M.H. Bertucci Field Watches

M.H. Bertucci watches come in four basic case collections: The A-1S is a traditional round, stainless-steel case watch, the A-2T is identical to the A-1S, but in titanium, the B-1T is a handsome squared titanium case with a round dial, and the C-1T is a squared titanium case with a square dial. The combinations of dial colors and band types among these four collections is extensive and a lot of fun.

Dial colors include black, silver, white, olive and yellow. The attractive colors of the dials are accented nicely with the red M.H. Bertucci logo, the yellow, red and black DX3 Design shield and the red seconds hand (on some models).

Band types include black, dark-brown, tan and olive leather, and black and olive and red nylon, or stainless-steel and titanium bracelets. The leather bands are all water resistant, and the metal bracelets all feature good-quality clasps.

A nice feature with the leather and nylon strap M.H. Bertucci watches is that the lugs of the watch are connected with a solid, unbreakable bar and not a flimsy spring pin. The strap is one piece that runs around the bars and under the watch instead of two pieces that connect to the watch at the top and bottom with spring pins. It's a very strong system; definitely a plus in a performance watch. It might also be nice for anyone whose skin has bad reactions to metals as the only thing that touches your wrist is the strap.

Another nice feature incorporated in the design of M.H. Bertucci watches is that the crystal is recessed one or two millimeters below the case which has a raised, protective rim around the dial. This really helps to protect the watch crystal from scratching. A screw-down crown and screw-in case back help the watch achieve 100 meters of water resistance.

Priced from $69.99 to $179.99, we consider M.H. Bertucci watches to be an outstanding value, especially for solid titanium watches that are as finely detailed as these.

Festina Watches

While Festina Watches may not yet enjoy the wild popularity in the US that they do in Europe , you cannot have missed seeing the name Festina if you've followed a little bit of the Tour de France over the past few years.
A little background on Festina: Although Festina is now known as a Spanish watch company, its origins are solidly Swiss. Founded in 1902 in Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland , Festina really blossomed when it joined the Lotus Group in 1984. Festina has had enormous success producing high-quality timepieces designed around active lifestyles with high-profile sponsorships of sporting events and sports clubs around Europe including the Tour De France, sailing events and basketball and soccer clubs.
Most Festina Watches are designed for cycling, diving, or other sports. Each Festina features a Myota quartz or automatic movement, hard-mineral crystal, and high-quality bracelets, straps and construction. We've pointed out before that in a sports watch that might occasionally get smacked around, or go down to the pavement with you when you hit a patch of gravel, a quartz movement and a mineral crystal are preferable to automatic movements and sapphire crystals. Myota quartz movements, which are second-to-none in terms of accuracy and durability, are much less delicate than automatic movements. Good mineral crystals, while not quite as scratch resistant as sapphire crystals, provide much greater shatter resistance. Take a look at the Festina Tour de France collection as well as the Festina Dive watch collection. We think you'll appreciate the styling as well as the value.