It’s been quite a decade here at aBlogtoWatch, as the site has grown from just Ariel Adams blogging to a full-fledged editorial team around the world. I began at aBlogtoWatch halfway into the decade, in the Fall of 2015, and it’s been an incredible experience, so far. It’s difficult to reduce a 10-year long stretch of daily content into a shortlist that can come close to encompassing everything, so I’ll break things down into categories, then list top articles from oldest to most recent. At last count, I believe there are roughly 135 articles that make the cut, including reviews, interviews, editors’ lists, state-of-the-industry articles, and some outright hilarious pieces.

aBlogtoWatch has had a remarkable stretch this past decade, and it’s thanks to you, the readers, that we can continue to pursue this shared passion. Here’s to the new decade — we can’t wait to see what’s next.

A word from Ariel

With nearly 9,000 articles published so far, aBlogtoWatch continues to pursue the mission it began with: to create authentic and engaging conversations about what it means for a watch to be great, and to offer a guide for consumers who wish to navigate this complicated hobby.

My allegiance has always been to watch-wearers like myself, which has made me as much an industry activist as a consumer advocate. When aBlogtoWatch started, digital luxury watch media was barely nascent. Open and honest conversations about most high-end timepieces were rare and inaccessible to the general consumer public. What I’m most proud of is giving consumers the power and voice they deserve in an industry too often inclined to rely on smoke and mirrors versus facts and figures to vend their goods. I hope I have contributed to the new landscape of luxury watch media, while at the same time prompting the traditional watch industry to respect and recognize the power of Internet-based communities.

Now, at the outset of 2020, and in my 13th year as a professional in this space, the virility of my activism and advocacy is none diminished. I still fight for what I think is right. I still want enthusiasts to smile when they look at their wrists. I still want honesty and good taste versus ego and pride to be responsible for the products carried in stores. What has changed since 2007 is the size of the aBlogtoWatch team and our community. The original mission has been both adopted and strengthened by the members of our staff, our contributors, and various professionals who “grew up reading aBlogtoWatch” prior to entering the watch industry.

Does the world of 2020 need luxury watches? Perhaps more than ever — as a sign of hope and aspiration to guide and motivate us. Wristwatches are the best trophies, and to earn trophies we must push ourselves to succeed. As the world of tomorrow looms more challenging and complex than the world of yesterday, we will need items to celebrate who we are, who wish to be, and who we admire during the course of recognizing our personal victories. Wristwatches have a unique ability to do that. As I’ve said, and as Jean-Claude Biver has routinely preached, no other product a person can wear is able to do as much as a watch, which reaches vastly beyond its intended utilitarian time-telling purpose in to the worlds of art, history, rarity, exclusivity, tribal belonging, and culture. I and so many others out there will work hard not for the results, but for the rewards. If a wristwatch reward helps people be their best, then at the very least aBlogtoWatch can help a person make the most out of it. Keep chasing time, my friends.

David’s thoughts on the last decade

This February, I’ll be starting my 8th year at aBlogtoWatch — but I’ve been reading and watching and listening since well into the former aBlogtoRead days. When I decided I wanted to enter the world of watch journalism, aBlogtoWatch was the one and only place I applied to. Why? Because it was aBlogtoWatch that educated me not just about watches, but also about the industry behind them, as well, in the most efficient, honest, and thorough way. Fast-forward to the end of this decade, and I’m extremely proud of the aBlogtoWatch team that has grown so immensely during this time. We, together, have dedicated immense effort and time to keeping aBlogtoWatch strong and independent — both when it comes to having our own voices heard and when it comes to amplifying your own voices, dear readers.

If I had to select just a few of the articles I enjoy looking back on the most, they are Spring Drive Functionality & History, Konstantin Chaykin portrait, ETA History, and Rolex price increase articles.

A special thanks from Zach

I’ve always known this about aBlogtoWatch, but it’s much more readily apparent in a comprehensive roundup such as this: Our site content and industry analysis has always been, and always will be, tuned specifically for watch-lovers of all types. If it goes on the wrist (and even if it doesn’t) and tells the time, we have stories of amazing watches just for you. Special thanks to our amazing community for their patience and tolerance with each other and with us — and for contributing to what I believe to be the most welcoming place for watch-lovers on the Internet.

When The Present Was The Future

At the beginning of the decade, things like smartwatches were still a far off thought, e-commerce was a fledgling concept (let alone augmented reality), and prices for steel Rolexes weren’t quite so insane. Here are some aBlogtoWatch articles from throughout the decade that explore topics like potential trouble for retailers and predictions for what we then called the “iWatch.”

•Doomsday Coming For Wrist Watch Retailers?
•Virtually Test Watches On Your Wrist From Home With Tissot Reality
•iPod Nano Gets Blinged Out – Proves Watches Never Went Out
•How Is The iPhone 5 Like A Luxury Watch?
•What Will The Apple iWatch Be Like?
•It’s 2013, When Will A Mainstream Smartwatch Finally Arrive?
•A New Respect For Quartz Movement Watches: From Spring To Battery
•How And Why Rolex Prices Have Increased Over Time
•How Screwed Is The Watch Industry Thanks To The Apple Watch?
•Luxury Watch Industry’s Dilemma In Hong Kong
•How To Spot Future Collectible Watches

Our Favorite Conversations

Over the past decade, aBlogtoWatch has sat down and talked with some of the most fascinating and accomplished personalities in the watch industry. Industry icons like Jean Claude Biver, Francois-Paul Journe, and Georges Kern are some of the names synonymous with the watch world, but celebrities and personalities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joel McHale are also some of the enthusiasts that have kept the space so dynamic over the course of the decade.

•Biver & Me: Exclusive Inside Look At The Hublot Watch Manufacture
•Astronaut Mark Kelly Interview: “Watches Are Necessary In My Profession”
•My First Grail Watch: Jean-Claude Biver
•My First Grail Watch: Francois-Paul Journe
•Rolex Ambassador Sir Jackie Stewart On Watches, Cars, And Good Taste
•Esteemed Mechanical Watchmaker F.P. Journe On Making A Quartz Movement
•Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch Brand Debuts For 2015
•Why Philippe Dufour Is Disappointed With Today’s Watchmakers
•Joel McHale Talks Timepieces & Glashütte Original With aBlogtoWatch: One Of Hollywood’s ‘Real’ Watch Guys
•An Afternoon In Tokyo With The Man Who Designs Casio G-Shock Watches
•Interview: Jean-Claude Biver On The Past, Present, & Future Of The Swiss Watch Industry
•Breitling Watches CEO Georges Kern Interview On Brand Building & Summits

Some Memorable Reviews

aBlogtoWatch has published over 1,000 watch reviews and it would be a monumental task to scroll through them all and pick out the very best. However, there have been some reviews that I found to be fascinating to look back on from the perspective of 2019. For example, a Grand Seiko review from 2011 reveals a brand still in the process of fully making its mark on the western market. There are also some reviews that are just too special not to share, like the time we took an Omega Seamaster 300M to the Rio Olympics in 2016. Take a look at just a handful of selected reviews from the thousand or so we have published so far.

•Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SBGH005 Watch Review
•Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial Chronometer Watch Review
•Orient Mako USA Watch Review: Best Budget Diver?
•Bremont Supermarine 500 Watch Review
•Year With A Seiko Shogun Has Watch Lover Impressed
•MB&F HM3 Watch Review
•Grand Seiko SBGD001 Spring Drive 8 Day Power Reserve Watch Sends A Clear Message To Switzerland
•Rolex Submariner 114060 ‘No Date’ Vs. Tudor Heritage Black Bay Black Comparison Watch Review
•Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Alaska Project Watch Review
•Super Rare €430,000 Rolex Day-Date 40 Green Emerald Platinum Watch Hands-On
•Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Rio 2016 Limited Edition Watch Review At The Olympics In Brazil
•Vicenterra GMT-3 Tome 5 Titanium Black Máté Watch Review
•Eterna Heritage Super KonTiki 1973 Limited Edition ‘Team aBlogtoWatch’ Watch Review
•Rolex Daytona 116520 In Steel With Black Dial Watch Review
•Hublot Big Bang 44 ‘Original’ Watch Review & What It Meant To Jean-Claude Biver
•Which Rolex To Buy? The Submariner Vs. Explorer II Watch Comparison Review
•One Of The Most Complicated Wristwatches Ever: Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 Hands-On
•Long-Term Review: Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph SBGC001
•Richard Mille RM 25-01 Tourbillon Adventure Sylvester Stallone Is One Of The Wildest Watches Of The Year
Historical Omega Speedmaster Apollo & Alaska Special Mission Watches Hands-On

Top Watches From SIHH, Baselworld, & More

SIHH is now Watches & Wonders, and Baselworld is going through some of the biggest changes in its long history. aBlogtoWatch has been at these major watch shows for the last decade, and it’s so fascinating to look back at these watch releases when they were still new. Also sprinkled throughout are some Only Watch auctions, shows from Hong Kong, and a handful of notable takes and perspectives.

•SIHH 2011 Recap: Safe Bet For the Watch World
•Baselworld Best Watches: Top 11 For 2011
•Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Tourbillon Grande Date Watch Is Best Tourbillon Of SIHH 2011
•All The Only Watch 2011 Auction Pieces
•Auction Watch: Antiquorum’s ONLY WATCH 2011 Results
•Baselworld Best: Timepieces To Watch In 2012
•The Heart And The Hand Of Watch Making At The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair
•SIHH 2013 Watch Show Recap: Don’t Rock The Boat
•Top 10 Watches Of Baselworld 2013
•Baselworld 2013 – Through the Eyes of a First-Timer
•Top 10 Watches At SIHH 2014
•Top 10 Watches Of Baselworld 2014
•Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2014: The Progress Of The Chinese Watch Industry
•TOP 10 Watches Of SIHH 2015
•Top 10 Watches Of Baselworld 2015
•Top 10 Watches Of SIHH 2016 & Show Report
•Top 10 Totally New Watches Of Baselworld 2016
•Top 10 Existing Watch Updates Debuted At Baselworld 2016
•Top 11 Watches Of SIHH 2017 & An Industry Holding On Tight
•Top 10 Watches Of Baselworld 2017: A Trade Show At A Crossroads
•Top 10 Watches At SIHH 2018 & An Industry In Mid-Stride
•Top 10 Watches Of Baselworld 2018 & An Industry In Exciting Transition
•Top 10 Watches Of SIHH 2019
•aBlogtoWatch’s Favorite Watches Of Baselworld 2019
•Here’s What I Learned And Saw At The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2019

Informing Watch Consumers

As I went through the giant catalog of content published this past decade, I found that there were simply too many educational, historical, and “how-to” articles to list. Here are some of the curated pieces that date back to 2010, starting with, “Why Are Watches So Expensive?” and, ironically, ending nearly 10 years later with, “Don’t Spend Above Retail Price When Buying A Watch.” Many things have changed (and a lot of things have not), but I think we can all agree that the more the enthusiast and buyer community is, the better off we all are.

•Why Are Watches So Expensive?
•No More “Luxury” Watches
•What Is The Best Size For A Watch?
•Are Educated Watch Buyers More Valuable Customers?
•Guide To Buying Your First Rolex Part 1: When To Buy
•Guide To Buying Your First Rolex Part 2: What To Buy
•Top 10 Technically Important Mechanical Wrist Watches
•Watch Complications: A Brief History Of Useful To Useless
•The First Rolex Oyster Watch From 1926
•The First Rolex Submariner Watch
•10 Things To Know About How Rolex Makes Watches
•Important Early Cartier Men’s Watches
•How To Choose What Watch To Buy
•The History Of Dive Watches
•7 Ways To Survive As A Watch Lover On A Budget
•Cost Of Entry: Rolex Watches
•Top 10 Affordable Watches That Get A Nod From Snobs
•Why Monopusher Chronographs Are Primitive & A Brief History Of The Chronograph Watch Complication
•Should Watch Makers Advertise The Accuracy Of Mechanical Watches?
•Rolex Extends Stringent -2/+2 Second In-House Watch Accuracy Tests To Entire Production
•Why I Won’t Tell You What Watch To Buy
•The Amazing History & Functionality Of The Seiko Spring Drive Movement
•Features In Watches Worth Collecting According To Ariel Adams Part 1
•Features In Watches Worth Collecting According To Ariel Adams Part 2
•Seven Awesome Field Watches For Every Budget
•Ten Watches To Wear While Actually Being Active
•Top 10 Affordable Watches That Get A Nod From Snobs In 2018
•Why Some Watches From Rolex, Patek Philippe & Others Are Impossible To Find At Retail
•Planet Ocean: The Full Story Of Omega’s Iconic Modern Dive Watch
•Tropical Dials Explained By A Vintage Watch Restoration Expert
•Top 10 Alternatives To The Rolex GMT-Master II Watch
•How Scalpers & Speculators Are Ruining The Watch Purchasing Experience For Many Consumers
•Today’s Traditional Watch Industry Can’t Exist Without What Rolex Is Selling
•On Ariel’s Watch: Don’t Spend Above Retail Price When Buying A Watch

Just Because & Nostalgia

Manufacture visits, takes on replica watches, luxury accessories, and ridiculously expensive timepieces are nothing new to our readers. This “just because” section could easily be hundreds and hundreds of articles long but you have to start somewhere, right?

•De Bethune Dream Watch IV iPhone 4S Luxury Case
•New Steel Rolex Submariner Watch For 2010
•Rolex Deepsea Challenge Watch Goes To Bottom Of The Ocean
•Get ‘Em Early: A Marketing Plan For Raising Watch Lovers
•Rolex Watches Embrace YouTube Internet Advertising
•Top Five Useless Watch Complications
•At The Intersection Of Watch Lover And Asshole
•The Most Common Fake Watches & Other Stories From The FakeWatchBuster
•How The Most Popular Watches Can Be Recognized By Just Their Hands
•Visit To The Richard Mille Watch Manufacture
•Revisiting Le Brassus: Audemars Piguet Watches Mix Serious Horology With Iconic Designs
•Sotheby’s To Re-Auction The Patek Philippe Supercomplication, The Most Expensive Pocket Watch Ever
•The Incredibly Funny Watch Reviews On Amazon.com
•Thoughts On Seeing The $2.6 Million Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 5175 Watch In The Flesh
•Wearing The Over $18,000,000 Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch
•A Unique Look Into How Glow-In-The-Dark Tritium Gas Tubes Are Made At MB-Microtec
•What Do The Patek Philippe 3582 & The Apple Watch Have In Common?
•Rewarding The Top 10 aBlogtoWatch Commenters In Celebration Of 100,000 Comments
•Rolex Daytona Watch: A Zero To Hero Story
•Diving In Grand Cayman With Oris Watches Video Part 1
•Diving In Grand Cayman With Oris Watches Video Part 2
•Diving In Grand Cayman With Oris Watches Video Part 3
•Why Movement Screws At German Lang & Heyne Cost €100 Each
•Top 10 Watch Alternatives To The Rolex Submariner
•‘Cool & Fun’ Made In Japan: A Visit To Casio G-Shock Watch Headquarters
•How The Push For In-House Movements Ruined The Modern Luxury Watch Industry
•5 Reasons Collectors Like Watches From Micro Brands
•Time On Clipperton: 16 Days, Two Oris Watches, One Forgotten Island
•Confessions Of Serial Replica Watch Buyers
•Why Richard Mille Watches Are So Expensive
•How Jeff Bezos’ Mechanical 10,000 Year Clock Works
•Vacheron Constantin Overseas Vs. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: Which Luxury Sports Watch Should You Buy?
•aBlogtoWatch Editors Pick Their Top Three-Hand Sports Watch

Everyone at aBlogtoWatch is incredibly grateful to you, the loyal readers and commenters without whom we would not exist. If there are any articles left out that some of you find memorable, we’d love to hear about them. We all look forward to seeing what the watch world has to offer in this upcoming decade, and we promise to remain dedicated to keeping all of you honestly informed.

Happy 2020, everyone!