Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Every year, we receive a number of questions from our readers about the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Gen�� ve, also known as the GPHG. According to some, one of the most important watch events of the year. One of the recurring questions on the GPHG is why some brands are missing completely from the nominated watches. Brands that make sense to be part of the nominations, or which could even perhaps go on to win a prize.For this year's GPHG contest, we received several questions as well. One of them came from Jeffrey, asking why certain brands aren't included in the contest or nominations:Over the years, I've noticed some of the brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Omega are missing from the GPH [...]

You know that when we talk about legendary bracelets sooner or later the Rolex Jubilee makes an appearance.It's just inevitable. The Jubilee is just one of those bracelets you immediately associate with Rolex. It is making a watch instantly recognizable as a Rolex. While the brand mostly used it on dressier watches, the Jubilee found its way to some sportier models too. Like the GMT-Master. Truth be told, it does not look good on all Rolex sports watches. Or does it? Well, we will talk about the newest models later. For now, let's stick with the vintage watches.Jubilee bracelet with all-steel claspHistory of the JubileeThe Jubilee, as its name suggests, was born to serve an anniversary. Hans [...]

Unlike our dark STEALTH picks a couple of weeks ago, this time we go all-in for holiday sweetness. After another heavy hit of pandemic life, if there is one thing we need, it's holiday cheer. And here at Fratello, we aim to please, so enjoy some sweet CANDYCANE on us. Though I will warn you, this story might end with putting in some hard work to ensure a healthy New Year.I can't think of a better way to infuse yourself with the generous spirit of Christmas than with a sugary dose of candy. Inspired by the sweetness of a lickable candy cane, here are our immensely cheerful choices to lift your spirits, from Hublot to G-Shock, with style tips that include G-Star Raw and Nike.Just think twice [...]

Some will remember that, for a period of exactly one year, which is 52 weeks, we published a rather popular column named 52Mondayz. Inherent to its name, after one year, this column came to an end. And although it has been a while since it stopped, we still get positive reactions concerning this feature.Revival of 52MondayzSo we think its a good time to revive 52Mondayz, although, with?a slightly different approach. Was it mainly me writing every Monday which watch I would wear that week, now all of the Fratello authors will take part in the fun. So, I will kick off this week, but next week youll learn about a watch worn by one of our other editors. This way, it will give an even larger spre [...]

Beauty, they say, is only skin deep. That turned out to be the case for the well-received TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph models released last year before a worldwide product recall prompted speculation regarding the performance of the revolutionary Isograph hairspring. Thankfully, the LVMH powerhouse has stepped-up with a tried and tested solution the trusty Caliber 5.Product recalls are a nightmare. It doesnt matter how impressive the launch venue was. No one cares how tasty the canap|s were, or how easily the champagne went down. No, despite what the modern world of luxury sales would have you believe on occasion, the product still matters. It is the king. And the buying public? Well, they ar [...]

The brand responsible for putting the biggest smile on my face recently when it comes to watches is Oris. But there is also a serious side to the brand. For a decade now the brand has been releasing a string of Aquis limited editions inspired by stories and organizations that are connected to taking care of our planets marine and aquatic life. Lets take a closer look at some of the best of these Oris Aquis limited editions.Just let me get back to my smile that was caused by the beautiful Oris Holstein Edition 2020. In my review, I expressed my love for the vintage looks of the Diver Sixty-Five Chronograph. And when it comes to Oris I often tend to focus on its vintage-inspired pieces in the [...]

Only last week, I received this exact question at least three times during a discussion on purchasing a (new) watch.I received this question by email and twice during a discussion in the flesh. In a time where Rolex has issues delivering their goods to the final customers, or at least to fulfil the demand, theres a limitation on what you can buy. But if we include vintage and pre-owned watches, theres still enough to choose from. Were not into paying over retail for anything, so forget about the grey market supply for Rolex. Or douchy ADs who are willing to sell you one for a premium.You Asked Us: What Rolex would you buy?So basically, the question was directed at me. What Rolex I would buy. [...]

Baume Mercier excited us recently with an invitation to Geneva, where we got to see their novelty for the SIHH. Not exactly a new watch, but a new movement. Meet the Baume Mercier caliber Baumatic BM12-1975A. An in-house movement, developed with the help of ValFleurier and the Richemont Groups innovation hub. A certified chronometer movement with 120 hours of power reserve and ensuring anti-magnetism up to 1500 gauss. Lets have a closer look at the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic.Clifton BaumaticYou are probably already familiar with the Baume Mercier Clifton watch. If not, we reviewed it some of the Clifton collection?here?and here. When this watch was introduced 6 years ago, we were qui [...]

Once again, I'll try to swing the spotlight onto what I feel is a secret hidden in plain sight. This series is not based on bargain hunting, as your eyebrows might be raised already. It is simply a personal take on the impossibly narrow algorithms of Instagram and Facebook. Rolex is a perfect example of this. While we lament the impossibility of acquiring a Submariner or even a Tiffany-esque-blue 36mm Oyster Perpetual at its retail price, it is our own fault. Rolex has a substantial catalog of non-Submariner goodness, so dig deeper, and you might find a hidden treasure.Perhaps Rolex could ramp up production of the Submariner, but will it ever? I understand the brand just as much as I questio [...]

Back in June, I wrote an introductory article for the new Breguet Marine models for 2020. Although technically not new models, the three new additions to the collection debuted a full metal bracelet. In my article, I expressed my appreciation for the engineering, the quality, and the finishing of the watches and especially the new bracelets. Fast forward a couple of months, and I had a chance to find out whether the watches and bracelets are as impressive as I had envisioned them being. I had a chance to go hands-on with the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale.Before I started writing this article, I thought about how to make this work. The first thing that came to mind was a photo essay of Berts [...]

Its This Week in Watches for November 24, 2019 and we come to you just before Thanksgiving that fantastic tradition that involves stuffing your face and snoring on the couch.? Lets see if we can help fight indigestion with some watch newsDAEM x Basquiat WatchesBrooklyn-based DAEM Watches sent us news of three new pieces that tie into the works of iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.? The watches will release on December 4th and each feature an work by Basquiat on the dial along with a strap designed to fit the theme of the piece.Theres Undicovered Genius (which incorporates a piece commonly known as Skull), Nows the Time (this pays tribute to a Charlie Parker song of the same name), and Warr [...]

A few days ago, I posted about the new Dutch Rolex Forum. In the mean while, it is on line and running. Although they seem to have had a few technical difficulties, the number of users and posts is growing every day. The RolexForum.nl site is??managed by Peter, Karel and Gerard.For the non-Dutch speakers, there are a lot of alternatives ofcourse. My personal preference is still the German Das Rolex Forum. Here is a list of a few known on line Rolex Forums. If you are into this brand, just give them a visit and decide what you like best ??Das Rolex Forum (www.r-l-x.de) GermanRolexForum.nl (www.rolexforum.nl) DutchThe BJSOnline Rolex Forum (www.network54.com/Forum/380354/)WatchUseek Rolex Fo [...]

The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition for HODINKEE is here with styling that wont disappoint and a movement thats sure to surprise.Well now, its not every day that we cover a new timepiece made in collaboration with another watch magazine, but its rare that something looks as good as the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition for HODINKEE.? Looks arent the only thing at work, though, as this diver contains a style of movement that harkens back to the original 1965 Oris Super, Star and Waterproof pieces head here for our comparison of old and new.? Thats right, theres a manual inside this thoughtful reinterpretation of one of Oriss most popular watches.The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited [...]

It would feel like wearing a real Porsche on your wrist if it were made of steel. The full-titanium case and integrated bracelet seem are robust enough but wear more like your favorite dress watch. Let's dig deeper to discover the charm of the titanium Porsche Design chronograph by IWC.I have a very dear friend with whom I share not only a passion for watches but also for classic cars. Peter is a Porsche Garage owner, chief mechanic, and trusted caretaker of my 1981 911 SC. Anytime I pass by his workshop, I stop for a while and we chat about life, cars, or watches. As Peter wields a wrench as often as I type, I mostly see him with hands blackened by oil and a Casio watch on his wrist. But so [...]

According to my dictionary the meaning of Jumbo is; noun a very large person or thing, adjective very large. There are a number of jumbos out there.To start with the Boeing 747, a wide-body passenger aircraft bears this nickname. If you ever flew over the Atlantic with Lufthansa, KLM or British Airways you probably had the pleasure of travelling in one. It is an intimidatingly large plane that often makes me wonder why have I not paid more attention to physics in high school. I probably would have a glimpse of understanding how can that monstrosity actually go up and stay there. Then you have the jumbotron. A large screen you can usually find in sports arenas-or in Las Vegas. You know, the o [...]

Given the current situation, you could be forgiven for having forgotten what it's like to travel. On the other hand, not flying out on a near-weekly basis, helps remind you where you actually went and when. It was last August that we went to Switzerland for the Geneva Watch Days event. Back then, there were a lot of watches that were still under embargo and the Chopard Alpine Eagle XL is one of those.?The atmosphere at Chopard was amazing and relaxed as we had plenty of time to look at all the novelties. Right next to a well equipped private bar we got a first glimpse of the new Alpine Eagle XL chronograph watches. All three models were available, two in steel, and one in gold and steel.Chop [...]

Inspired by the stopwatches that the manufacturer from Bienne made for timekeeping events, specifically for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and Innsbruck, Omega presents their Seamaster Olympic Games Collection. Five Seamaster Olympic Games watches, in the colors of the Olympic Rings (blue, yellow, black, green and red).Each watch has this domed black and white dial, just like the stopwatches, and a colored ring on the outer white dial. At 6 oclock, the ring is broken by the Olympic rings logo in a mono color. This ring can also be used a a pulse reader, as it has small 20 seconds intervals, enabling the sporty wearer to easily measure and calculate their pulse beats-to-minute. The wordin [...]

2011 is the year of Omegas Seamaster Planet Ocean. Although this company from Bienne also introduced an interesting new Speedmaster Chronograph (more on that one here), their focus is clearly set to the new line up of Seamaster Planet Ocean watches. The introduction of the Seamaster Planet Ocean on Capri (Italy) in May this year, was more than impressive (click here for a?lengthy?report with over 100 images) and just a few days ago, Omega released a new version of their iPhone application with a nice feature of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono.Besides a nice and useful catalogue with Omega watches (divided into Gents and Ladies), news about Omega (watches and events) and videos, there is a [...]

For the watch lovers amongst us who have to wear a suit every (working) day, this might cheer you up:I saw these at the Public Forum at TimeZone.com. I dont know where to get them, but if you do a quick search on eBay or Google, you might get lucky. Have seen a few cufflinks with a working watch inside, but not with this moonphase feature ??Anyway, at least leave the tie bar at home. Unless you drive a bus. ?? [...]

The name Artem comes from the Latin phrase, Ars est celare artem (English: true art conceals the means by which it is achieved). But Artem is also a name from Ancient Greek mythology, generally meaning strong as a bear. That term perfectly captures what Artem stands for with its durable sailcloth straps. A bear is both strong and, as youd imagine, very comfortable before deciding to attack you for trying to cuddle it, that is. The synthetic sailcloth material shares this ethos and takes it further with this latest creation the Artem Loop-less strap. Today, I test this strap on the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and Seamaster Diver 300M to see if the newest generation sets the bar even higher.We [...]