Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Last time in Watch Spotting, we looked at the Seiko SKX009 in All is Lost, or SKX175 for our US readers. This time I am exploring the wrist game in Gone Girl with the Rolex Pepsi GMT-Master II sported by Ben Affleck. Most movies set in the modern-day real-world feature watches in some form. But in this column, I select films where the choice of wristwatch plays into the narrative. I also immerse myself in how the chosen character may have attained their timepiece.Gone Girl was the last theatrical release, at the time of writing, by David Fincher. If you are not sure who David Fincher is, you may be more familiar with the titles he has directed: Fight Club, Se7en, The Social Network, and The [...]

In this week's TBT, we take a look at an absolute classic, but one that's decidedly niche in its execution: the Breitling 809 Cosmonaute. The Cosmonaute is certainly one of the brand's better known models, but that's likely due to its familial resemblance to one Breitling's most famous creations: the Navitimer. Today, we'll explore the model, its significance and, of course, I'll prattle on a bit, but this time about why instant gratification is such a rare and beautiful thing. T-minus 3 2 1 it's TBT time on Fratello Watches!The Breitling 809 Cosmonaute head onI found the Breitling 809 Cosmonaute by accidentAs promised, let's start with a ramble because I think it helps demonstrate what ca [...]

We say Cartier and you will probably say Tank. The Tank is a watch that has been in Cartiers collection since 1919 and designed by Louis Cartier (hence the LC). The prototype was already built in 1917, but the model was marketed two years later.Pictured below is a LC Tank that dates back to 1998, in platinum and with a very flat F. Piguet movement? (Cartiers 021MC caliber). This watch measures 33.5 x 25.5mm.Photo by Geo, www.troisanneaux.comInspired by the armored Renault tank (1917), the Cartier Tank watch was given to General John Pershing, who served in Europe during the first World War. If you take a close look at the Tank watch, it looks like the horizontal section of an armored tank.Th [...]

Besides his work as interior and furniture designer, Robert Lighton also created a few wrist watches by the names of Hudson, Empire, San Remo, Algonquin and a few more. Mechanical watches with stainless steel, sterling silver or gold cases, most of them with an ETA (mechanical) movement. A few years back these babies sold for over 2600 USD, but you can get them now for as low as 695 USD Robert Lighton New York is having a close out sale, and if I may say so, you really will have a bargain when buying one of these original beauties. Below, a stainless steel Empire model is pictured.My mother has been wearing her Hudson in sterling silver for over years now, and the cushion shaped case of the [...]

Breitling: Instruments for Professionals. Many watch enthusiasts will be more than familiar with this slogan, and I would be willing to bet we all could rattle off a few of Breitling's most famous models. Let's be real C who among us has not heard of the scuba-ready SuperOcean or the legendary aviation chronograph, the Navitimer? Some of us may not realize though just how important Breitling has been to the watch industry throughout its illustrious history.Unfortunately, a truly comprehensive review of the brand and all of its models is beyond the scope of this article. We do hope, however, that this two-part overview will highlight the most important moments in Breitling's history, and hel [...]

There are often stories about watches that make us frown upon a bit. Is it a real story? Is there any provenance to back this up? A watch that has been handed down or has been sold 10 times already in its life time, often raises these kind of questions. Not with the Rolex 6238 we have on Fratello today. We love first owner stories for sure, even when it means the watch has been serviced (as it should) and might contain some original replacement parts. A watch that has not fallen into the hands of dealers or auction houses, where some parts might have been curated to make it an attractive looking watch. None of that in the case of this honest 1968 Rolex 6238 that belongs to one of our reade [...]

Every Friday I write an article for the website of USAs best read watch magazine, WatchTime. Yesterdays article is about my personal Top 5 of rectangular watches.Rectangular watches do not seem to be my style. In all the years of watch collecting, Ive only had a few in my modest collection of watches and most of the time sold them quickly again. I also was able to borrow a few pieces, such as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso 1931 you can see above (and which we reviewed here) but perhaps too short to start a long lasting relationship with it.It is not that I dislike their looks, I actually love the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso collection for example. But somehow I cant get used to look at a r [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week, we focus on what I'd call an overshadowed watch. The Rolex Datejust 18K is here. But first?Last week, we looked at the TAG Heuer Carrera Telemeter from back in 2015. I mentioned that this watch kicked off a series of glass box pieces, but was a bit of an oddity styling-wise. You didn't seem to care at all, though, because this watch rolled to an 83% Wrist Game triumph. We switch things up in a big way today, though, with a look at the Rolex Datejust 18K.The Datejust 18K has internal competitionAt times, there are products that are simply so powerful that they leave no room for competition. It's even more surprising when the power is so g [...]

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 [...]

Sell crazy someplace else, were all stocked up here. says Melvin Udall, Jack Nicholson's character in the movie As Good as it Gets.The Heuer Autavia sold at Phillips for 75,000 CHF (photo credit: www.phillips.com)The line above could easily explain the current market for vintage chronographs. As I sat down on the couch with, fittingly, a glass of champagne (this was pure happenstance as we had a friend in town I normally prefer my bubbly to consist of malted hops and barley) one evening in mid-May, I decided to tune into the Phillips Stop-Start-Reset auction featuring 88 vintage stainless steel chronographs. I watched a number of pieces sell at very strong prices, but it wasn't until the [...]

At Fratello we all have a thing for vintage so its always a pleasure to see watch brands introducing vintage inspired models. Weve mentioned it earlier and now well have a closer look at the?Oris ChronOris Date that was introduced during Baselworld this year.Oris ChronOris Date, an icon returnsSo after almost 50 years the?Oris ChronOris Date returns. First introduced in 1970, the ChronOris watch was the first stop-seconds chronograph for the brans. Its name is derived from the words chronograph and the brand name. The original watch came with the typical 70s case design as seen on many watches from that era. With a pusher and two crowns the watch is a bit different from the re-launched versi [...]

This episode we finally set the Speedmaster?watch in the spotlight of the Watches Pencils feature. In particular, we zoom in on the first Speedmaster which has passed the NASA tests: the Omega Speedmaster with reference number 105.003. Also known as the Ed White Speedmaster. Later on more about the NASA?tests:Form and Function Hand in HandThe thing that?really fascinates me about this watch is that there is such a harmony between form and function. The fundamentals of the Speedmaster are rock solid from the beginning; While the watch passed all the NASA tests, it was never designed especially for the tests. Before the 105.003 the watch was simply a commercial watch like any other. A sports [...]

We selected three interesting watches from recent Catawiki auctions: an IWC Mark XII, a Longines Legend Diver and a Rolex GMT-Master II.As always, let me start by saying that before you bid on a watch, you should have done your homework. Especially when it concerns vintage watches. Some brands can help you identifying them, but most of the time it might take some more effort. From this weeks brands for example, Longines is known to have a great museum and archive that can help you to authenticate a watch. IWC has a small museum in Schaffhausen and should be able to give you some help as well. With Rolex, it will be difficult to get some official help from their offices in Geneva, but there i [...]

I have a weak spot for gold Speedmaster watches. According to some, a Speedmaster doesnt belong in gold, its a tool watch after all. However, I find precious metal a great way to celebrate one of the most iconic chronographs in the world.My first encounter with a gold Speedmaster was in 1999 or so, as my watchmaker had one of the original BA145.022-69 watches. The gold Speedmaster from 1969 was presented to the Apollo astronauts and officials of the White House. We all know the story (if not, click here). Omega made 1,014 of them in total. In 2019, for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XI mission, Omega introduced 1,014 pieces of the Speedmaster Professional in Moonshine gold.The gold non-l [...]

This week in Pre-Owned Picks, I am selecting watches from Patek Philippe in steel cases that could be yours for under 9,000. Yes, a four-digit steel Patek is a steal. But you will not find an Aquanaut or Nautilus at that price. Sorry But that's not to say the choice is restricted to quartz pieces for ladies. You may find something quite fascinating in the line-up.For a brand as prestigious as Patek Philippe, the common case material is gold. Patek elects to use the more alluring precious metals to complement the elegant case designs and delicate movements. Casting a case in stainless steel is almost an affront to the Swiss forefathers. As such, the steel Patek has become a rarified oddity re [...]

I fully realize that my taste in watches is not what you could call traditional by any stretch. I adore the likes of URWERK. I love bold black and bright yellow color schemes. And I cant get enough of the liberal use of alternative materials in watchmaking (think carbon fiber composites!). Thats not very classic, yet I do have a healthy respect for timeless classicism in watch collecting.Being a part of the Fratello team, I, of course, have a strong appreciation for the Omega Speedmaster and its historical journey to the stars. I may not own a Speedy just yet, but thats only because Im taking some time to find the right one. There are many other staple watches that many of our kind covet and [...]

I like to keep things simple. I know theres a skeletonized dial version of the Zenith Defy Classic, yet I prefer the reference with this beautiful blue dial. It doesnt distract that much from the beautiful case design and its combination of brushed and polished finishing.Zenith is that sympathetic brand from Le Locle, where Berti and I went to a few years ago to have a look inside the manufacture. You can find our report here (with lots of images). Ever since (and before), a Zenith is high on my list, but I always only considered to buy one of the El Primero models. Like the colourful Rainbow Flyback Chronograph from the 1990s. Does this new Defy Classic change my wishes for a Zenith? Lets h [...]

Member *2112 of WatchUseek and ofcourse owner of the great dedicated Sinn 142 (I am wearing my 142St.S today!) website shows off his collection A nice variety of watches he has here, vintage and new Almost every watches (except for the Sinn 142 maybe) reflects a great balance between design and functionality. *2112 writes he getting rid of the AquaTimer soon.. Too bad, because it definately makes a statement in his collection! [...]

Last weekend, on July 10th, it was three years ago that we together with Omega introduced the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman, or ST2. In this article, I look back on that special day, and on the Speedmaster ST2.ST1 and ST2 side-by-sideSpeedy Tuesday UltramanA few months after the successful launch of the first Speedy Tuesday, the Tribute to Alaska III (or ST1), we had another idea for a special Speedmaster watch. The idea was for a watch that should be a nod to the rare Speedmaster Ultraman, which is basically a standard Speedmaster Professional 145.012 with an orange chronograph second hand. A lot of extras were added to the Speedy Tuesday Ultraman, including a luminous silhouette of U [...]

As the name predicts, this watch is waterresistant till 1000 meters below the surface. It is the chronograph version of the U-series by Sinn. Made out of u-boat (submariner) steel. The S version, has a black coating added to the u-boat steel.This watch has a mechanical automatic chronograph movement, Sinn caliber SZ 02 (basis caliber 7750 by ETA/Valjoux). The watch has a diameter of 44mm and has a 18mm thick case. It weighs 135 grams. A large and heavy watch for the professionl diver The watch comes with either a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet. The full list with specifications is available at the Sinn website, click here.At WatchUseek a wrist test has been posted by Dimitris, cl [...]