Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

I bought this hefty piece (it's quite heavy) in the early 2000s. I don't wear it on my wrist anymore, but I still carry it in my heart :) because it brings back memories of a particular period in my life. Maybe I'll wear it again someday. It still looks great, it's very legible, the sunburst dial is beautiful, and the crystal that follows the curve of the case is a nice touch...that's it, I want to wear it again!

I'm not wearing it at the moment, but I'm attached to it.

I was looking for a fairly robust, waterproof to 200m minimum, stylish and with a budget of less than 900 euros. I went to my favorite watch jeweler (Mr. Medard in Versailles) who then introduced me to this incredible and fairly exclusive model because it is an edition intended for the US market only. The dial reproduces the scales of a sea turtle. The variations in color and texture of the dial are captivating. The only small downside is the not great precision of the movement (30 seconds per day is starting to be a lot) .. despite its diameter of 45 mm it is easy to wear and is very comfortable.

Sea turtle SRPH55: an incredible dial

When I bought (second-hand) this omega ref 3590.50.00 tritium from 1996, the price was still reasonable compared to a sub from the same period. The patina of the tritium indexes is superb with its eggshell color. The watch is versatile and can be dressed with multiple bracelets that make it either dressy or sporty. The original bracelet is also beautifully made even if the clasp is a bit archaic today. Despite an announced diameter of 42mm, the moonwatch is perfect for a small wrist and very comfortable.

an iconic watch at an (almost) reasonable price

The Oyster Perpetual is an iconic watch. Very simple, with a perfectly refined design, it is the ideal watchmaking ally in many situations. I chose this model (ref 114200) for its super original color with the olive dial and orange index markers. It is one of the watches that I wear the most, it is incredibly comfortable and very precise. I love it. I have tried several bracelets but I always come back to the Oyster which sublimates it to perfection.

Classic and original at the same time

Already the owner of several Rolexes, I started looking for a model (Rolex) that met the following specifications: pro + discreet + original. It was natural that I came across the 226570 black dial. Its brushed steel bezel makes it much more discreet than models with a ceramic bezel. The same goes for the fully brushed bracelet (unlike my GMT whose central link is polished). The originality lies in the orange GMT hand with the orange reminder of the "Explorer II" on the dial. I chose the black dial which I find much more discreet and elegant than the white one. It is one of the first Rolex models with anti-reflective treatment on the inner side of the sapphire and it makes a huge difference! Rolex was smart enough not to put this treatment on the outer side because this type of treatment is fragile and does not resist impacts/scratches over time. Its thin and elegant design despite a diameter of 42mm makes it completely compatible with a small wrist (17cm for me)

Explorer II black dial ref 226570

A super light watch considering its rather bodybuilder appearance (43.5mm in diameter). The bezel, gray/bronze and black, matte is very beautiful and produces a nice click. The rose gold-colored second hand is super original. The only downside to the look is the cyclops... I don't really understand why they put this cyclops when the small date on a black background would have been more discreet. The design of the bracelet is nice but the play in the flap (when it is open only) looks a bit cheap. Thanks to the titanium, despite its size, you quickly forget it's on your wrist.

My first full titanium watch

Festina is a watch brand created in 1902 in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland), later folded into the Spanish-Swiss Festina Group; it became widely known through sporty, accessibly priced watches and chronographs&mdash;especially cycling-themed&mdash;while maintaining a more classic &ldquo;Swiss Made&rdquo; segment and leveraging group-level industrial integration (movements and components).
<h3>From La Chaux-de-Fonds to Madrid: a Swiss&ndash;Spanish trajectory</h3>
Founded by the St&uuml;di family and transferred several times through the 20th century, the brand was ultimately integrated in the 1980s into the group built by Miguel Rodr&iacute;guez, and this journey explains a &ldquo;dual&rdquo; identity that blends Swiss roots with Spanish stewardship.
Within today&rsquo;s organisation, the group lists a corporate head office in Spain (Madrid) and a logistics hub in Barcelona, with global commercial reach and production spread by product line, and this footprint shows a structure geared for volume while keeping industrial anchors in Switzerland wtih brands like <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/perrelet">Perrelet</a> or L.Leroy.
The Festina Group portfolio includes, alongside the namesake brand, Lotus, Candino, Jaguar, Kronaby and Calypso, covering adjacent price bands from entry to mid-range, and the ecosystem also includes technical firepower via Soprod to secure calibres and components.
<h3>Cycling, Chrono Bike and timekeeping: a sports-use culture</h3>
Festina&rsquo;s visibility grew through cycling, combining &ldquo;official timekeeper&rdquo; roles at major races and regular peloton-inspired launches, and this connection shaped an image of practical, legible chronographs offered at controlled prices.
The annual &ldquo;Chrono Bike&rdquo; collection embodies that sports lineage with contrast-forward dials, assertive push-pieces and steel or rubber bracelets, often paired with high-profile cycling ambassadors, and the message is a daily-wear watch that owns an athletic stance.
Beyond marketing, Festina used this proximity to define an object language&mdash;grippy bezels, &ldquo;stand-off&rdquo; markers, clear minute tracks&mdash;so the watch reads fast in daily life, and this &ldquo;use-first&rdquo; stance simplifies the offer for anyone after a solid, straightforward chrono.
<h3>Current lineup: sporty quartz, &ldquo;Swiss Made&rdquo; classics and mecaquartz</h3>
The core catalogue is built on quartz chronographs, three-hand/date pieces and sport-chic variants; depending on market, more dress-leaning &ldquo;Swiss Made&rdquo; lines complement the offer with steel/titanium cases and understated dials, and mecaquartz references add a mechanical feel while retaining quartz precision.
<ul>
<li>Festina Chrono Bike &mdash; yearly cycling-inspired chronographs, steel cases, steel or rubber bracelets, high-contrast dials, special and limited editions.</li>
<li>Festina Swiss Made &mdash; classic three-handers and chronographs (steel, sometimes titanium), restrained finishing, the dressier side of the range.</li>
<li>Festina Tour de France &mdash; commemorative and themed takes tied to major races, rooted in &ldquo;field-chrono&rdquo; culture.</li>
<li>Festina Mecaquartz &mdash; hybrid references (mechanical chrono modules driven by quartz) for a lively hand feel with set-and-forget ease.</li>
</ul>
At entry and mid-range levels, observed public prices for quartz chronographs typically sit in the low-hundreds depending on country and channel, and that bandwidth is meant to cover a &ldquo;first chrono&rdquo; up to an everyday sport-chic piece.
<h3>Movements and manufacturing: Soprod, group integration and easy care</h3>
Behind the scenes, belonging to Festina Group grants access to industrial resources (movements, parts, testing) alongside external suppliers, and Soprod gives the group a Swiss technical backbone useful for certain lines and for end-to-end control.
For users, most sporty Festinas remain quartz for accuracy, robustness and low-touch upkeep, while Swiss Made and mecaquartz add alternative wrist feel, and this gradation makes the range easier to navigate for different buyer profiles.
Servicing is straightforward: battery/seals on quartz, more spaced-out intervals on mecaquartz and mechanical depending on use, with parts availability helped by group industrialisation, and the idea is to prioritise time on the wrist over frequent trips to the bench.
<h3>Positioning, distribution and buyer profiles</h3>
Set in the accessible-to-mid space, the brand pushes a clear value-for-function pitch (coherent WR, legibility, standard materials) with messaging anchored in sport and city versatility, and the aim is a &ldquo;life watch&rdquo; rather than a ceremonial object.
Distribution blends the group&rsquo;s e-commerce, multi-brand retailers and regional networks; campaigns lean on sporting events and ambassadors, and this mix enables scale while keeping themed runs visible and easy to find.
On audience, Festina resonates with buyers wanting an honest, ready-to-go chrono, newcomers after a &ldquo;first chronograph&rdquo; without complexity, and those who enjoy a legible sports look with a cycling flavour, and the rule of thumb is to choose by use case first, then size/strap.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Festina&rsquo;s equation is straightforward: easy-to-live sport watches, a chronograph culture forged in cycling, and instant legibility at controlled prices. To decide, map your use case (desk-to-play, sport, travel), run a one-metre glance test and check on-wrist stance, then choose between quartz, mecaquartz and Swiss Made by the feel and service pattern you prefer. Athletically inclined buyers will gravitate to Chrono Bike, while dress-leaning profiles will prefer the Swiss Made lines. To square these cues with long-term ownership experiences, a practical compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.
(Updated August 2025)

Rectangular watch, black dial lacquered on the sides and textured on the middle. 3 sub-dials at 6 9 and 12 o'clock for the 24-hour display, day and date. Miyota quartz movement. 36.4 mm wide steel case, 45.5 mm from lug to lug and 28 mm between lugs. Case back tested for 5 ATM.
Black leather strap.
Very beautiful and comfortable watch, I have worn it a lot for 14 years in sometimes quite harsh working conditions and it is very reliable.

Festina F16235 multifunction quartz

This quartz chronograph, with its atypical bracelet, seems indestructible. The crown guard is oversized but does its job well. The overall design gives it an aggressive look. The black dial is rather well decorated. The little extra of this model: the alarm function to be activated by pulling the button located at 8 o'clock.

An aggressive look and a solid impression

This is my first "serious" quartz analog watch from a time when Festina was not yet completely tainted by the doping scandals of its cycling team. Its satin-finished bracelet and case, as well as the light gray of its dial, make it a very discreet watch. A fun little detail: the "Mercedes" hour hand which is missing 2 branches...

Festina 8888, the simple and discreet watch

Atelier Jalaper est une marque horlog&egrave;re franco-belge fond&eacute;e en 2019 par Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper. Elle se distingue par une approche unique qui fusionne l'horlogerie traditionnelle avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile en int&eacute;grant des &eacute;l&eacute;ments authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires dans ses montres.
<h3>Origines et Fondation</h3>
Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper se sont rencontr&eacute;s lors de leurs &eacute;tudes &agrave; l'ESCP Europe, partageant une passion commune pour l'horlogerie et l'automobile. Leur ambition &eacute;tait de cr&eacute;er une montre qui ne se contenterait pas de s'inspirer du design automobile, mais qui int&eacute;grerait v&eacute;ritablement une partie de l'histoire automobile. Cette vision les a conduits &agrave; fonder Atelier Jalaper en 2019.
<h3>Concept et Philosophie</h3>
La philosophie d'Atelier Jalaper repose sur l'id&eacute;e de donner une nouvelle vie &agrave; des voitures embl&eacute;matiques en les int&eacute;grant dans des montres de haute qualit&eacute;. Chaque garde-temps est con&ccedil;u avec des cadrans fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires, offrant ainsi aux passionn&eacute;s une connexion tangible avec l'histoire automobile.
<h3>Collections et Mod&egrave;les</h3>
Collection DB5
La premi&egrave;re collection d'Atelier Jalaper rend hommage &agrave; l'Aston Martin DB5, une ic&ocirc;ne des ann&eacute;es 1960. Les cadrans de ces montres sont d&eacute;coup&eacute;s dans le capot en aluminium d'une v&eacute;ritable DB5, conf&eacute;rant &agrave; chaque pi&egrave;ce une patine unique. La collection comprend quatre mod&egrave;les :
<ul>
<li>AJ001-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ001-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
<li>AJ002-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage du jour et de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ002-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
</ul>
Ces montres sont &eacute;quip&eacute;es de mouvements automatiques Miyota, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche de 42 heures.
Collection Miura
La deuxi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Lamborghini Miura, souvent consid&eacute;r&eacute;e comme la premi&egrave;re supercar au monde. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de la Miura, et la collection propose plusieurs variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-P400-V : Version avec r&eacute;haut vert</li>
<li>AJ-P400-N : Version avec r&eacute;haut noir</li>
<li>AJ-P400-O : Version avec r&eacute;haut orange</li>
<li>AJ-P400-B : Version avec r&eacute;haut bleu</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage manuel Sellita SW270-1 M, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 45 heures.
Collection Jaguar Type E
La troisi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Jaguar Type E, l'une des autos les plus reconnaissables entre toutes. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques d'une Jaguar Type E semi-lightweight de 1962, et la collection propose deux variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-003-B : Version au cadran stri&eacute;</li>
<li>AJ-003-W : Version au cadran noir anodis&eacute;</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage automatique Sellita SW300-1, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 42 heures.
<h3>Processus de Fabrication et Savoir-Faire</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collabore avec des artisans et des experts horlogers bas&eacute;s &agrave; La Chaux-de-Fonds, en Suisse, pour assurer une qualit&eacute; exceptionnelle. Le processus de fabrication implique une d&eacute;coupe pr&eacute;cise des pi&egrave;ces automobiles pour cr&eacute;er des cadrans uniques, suivie d'un assemblage minutieux pour garantir la fiabilit&eacute; et l'esth&eacute;tique de chaque montre.
<h3>Engagement envers l'Authenticit&eacute; et l'Innovation</h3>
La marque s'engage &agrave; pr&eacute;server l'authenticit&eacute; des mat&eacute;riaux utilis&eacute;s tout en innovant dans le design et la fonctionnalit&eacute;. Chaque montre est num&eacute;rot&eacute;e et porte en elle l'&acirc;me de la voiture dont elle est issue, offrant aux collectionneurs et aux passionn&eacute;s une pi&egrave;ce de l'histoire automobile &agrave; leur poignet.
<h3>R&eacute;ception et Perspectives d'Avenir</h3>
Depuis son lancement, Atelier Jalaper a re&ccedil;u des retours positifs pour son concept novateur et la qualit&eacute; de ses montres. La marque continue d'explorer de nouvelles collaborations avec des voitures l&eacute;gendaires, &eacute;largissant ainsi sa collection et renfor&ccedil;ant sa position unique &agrave; l'intersection de l'horlogerie et de l'automobile.
En conclusion, Atelier Jalaper se distingue par sa capacit&eacute; &agrave; fusionner l'art horloger avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile, cr&eacute;ant des montres qui racontent une histoire unique et offrent une exp&eacute;rience &eacute;motionnelle aux passionn&eacute;s des deux univers.
Inspirez-vous des avis clients Dialicious pour choisir la montre Atelier Jalaper qui vous convient le mieux. D&eacute;couvrez &eacute;galement le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_de_sports_mecaniques">classement des marques de montres inspir&eacute;es du sport automobile</a>.
(Mise &agrave; jour Mars 2025)

Atelier Jalaper is a Franco-Belgian watch brand founded in 2019 by Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper. It is distinguished by a unique approach that merges traditional watchmaking with automotive heritage by integrating authentic elements of legendary cars into its watches.
<h3 dir="ltr">Origins and Foundation</h3>
Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper met during their studies at ESCP Europe, sharing a common passion for watchmaking and automobiles. Their ambition was to create a watch that would not only be inspired by automotive design, but would truly incorporate a part of automotive history. This vision led them to found Atelier Jalaper in 2019.
<h3 dir="ltr">Concept and Philosophy</h3>
Atelier Jalaper's philosophy is based on the idea of ​​giving new life to iconic cars by integrating them into high-quality watches. Each timepiece is designed with dials made from authentic parts from legendary cars, providing enthusiasts with a tangible connection to automotive history.
<h3 dir="ltr">Collections and Models</h3>
Collection DB5
Atelier Jalaper's first collection pays homage to the Aston Martin DB5, an icon of the 1960s. The dials of these watches are cut from the aluminum cover of a real DB5, giving each piece a unique patina. The collection includes four models:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-S: Model with date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-B:&nbsp;Version with black PVD case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-S: Model with day and date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-B: Version with black PVD case
</li>
</ul>
These watches are equipped with Miyota automatic movements, offering a power reserve of 42 hours.
Collection Miura
The second collection is inspired by the Lamborghini Miura, often considered the world's first supercar. The dials are made from authentic Miura parts, and the collection offers several variations:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-V: Version with green flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-N: Version with black flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-O: Version with orange flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-B: Version with blue flange
</li>
</ul>
These models are powered by Sellita SW270-1 M hand-wound movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 45 hours.
Jaguar E-Type Collection
The third collection is inspired by the Jaguar E-Type, one of the most recognizable cars of all. The dials are made from genuine parts from a 1962&nbsp;Jaguar E-Type semi-lightweight, and the collection offers two variants:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-B: Version with vertically brushed dial
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-W: Version with black anodized dial
</li>
</ul>
These models are driven by Sellita SW300-1 self-winding movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.
<h3 dir="ltr">Manufacturing Process and Know-How</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collaborates with artisans and watchmaking experts based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to ensure exceptional quality. The manufacturing process involves precise cutting of automotive parts to create unique dials, followed by careful assembly to ensure the reliability and aesthetics of each watch.
<h3 dir="ltr">Commitment to Authenticity and Innovation</h3>
The brand is committed to preserving the authenticity of the materials used while innovating in design and functionality. Each watch is numbered and carries within it the soul of the car from which it comes, offering collectors and enthusiasts a piece of automotive history on their wrist.
<h3 dir="ltr">Reception and Future Prospects</h3>
Since its launch, Atelier Jalaper has received positive feedback for its innovative concept and the quality of its watches. The brand continues to explore new collaborations with legendary cars, expanding its collection and strengthening its unique position at the intersection of watchmaking and automobiles.&nbsp;In conclusion, Atelier Jalaper stands out for its ability to merge the art of watchmaking with automotive heritage, creating watches that tell a unique story and offer an emotional experience to enthusiasts of both worlds.
Take inspiration from Dialicious customer reviews to choose the Atelier Jalaper watch that suits you best. Also discover the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_brands_of_motor_sports_watches">ranking of watch brands inspired by motorsport</a>.
(Updated March 2025)

Festina Owner Review : Sporty, outdated and massive

I'm not wearing it at the moment, but I'm attached to it.

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Festina Owner Review : Sporty, outdated and massive

I'm not wearing it at the moment, but I'm attached to it.

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