What We Love About Bulova

This is a well-known brand with an interesting history and quality products. There are many different makes and models of Bulova watches, each having a unique style and flair. Diamond accents are used in some models while others are simple and casual. Leather or bracelet bands can be found enhancing several different case shapes. These are accurate and dependable timepieces, backed by the best and most current technology while still giving respect to the long-established methods. For example, there are models which feature old-school mechanical or modern quartz movements available in this brand. The price of this brand varies from a budget priced model to something a bit higher. None would rival the cost associate with the centuries-old houses of the Swiss industry.

There is no telling which of this company’s products could become the next collector’s item like their commemorative piece celebrating Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic. The history of this brand and its American heritage makes it a favorite among timepiece enthusiasts. This company’s commitment to service has also buoyed its popularity. Making parts a standard size was a big change in the industry and the charge was led by this brand. This revolutionary idea made the repair of a timepiece more affordable and convenient for the customer, who has always been at the heart of this brand.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Bulova

There is very little to dislike about this brand. The construction may not be up to a premium brand’s standards, but it is excellent for its price. The same could be said for the caliber of materials. The most significant drawback would be that it is not a luxury brand. They do have a good reputation as an accurate and attractive line and the addition of a few high-tech models has helped move the brand into a higher bracket of buyer. However, these models will not have the prestige or impact that a finer name plate or designer label would have.

Company History

A young immigrant named Joseph Bulova opened a jewelry shop in New York City in 1875. He was only 23 years old but his business thrived, due in large part to the table top clocks and pocket watches he sold. He was able to set up his own Swiss manufacturing plant for the production of components by 1912. The company was blessed with golden timing; as World War I veterans returned home they turned the new wrist-mounted timepiece a fashion trend and the company seized the opportunity. Elaborating on the concept, Joseph turned the utilitarian tools into jewelry. He also standardized the components, making parts interchangeable and service so much easier. The company continued to innovate even after their founder’s death and makes some of today’s most attractive and accurate timepieces.

What We Love About Caravelle

This segment of the parent company was designed to be youthful, fashionable and affordable. It was the hope of the company that by making a line of mens watches at a lower price point, they would attract new, loyal buyers who could later grow into their more expensive models. These are attractive timepieces, with many style options for today’s consumer. Several hundred choices populate this line with affordable style. There are classic designs with a contemporary edge, business casual models appropriate for the office and fashion statement pieces to express personal style. There is even a high performance sports line with sturdy models that are water resistant to 330 feet. Models are available with diamond accents and a few feature diamonds. This is quite a feat, considering the ease with which they fit into most budgets.

A Caravelle watch is a highly accurate timepiece despite its small price tag. Their parent company is known for its excellent quality movements and this label does nothing to tarnish that stellar reputation. Precision quartz-crystal movements guarantee accurate time keeping, losing less than three minutes per year. Their bracelets and straps are durable and well crafted, made of genuine leather or sometimes stainless steel.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Caravelle

This brand was devised as a lower priced alternative to finer quality watches. Buyers should not expect it to be constructed of the same materials or to the same exacting specifications as a model costing two, three or more times its value. Neither should they expect the performance to be the same. The styling of each Caravelle by Bulova piece is meant to follow trends so some of the sophistication of an older piece may be missing. Quartz movements are accurate and easy to maintain, but they do not have the elegant complexity of a mechanical movement. In the delicate balance between style and substance, this brand tilts just slightly towards style.

Company History

It was originally founded in 1875 by Joseph Bulova, a 23 year-old immigrant from a country then known as Bohemia. He started with a small jewelry store and began to sell small table-top and bedroom clocks, with which he was quite successful. His company grew and expanded well beyond his lifetime through a devotion to innovation and customer service. This segment of the company was created in 1962 as a more affordable line of quality mens watches. The brand is the trendy, fashion-conscious line of the company which looks to the future and not the past for its design inspiration.

What We Love About Burberry

Burberry has a long history of design from which it draws inspiration. It is known for its classic, sporty charm and has been putting forth a good deal of effort to modernize its look. It offers a number of different looks, from stately to unconventional. There is a men’s watch for nearly any taste, whether daring or reserved. Some models are the essence of British propriety, with conservative leather straps or stainless steel bracelets and round cases. Others use the famed Burberry check in bold and daring new way on printed or striped bands. A more subtle adaptation shows the lines of the legendary plaid etched into the links of the bracelet or face.

Good quality materials are used to construct this brand. Leather and stainless steel can be found in the bands of some models. Stainless is also used in their cases. Burberry uses mainly quartz movements in it timepieces. Quartz is largely recognized as the most accurate type of movement in use today. A quartz movement can also be made into thinner timepiece which is lighter and more comfortable for the wearer. It is the most technologically advanced of movements, which fits well with the brand’s intentions to be a forward-moving corporation.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Burberry

Fashion mens watches brands are typically more focused on the styling of their products rather that the engineering. These are unlikely to be the point of origin for the next great innovation in time keeping. Their focus is on a good-looking product with good performance, not a handcrafted marvel of mechanical gears. The quartz movements this brand employs keep excellent time but are not of the same caliber as the heirloom watches upon which they based. They will need their batteries replaced periodically, unlike finer automatic self-winding watches. A buyer should be satisfied with this brand as long he is simply looking for a fashion-forward accessory.

Company History

A former draper’s apprentice opened a little shop in Hampshire, England in 1856. Thomas Burberry was a forward-thinking 21 year-old with an eye upon the future. He focused on apparel for use in the outdoors, which led to his invention of a new fabric called gabardine. This light and resilient fabric’s yarn is water-proofed prior to weaving, allowing air to circulate freely through it. Their sturdy and handsome garments have been favored by Hollywood heavyweights, political powerhouses and even royalty. The company has added accessories to it line in recent decades, displaying its dedication to the ideal of “prorsum”, Latin for “forward”, expressed in the corporate logo.

What We Love About Bvlgari

A true luxury brand is always unique. It can be identified as something extra special with only a glance. This is certainly true with regard to a timepiece from this prestigious company. This brand has a distinctive look, substantial without ever being clunky. These models are as much fine jewelry as they are fine timepieces. They seem to be made of equal parts art and technology. They make sleek, contemporary models and heavily embellished, diamond encrusted varieties with many choices in between these extremes. This company has produced many collections with different design themes. Many Bvlgari watches have a thick, smooth bezel engraved with the company’s name surrounding the face. This is a distinguishing and often-repeated design feature of the brand.

The company has, in recent years, begun to develop some of its own parts and calibers. It has its own Swiss production facility in Neuchatel. This gives the company more control over the quality of its final product, which was already quite high. It produces timepieces with both automatic and quartz movements, giving the buyer more choices in his timepiece. Only the best materials are used in this brand’s construction. Stainless steel, precious metals and fine jewels adorn their designs.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Bvlgari

This is a luxury brand, making fine timepieces with precious materials, and the artworks they produce will come with an equally luxurious price tag. There is no such thing as a budget line within this brand. The styling is usually European in feel; it can be much more ornate than other brands. Some of the more elaborate designs may be showier than fans of classic watches may like. These mens watch choices are more of a statement item, a piece of jewelry, than they are a tool or simply a time keeper. Some purists would argue that a truly fine timepiece must be entirely Swiss in design and production.

Company History

Sotirio Boulgaris was born in Greece, a son of silversmiths. His family moved from the mainland to Corfu to seek a better life. Sotirio later set out for Rome. There, he opened a variety store which would later become a chain, featuring silver tableware and jewelry. He took the Roman form of his surname, changing it to Bulgari and bestowing it on his new wife, his burgeoning new company and later, his two sons. He sold his stores to concentrate on his first love, jewelry. His sons continued in his footsteps, taking Bvlgari, the ancient spelling of their name, for their logo. The company became an icon in the 1950, went international in the 1970s and has plans diversify and prosper.

What We Love about Kenneth Cole

Selection is one of the many reasons why we love Kenneth Cole. The wide range of both classic and modern styles, colors, and designs means that there’s a huge chance that you’ll find something that feels like it was made just for you. From those looking for a classic chronograph to those interested in the latest digital models, there is simply a lot to choose from. We especially like that models are often available in a variety of colors. This designer also uses a excellent blend of innovation and tradition, updating classics and bring new ideas into reality.

On top of being stylish and available in a wide variety of styles, we like these timepieces for being innovative. The colorful rubber strap is a great example. A wide variety of Kenneth Cole watches are available with a rubber strap, something not often seen in high end men’s accessories. The rubber strap offers a slew of advantages, including comfort, durability, and simplicity. Unlike leather straps, which don’t weather water well, or metal bands that can pinch and slide, this simple innovation makes wearing a stylish chronograph easier, and assures that your accessories won’t get in the way of your daily life.

Some Things We Don’t Like about Kenneth Cole

Of course, no watch company is ideal, and there are a few things that we would like to see but don’t. While we are big fans of the variety of styles and colors available, one thing that isn’t available is a mix and match option. This is unfortunate, as we felt that being able to match our favorite band with our favorite men’s watch would have given us a personalized product that we could really enjoy. Also, the company doesn’t provide as many details as it could about its products, such as water resistance specifics. All in all though, we felt these were rather minor details.

History of the Brand

The story of the Kenneth Cole company is quite an interesting anecdote. The founder and namesake designer wanted to break into the highly competitive fashion shoe market in New York City, but lacked the capital to use traditional avenues. Rather than give up, the designer decided to sell his shoes out of the back of a trailer outside of a fashionable shoe sale. When he discovered that the only way to get a permit to park the trailer was to apply for a license to shoot a film, he added the word “Productions” to the end of his company’s name, and applied for a filming license. The faux film production proved to be a great way to get the word out, and the designer has been off and running ever since.

What We Love about Le Vian

This is one of the great things about Le Vian. Among all jewelry and chronograph designers, few can boast of a history anywhere near as immense. This family has actually been making beautiful jewelry for more than 500 years, which means they have history on their side. But beyond longevity, this company can also boast a wide following, with a half a million registered collectors worldwide. The designs of this company are very popular with Hollywood celebrities, and are constantly featured on award show red carpets. Yet despite these high accolades, this designer prides itself on being financially accessible to those that aren’t rich and famous. With all of this backing, it’s tough not to like this company.

But what really makes us love these products is their timeless design and beauty. Each piece clearly shows the same attention to detail and commitment to quality, from the most modestly priced items to beautiful diamond encrusted chronographs. When wearing Le Vian watches, you know that you’ve found the epitome of style and grace, as well as the height of jewelry fashion. This designer anticipates that chocolate diamonds, natural fancy color brown diamonds, will be the next big thing, and offers a wide variety of designs incorporating these unique stones.

Some Things We Don’t Like about Le Vian

Of course, as highly as we think of Le Vian, there are also some concerns. The main question we have about these time pieces is durability. While it is certainly true that watches are a high fashion item, many men feel that watches are also working apparel, something that can stand up to day by day use and abuse. While a mens watch from this designer is unquestionably made from the finest materials, some may find that form overtakes function in some respects, which leads to a product one has to care for.

History of the Brand

What truly sets them apart from other brands is their history. This family has been hand crafting beautiful jewelry and bejeweled art for almost 500 years. In fact, the rulers of Persia have entrusted this ancient family of jewelers with some of the most precious stones ever found, including the famed Kooh-I-Noor diamond, which weighed in at 186 carats. The current U.S. company was founded in the 1950s, and has been on the forefront of jewelry trends ever since, including the frequent use of colorful stones. Still in family control, this company continues to pair excellence with nearly flawless craftsmanship.

What We Love about Locman

This is one reason why we’re so interested in Locman watches. Among luxury accessory designers, they stand out for marrying form and function together most seamlessly. That this company produces stunning, eye-catching time pieces is undeniable. But these devices are also built to stand up to a rigorous lifestyle, with rugged features that are sure to come in handy. For instance, many of their models are specifically listed as water resistant to ten times normal atmospheric pressure or more. In fact, these so-called luxury items are so dependable that this company has a contract to produce watches for the Italian Armed Forces, and yet are still attractive enough to garner the attention of international celebrities.

Another thing we really like about this designer is their commitment to research and innovation. While other manufacturers are content to keep using the same methods and materials, Locman is at the forefront of research, and were the first to introduce watch cases made from carbon fiber and other materials. This constant remaking means that these devices are not only dependable, but future-minded. By buying a device that’s well ahead of its time, you can feel confident that you won’t be left in the past.

Some Things We Don’t Like about Locman

Of course, all things being equal, there are some things about this company and their products that we’re less than sure about. While we are duly impressed by the constant need to reinvent that drives this designer, this has the potential of having a potential setback later down the road for customers. While this company does offer dozens of classic designs, timepieces that are innovative and at the height of fashion today may not weather the test of time. Luxury accessories are an investment of sorts, and thus future tastes might also be taken into consideration. Generally though, we love almost all of this designer’s products.

History of the Brand

The Locman company is Italian, began in 1986 by Marco Mantovani. Originally, this company produced chronographs for other brands, but struck out on their own in 1997. With highly successful models such as the Linea Sport line, this company soon made a name for themselves on the international fashion circuit. The ensuing years have only brought growth, and this company now counts itself among the top makers in Italy. These timepieces have been spotted on the wrists of dozens of celebrities, including David Beckham and Elton John.

What We Love About Longines

Longines is exactly that kind of company. Even in the well regarded Swiss market, these chronographs stand out for their stunning beauty and craftsmanship. This brand is one of the most well known in the chronography market, and for good reason. They make simply beautiful timepieces that stand up to the test of time. One of the things that we really like about this company is their extreme and skillful balance of functionality, durability, and elegance. So many luxury timepieces seem almost too delicate to use in an everyday setting. Not so with these devices, which are almost as rugged as they are unique. This company has models with more than twenty diamonds on the face, which are still water resistant to thirty meters, and made with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. That’s to say nothing of their sport lines, which are built to even more extreme technical standards.

Another reason that we really like this brand is their connection with sports. Their dedication to technical research led them to produce the first timed photo finish device, as well as numerous other innovations in sports timing. This company has also been an important part of aviation history. Charles Lindbergh, on his famous flight across the Atlantic, had the assistance of Longines instruments. This dedication to advancement is something that guides this company, and another reason why we think they’re a top manufacturer.

Some Things We Don’t Like about Longines

It’s almost difficult to think of a reason not to like these wonderful devices, but there are a few minor issues. While their workmanship is superior and their style is elegant to the extreme, there are not nearly as many stylistic innovations as there are technical ones. While one can hardly fault a nearly two hundred year old company for honoring tradition, this might not be the trendiest or most up to date designer. As a result, those looking for the latest styles might not find exactly what they were looking for, although they’re almost certain to find something they love.

History of the Brand

The story of the Longines watch is one of the most interesting things about the company. This storied manufacturer produced their first watches as early as 1832. In those days, timepieces were still made under a cottage system, wherein craftsman labored separately in their homes. This was one of the first companies to introduce the idea of a centralized factory to both speed production and ensure a high standard of quality. Interestingly, this company’s name and logo, a winged hourglass, are the oldest brand symbols still being used today.

]]> http://www.menswatches.org/brands/longines/feed http://www.menswatches.org/brands/love-and-pride http://www.menswatches.org/brands/love-and-pride#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:00:03 +0000 menswatches http://www.menswatches.org/?p=439 The importance of fashion is difficult to overstate in many contexts. While it might not be true that clothes make the man, it’s certainly is correct to assume that people notice what you’re wearing, and thus looking you’re best is always a good idea. But in many situations, it’s only natural to want to do more than just let everyone know that you have a good sense of fashion. Many people feel a desire to give back to the larger community in one way or another. Normally, these higher aspirations don’t seem to have much to do with fashion at all, but in some cases that’s not quite the case. We really admire Love and Pride watches for giving customers the chance to make a difference while still getting great looking jewelry.

What We Love about Love and Pride

First and foremost, this designer focuses on providing great looking accessories that fit well into almost any lifestyle. With a wide variety of fun and innovative designs, these timepieces are versatile enough to mesh with a wide variety of outfits. Plus, with a superb selection of colors for each style, customers will find it easy to mix and match, and may really enjoy having the same model in more than one color. Unlike other designers which seem to stick to traditional lines, this is one company that is never afraid to take risks, and incorporate striking visual imagery into their pieces that can catch the eye from across the room.

But when you buy from this company, you get more than a men’s watch. Ten percent of all sales are donated to charities that work towards marriage equality and civil rights. That means that you’re not only getting a lovely and well made timepiece, but that you’ll also know that you’re helping in a small way to make the world a better place. Donations partners include Lambda Legal, the Service Members Legal Defense Network, and the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Each of these charities work in their own way to ensure equal rights for everyone, which means that Love and Pride can help you do good as well as look good.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Love and Pride

But while we really like these timepieces, it should be noted that they may not be for everyone. Many of the mens watches designs by this company are experimental, including striking imagery and often bright colors. While there’s no question that these watches look good, they may be a little too boisterous for some senses of fashion. Further, those who are looking for more traditionally styled watches might not be able to get exactly what’s on their shopping list.

History of the Brand

Love and Pride started as the collective dream of a group of artists and entrepreneurs. Not satisfied with simply turning a profit, this group has worked to make their business work to further their ideals. This company makes it clear that they stand for equality, diversity, and tolerance. This means not only donating a portion of their proceeds to charities devoted to important causes like marriage equality, but also means a strong influence on the jewelry they design. Topics such as the hit show “The L Word” are just one example of the wide base of inspiration that head designer Udi Behr draws from.

What We Love about Lucien Piccard

There’s no question that timepieces from this company are the real McCoy. Not only are they manufactured within Switzerland, but they also have a nearly impeccable reputation for quality. Each device is built to the same exacting standards that have won this company renown the world over for the last eighty years. Moreover, these mens watches come with a wide variety of top of the line features, such as water resistance up to five atmospheres. But despite the fact that these are undeniably top of the line timepieces with a Swiss pedigree, they also have a reputation for affordable quality, which means you might not spend as much as you would on a comparable device from a different company.

Another thing we really like about Lucien Piccard watches is that they come in so many different styles and varieties. Often, especially with upper end makers, there’s a tendency to stick to a few successful designs, without branching out. This is anything but the case with this designer, which offers four distinct lines of timepieces, in a wide variety of styles. You can find everything from rugged sports watches designed to take abuse to elegant and stylish models with diamond inlays. Moreover, each of these timepieces has the same precision movement and attention to detail that enthusiasts have come to expect with Swiss products.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Lucien Piccard

All in all, we’re real fans of any mens watch from this company, but there are a few things that customers might want to know about. Mainly, the one thing that struck us about this particular company is that they may not provide the symbol that people may be looking for when buying a Swiss timepiece. While these are beautiful and elegant devices, they may not offer the upper end price tag that some may feel is a big part of the Swiss experience. This is needless to say a small issue, but is something that those looking for luxury timepieces may want to consider as they make this difficult purchase.

History of the Brand

Like other great makers, Lucien Piccard has been committed to excellence since the very beginning. Founded in 1923, this company has spent the last eight years perfecting their art, and making a good product that much better. This designer’s work has adorned dignitaries, celebrities, and even royalty from around the world. By coupling this drive towards excellence with strong customer service, this brand has made a name for themselves that extends far beyond the notion of affordable luxury.