Daily Digest

Worn & Wound reports that around 100 jobs at Zenith’s Le Locle headquarters and another 100 roles internationally are at risk, with formal talks underway and no final decision expected before mid-November. The report also says Zenith may reduce collections and keep retail operations closed until 2029.

Why it matters (interpretation): If confirmed, the cuts would mark a major restructuring at one of Switzerland’s best-known watchmakers. The planned retail changes also suggest a broader shift in Zenith’s distribution strategy.

Hermès has added two new H08 variants in Bleu de Malte and Blanc Chantilly. The 39mm watches keep the collection’s familiar case proportions at 42mm lug-to-lug and 10.6mm thick, while giving the sports watch line a brighter, Mediterranean-inspired look for summer wear.

Hamilton has launched the new American Classic Cushion collection in six references across two sizes, 34mm and 30mm. The stainless steel watches draw on the brand’s 1920s and 1930s Art Deco heritage and update the vintage Cushion B design with modern specifications and movements suited to the smaller cases.

Direnzo has launched the DRZ 08 Cosmonaire GMT, the brand’s first GMT watch. The travel-focused model uses an elliptical bezel and layered dial with Space Age-inspired styling, aiming to pair a second time zone with a distinctive case design.

Tissot has unveiled the PRX Skeleton Damian Lillard Special Edition, a 44mm stainless-steel PRX with a burgundy skeleton dial, manual-wind Swiss movement, 52-hour power reserve and 100-meter water resistance. It comes with burgundy rubber and leather straps, a leather pocket case, and costs $2,075.

Fratello goes hands-on with the HTD Hesagraph RitmoCorsa, a limited edition of 99 pieces made to mark HTD’s five-year partnership with the Italian Scuderia HTD RitmoCorsa racing team. The watch features a bright red enamel dial inspired by the team’s car.

Time+Tide’s weekly roundup covers new watch releases from Girard-Perregaux, Laurent Ferrier, Vacheron Constantin and other brands, ranging from high-end métiers d’art pieces to more accessible skeletonised models. The post collects the week’s notable launches in one overview.

Rolex increased prices by up to 6% on 1 January 2026, with the size of the rise varying by material. The update also adds revised service costs and 2026 watch prices, including an example of about €300 more for steel models such as the Daytona and larger increases for gold pieces.

Le Petit Poussoir highlights 10 watches that stood out in October, including a chronograph, a G-SHOCK with sapphire, and a two-movement model. The feature frames the month as more than a series of dial-color updates and collects the most notable releases across several brands.

Balazs Ferenczi visits Oak & Oscar’s headquarters in Chicago during a stop after the Chrono24 get-together. The piece centers on time spent with founder Chase Fancher and the brand’s home base, with the full article teasing an extended look at watches and conversation.

Watch Collecting Lifestyle’s Weekend Reads gathers several editorial pieces, including Audemars Piguet’s grey-market consignment push, Zenith’s reported workforce cuts in Le Locle, and a critique of the “Swiss Made” designation loophole. The roundup also highlights new Girard-Perregaux and Vacheron Constantin coverage.

Rodolfo Festa Bianchet recounts how he returned to watchmaking after selling his fintech company and founded Bianchet with his wife, Emmanuelle. He says the brand’s rounded, tourbillon-focused designs are built around the golden ratio, a principle he first studied in financial market analysis and now applies to case and movement proportions.

Watchonista highlights personal picks from the 84 finalist timepieces competing across 14 categories at the 2026 GPHG in Geneva. The annual awards begin on November 7, placing the shortlisted watches in front of the industry’s biggest jury and audience.

Hodinkee Japan examines Porsche Design’s two ordering paths: the custom-built timepiece configurator open to non-owners, and model-specific chronographs reserved for owners or buyers awaiting delivery. It highlights versions tied to the 911 Spirit 70, 911 S/T, 911 GT3 RS, 911 Dakar and 718 Cayman GT4 RS, including case, dial and movement details.

Time+Tide looks inside Studio Underd0g’s D0ghouse, described as a creative hub in British watchmaking. The piece frames the opening as a sign of where the local independent scene may be heading.

Why it matters (interpretation): This points to continued momentum in Britain’s independent watchmaking scene, where makers are building more visible physical hubs around design and creativity.

Hodinkee Japan traces Michael Schumacher’s watch connections, from a Casio digital watch mounted on his F1 steering wheel in the 1990s to TAG Heuer S/el chronographs he wore early in his career. The feature also covers title-celebration pieces from Omega and Audemars Piguet, plus a one-off F.P. Journe gift made for him.

Monochrome Watches looks at German watchmaking from Peter Henlein’s early 16th-century portable clocks in Nuremberg to the wider evolution of the country’s watch culture. The feature explains how these first “pocket watches” became known as Nuremberg Eggs and frames Germany as an early center in the miniaturisation of timekeeping.

Robb Report Watch Collector highlights 15 watches that debuted in October, including new releases from Hublot, Girard-Perregaux and Urwerk. The roundup collects the month’s notable launches from 15 different watchmakers in one feature.

The guide compares the Rolex Air-King and the Orient Bambino, focusing on case quality, everyday wearability and ownership. It frames the Orient as an affordable automatic alternative while contrasting it with Rolex’s 34mm Oyster-case execution and vintage-inspired appeal.