Overcoming adversity is one of the main ingredients that makes hip-hop such a highly popular genre. Many of the leading artists worked their way up from very modest beginnings, using their considerable talents to translate their struggles and experiences into music that inspires millions. They gave a voice to people who had none, and are a shining example that faith and hard work can make dreams come true. As they realized their own dreams, they also gained the ability to build impressive watch collections. Many of hip-hop's finest have shown that they have bold taste in watches, and combine this with a great understanding of quality and heritage, as the following four artists show:

Gift-giving season is upon us and you know what’s better than unwrapping a luxury watch? Getting a coordinating pair of timepieces to share with your better half, of course! So if you agree that two is better than one, then read on for matching his and her watches to nail holiday shopping this year.

Watches that can display more than one timezone remain popular. This is not so surprising as we not only travel more and more, but as the world becomes more interconnected, we also deal more frequently with people and businesses located in other parts of the world. Next to its practical use do watches that display more than one timezone often also have a dynamic look to them, one that almost entices you to go out and explore new worlds. The following four watches do just that, and are for us among the hottest GMT watches launched this year;

Even in today's time, with high-tech carbon composites and exotic alloys ruling supreme, there is still that undeniable appeal of 18 karat gold. It can be rather discreet when you opt for white gold, more outgoing in the warm tones of rose gold, or an instant classic when you go for yellow gold. Gold pleases its owner with more than just its visual splendor. It is also the heft of this material that makes you know that you are wearing something special. This is especially true with watches that not only feature a case made of this material but a bracelet as well. The following four watches go all in, as they show off the beauty that you get when you go for only gold;

Nature is often a source of inspiration for how we design things. Especially in jewelry, are there many objects whose shape is inspired by animals, flowers, or the world below sea level. In watches, it is usually animals that inspire designers to create something unique, like the following four watches;

Halloween is here again, and that means that it is time to don yourself in your scariest outfit and celebrate. Details often make the difference between a good outfit and a great one. Watches hardly ever play a role in Halloween costumes, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any watches that couldn't play the part. These four watches would fit right in during the holiday, but will also be the rest of the year a 'skeleton' you gladly have available in your closet.

The standard shape for pocket watches was round; therefore, when the progression to wristwatches started taking hold, it was only natural for wristwatches to follow the familiar silhouette. However, Louis Cartier was not a man to follow norms and made a name for himself and his family’s business by championing non-round watch designs, also known as “shaped watches.” Hot on the heels of the square watch made for Alberto Santos Dumont in 1904, Cartier debuted the Tonneau watch in 1906. Named after the French word for “barrel,” tonneau-shaped watches have long since been adopted by other brands.

Becoming a 'gold standard' in the world of watches is something that only a few models will ever achieve. In a twist of irony have many of them accomplished this by being made not from this precious metal. However, that doesn't mean that even those don't look good in gold. Over the years have these four models proved their staying power and became the ones to which all the others are measured.

By its very nature, fads come and go and the watch industry is has seen its fair share of them. However, the two-tone watch is one that has transcended trend-status to become a bona fide classic style. From old-world heritage brands to cutting-edge niche brands, just about every watchmaker has dipped their toes into the two-tone look—and sometimes in surprising ways. Here are four examples of current luxury watches taking on the classic two-tone colorway.

Black is a color that is nearly always appropriate to wear. Also in watchmaking does it have a dominant position, especially when it comes to dials and straps. Black cases were for a long time a rarity. At the beginning of the last century, some brands, like Cartier, for example, experimented with bakelite cases. These watches were scarce then, and even more so now. Later on, new technologies such as PVD-coatings made it that more watches with black cases entered the market. Today there are several materials which a brand can utilize to create a black watch case. Next to the traditional PVD-coating, are there now coatings made from 'Diamond-Like Carbon,' which are more resistant to wear. Next to coatings did also a whole new generation of materials emerged. Ceramic was one of the first to make its entrance, but now even carbon, in various forms, is being used to craft watch cases. Their popularity is increasing, and for a good reason, because no matter what black-colored material is selected, it often results in watches that are true dark delights!

When it comes to watches, we tend to focus on the movement and its complications. While this is indeed often the reason why we buy a particular watch, a good bracelet, when it is of course fitted with one, can also have a substantial impact on how we enjoy it in day to day life. It should not only firmly yet comfortably secure the watch on our wrist, but it should also match its style. Designing and creating such a bracelet is not an easy task, yet these four brands nailed it.

The Tonneau is one of Cartier's oldest wrist-watch designs that are still in production today. It was launched in 1906, two years after the legendary Santos was introduced. Unlike the Santos, has the Tonneau spend most of its career outside of the limelight. In its early years, it was made in small numbers, often on request and as of 1998, it was part of the legendary CPCP-collection, which La Maison discontinued in 2008.

In a relatively short period of time, Cartier has put itself forward as one of the experts when it comes to skeleton watches. Thanks to an innovative approach to this craft, the brand has been able to embed it in its DNA. One of the ways that they have been able to do this is by connecting it to another hallmark of them; the Roman numerals. By crafting the bridges in their shape, and organizing the different parts of the movement below them, a very expressive watch is created in the process, especially when this movement is fitted in the case of the Santos de Cartier.

Last night all of Hollywood came together for the 2019 edition of the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars. It was a memorable edition in which style and elegance ruled, and many of today's most talented actors could pick up one of those desirable statues.

With the introduction of the new Santos de Cartier, in 2018, it was to be expected that the collection would soon be expanded beyond the time-only and skeleton versions it was launched in. It is not surprising that Cartier picked for this extension a chronograph, as this is still one of the most popular complications. However, the way that they went about to integrate this in Santos is surprising!

With reduced sizes, blankets of diamonds, and fresh marketing language that drops gender categories, it is clear that big watch brands have their eye on women’s wrists. It was difficult to pick just a few from the wide assortment, but here are some of our favorite ladies watches from SIHH 2019.