Watch collecting has exploded in popularity over the last few decades, bringing with it a myriad of positives. The technology behind these timepieces has gone through some paradigm shifting developments, incredible independent brands have popped up out of nowhere and flourished, consumers have had more access to information than ever before thanks to abundant online communities and social media, and the industry itself has rarely been more profitable than it is today. Sadly however, it is a number of these upsides which have given rise to an ever-growing scourge of modern times—a massive incre ..read more

And a Happy 2024, one and all, from everyone here at BeckerTime! Just like you, we’re all eager to see exactly what this year holds in store and are, more than ever, looking forward to continuing to assist clients new and old with their first or next purchase of a Rolex watch. To that end, this year we have decided to offer up an entire series of shopping guides focusing on the most up-to-date insider advice. Over the coming months, we’ll be publishing a string of informative articles on buying some of the most popular individual models, as well as on other helpful topics such as the wide rang ..read more

Sunday, February 11, 2024 saw the dramatic end to the football season with defending champions, Kansas City Chiefs becoming the first team in two decades to win back-to-back finals, edging past the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in only the second Super Bowl in history to go into overtime. In a tale of contrasting fortunes, this was the Chiefs’ third Super Bowl win in five years, making them the first post-Patriots dynasty, while for the Niners it represented their third consecutive loss, extending a drought which has gone on now for 29-years. The game drew some 70,000 spectators to the Allegiant S ..read more

It’s fast approaching, folks! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about a gift for that special someone in your life, or even your spouse. Of course, chocolates and flowers are all very nice, but if you really want to bank some Brownie points to see you through the rest of the year, why not go that extra mile and invest in a new watch for your significant other?  And if you want something to really demonstrate the depths of your commitment, there’s only one brand to choose.  Because, yes, true love is eternal; but a Rolex is eternal-er.  The ..read more

Just one of the many wonderful things about having a watch lover in your life is that there is never that sense of panic come holiday time when you’re trying to think what gift to get them. There is a near-limitless supply of potential options you can go for, from books to winders and from artwork to cufflinks. However, if you want to give a present that will not only last a lifetime and beyond but will also win you more Brownie points than you’ll know what to do with, then gifting that special someone a preowned Rolex watch is the way to go. Chances are though, your horologist has a type—they ..read more

What a difference two years makes! Regular visitors here may well remember us talking about young start-up brand, Nomadic, based out of Belfast in Northern Ireland. I was able to meet up with founder and CEO Peter McAuley in November of 2021 to talk about his first creation, the Maraí 401, a wonderful, vintage-inspired tool watch that drew heavily on the city’s engineering heritage. Back then, the piece was still in its prototype stage and Peter was yet to give up his day job—appropriately enough as an engineer. As it turns out, the Maraí has been an amazing success. Reviews across the board h ..read more

Among the many things for which Rolex is world renowned is the agelessness of their watch designs.  With most of their heavy hitters taking shape in the 1950s, there has generally been little else to do with them visually over the subsequent decades other than a subtle alteration here and there—put simply, for the most part, the brand just gets it right the first time. That means a piece from today’s collection is unmistakably derived, outwardly at least, from its debut model some 60+ years ago.  Inside, however, is a different story. As enduringly traditional as their watches might ..read more

Each March, the nerd-a-palooza that is Watches & Wonders, formerly known as SIHH, rolls into Geneva, trailing dozens of the world’s leading horology brands in its wake. The trade show of the watch and jewelry industry, it has become the El Primero event on the circuit, and is now the largest expo of its kind anywhere on Earth. Bringing together media, retailers, collectors and the general public, this is where the most important manufactures get to show off their latest creations. This year there were 48 exhibiting watchmakers, including the likes of Patek Philippe, A Lange & Söhne, Ca ..read more

Rolex came to Watches & Wonders in Geneva this year with a hatful of new models: so many, in fact, that we have had to split our report on them all in two. In the first post, we covered the new Daytona (celebrating its 60th birthday), the new size Explorer (a watch celebrating its 70th birthday) and a new bezel on the GMT-Master II. For this second article, let’s look at what the brand has been doing behind the scenes with a few other favorites. The New Yacht-Master The Yacht-Master collection grew by one this year, but that one was a particularly special addition. In truth, while not exac ..read more

Rolex’s understated and underappreciated Explorer is arguably the watch which has been the least altered throughout its extremely long life. Pretty much all of its most significant identifying features—the 36mm case, the soft tonneau shape and, of course, the 3/6/9 markers—were set in place from the outset and then left well alone for the next 70 years or so. Any major updates were confined to the inside, and even those were relatively sparing. The movement was swapped out semi-regularly, but usually after more accomplished and popular names received theirs. However, the 2010s saw this darkest ..read more