Bites: WTH?? This tournament has me seriously questioning things. UPDATE: TIMEFACTORS DROP THIS WEEKEND

Hello Crunchers!

***See 'Latest Watch Releases' for Timefactors Info***

I want to talk about how @AllTheWatches microbrand tournament has me seriously questioning my watch buying decisions, but first, your community updates!

This week:

• 3 Things: The TLDR section for those in a hurry

• Community News: Our new members, the hot posts and your watch event calendar.

• WatchCrunch photography club: The winner from last weeks photo theme

• Latest watch releases: The new watch releases from the past week

• The Community Columns: Longer posts from the community

• Editors Thoughts – This tournament has me seriously questioning things.

Your 3 quick bites from the past week:

@AllTheWatches has opened up this years microbrands tournament! Go check out this years competitors.

@horologybiology bravely shares his story so the rest of us don’t feel so alone in his moving post: I would not shower for weeks because of vintage watch addiction

@kentuckyman30 gives us an insight into his his journy back from luxury to affordable watches , complete with some great pictures.

New members:

New members who I’ve seen posting this week… @Fernandes, @iAmFish, @moistdef, @Brandonmclark, @Dcdriller, @spacemanspiff, @tajko.ba, @t.zffl, @jmreekes, @greg1208, @Bengaku, @Vinosnob, @Ocelot77, @Nullination, @sooraram, @MarcusWA, @GabrielP, @ARao08 Welcome everyone!

Hot Posts:

This weeks topics that got the community talking… Your next watch? - @Scousewatchlover If you are after some watch eye-candy and a nosey into what’s on other Cruncher’s wish lists.

What is your daily beater? – @rolleruhland Folks share the watches they wear for the rough stuff.

Boring Watches - @DRS_CR71 For the love for vanilla watch designs.

Watches after death – Ryan_Schwartz The morbid question of watches after death.

Remembering you mom - @hakki501 A beautiful post which is a very timely reminder for UK Mothers Day this weekend, that we should be cherishing the mum’s in our lives.

Meetups and Events:

20th March - Exploring the early years of Rolex: Online meetup - Online

25th March - Omega Her Time House Popup - London, UK

31st March - London WatchCrunch Meetup: Part II – London, UK

27th – April 2nd March - Watches and Wonders 2023 - Geneva, Switzerland

1st April - WatchCrunch Meetup @ Watches and Wonders - Geneva, Switzerland

8th April Watch Crunch x Prosper meetup - Bruxelles, Belgium

28th – 30th April - Windup Watch Fair 2023 - San Francisco, CA

5th May - Cruise ship Meetup - New Jersey to UK

14th – 16th July - Windup Watch Fair 2023 - Chicago

20th – 22nd October - Windup Watch Fair 2023 – New York

Let me know if you hear of any other meetups and I’ll add them to our weekly calendar.

Big thanks to @Hotwatchchick69 for setting last weeks photography theme of ‘Sentimental Watches’. His very deserving winner this week was @Flatterycamp with this collection of colourful shots….

And I want to give a super special mention to @IanCognito for the beautiful photograph of his son...

Come see the chosen theme for this weeks photos here which has been kindly set by this weeks guest judge @Hakki501.

Timefactors drop this weekend:

Here are the latest watch releases from the past week.

If I hear about any new watch drops which I think people would like to know about before the next letter I will update this section in the newsletter post on WC.

Top row left to right: New Seiko Prospex, Reservoir Kanister, Tutima x reolution, Citizan Thin blue line, Benrus Orbit Robot

Second row: Louise Viutton, Starburst, Chronoswiss, Seiko Presage, Mido

Third row: Nivada, Shinola, Bohen, Montblanc, Bamford

The Beatles and their watches – Part X AND Part XI AND PartXII - @Shakespeare

This week we get another three instalments in The Beatles series of posts.

Watches in the Wild – These are the days of our lives - @Edge168n

More watch spotting goodness from the David Attenborough of the watch world.

30 days in or What I learned in KinderKrunch - @FlatteryCamp

A lovely written piece from one of our newer members sharing his experiences.

Building a Beater Collection – Part 10 - @MrPsionic.

I adore seeing a love story unfold, and that's what I feel I’m getting with @MrPsionic’s collection of posts on beater watches. Well worth a read, but don’t blame me if you fall down the rabbit hole and binge the full series.

"This tournament has me really questioning some things"

When @AllTheWatches made his post about his microbrand tournament I’m sure a lot of you did the same as me and checked out if your favourite brands were in there, who they were up against and who would get your votes in each round.

So when I looked at some of the matchups… CIGA vs Boldr for example… given the whole package… customer service, reviews etc. I actually think I’d have to give Boldr the vote, even though there isn’t a watch they make that I would actually buy!

Another example: AnOrdain vs Behrens.

AnOrdain have just beautiful dials, massively sort after, supremely well made, super popular, so they’d have to get my vote over Behrens for the overall package, despite the fact I’m pretty sure I’d take a Behren’s Moonlight over an AnOrdain (I know, sacrilege).

But am I doing this wrong??

Should I be voting for brands I wouldn’t even buy a watch from if I think it’s a better package? Or should I vote for what I love even if I wouldn’t recommend it to others??

Is this the other side of the coin to the problem we see with so many watch reviews on WC? So often a reviewer will list multiple issues with a watch. Poor lume, cheap movement, too expensive…. Score: 5/5. There is obviously something about some watches, a ‘je ne sais quoi’ that means we are blind to all short comings, and despite knowing its generally a 2/5 watch we still adore it, so… 5/5.

Its the same with this tournament.

CIGA: Poor customer service, poor quality control, questionable movements... would still 100% choose their watches over Boldr.

This does really make me think why on earth I choose the watches I do when I very much agree that on paper there are better options out there. I guess I'm just someone who goes with their heart over their head, but I would never wish to inflict my meagre opinions and poor taste on anyone!

So should I be voting for what I like or what I would recommend over these next few weeks?

What is everyone else going to base their voting on for the tournament?

Purely on the watches you would buy? Or the complete package?

Also, lets place our bets!

Who is your money on for winner?

I predict a Baltic vs AnOrdain final with Baltic taking the crown this year. 100%

Take care folks,

Kaysia.