What We Love About

An ESQ by Modavo watch can be many different things to many different people. By simply having this brand name stamped on it, you know that you are getting your monies worth. This brand has spent years refining their reputation and creating fine timepieces under several different brands. With this brand, they are creating styles and looks that are even more fashionable and stylish than their well established brands. This super high end look is beautifully realized and a big part of why stores can’t keep these men’s watches on the shelves.

There is also quite a lot of variety here, as well. This brand could have been considered a huge success by simply creating one or two models that were head and shoulders above the competition, but that wasn’t enough. They created sports models, fine dining models and special occasion models, just to name a few. You can argue that some are better than others, but you can’t argue that the quality and craftsmanship is second to none. It is no wonder then that ESQ by Modavo is the most respected name in modern timepieces.

Some Things We Don’t Like About

There are some folks who feel it necessary to level criticism at this brand, but much of it is self serving. Yes, we would all like the prices on these models to be lower, but when you lower price, you often lower the overall quality, and in this case, many folks would rather pay the retail price and receive something exceptional. Others think that this brand is stretching itself too thin with too many models, but that criticism is unwarranted, as well. The truth is that this line is exceptional and this brand shows no signs of too much wear and tear.

History of the Brand

According to the published company history, the brand name is actually Esperanto for the word “movement.” This company has been creating fine timepieces since the 1800’s, although this particular line is far newer. It is unclear if this brand is going to continue this line of timepieces, but even if they were to discontinue them tomorrow, the legacy put forth by this line is impeccable. Chances are, there will be quite a few models still ticking and keeping perfect time long after this line has been discontinued.

What We Love About Cerruti

The most characteristic feature of a Cerrutti watch is its unfaltering sense of style. The line is celebrated for its timeless elegance and contemporary sophistication. These products are sleek and modern without being stark. They have an element of the glamorous feel of haute couture at a more affordable price. As on e would expect from a house of fashion, there is within this brand a timepiece to for any occasion and to complement nearly any ensemble. The look of this brand varies widely from model to model. Some show the influence of the Art Deco movement while others have the uncomplicated lines of modern design. There are options for formal occasions and for work, even for casual or sportswear. There are choices in stainless steel or leather with many different shades of dial and numerals. No matter what design, this company never confuses true style with fads.

A Swiss quartz movement powers most of the models from this brand. This is a dependable and durable method of tracking time. It is also the most technologically advanced movement currently known, keeping more accurate time than any other. This combination of current technology and old world craftsmanship is typical of this brand.

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Some Things We Don’t Like About Cerruti

Fashion is the first love of this company and timepieces comprise a only portion of its line. They are an accessory within the band and not its sole focus. This is evident in the construction of their timepieces. Cerruti uses Swiss quartz movements in their timepieces. This is an accurate way of keeping time, but it lacks something of the craftsmanship of automatic movement. Mechanical movements are the type of complicated mechanism that made that country famous. The company claims that its products are priced within an attainable range and while that is true, other brands are available at lower prices with similar movements even if they do lack this brand’s flair.

History of the Brand

Cerruti was founded as a textile mill in 1881. The company’s direction took a major turn in 1950 when leadership of the business was thrust up the shoulders of Nino Cerutti in the wake of his father’s death. Nino was a mere 20 years old at the time. He first set about improving the current mills and then set his eyes on a more radical idea. In a time when manufacturing fabric and designing clothing were totally separate enterprises, he set up on in-house fashion label and ready-to-wear line for his company. This changed the way the industry worked. As his clothing line succeeded he added other lines such as timepieces to the business. Today, the line continues in the same spirit, making true luxury items that are sure to become classics.

What We Love About Gerald Genta

There is no denying the fact that mens watches have changed quite a bit over the last few years. Modern design has moved around both the inside and outside of the watch so that faces, dials and even frames aren’t what they used to be. However, no company has managed to turn the world of modern time on its head quite like this one. They have helped to redefine what innovative is and what innovation could be. If you have never looked at what a Gerald Genta timepiece could be, it may be time to.

Perhaps the most endearing thing about this brand is the fact that every new timepiece looks different than the other. It almost appears that each new model is designed by a different person than the last. That is, of course, silly, but the differences are so dramatic, with no holdover from the previous model, it is amazing that anyone could start from such a blank slate each and every time. When you browse or buy a timepiece from this company, you get a piece of art and a wonderful way to tell time, too.

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Some Things We Don’t Like About Gerald Genta

Of course, when you are the leading innovator in your field, you are open to much in the way of criticism, but as they say, it is often jealousy that causes criticism. Some say the designs are too odd, too bizarre or simply not practical. Others say that the cost is too high, or even too low. The truth is that avant garde timepieces aren’t everyone’s style. You could design the most perfect watch in history, and if people don’t like the style, they will criticize it.

History of the Brand

A men’s watch from this company is more than just a way to tell time. It is a tiny expression of art, style and elegance. This brand does everything it can to push the envelope farther than anyone else has in the past, and then they push it a bit farther. Chances are, when you look through their entire collection, you won’t like everything you see, but you will find one or two or several items that will take your breath away. Gerald Genta has been taking people’s breath away for over 40 years, and now it is your turn.

What We Love About Freestyle

It is also safe to say that this brand is well known for creating innovative designs that still allow you to tell the time. This may not sound like that big of an accomplishment but if you take a few minutes and really look at the state of today’s modern market, you realize that simply telling time is harder than you think. The readouts on these models are clear, concise and amazingly accurate for a timepiece that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Speaking of affordability, it is the other major factor that makes this brand a real winner. There is no denying that kids these days have more disposable income than at any other time in history, but no kid can afford a timepiece that runs into four digits. They need a durable, beautiful item they can proudly wear with jeans and a t-shirt and not get made fun of at school. A Freestyle watch is a sign of someone who knows how to shop smartly, not the sign of someone who has millionaire parents, and really, that’s the way it should be.

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Some Things We Don’t Like About Freestyle

You have to search far and wide to find someone with a bad thing to say about Freestyle, but one comment that often comes up is that many of the designs are ugly. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, no doubt, but these timepieces are aimed at the youth market, and if you check the sales numbers, there are millions of young people out there that disagree. In fact, this brand has gotten so popular, they now sponsor many major sporting events, such as BMX racing and other popular youth sports. If you want to be in with the in crowd, this might just be the timepiece for you.

History of the Brand

Like so many other businesses that took off during the 1980’s, this brand has been able to maintain that level of success, and even expand on it, throughout the 90’s and into this decade. It is tough to stay on top of what is popular in youth culture that long, but that is exactly what this brand has done. Today, they have become a legendary brand that is known throughout sports and pop culture as the epitome of cool. If you want a nice, comfortable, stylish timepiece that can take a beating and keep on ticking, this is certainly one you may want to consider.

What We Love about Ulysse Nardin

Among all makers in the world, there are truly very few who can rival Ulysse Nardin for making devices with incredible complications. The mere world complications suggest the great technical mastery this brand has achieved. In other lines of work, a complication is a setback, but for this company, complications are some of their greatest achievements. Never content to merely keep the time, this brand produces timepieces that can do truly remarkable things. This includes determine the current position of the moon and sun, determine where it is daytime in the world at any given moment, predict sunrise and sunset, and even mark solar and lunar eclipses. For those who enjoy machinery but have little need for astronomical data, this brand has also turned its attention to making beautiful pieces with moving designs that truly catch the eye and the imagination.

Furthermore, it’s hard to get any more luxurious than Ulysse Nardin watches. Some brands make use of incredibly fashionable high end designs, while others have the technical capability to produce the finest movements and complications. This may be the only brand that truly has both the fashion sense and clockworks knowhow to combine the best of these two schools of thought. As a result, there are few models that are both as beautiful aesthetically and technically as these are. For example, this is one of the few companies that is currently making enameled faces. These designs must be built by a single craftsmen working at a painstaking pace, but the results are nothing less than stunning.

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Some Things We Don’t Like about Ulysse Nardin

There’s absolutely no question that these designs are essentially the epitome of luxury timekeeping. However, some people may be turned off by this brand, particularly their complex movements. We thought of this personally as more of a selling feature than a drawback, but here are those people who would find that these designs produce an information overload. Many of their finest designs feature extra hands and displays that display additional facts and information. Those looking for nothing more than the basic ability to determine what time it is might find the addition of lunar cycles unnecessary and even burdensome.

History of the Brand

Ulysse Nardin watches have been being built for more than a century and a half. Originally, this company was founded of a man of the same name in 1846. From the very beginning, this company has focused on advanced chronometer and complicated devices with features such as minute repeaters. As early as the 1860s, this brand had developed a reputation for extraordinarily complex and desirable timepieces. Winning numerous awards and distinctions throughout their storied history, this brand has continued to push the limits of what a timepiece can do. Currently, few makers enjoy their reputation both for quality and for success.

Why We Love Tommy Hilfiger

Among American designers, there are few that can say that they’ve truly captured what it means to be cool in the same way that Tommy Hilfiger has. All of their designs give off a sense of reasonable yet passionate style that seems to make a casually emphatic statement. For more than 20 years, designing what was cool has been the mission of this designer, and in more ways than one, they’ve succeeded admirably. From simple timekeepers with timeless leather bands, to high tech chronographs with visible movements–everything this company does is stylish and hip. That means that you’ll never really be out of place when wearing one of this maker’s designs. It’s a great way to stand out without being audacious.

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This lack of audacity is one of the things that really catches our eye about this brand. So many top fashion designers seem to be built around trying to reinvent everything. While there’s certainly something to be said for being an original, that doesn’t mean that classic styling and designs are too outdated to be relevant to us today. Tommy Hilfiger watches are a perfect example of this companies overarching theme: classic style with a twist. That means standard three eye chronographs, but with the eyes off center, and one larger than the other two, thus updating an old favorite just enough to make it matter, more stylish–in short cool. We also really liked the fact that though these are fashion designs, they are still loaded with features and seem highly durable.

Some Thing We Didn’t Like about Tommy Hilfiger

There are unquestionably some great designs among these mens watches, but unfortunately there isn’t a huge variety of models to choose from. Unlike other makers which offer hundreds of different models, there are really only a handful to choose from, which is truly unfortunate considering how great these designs are. Generally speaking, we would like to see both more models, and more colors for the models they have. Also, this brand is primarily a fashion designer rather than a clock maker, which means that those who are looking for years of dedicated experience may want to find another brand, even if that means sacrificing on coolness.

The History of the Brand

Tommy Hilfiger the man first became interested in fashion when working in a hippie clothing store in the late sixties. After discovering what would become his life’s work, the young designer devoted himself to fashion full time, and his first collection came out in 1986. Starting with men’s clothing, this brand quickly became known for their classically updated styles. Now, this clothing brand is known round the world, both for their innovative designs and their corporate responsibility. Expansion is the name of the game with this company, which not only markets clothing and accessories, but also home furnishings.

What We Love About Carrera

The rugged inspiration for this brand is evident in its current designs. They have a bold, geometric look that works well with the current trends of today’s fashion. The designs are as modern and high-tech as the race cars they are meant to emulate. Carrera watches have a characteristic look that is consistent from model to model and line to line. The brand strives to make its line identifiable, even at a glance. It has streamlined the number of case options down to the bare minimum, giving the product line a uniform look and a specific identity. They have only one octagonal case for the majority of their collections and one other, a square, for their special editions. Variety comes into the line with color and texture. Rubber straps with tread-like patterns add to the race car feel. Leather and stainless steel bands mimic fine upholstery and gleaming engine parts. Black plated models evoke the streaks of black tire left behind by a speeding car. Bands and dials are available in trendy colors like red and orange. The brand offers sport models and chronographs, dive models and athletic versions. The special editions offer a dressier timepiece for a different, more formal look.

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Some Things We Don’t Like About Carrera

Only two cases can make the brand sort of a one-note line. They simply doesn’t have the variety that other brands do. No matter how many different spins this brand can take on a theme, it is still not offering a model in a round or rectangular case. Building such a specific brand identity can limit the pool of customers. Any time a brand is this identifiable, it will have either devoted fans or avid detractors. One thing it won’t get is a lukewarm reception. This is a youth-centered brand, creating trendy pieces for a younger market. Traditionalists should look towards some of the more established lines.

History of the Brand

The first “La Carrera Panamericana” was held on May 5, 1950. The first race was run as a celebration of the completion of Mexico’s Panamericana Highway. It was compared to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia in difficulty and punishing conditions. The last race of this name was run in 1954 after several tragic accidents made maintaining safety an insurmountable issue. It was resurrected in 1988, when safety could be more effectively managed. The company seeks to recapture this uncompromising spirit in its products. It was, like the race for which it is named, relaunched in 2006 with an identifiable look and desire to succeed.

What We Love About Corum

This brand makes a men’s watch that is youthful and exciting in style. Its models have a characteristic look that demands attention. The brand has been known for its creative approach since it first turned a twenty dollar “Double Eagle” gold piece in to a wrist-mounted timepiece, rather than a pocket watch like its predecessors had previously done. There is a huge variety of style within this brand. It makes casual models that are modern, funky and playful. Contemporary lines and numerals owe nothing to past designs; they are completely new concepts. Bright colors and creative details make these pieces appealing to a young, fashion-conscious buyer. These are eye-catching, fashion statement timepieces that display a little of the wearer’s personality on his wrist. Other models are more classically styled, appealing to the traditional tastes of more conservative buyers.

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Corum watches may be fashionable but they have not sacrificed the fine workmanship of their movements for the whims of fashion. These are still high-end Swiss timepieces fashioned with the utmost care. The mechanical and automatic movements in their products are technological wonders. The company is a true manufacturer, making its components and movements in-house. Current models are causing quite a stir among this brand’s competition with their innovative new concepts.

Some Things We Don’t Like About Corum

Some of the Corum themed designs may strike critics as being far too cartoon-like or immature. A pirate or roulette wheel on the dial may be a bit too fashion-forward for the tastes of a conservative buyer. Some might say that the line between unique and plain strange has been crossed by some of their more avant-garde designs. These critics fail to grasp the idea of art for art’s sake espoused by this brand’s creators. The cost can also be a stumbling block for some. It is one thing to pay top dollar for a timepiece that can be worn for any occasion, quite another to pay the same amount (or more) for a kitschy fashion accessory.

History of the Brand

This company was created with a successful combination of equal parts technical merit and creative design. Founders Gaston Ries, a watchmaker, and Rene Bannwart, a designer, brought their talents together to form this company in 1955. This uncle and nephew team started their business with a small, family operation that soon became a major manufacturer. Their products were well received upon their release only a year later. They were acclaimed for the originality of their design and the quality of the final products. The new millennium brought a new owner to this heralded brand, Severin Wunderman, who intends to be personally involved in the continuing innovations of the company.

What We Love about Vostok

Vostok is a perfect example of a timepiece that can truly be marketed on its country of origin. These fine timepieces are actually designed and made in Russia. Russia has a long standing tradition of excellence in jewelry and fine arts, so it makes sense that this company would be a standout among makers of timepieces. Not only is this company the largest of its kind in the world, but they are also coming rapidly to be known on the international market for their quality and innovative approaches to classical designs. Rather than follow in the footsteps of other designers, this maker clearly brings a distinctly Russian approach to their work, which really makes these pieces standout in a showroom and on your wrist.

We also really like the quality of these timepieces. Every Vostok watch is made only from parts that are made in the same company, at the same facility. This is not merely a manufacturing convenience, but is actually a virtual assurance of quality control that can be claimed only by the most prestigious of makers. In fact, this company’s movements and parts are so well built that they are used by almost all other Russian timepiece makers, as well as by other companies in Europe. Furthermore, these aren’t simply basic quartz movements, but mainly mechanical and automatic designs that require the utmost precision. With well made and highly respected parts, it’s difficult not to like these timepieces.

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Some Things We Don’t Like about Vostok

While there are definitely a lot of things to like about these designs, some people may find that they are looking for something different. Mens watches from Russia definitely have a distinct edge of their own, a certain sense of style. While we really enjoy this style, it’s definitely not confusable for the style of other parts of the world, particularly in the case of fashion trends. This brand seems impervious to what’s currently fashionable, preferring to produce classic designs that work in almost any environment. That means that those who are looking for the latest “in” thing probably won’t find it here.

History of the Brand

Vostok began out of necessity during World War II. When a major Russian maker was evacuated from Moscow to Chistopol in 1941, a new factory and new brand name were born. Since then, this company has excelled, particularly in the Russian market where they are by far the dominant name. Currently, they are expanding production and sales. New models are being created specifically suited to export markets, and movements, escapements, and other parts are now being sold outside of Russia. Clearly, the time has come for this Russian giant to enter the world stage, where their sixty years of experience will no doubt serve them well.

What We Love About Casio

The company has come a long way since it first put a miniature calculator in a men’s watch. Variety has been the spice of this brand’s product line since its early days. It has always attempted to give the buyer more functions than merely keeping time. Calculators are but one example. The time has sat next to temperature, barometric pressure, altitude and time zones in this company’s displays. They always seem to want to give the customer something more, something extra, for his money. There is a feature or a product to win the heart of the gadget geek inside every buyer.

The quartz crystal movements that are utilized by this company are second to none in accuracy. They pioneered the use of this movement, helping to make it as popular as it is today. The products are lightweight, easy to wear, sturdy and durable. Most models can take fairly hard use without being damaged. They have excellent battery life. Many are made for use during sports and have corresponding features like timers or lap counters. Many are water resistant, too. Casio watches are a great choice for a practical, affordable, everyday timepiece.

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Some Things We Don’t Like About Casio

Though these products have many good points, there some drawbacks as well. Casio is not in any way a luxury brand. It is not exclusive or unique, nor is it expensive. It is a budget brand sold in discount retail stores across the nation. Their products are produced in large quantities with no thought of making a collector’s item. The designs are, as a rule, made to be practical and not particularly beautiful. Some can even be bulky, especially if the model is particularly rich in features. The materials used in construction are not fine or rare but rugged and cost-effective.

History of the Brand

This brand is the English language version of Kashio, the founding family’s name. Four brothers founded the company in 1946. They established a philosophy of “creativity and contribution” which remains part of the company today. Prior to developing mens watches, this company’s domination of the electronics industry began with calculators in the late 1950s to 1960s. The 1970s saw the field of electronics turn into a booming industry as part became smaller and less expensive to produce. Digital timepieces became a huge fad and nearly put the competition out of business. Many makers of mechanical movements were sunk by the popularity of this new trend. Since then, the company has sought to maintain its customers by frequently introducing new product lines and features.