decided to give them one last shot
10:23 with the Continental GMT. This one, you
10:25 know, it was actually all right. It
10:26 featured a GMT ring under the dial
10:28 instead of a fourth hand. Although,
10:30 let's be honest, the design here is a
10:32 little bit vanilla. I then checked out
10:33 this awesome Chinese dress watch from
10:35 Balty. Great spec for the money, as
10:37 usual with Chinese brands, but it was
10:39 the simplicity of the design that I
10:41 appreciated. Lovely metallic dial finish
10:42 with just a little bit of case detailing
10:44 with those looks. The only sound we
10:47 checked out all year was the SN0145.
10:49 I think they absolutely nailed the
10:50 design of this one. The shapes and
10:52 angles were all spot-on. I just felt
10:54 that it should have been a little bit
10:56 smaller. It's quite a dressy watch, so a
10:58 smaller case profile, in my opinion,
10:59 would have really suited it. We then put
11:02 two YouTuber watches head-to-head. The
11:04 Islander Melville is a playful take on
11:06 an everyday GMT, featuring a hammered
11:08 finish to the dial and a lovely splash
11:10 of green. And as usual with Islander,
11:12 really good value for money. It went up
11:15 against the Arabus Origin GMT. This, of
11:16 course, is more of a tool watch than an
11:18 everyday watch, but still delivered in a
11:20 lot of categories. I think the Arabus
11:22 just about won the battle of the two,
11:24 but it was a pretty close call. One of
11:26 the most unusual watches we checked out
11:28 all year is the Apierre [music] Gen 1. A
11:30 watch that's made using additive
11:31 manufacturing and one of the only
11:34 watches that can proudly stamp made in
11:36 the UK on the dial. The design here is
11:38 very strange, but I think they did a
11:40 great job for such a young brand.
11:42 Probably the most hyped watch of 2025.
11:45 Yes, it's the Casio Automatic. I was
11:47 generally impressed with what Casio had
11:48 done with this watch, and it's certainly
11:50 a great value for money option. The
11:52 design felt a little bit too cookie
11:54 cutter for me, so I haven't worn it
11:56 since the review. Christopher Ward then
11:57 reminded collectors that they can still
11:59 make a great affordable dive watch. The
12:01 Reef collection released during the
12:03 summer, and it was a perfect fit. Bright
12:05 dials, great rubber straps, and an
12:07 interesting case construction. We then
12:09 reviewed a new Venetano model with the
12:11 Narid Turchz. This was my first time
12:13 reviewing a turquoise stone dial, and I
12:15 was really impressed with it. Another
12:17 watch that felt perfect for the summer.
12:19 and Benetano continues to impress with
12:21 their awesome dials. Another
12:22 collaboration watch, this time from
12:26 Singaporean micro brands Berio and RZD.
12:28 They released a titanium version of the
12:30 trench watch, one of Burial's signature
12:32 watches, and I think they nailed it. I
12:33 felt like it had elements from both
12:36 brands, nicely mixed. Christopher Ward
12:37 then released a super thin version of
12:40 their 12 with the 660. Impressively thin
12:42 considering it featured a mechanical
12:44 movement. And I thought the simplistic
12:46 dial felt quite refreshing considering
12:48 the style of watch. I then picked up a
12:50 Casio chronograph in an attempt to
12:52 restore that Casio charm that I felt the
12:54 automatic lacked. This one felt like a
12:57 true Casio. Retro styling, slightly
12:59 unusual case design, and a classic
13:01 quartz movement. It also featured a
13:02 piece of sapphire, which is always nice
13:04 to see. A subscriber of the channel then
13:06 launched his very own watch brand called
13:08 Alfaro. Their model one is one of the
13:11 first ever watches that features curved
13:12 hands. And then the dial is also curved
13:14 and it's inspired by geometry. However,
13:16 it's the case back design for me that
13:18 stole the show. I then checked out my
13:20 first ever Aerotch watch, a brand that
13:22 makes some of the most delicious dials
13:24 on the market. The dials did not
13:26 disappoint. [music] Tons of detail and a
13:28 very vibrant color, albeit it maybe
13:30 lacked some refinement that you often
13:32 find at a higher price. I then checked
13:34 out another new vario, this time with
13:36 the A11s. This was and still is one of
13:38 the best value watches I reviewed all
13:41 year. Coming in at just 165, solar
13:43 movement, a very well-finished case, and
13:45 because it's vario, you get an awesome
13:48 strap. This one was simply brilliant for
13:50 the money. Portuguese brand A Boreales
13:52 then released an extremely unusual dive
13:54 watch. The beautiful white dial here was
13:56 extremely fresh. However, the floating
13:58 indices are what made this one stand
13:59 out. Most modern divers are a bit
14:02 vanilla, a bit boring. You can't say the
14:03 same for this one. I just couldn't help
14:05 myself when it came to a new dial option
14:08 for the beautiful Scar 4. Yes, this was
14:10 my third time reviewing it in one year,
14:12 but just look at this beautiful jade
14:14 dial. The watch works so well with stone
14:16 and mineral dials, so I can't wait to
14:18 see more of them in 2026. I then checked
14:20 out two very bright watches from German
14:22 brand Fine Watches Berlin. These were
14:24 certainly a playful take on the bow
14:26 house genre with lots of contrast
14:27 between the different colored elements.
14:28 I felt these were a little bit
14:30 overpriced for what you get, but you do
14:33 get the made in Germany stamp. Kuo then
14:35 blessed our screen with the masterpiece
14:37 that is the Sombrero, a compressor style
14:39 dive watch that has one of the best
14:41 looking dial designs I've ever seen.
14:44 Perfect symmetry, a nice compact case
14:46 and a perfect use of color. Arabus then
14:48 drops another version of their Ascent
14:51 range, this time with the Ascent GMT.
14:52 Like the original models, these were
14:55 packed with spec and quality for a very
14:56 competitive price. But again,
14:58 potentially just a little bit vanilla. A
15:00 new pickup for me in 2025 was this
15:02 Porsche design chronograph. It featured
15:05 a titanium case, an automatic Value
15:07 movement, and some Mission Impossible
15:09 links. My good friend Steve really
15:11 wanted this one, so I sold it to him for
15:12 a really good price. I then did a mini
15:14 review on this awesome little Milito
15:16 field watch. Of course, a bit of a
15:18 homage to the Hamilton Khaki Mechanical,
15:20 but you can't argue with the price of
15:22 these. You can buy them new for around
15:25 £50, which is brilliant for the spec on
15:26 offer. I picked up this awesome vintage
15:29 King Seiko from 1970, basically on the
15:31 same level as Grand Seiko of the time
15:33 without the silly hyped up price tag
15:35 that comes with owning a vintage Grand
15:37 Seiko. A real beauty and in my opinion a
15:39 bit of a bargain. Whilst in New York for
15:41 Windup, I picked up this brilliant
15:43 little digital watch from Far and Swit.
15:45 Of course, inspired by the F91W with a
15:47 playful twist with the mixtape
15:49 influence. I'm not a huge fan of digital
15:51 watches, but this one was a lot of fun.
15:52 Another brilliant dress watch was the
15:54 Proocidus Victory Day. I couldn't
15:56 believe how a brand that mostly makes
15:58 field watches had created such a classy
16:00 dress piece. Everything on the dial felt
16:02 right. The case was basic but worked
16:05 well, and the case back was simply a
16:07 work of art. Swiss watch brand Raymond
16:09 Veil then released the stunning Takarta
16:11 Heritage. A watch that I fell in love
16:13 with the moment I saw it earlier in the
16:15 year. This ovalshaped dress watch was
16:18 just perfect. Stupidly simple yet
16:20 flawlessly designed. We then checked out
16:22 the MB2 from Hong Kong based brand
16:24 Mombre. These guys make very angular
16:26 watches almost with a Grand Seiko feel
16:28 about them. The attention to detail on
16:30 these is just superb and the quality is
16:32 undeniable. It's top-notch. I then
16:34 reviewed the awesome new Jump Power Mark
16:36 5 from Christopher Ward. This felt like
16:38 a true evolution from the brand. Because
16:39 their previous Jump Power watches were
16:42 oversized and lacks individuality. This
16:44 one hit the mark with a sporty yet
16:46 dressy dial and a much more refined set
16:48 of dimensions. [music] We then checked
16:50 out the final Christopher Ward release
16:52 of the year with the Bell Cano Lumiere.
16:54 A bit crazy, almost like neon lights on
16:56 the dial, but I thought it was super
16:57 cool. A welcome addition to the
16:59 Bellcanto lineup as it offers something
17:01 completely different than the previous
17:03 models. I then reviewed a new watch from
17:06 Flux, a brand started by fellow YouTuber
17:08 Design Attelier. He put his design
17:10 muscles on full show with a watch that
17:12 was overdesigned in almost every single
17:15 area. Pure detail, pure spec, and not
17:17 missing a beat. Although the unusual
17:18 design might be a little bit too crazy
17:21 for some. On the 1st of December, I then
17:23 announced my very own micro brand watch,
17:25 the Clock Tower. A watch inspired by
17:27 Gothic clocks found around my home city
17:29 of Manchester here in the UK. This was a
17:31 huge moment for me, and so far it's gone
17:34 extremely well. All 100 of the Luminous
17:36 are already sold out in less than a
17:37 month. Thank you to everybody who
17:39 supported me. Then I just had time to
17:41 squeeze in a couple of watches from my
17:43 favorite micro brand. BR released two
17:46 new versions of their brilliant element
17:48 watch. This one featured a delicious red
17:50 dial that suited the style of watch to
17:52 the ground, offering a classier
17:54 aesthetic. The Rebel though was the
17:56 complete opposite. This was the tactical
17:58 version of the element. Featuring a full
18:00 black case, a black strap, and even a
18:02 black dial. It's the element best suited
18:04 with a leather jacket and a pair of
18:07 boots. too cool for me, but I fully
18:09 appreciate what it offered. Then Clemens
18:11 blew my mind with one of the highest
18:13 quality, affordable watches I've ever
18:16 seen. This diver had everything. Topsp
18:18 spec, brilliant finishing, and an
18:20 awesome design. This one was genuinely
18:22 hard to follow. So, for someone who
18:25 doesn't often vibe with divers, this one
18:27 really stood out above the rest. OJ
18:29 Sowski then returned to the channel with
18:31 their new watch, the Naked Drew. This
18:33 was a classically styled dress watch
18:36 with a modern set of dimensions. 41 mm
18:37 for the case meant that this watch wore
18:39 a little bit too big on my small wrist,
18:41 but there's no denying that it's a cool
18:43 looking watch. I then checked out a
18:45 watch from Swiss brand Perin for the
18:47 first time. The Reggia Solar Eclipse was
18:49 a bit like the Rebel in that it felt
18:51 super tactical but also more playful at
18:53 the same time. The unusual dial design
18:55 really drew me into this one and the
18:57 proportions hit my wrist like a dream.
18:59 Vanesso returned with a new version of
19:02 their Narid. this time with an Opal
19:04 stone dial. This was my first time
19:06 checking out this material and it did
19:08 not disappoint. Vanesso also added a
19:10 display case back to this watch with a
19:12 custom rotor, which for me was a big
19:14 improvement over previous models. And
19:16 the final watch we checked out in 2025
19:18 before we get on to my top 10 picks is
19:21 the Volcan Diver Chronograph. The green
19:23 dial on this watch was just superb. It
19:25 felt fresh but still vintage. And I
19:27 think they nailed the proportions,
19:29 albeit a little bit chunky because of
19:31 that mechanical chronograph movement. It
19:32 was great to finally spend some quality
19:34 time with Volcan because they make some
19:36 beautiful looking watches. Okay, so
19:37 let's get into what I think are the best
19:39 watches I reviewed this year. Of course,
19:41 it wouldn't be the morally right thing
19:43 to do to include my own watch, the Clock
19:44 Tower, in the top 10. So, I'll just give
19:46 it an honorable mention and let you know
19:48 that although the Luminous has sold out,
19:49 the other three models are still
19:51 available to pre-order. But the mother
19:53 of pearl version is also running really
19:54 low now. So visit the website in the
19:56 description if you would like to get
19:58 one. So 10th place goes to Christopher
20:00 Ward with the Belcanto Lumiere. On
20:02 reflection, this was an exceptionally
20:04 cool and unexpected watch from
20:06 Christopher Ward. The Belcanto is a
20:08 special watch. I think this is the most
20:10 special version of it. The reason it
20:11 doesn't place higher is because of a
20:13 couple of small flaws like reading the
20:15 time, you know, isn't the easiest and
20:17 the watch only has 30 m of water
20:19 resistance. But still, the Belcanto
20:21 Lumiere is one of the best watches I
20:22 checked out this year. Ninth place goes
20:25 to Japanese micro brand Kuo with the
20:27 beautiful Sombrero. Kuo somehow managed
20:30 to capture that classy aesthetic into a
20:31 dive watch, which I'll be honest, I
20:33 didn't think was possible. The selection
20:35 of dial colors on this one is
20:37 immaculate, and the 38 mm case is
20:39 refreshing for a compressor style
20:41 [music] dive watch. Eighth place goes to
20:42 another made in Japan watch, this time
20:45 with the Vario Empire GMT. I simply
20:47 think this watch has one of the best
20:48 looking dials of the year. The textured
20:50 finish, the beautiful salmon color, and
20:53 that inner ring GMT offers a lot more
20:55 balance. Just over £500 for this watch
20:58 is insane for not only the beauty, but
21:00 the brilliant true GMT Miota movement
21:02 that you get inside of it. Seventh place
21:04 goes to Arabus with the Ascent, but
21:07 specifically and only the 36 mm model.
21:09 For me, this model has the best
21:11 proportions of all the Ascent range. It
21:13 feels more like a dress watch than a
21:15 sports watch, which for me suits the
21:17 style of the design a lot better. The
21:19 quality you get for the price here is
21:21 just fantastic. Some of the best value,
21:23 no doubt, on the market. Sixth place
21:25 goes to Raymond Veil with the Takarta
21:28 Heritage. For a big Swiss brand, it's
21:30 refreshing to see something so on trend
21:31 and a watch that fits what collectors
21:33 are currently looking for. The
21:34 proportions of this watch are just
21:36 immaculate because it spans the wrist
21:38 nicely, but it still wears like a dream.
21:40 The minimal dial has been perfectly
21:42 designed and it's for sure one of the
21:44 most sophisticated watches I have ever
21:46 reviewed. Fifth place goes to Booft with
21:49 the brilliant Element Temper Red. Yes,
21:51 this was only a new dial color for the
21:53 Element range, but wow, what a brilliant
21:55 color they have chosen here. The Element
21:57 is one of the best everyday watches on
21:59 the market for under £1,000. Brilliant
22:02 finish in an awesome bracelet and a dial
22:03 that's jam-packed with detail. This
22:05 temper red version sliced through the
22:08 sportiness and offered a classy twist.
22:09 Fourth place goes to the incredibly
22:12 impressive Artemis from Zeos. The brand,
22:14 yes again, shows why they're considered
22:16 one of the best bang-book independents
22:17 in the business. This watch has
22:20 everything that a high-end luxury sports
22:22 watch has, but costs less than a
22:24 mass-roduced TUDA. Yes, Zos makes
22:27 brilliant sub $500 watches, but they
22:29 also make some incredible watches that
22:31 cost over $1,000, too. coming in third
22:33 place. So, the bronze medal here, it has
22:36 to be wise with the Adamascus GMT. These
22:38 watches are just brilliant. Yes, you
22:40 could argue that designs are maybe a bit
22:43 too generic, but there is no denying the
22:45 quality on offer here. These watches are
22:47 almost impossible to follow for me.
22:49 They're the Rolex of micro brands, and I
22:50 don't say that lightly. They're a bit
22:52 flashy. I like Rolex. They offer good
22:54 quality like Rolex, but they look a
22:56 million bucks on the wrist. Coming in
22:59 second place is the super impressive
23:01 Scout from OJ Sonowski. You definitely
23:03 can't say the design here is generic.
23:05 It's wacky, but for me, wonderful. But
23:07 it's truly the quality that gets this
23:09 one the second spot. Case finishing is
23:11 brilliant. The attention to detail on
23:13 the dial is immaculate and the movement
23:16 is something special at this price. A
23:18 custom Myota 9 series with bespoke
23:20 golden bridges. Yeah, this watch should
23:22 have cost a lot more than it did. But
23:24 coming in at number one, so the gold
23:28 medal, we have the Clemens Fotic M2 dive
23:31 watch. I cannot overstate how much this
23:32 watch impressed me. The finishing
23:34 throughout the watch was brilliant. The
23:36 proportions and how it felt on the wrist
23:39 was flawless, and the dial design, just
23:41 look at it. It's perfect. Plenty of
23:43 personality with a nice pop of color. If
23:46 you can get hands-on with this watch in
23:48 2026, even if you don't like dive
23:50 watches, you will simply be impressed
23:51 with how good this watch is for the
23:54 incredibly affordable price. Let me know
23:57 your top picks from all 82 watches in
23:59 the comments below. Did I get it right?
24:01 Did I get it wrong? Let me know. Again,
24:03 happy new year to everybody. I'll catch
