Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

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 [...]

Today would be the birthday of Steve McQueen (24th of March), him being an avid Rolex wearer, I though it might be a good day to write about one of the new introductions based on an all time classic sports watch. The Rolex Explorer.Perhaps the classic Rolex sports watch of all times is the Explorer (or Explorer I, as it is sometimes referred to). Even James Bond wears an Explorer in the original books by Ian Flemming. The first Explorer models (1953) are quite similar to the current model, although it has ? of course been updated through time to keep up with modern requirements of the consumer. However, what didnt change was the diameter of 36 mm.Now, in 2010, Rolex introduces the 39mm vers [...]

is what I often like to say to my fellow watch friends when they start again asking the same silly questions about Cartier.It was 1983 or 1984 when I bought my first real watch; the Cartier Santos. That was, of course, the square watch in steel with yellow gold lunette and steel bracelet with yellow gold screws. It was hot like hell and became the most copied watch. It was also that watch that made me interested in the history of the brand since the dealer told me that the design was inspired by the first men's wristwatch, launched by Cartier in 1904. So you can imagine that it did not take long before I became obsessed with watches in general, especially with Cartier.Cartier Watches From Co [...]

Omega RailmasterWait a second, the Omega Railmaster is far too new to be featured on TBT Well, for sure, the discontinued watch from Omega?is not so far removed from our mindscape, but it is gone. I had a recent visit from family and my Dad, who is seemingly a master in finding overlooked but worthwhile objects, wore a 39mm (39.2mm but who's counting?) ref. 2503.52.00 version during most of the visit. I noticed it because, well, I notice the watch on anyone and everyone's wrist and I thought, damn, that is one seriously good looking piece that deserves a longer, more reflective view. It simply one of those watches that just feels so right. So, here we are and here you go the Omega Railm [...]

When you have around 1000 Euro to spend on a watch, you can go Japanese with Seiko or Citizen, you can find your way in the numerous Kickstarter projects or microbrands, but is there also still something from the established Swiss brands for you?Longines HydroConquestWhy talk about a watch that has been on the market for 10 years? Well, some times a watch is interesting enough to give it some (new) coverage for a couple of reasons. One is that this watch has become so well-known and a best seller from Longines, we want to know see ?why. In this case, we thought it would be interesting to focus on this watch due to its interesting price point (for such a large Swiss brand) and see what it ha [...]

If youve been paying attention since 2017, you might have noticed that Omega has been up to something. Every first (Speedy) Tuesday of the year, the brand has released either a new Speedmaster or something Speedmaster-related, like the caliber 321 re-introduction in 2019. This year, the 65th anniversary of the legendary chronograph brings us the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 in Canopus Gold, reference 311.50.39.30.01.001.I am very proud and honored to be able to go hands-on with this new Speedmaster Calibre 321. Its an incredible reproduction of the first Speedmaster CK2915, but in Omega's own white gold alloy, Canopus Gold. As the name suggests, it features the beloved 321 chronograph movem [...]

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 [...]

I try not to complain too much about my job (because that would be pretty ridiculous), but when our newly minted Managing Editor asked me to pick my Top 5 watches released in 2021, I felt obliged to whine a little bit given my unusually hands-on involvement with a trio of releases this yearSo I cant put the Czapek in there?Well, maybe an honorable mentionNo Minase either?Rob, its too transparentCome on, man. Youve gotta let me put the NOMOS on the list.No. Not a chance. Pick someone elses watches, for goodness sake.Alright, Nacho. Youll get your way this time, because Im in an uncommonly?good mood, but dont expect me to be so forgiving next year. For any of you reading Fratello for the first [...]

Today we'll kick off what I think (and hope) will become a fixture on Fratello Watches called This Week in Watches. For those of you who follow baseball, perhaps you grew up watching something on TV with a similar name but focused on baseball. Well, we won't have the San Diego Chicken here and the Wizard of Oz won't be doing any backflips, but what I aim for is a loose recap of what's gone on during the week. I (or perhaps my colleagues may jump in as well) won't cover everything, but we'll try to hit the high and low points along with other random findings that we come across as the week progresses. As for publishing, we'll shoot for later Friday (Central Europe time), but the weekend m [...]

You might remember the Bukowskis watch auction from October last year, where two Speedmaster CK2915 watches were auctioned. One of them fetched the world record price for the Speedmaster,?$275,508 US dollars. This Speedmaster CK2915-1 from June 1958, was actually a very early model and had the correct?7077/6 bracelet as well. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the Speedmaster, which Omega celebrated extensively (including the introduction of a 60th anniversary model of their Speedmaster). But what would be the best thing to buy in the 60th birth year of the Speedmaster? Right, a CK2915 watch.The buyer of the Speedmaster CK2915-1 watch from Bukowskis contacted us and was happy to answer [...]

Today I have something out of my usual comfort zone in front of me A Panerai PAM01164. Im pretty happy to admit that usually, Im not much of a fan of gold, and there are not many modern watches Id specifically choose to purchase or wear in gold, be that yellow gold, red gold, or even white gold. Im a stainless steel guy who would consider dabbling in titanium, but thats about it.Nonetheless, I have this red gold Panerai Submersible to take a look at today, so lets do just that Say hello to the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso, reference PAM01164, an updated version of the PAM00684, which was, for all intents and purposes, the same watch but with an inferior water-r [...]

When Grand Seiko was re-introduced in 1988, their first models had quartz movements. Then, in 1998, Grand Seiko introduced the 9S calibre movement. The first two mechanical calibres for Grand Seiko that were introduced in 1998 were their calibre 9S51 and 9S55. The latter might sound familiar to you if you are into Seiko watches, as it was the base calibre for the 8L35(b) movements used in the Marinemaster series for example. These first two Grand Seiko movements were regulated to perform well within chronometer standards and had a power reserve of 50 hours. Since then, the 9S calibre movements have improved by (a.o.) using innovative materials (resulting in an accuracy of -5/+3 seconds a day [...]

And all of a sudden, 2021 is done. In case you're wondering what happened from a horological perspective, I tried to reconstruct the year in about 1,500 words what struck me, stayed with me, and what have I learned in the last year. And thats important, if you ask me, because it's easy to look back at what happened, but learning from the past to understand the present and the future is the hard part. So let's have a look at Watch Year 2021 in retrospect, and check the lessons learned that will help us cope with the horological future.Numbers don't lie. The most popular (most-read) stories of 2021 with you, our beloved readers, were about Rolex, Seiko, and the Omega Speedmaster, of course. Th [...]

Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at the Omega Seamaster Bullhead, a kooky chronograph from one of our favorite brands. But firstLast week, we went double pusher with the Oris Chronoris 2005 Replica Edition. This rather lovely symmetrical chrono walked away with a startling 80% Wrist Game win. This week, we keep things extremely uniform with the Omega Seamaster Bullhead. Now, it was apparently one Winston Churchill who stated that, if you cant dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull. On that note, lets see just see how brilliant this Bullhead is!Omega Seamaster Bullhead Chronograph from 1969 from the Omega Museums collectionThe Omega Seamaster BullheadIt was way back [...]

You probably know Hamilton for their affordable yet very interesting mechanical timepieces. We visited them yesterday and they showed us their masterpiece watch for Baselworld 2013, the Hamilton Jazzmaster Face 2 Face. A very cool oval shaped timepiece that you can reverse. This means that you can turn the watch around by this clever mechanism that Hamilton came up with. On the one side, this watch is a chronograph and on the other side it is a time-only watch. The price of the watch is almost very un-Hamilton-ish, but lets zoom in first at this piece before we get to the pricing.In both cases, you are able to see one of the two mechanical movements. The movements are the ETA2094 for the chr [...]

Earlier this year, Seiko announced a new spring drive movement intended to mark a new beginning for the brand. And with this new Spring Drive caliber is a great way to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Time to have a closer look at the Spring Drive 9RA5.Grand Seiko was born from a simple and ambitious aim, simply to create the best watches possible. With a small selection of Seiko's top watchmakers put to work in the late 50s, the first Grand Seiko was launched in December 1960. With numerology being very important, in Japan, the number 60 marks a moment of new energy and rebirth.Grand Seiko 60th AnniversaryAmong a selection of special edition watches celebrating this milestone, the brands m [...]

The montre de souscription, or subscription watch, presented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1796, was not only a pocket watch but also a brilliant conceptual idea. Produced upon registration and fitted with a robust, relatively easy-to-manufacture movement, this pocket watch responded perfectly to the capricious market during post-revolutionary times. And the Breguet Tradition 7097 Automatique Seconde R trograde I wore on my wrist is reminiscent of those turbulent times. This watch is like a mechanical costume drama and an action movie combined.The stage is Paris. Of course, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) was Swiss. He was, after all, born in Neuchatel. But his parents were French refugees, [...]

The Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary is here, and I am convinced this was not what you expected A beautiful mechanical animation on the case back and powered by the caliber 3861.Meanwhile, our hands-on review of this new Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award can be found here.Here it is, the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Annniversary. Finally, I might add, as we've been waiting for it for months. There was no Baselworld or Time to Move this year, so Omega decided to spread the introductions of their new watches over the year. October 5 marks the date on which Omega received the Silver Snoopy Award from the Apollo 13 crew in 1970. So, there's no date that's more spot on to in [...]

In watchmaking, while color isnt everything, it is certainly enough of a thing to make or break a design or to establish a connection with a brand partner, collaborator, or good cause for whom a watch stands for. Although the heroes of Air Zermatt the Swiss beauty spots mountain rescue team fly a red helicopter, Hamilton chose to draw inspiration for the degrad sub-dials see on this special version of the Hamilton Khaki Aviation Converter from the crack teams logo.As you might have noticed, Im quite a fan of green and orange, but Im not averse to a bit of blue and red either In fact, for a decidedly average-looking man, I have a surprisingly colorful wardrobe. Im not afraid to draw attentio [...]

Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen unveiled his third watch, made by?TAG Heuer. The?TAG Heuer Formula One Max Verstappen Special Edition 2018 was presented during an exclusive event at the Hotel Arena in Amsterdam.TAG Heuer launches a new special-edition watch designed by Max VerstappenThe 2018 Max Verstappen Tag Heuer on my wrist during the event in Hotel Arena in AmsterdamThe new special edition timepiece is limited to 1.300 pieces, and as said, was designed by the racer himself. Rumour goes that all 1.300 pieces have been sold instantly.?After the launch of two successful special editions in 2016 (we covered that one here) and 2017 (and this one here), TAG Heuer decided to continue t [...]