Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Ceramic bezels, new dial colors, etc. A lot of predictions, assumptions, and guesses were made, but Rolex is taking it easy. As always. A new case profile and a new movement for the Rolex Explorer II 226570. What remained are the steel bezel, white black dial options, and 42mm case size.Yesterday I wrote an article about value development on the previous Rolex Explorer II 216570 and 16570 models based on the rumors and (correct) assumptions there would be a new reference. We will find out what the effect is on the market value and demand for the previous models in a few weeks time. Lets first have a look at the new Rolex Explorer II 226570. The update of the Explorer II models is less signi [...]

In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm [...]

We are at the stage where our writers go head-to-head and hope to battle their way through to the semi-finals. At this point, each of our writers has only one watch remaining. Today, we have our last quarter-final that sees a bust-up between Ben and Bert. We need your help to find out who will be one of the four final contenders. Where will your votes fall?Were at the sharp end now. Ben has one watch left, as does Bert. We need you to pick your favorite in this March Mania quarter-final. Following this round, the semi-finals commence this coming Monday, so youve not got long to register your opinion. Go hard or go home. Its time to leave it all on the courtLogin to your Fratello account and [...]

The watch industry is certainly no stranger to dichotomy. A solid gold dive watch. A million-dollar, mud-resistant survival watch. And new from Roger Dubuis, a minute repeater in a case that can only be described as the Knights of the Round Tablein space.None can best Roger Dubuis's commitment to traditional craft within complex constructions, but it wasn't always this way.Roger Dubuis HistoryRoger Dubuis laid the foundations for his namesake brand in the mid-nineties. Surprisingly, as the classic, round, Bi-retrograde timepieces could easily be confused as hailing from the forties. 2005's Excalibur was a dramatic departure that would later shape the format for Roger Dubuis's contemporary cr [...]

60th Anniversary2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox. Reason to celebrate with the Master Memovox Boutique Edition, limited to 500 pieces only. These 500 pieces have a blue rich dial with beautiful thick applied hour markers, inspired by their 1970s Memovox watches.Jeager-LeCoultre Caliber 815In 1956, JLC used the self-winding caliber 815 to power the Memovox watches of that time. This new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox Boutique Edition is equipped with JLC caliber 956, a direct descendent of the original caliber 815. This movement requires two crows, as you can see. One to set and correct time, the other crown to wind the spring that powers the a [...]

In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm [...]

Way before the Speedmaster, my very first Omega chronograph was a caliber 1040. It was the gold-plated Seamaster ref. 176.005, the watch that many call the Jedi. Well, it is neither a Jedi nor a flat Jedi, but thats a story for another day. That Seamaster was the watch that spawned my interest in 1970s Omega chronographs. Many years and a good few purchases later, last year, I landed this Flightmaster 910. What happened before and since then is what this article is about.Dont worry; it will not be a sentimental ode. To be honest, I just needed a catchy title. Yet, one thing is for sure Im pleasantly surprised by how much I love this watch. When I take it out of the box, it wont leave my wris [...]

I wasnt going to do this. My ego tells me Nacho asked me to write my entry in this series some time ago and that I politely declined due to general busyness. However, as time passed, I became more and more jealous of my colleagues having fun with this devilish exercise. So I slunk back to our Managing Editor, tail between my legs, and asked even more politely if I could also get in on the action. Three-piece watch collection for 10,000, here I come.Ive currently got COVID. I picked it up on one of my frequent travels for Fratello. Despite being sick with the plague, I havent taken a day off work yet. In fact, because I could do little else, I worked through the weekend. Mostly, I was grindin [...]

This years presentation of the new A. Lange Sohne timepieces in Geneva was very interesting. Seven new timepieces have been introduced, including an A. Lange Sohne Grande Complication. However, one of the watches that surprised me most is this Grand Lange 1 Lumen or reference 117.035.My initial thought was: this is not a Lange. Yes, it has the typical Lange 1 case and dial lay-out, but the use of luminous material (hence the name Lumen) for the Roman numerals, hour markers, hands and the power reserve indicator (Auf Ab) set me on the wrong path at first.Normally, I associate these heavily lumed timepieces to sports watches. Effective use of luminous material on a diving watch or a chronog [...]

Once in a while we are being confronted with the scum of the Earth who steal other peoples stuff. In the worst case scenario, with violence. On the 5th of July one of our friends was robbed during a watch trade in Amsterdam. It concerns the following watch:Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 5726/1ASerial number: 5686847 / 4587076Reference number: 5726 / 1A 010Dial number: H900.936.THNT1If you come across this watch or know more about it, please contact the Watches and Art blog. A $5000 reward is there for the one who is able to get this watch back to its rightful owner.Photo shown above is not the actual watch but a similar watch. Please refer to the link above to see pictures of the actual [...]

In today's video, RJ gets a taste of the incredible horological craftsmanship of A. Lange Sohne. The Glashutte brand is known for its incredible creations, and the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold Homage to F. A. Lange is no exception. It features finishing, materials, and craftsmanship that reaches the highest level of traditional watchmaking.A. Lange Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold Homage to F. A. LangeYou might remember the A. Lange Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold Homage to F. A. Lange from when Jorg wrote about it in his grail-watch article. And this is just the kind of watch you think of when thinking of a grail. It's not just an absolutely stunning chronograph, but it's also a pricey nu [...]

Its been two weeks since you were last graced by the presence of Wrist Game or Crying Shame. Welcome back and, this week, we let out the animal with the Rolex Daytona Leopard. Before we bare our claws, thoughTwo weeks back, while in sunny South Florida, I actually showed you a German watch. I chose an early Sinn 103 St with tritium dial and 85% of you gave it a firm, Jawohl On account of that success, lets hope that Sinn brings back such a reverse panda stunner. Todays pick may not qualify as stunning, but more as shocking. The Rolex Daytona Leopard is here and its ready to go for your throat and your wallet.The Rolex Daytona LeopardWhen we think of the Rolex Daytona, a relatively straightf [...]

Following the cancellation of the Geneva Automotive Salon and Breitling Summit, during which Breitling had planned to launch the new Breitling for Bentley Premier Mulliner Limited Edition, a new communication strategy was quickly put in place. Unusually, it had nothing to do with the communications department of the brand.You can say what you like about Georges Kern, but since hes come on board, Breitling has been nothing short of dynamic. That personally-driven dynamism continued as the effervescent CEO leaked news of his brands latest release via his personal Instagram account. This follows the pattern of the Breitling 765 AVI 1953 Re-edition?announcement. Although it may cause a serious h [...]

You might have already seen the in-depth article on my Day-Date 18238 (if not, you can find it here), but we also decided to highlight this beautiful gold Rolex President in a video. The Day-Date is one of the most recognizable watches in the world, and perhaps a bit of a safe, and therefore the boring choice for a watch. But, buying a nice Rolex Day-Date is not as easy as you expect, there are several things you need to consider when youre on the hunt for one.Ive been eying a Rolex Day-Date for a long time, but only in recent times (meaning recent years) did I feel I was ready for one. As I joked in the video, I needed to have a few grey hairs first, to make it feel right. But just recently [...]

On the 24th and 25th of May, I was invited by A. Lange S?hne to join the prestigious Concorso dEleganza Villa dEste 2014. This prestigious event finds its roots in 1929 and with some pauses since the 1950s, the Concorso was revived again since 1995. The event at the Grand Hotel Villa dEste was only for participants, media and invited guests while the Concours of Historic Cars is open to the public on Sunday (25th of May) in the park of the Villa Erba.Over 50 beautiful classic cars were present, from the 1920s to the early 1980s. Furthermore, around a dozen of concept cars and prototypes were present during these days. Sponsored by BMW, A. Lange S?hne and some other partners, it had all the [...]

You might have a permanent headache realizing you didnt pull the trigger on that Rolex GMT-Master or Submariner ten years ago. You know what the problem is with my dearest Longines 5699? That I was basically 25 years late to the partyThe last online listing for a Longines ref. 5699 that I bothered to inquire about was about three years ago. I remember it very precisely, as it were yesterday. I studied the Longines 5699 in more detail and instantly fell in love with it. Being slightly naive, I sent the seller an email asking the price for which hed part with the watch. The Longines you inquired about is a truly rare and special beast. The price is 95,000. I passed out. I dont think I even man [...]

Yesterday, Omega announced its new Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th anniversary watch (click here). The third Speedmaster with the Snoopy theme and the 4th watch commemorating the Apollo 13 mission.I am lucky enough to own the first two Speedmaster Snoopy watches (2003 and 2015) and the Apollo 13 watch from 1995. But, thats not a reason to blindly buy the next one as well. I need to like no, love a watch before I spend that much money on one. Perhaps it would be different if I had unlimited financial resources, but I dont. I need to make choices. Spoiler alert, though: I did order the new Snoopy. The first deliveries will take place in November, weve been informed.Without further ado, le [...]

Do you know Toby Young's book How To Lose Friends And Alienate People? And if you don't, you might have seen the movie with the same title, starring Simon Pegg as Toby and Megan Fox as the woman he so desperately wants. Toby is the most obnoxious man ever. He's rude and vulgar and rubs everyone the wrong way. And you know, sometimes watch brands act just like Toby. So, what do watch brands do to turn you off? Let us help you answer that question with a few issues we have ourselves.To be honest, we don't know the exact watch-brand equivalent of Toby Young. Let us quickly tell you the story of the high-flying British journalist that left London in 1995 for New York to become a contributing edi [...]

If you're a fan of baseball, then you probably just finished watching the World Series (Congrats, Nats!).? And while the Chicago Cubs weren't in the hunt at the end of this season, they're a highly competitive team with a rabid fan base. ?In the spirit of America's pastime and related to the Cubbies, let's take a look at a neat story, the story of Ron Santo's Rolex President and the watch's current owner, Sean Madigan.I've mentioned it before that we receive a lot of email here at Fratello and it was one such day that Robert-Jan forwarded a message that served as the inspiration for today's story about Ron Santo's Rolex President.? Now, if you're European C and the last time I checked, Robe [...]

During the summer, I went hands-on with three variations of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar in pink gold. To say I was a bit spellbound would be an understatement. Of all the watches that have come my way this year, the full gold Overseas was my favorite. But like any sin, it comes at a price. Which is why this week, I am selecting four classic Vacheron Constantin watches that inspire the modern collection.VC may well be best known for its art deco and opulent collection of classic timepieces. In an age that generally requires strict trend conformity, Vacheron Constantin steadfastly believes in its traditional watchmaking and design. You don't survive 265 years of continu [...]