The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

I recently fell for this limited edition collaboration with the watchmaking magazine Passion Horlogère, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Having refocused my collection, I no longer wanted a diver's watch, except for a Glashütte Original Seaq 39, a superb skin diver. It was impossible for me to justify the asking price, considering the watch's quality.

When I saw this release, I was instantly captivated! I had already seen the classic Submarine and the Wolbrook, which are similar skin divers. But the Chronofixe x Passion Horlogère caught my eye for two reasons:

1) the absence of artificial patina on the hour markers! (I'm tired of neo-vintage!)
2) the beautiful smoky blue dial!

I wasn't particularly interested in the collaboration itself, but this watch is simply perfect! It comes with two straps, for a price of €395! I didn't hesitate for long! It perfectly fulfills its role as a small (37mm) and stylish skin diver!

There might still be a few left (limited to 180 pieces), so if you like it, hurry!

A beautiful, characterful diver skin for a great price!

I quickly settled on this iconic model, which needs no introduction. I chose the GMT (as opposed to the Submariner or SD) because it allows you to play dress-up and have several watches in one: two or three inserts, two possible straps... that makes six configurations!

I also chose a five-digit reference for two reasons: the ceramic versions don't suit my wrist well, and the four-digit references can be fragile for everyday wear.

Furthermore, there are several variations of the five-digit model to choose from: tritium, Luminova, serif, sans serif... the choice is vast, depending on individual preferences.

I chose a tritium model with a beautiful eggshell patina... I couldn't resist.
Here it is with the original Coke and Oyster inserts. More variations to come!

A classic that really stands out, and is super customizable.

For some, it's the epitome of bling, showy and ostentatious, but the vast majority of watch enthusiasts agree that this watch is an iconic classic! Without resorting to familiar adjectives, this 5-digit Day-Date represents elegance in an all-gold version for me. This model comes with an onyx dial, which provides a striking contrast to the classic champagne dial. The President bracelet is undoubtedly the Day-Date's defining feature. It also looks beautiful on leather, but it's quite different, certainly more conventional. The 18038 reference (single quick-set) is noticeably thinner than the 18238 (double quick-set) and much less bulky than the latest generation (not to mention the price, of course). In short, if you're looking for a solid, all-gold watch with a history, without spending €40,000, the Day-Date is an excellent choice!

The gold watch of the "Thirty Glorious Years"!!

Here's my little Omega DeVille, with a TV case in the purest 70s style that I love. A simple and efficient manual movement, a perfect 35mm case, and gold plating that makes this watch the perfect companion to dressy outfits, without breaking the bank!
I don't wear it often enough, but it's always a pleasure to put it on!

A deville like you rarely see.

I've finally settled on the Op 36 after a few years of ignoring the brand. I've recently returned to it, not through the back door (many consider the Op a basic entry-level model), but through the mother of all Rolexes! Oyster case, automatic winding...what else?!
Its black dial, 36mm case, and Oyster bracelet make it the perfect everyday watch! So much so that it eclipses all others when you need something simple, versatile, and understated.

That's exactly the image I like to have of the Op: a solid and timeless watch.



Oyster Perpetual: The Quintessence of Rolex

I bought this Speedtimer brand new when it was released at Christmas 2023. JavaScript already owns a Speedtimer, also a limited edition (Crystal Trophy). Everything about this watch is perfect! Size, subdials, color palette...it goes with everything, on steel, leather, NATO strap; it suits it all!
This is the watch I recommend to anyone who wants a beautiful chronograph for under €1000. I wear it very often. I've owned several chronographs: Breitling, Speedmaster, etc., but I haven't yet found a chronograph this nice in this price range...a real success!

My favorite stopwatch!

Chronofixe is a French watch brand founded in 1857 in La Rasse, in the Doubs gorges according to the company&rsquo;s communication; after a long hiatus around the turn of the 21st century, the name was revived in 2025 with a vintage-leaning, accessible lineup and limited editions rooted in &ldquo;tool-watch&rdquo; heritage (Type 20/21 pilot&rsquo;s chronographs, divers).
<h3>From military chronographs to playful reissues: a claimed historical thread</h3>
The brand&rsquo;s public narrative places Chronofixe among the French makers involved in supplying pilot chronographs to the Ministry of Defense under the 1950s&ndash;1960s &ldquo;Type 20&rdquo; specs, and this association routinely appears in explainers that cite the brand alongside Auricoste, Dodane, Vixa, Airain and other period suppliers.
Beyond issued chronographs, the storyline mentions a specialisation in so-called &ldquo;altimetric&rdquo; instruments and an industrial foothold in the Doubs during the 19th century, with the name later fading from view; in the absence of exhaustive public archives these elements remain &ldquo;information not confirmed,&rdquo; and the modern relaunch sensibly focuses on tangible, readable, robust objects rather than an over-embellished origin tale.
Reentry happens through highly visible capsules &mdash; creative collaborations, plainly explained heritage cues, a short lineup &mdash; that return Chronofixe to the tool-watch conversation at reasonable prices; the strategy balances nostalgia, cultural wink and day-to-day practicality, and the brand stakes out an unpretentious tone appealing both to vintage-savvy enthusiasts and to curious first-time buyers.
<h3>Object language: compact cases, instant legibility and signature cues</h3>
Early pieces in the revival favour contained dimensions (circa 37&ndash;38&nbsp;mm), sapphire crystals, functional bezels and high-contrast dials to deliver easy ergonomics and at-a-glance reading; the goal is a wear-everywhere instrument tolerant of water, ordinary knocks and frequent strap changes, and this compact stance contrasts with the size escalation often seen at entry level.
On the themed &ldquo;Sous-Marine,&rdquo; narrative details abound without getting in the way: Roman numerals on bezel and date, laurel-engraved crown, a screw-down back with character art; beyond the wink, you still get a 200&nbsp;m diver with an aluminium insert and a 60-click bezel, and that blend of whimsy and function neatly sums up the aesthetic intent of the relaunch.
The &ldquo;aviation&rdquo; register is reintroduced pedagogically: explaining Type 20/21 codes (black dial, big clarity, historic flyback, purposeful bezel), unpacking the original specs and the roles of the various suppliers so forthcoming models sit within a shared history, and the brand strives to clarify what a French &ldquo;Type&rdquo; truly denotes rather than tossing around a buzzword.
<h3>Current lineup and likely families: Sous-Marine, Diver, historical nods</h3>
The online shop shows a tight offer built around a culturally themed &ldquo;Sous-Marine&rdquo; limited run, several &ldquo;Diver&rdquo; variants and a higher-priced special tied to a Swiss-flavoured anniversary, with public prices below &euro;800; this clear price signalling supports the comeback by giving buyers an obvious entry point, and the message is to prioritise on-wrist experience over spec-sheet inflation.
<ul>
<li>Chronofixe Sous-Marine Asterix &mdash; compact diver (~37&nbsp;mm) in 316L steel, 60-click unidirectional bezel, sapphire, 200&nbsp;m, engraved back; limited to 500 pieces, indicative RRP ~&euro;395.</li>
<li>Chronofixe Diver &mdash; sibling divers with the same spirit (steel case, contrast-forward dials, purposeful bezel) in a price band close to the Sous-Marine.</li>
<li>Chronofixe Cofrefor &mdash; a pricier special (~&euro;740 displayed) tied to a Swiss anniversary theme; a more collectable proposition.</li>
</ul>
Mechanically, the brand currently opts for widely-used automatic workhorses with hacking and date; this choice blends robustness, low running cost and global serviceability of parts, and it underlines the aim of building watches meant to be worn often and serviced easily.
<h3>Positioning and pricing</h3>
The positioning targets the &ldquo;accessible instrument&rdquo; segment: tidy finishing without flash, solid build, credible water-resistance and straightforward service, all at tight pricing (~&euro;395 for the headliner piece, more for the anniversary edition); the messaging leans on the collective Type 20/21 history and the revival of a French name, and the value proposition hinges as much on narrative as on the spec sheet.
Distribution is largely direct via the e-shop and targeted editorial campaigns (specialist media, social channels, invited creators); the aim is to skip intermediaries, control volumes and leave room for perceived quality, and this short channel meshes well with limited runs that are simple to track and deliver.
The addressable audience is twofold: vintage-minded buyers who already know Type 20/21 codes and want a stress-free daily, and newcomers drawn to a readable, sturdy, culturally playful watch; in both cases the brand urges selection by use case (water, city, travel) rather than prestige signalling, and the tone stays approachable, light on jargon.
<h3>Selection and use: scenario first, clarity next, then care</h3>
Start with your dominant context: if water and outdoor activity rule, a compact 200&nbsp;m diver is a natural daily; if you prefer the aeronautical imagination, keep an eye out for more instrument-forward pilot variants, and always validate preference with a one-metre, one-glance test in natural light.
Then confirm ergonomics: contained diameter, lug-to-lug span, perceived height with bezel and sapphire, crown feel; the aim is a watch you &ldquo;forget&rdquo; soon after strapping on, and a simple strap swap (textile, rubber, leather) lets you tune character without breaking the object&rsquo;s coherence.
On maintenance, mainstream automatic calibres can be serviced almost anywhere and shrug off daily life; respect water-resistance (replace gaskets as needed), avoid knocks during setting and book a check if rate drifts or reserve drops markedly, and think in terms of needs-based care rather than an arbitrary service calendar.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Chronofixe&rsquo;s return lives in a clear space: simple, compact, story-rich tool watches with a French flavour &mdash; Type 20/21 aviation, sporty diving &mdash; executed for practicality today. The claimed heritage sets the frame, design details bring personality, and the &ldquo;few references, well explained&rdquo; strategy simplifies choice. To decide, begin with use case, test clarity and comfort, then choose by wear context and preferred level of upkeep. To align these cues with owner experience over time, a helpful compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated August 2025)

La marque&nbsp;Serica a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2019 par J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget et 3 amis &agrave; Paris, en France. Le nom Serica vient d'une r&eacute;gion perdue au bout de l'Extr&ecirc;me-Orient que les Grecs et les Romains avaient baptis&eacute;e ainsi. Ce lieu fait &eacute;cho &agrave; la gen&egrave;se de la marque, qui vise &agrave; concevoir des montres m&eacute;caniques de qualit&eacute; au style n&eacute;or&eacute;tro, pr&ecirc;tes &agrave; vous suivre aux confins du monde.
La gamme comprend des montres telles que la <a title="Page Serica 4512" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, la <a title="Page Serica 5303" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> et la <a title="Page Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre" href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. L'une des particularit&eacute;s de cette marque est que son nom n'appara&icirc;t nulle part sur le cadran, afin de pousser le passionn&eacute; &agrave; acheter un design, des finitions et des proportions, et pas seulement un nom. En juillet 2023, Serica a lanc&eacute; la Serica 5303 COSC une version chronom&egrave;tre certifi&eacute;e par le Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres.
Leur avant-dernier mod&egrave;le est la <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfant sur les bases de la 1&egrave;re r&eacute;f&eacute;rence de la marque, la Serica 4512. Cette 6190 &eacute;pouse les codes stylistiques de la marque, des anses lyres, un choix de cadrans diff&eacute;rents et la possibilit&eacute; de choisir la position de la couronne &agrave; 3 heures ou en mode "Destro" &agrave; 9 heures. Cette Serica 6190 est &eacute;quip&eacute; du calibre Soprod M100 certifi&eacute; COSC (Contr&ocirc;le Officiel Suisse des Chronom&egrave;tres) &agrave; l'intar des productions actuelles des autres mod&egrave;les 5303 et 8315.&nbsp;
La Serica Parade est quand &agrave; elle une collection audacieuse lanc&eacute;e en novembre 2024...&nbsp;Une montre habill&eacute;e sortant des sentiers battus nomm&eacute;e "Parade" sous la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence 1174. Ces 4 chiffres, comme toutes les autres r&eacute;f&eacute;rences Serica, propose une symbolique issue du nombre d'or ou divines proportions dont le ratio entre la longeur et la largeur sont de 1,174... Une montre tr&egrave;s &eacute;l&eacute;gante propos&eacute;e &agrave; 1,490 &euro;.
Mars 2026 est une date importante avec le lancement d'une nouveaut&eacute; attendue par les collectionneurs... Enfin une Serica avec la fonction Date. La&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/5330">Serica 5330</a> reprend les codes de la 5303 avec de multiples &eacute;volutions esth&eacute;tiques permettant d'int&eacute;grant le guichet date tout en subtilit&eacute;, comme Serica nous en donn&eacute; l'habitude. Patience, les pr&eacute;-commandes viennent d'ouvrir pour une 1&egrave;re livraison pr&eacute;vue d&eacute;but mai 2026, au prix de 1,690 &euro;.
L'ann&eacute;e 2026 ne s'est pas arr&ecirc;t&eacute;e l&agrave;, avec lancement en Mai d'une <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/7505">nouvelle collection Serica nomm&eacute;e 7505</a>&nbsp;et proposant une d&eacute;clinaison de la filed watch 6190 dans un format plus petit en 35mm, plus adapt&eacute; aux petits poignets. Serice ne fait rien &agrave; la l&eacute;g&egrave;re et accompagne cette nouvelle collection d'un nouveau bracelet Bonklip plus robuste. Le signe de la maturit&eacute; pour la marque qui r&eacute;pond ainsi &agrave; une demance clairement exprim&eacute;e par ses clients.
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Serica ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Serica &eacute;voluent et diff&eacute;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 990 &euro; et 1,890 &euro; selon les mod&egrave;les et finitions. Le mod&egrave;le GMT de la marque, Serica 8315 GMT Chronom&egrave;tre co&ucirc;te 1,890 &euro; tandis que le dernier mod&egrave;le lanc&eacute; par Serica, la r&eacute;f&eacute;rence <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/serica/6190">6190</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 990 &euro;.
Serica est ind&eacute;pendante et produit environ 5,000 montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Serica fait partie du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises">Top 10 des marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises les plus populaires</a>, ainsi que du <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_micro_marques_de_montres">Classement des meilleures micro-marques de montres</a>. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Serica qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une ressource essentielle pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)

The brand&nbsp;Serica was created in 2019 by J&eacute;r&ocirc;me Burget and 3 friends in Paris, France. The name Serica comes from a lost region at the end of the Far East that the Greeks and Romans named it like this. This place echoes the genesis of the brand, which aims to design quality mechanical watches in a neo-retro style, ready to follow you to the ends of the world.
The range includes watches such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315</a>. One of the particularities of this brand is that its name does not appear anywhere on the dial, in order to encourage the enthusiast to buy a design, finishes and proportions, and not just a name. In July 2023, Serica launched the Serica 5303 COSC, a chronometer version certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190</a> surfing on the bases of the brand's first reference, the Serica 4512. This 6190 follows the stylistic codes of the brand, lyre lugs, a choice of different dials and the possibility of choosing the position of the crown at 3 o'clock or at &ldquo;Destro&rdquo; mode at 9 o&rsquo;clock. This Serica 6190 is powered with the Soprod M100 caliber COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Certification) certified, like the current productions of the other 5303 and 8315 models.&nbsp;
The Serica Parade is a bold collection launched in November 2024... A dress watch that breaks the mold, named &ldquo;Parade&rdquo; and bearing the reference number 1174. These four digits, like all other Serica reference numbers, embody the symbolism of the golden ratio&mdash;or divine proportions&mdash;where the ratio of length to width is 1.174... A very elegant watch priced at &euro;1,490.
March 2026 is an important mark with the launch date of a new model eagerly awaited by collectors... Finally, a Serica with a date function. The <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5330">Serica 5330</a> builds on the design of the 5303 with numerous aesthetic updates that allow for the date window to be seamlessly integrated, as we&rsquo;ve come to expect from Serica. Be patient&mdash;pre-orders have just opened for a first shipment scheduled for early May 2026, priced at &euro;1,690.
But 2026 didn&rsquo;t stop there: in May, the brand launched <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/7505">a new Serica collection called 7505</a>, featuring a smaller 35mm version of the 6190 watch, better suited for slimmer wrists. Serice doesn&rsquo;t do anything halfheartedly, and has paired this new collection with a new, more robust Bonklip strap. This marks a sign of maturity for the brand, which is thus responding to a demand clearly expressed by its customers.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Serica watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Serica watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 990 and &euro; 1,890 depending on the models and finishes. The brand's GMT model, Serica 8315 GMT Chronometer costs &euro; 1,890 while the latest model launched by Serica, the reference&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">6190</a> is offered to &euro; 990.
Serica is independent and produces around 5,000 watches per year, all models combined. Serica is part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands">Top 10 most popular French watch brands</a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_micro_watch_brands">ranking the best micro watch brands</a>. To choose the Serica model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/5303">Serica 5303 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/4512">Serica 4512 reviews</a>, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/6190">Serica 6190 reviews</a> or <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/serica/8315">Serica 8315 reviews</a> are an #1 resource for evaluating different models through real customer experience.
(Updated December 2025)

Fredz's review on his Chronofixe Diver

A beautiful, characterful diver skin for a great price!

Where to buy your Chronofixe?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Fredz

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Fredz's review on his Chronofixe Diver

A beautiful, characterful diver skin for a great price!

Where to buy your Chronofixe?

YOU ARE :

Other reviews published by Fredz

RolexGMT-Master II

RolexDay-Date 36

OmegaDe Ville

RolexOyster Perpetual 36

SeikoSpeedtimer

Customize your Chronofixe with our selection of accessories:

Eagle Eye Watches

Iconic Switzerland

Rolex
GMT-Master II

Rolex
Day-Date 36

Omega
De Ville

Rolex
Oyster Perpetual 36

Seiko
Speedtimer