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In this Sunday morning column, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. Omega steps up to the plate with the too-often ignored Railmaster. On the mound, pitching as if its life depended on it is the scientists darling, the Rolex Milgauss. This week its Jorg Vs. Ben. Let battle commence!Sunday Morning Showdown is a fluid concept. Sometimes our editors clash on opinions of a [...]
For most horological aficionados, visiting their favorite manufacture is a necessary pilgrimage along the path. Ive had the privilege to visit a few in my time, however living halfway around the world makes this a bit more of an expedition than is convenient. However, on my last assignment to Switzerland, I happened to have a free day, and the folks at Jaeger-LeCoultre were extremely accommodatingEnjoy the photo essay its more of a story of how a watch is made, and a slight deviation from normal programming here at Fratellowatches, but I think youll find it interesting all the same.Images shot with an Olympus OM-D and Panasonic 20/1.7 and 45/2.8 macro lenses. Each image can be clicked on fo [...]
Today on TBT we'll take a look at a Rolex that has flown below the radar for some time. It's a watch with sporting intensions, but it's not considered as a sports watch per se. Despite this, the Rolex 1625 Turn-o-Graph was actually issued to pilots in one of its earlier guises and features a toolish rotating bezel. Oh, and if you haven't figured it out yet, this Rolex just happens to come in gold.Let's get into a little bit of history (for more, head here to this more extensive article). The original Turn-o-Graph was introduced in 1953 and the 6202 that appeared looked an awful lot like the Submariner that was still to come. It featured a black inlay rotating bezel and was offered with eith [...]
In this Sunday morning column, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can.Here's something a little different for you, dear readers. Previously, in Sunday Morning Showdown, two writers have adopted polarized positions on a single watch. Today, we're taking that idea and messing with it. Instead of one writer rating, while the other spends their time hating, we've picked one f [...]
Longines Conquest 1972 is a truly symbolic watch that stands out on so many levels.Oversized pre-1950s Longines dials have always fascinated me with their simple beauty. They might seem generic to an indifferent eye, but a trained collector can recognize them in a heartbeat. However, Im not quite as enthusiastic about the bulky and over-stylized indexes that you can find on some mid-fifties Longines models. Namely on the Longines Conquest, that in 1954 started a new model naming product strategy.My conquest conquered meTo keep the story short, let's fast forward two decades ahead when Longines introduced the Conquest 1972 Munich. It was a watch to celebrate their achievement in becoming the [...]
An exhibition spanning five floors, covering just one watch model is not something every watch brand can pull off. But Jaeger-LeCoultre can, thanks to its Reverso. The Reverso: Timeless Stories Since 1931 exhibition in Paris is proof. That's why I traveled to Paris to see how Jaeger-LeCoultre puts its past and present Reverso watches on display.This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates 90 years of the Reverso. The watch that is named after the ninetieth birthday is the Tribute Nonanti�� me, but to capture nine decades of Reverso in one watch is impossible. That's why the brand decided to put together a grandiose exhibition at one of Paris' most prestigious locations, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Ho [...]
In our double-talk, two of our editors share their bold opinions on just one watch. This week Karina and Robert-Jan discuss the new Omega release the 40mm Yellow Gold De Ville Tr sor.Although Omega is well-known especially for its sports watches like Seamaster Diver 300M or Speedmaster, its more elegant lines De Ville and Constellation are as significant as the ones mentioned before. Largely due to the remarkable stories of both lines and simply awesome designs. However, today let's have a closer look at the novelty from the De Ville Tr sor line.?The De Ville Tr sor CollectionThe Tr sor watches were launched originally in 1949 and housed Omega's famous 30mm caliber. In 2014, Omega decided to [...]
These days, watch purists love to hate the date. Well, the date window, that is. It breaks the symmetry of the design, they say. Its an eyesore, they claim. And of course, If I need to know the date, I can just check my phone. Now, I cant say these sentiments are totally invalid. As someone with a variety of watches and a smartphone, there are days when a clean, dateless watch is exactly what I want. But imagine you lived a hundred years ago. Youre in a sticky situation, with no calendar, no newspaper, and no human nearby to ask, and you urgently need to know the date. With nothing at hand but your only timepiece, you think, Golly, the date on my wristwatch would sure be the bees knees!Unfor [...]
When Michael wrote his article on the 1962 RADO Captain Cook, I was intrigued. However, I am not that much a fan of buying vintage divers so I was happily surprised when Rado introduced its new Captain Cook in 2017.A vintage diver surely is charming, but I like to wear my watches on daily basis. You can wear a vintage diver every day of course, but Ive had some nasty experiences with lengthy repair processes and unavailability of spare parts. Enter the new RADO Captain Cook. My most favorite edition is the steel one with the green bezel and dial on a beads-of-rice bracelet (thats why we carry it in our shop), but the new bronze cased Captain Cook is very interesting as well.Captain Cook Auto [...]
A couple of months ago, Robert-Jan had the opportunity to give an overview of the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black collection. The watches are an interesting move from Omega as they were introduced outside of Basel and the debut actually occurred in New York. Theres no doubt that it has made waves.? We received a lot of traffic on the article and while most found the watches attractive, most wanted to see them in the metal umm, ceramic as it were before rendering judgment. I was of similar opinion, so when I found out that the collection was on a roadshow across the European Omega boutiques, I jumped at the chance to see them in Frankfurt. While my pictures won't get you any c [...]
Earlier this year I shortly briefed you about the new Longines Spirit Chronograph. In this article, we go hands-on with the 42mm Spirit Chronograph with silver dial and leather strap, my favorite of the collection.The new Longines Spirit Chronograph is part of the Sport collection. That surprised me a little bit, but it is indeed a sports watch. I have selected the 42mm version on a leather strap. Although I like the quality of the stainless steel bracelets of the Spirit collection, the leather strap gives it a bit more of a vintage look. Its a very personal choice, of course, and I can imagine there are many of you out there that prefer a bracelet. Without further ado, lets have a closer lo [...]
Remember our previous article on the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One by our contributor Angus Davies? Earlier this year, during BaselWorld, we got?acquainted with the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One H Tourbillon in titanium. Limited to 100 pieces only.L.U.C. Engine One H TourbillonThe L.U.C. collection of Chopard is as you probably know already their most prestigious selection of watches that are being manufactured in their Chopard facility in Fleurier, Switzerland.The Chopard L.U.C. Engine One H Tourbillon has more or less the same appearance as the previous discussed Engine One Tourbillon, but with a different shaped case. Clearly influenced by racing cars, the dial had a number of red accents and t [...]
The 2022 Rolex Novelties are here For many watch fans, this announcement is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Aside from the reality that none of these watches will be easy to obtain at retail (or from your retailer), its still fun to look and see which prognostications were realized. Hint: none of them!Ill admit that I put very little thought into predicting the 2022 Rolex novelties. Im always wrong, and I definitely would have been this year Still, there are some relatively interesting updates here. I say, relatively, because its foolish to think that Rolex is going to surprise with something wildly outlandish. Slow and steady wins the race with this goliath, but there was on [...]
True Story. On an evening at the beginning of 2018, I was sitting on the couch at home after a full day of being a watch journalist. The doorbell rang and my wife opened the door for one of my best friends. He entered our living room and the first thing he noticed was the watch I was wearing. The conversation went a little like this:-HeyHey-What is that on your wrist? (my wife starts to sigh at this point)Cool eh? It just came in today, it is the first Omega Constellation Manhattan' from 1982 in bi-colour. I have been looking for one like this for ages, and now I found one complete with box and papers. (my wife leaves the living room)For a moment, he just stared at me and I thought he was ju [...]
On April 18th 1891, a train crash in?Kipton, Ohio took the lives of 11 people?and was caused by railroad engineers watches not being in sync (4 minutes difference). This accident led to new strict standars for railroad watches in 1893. Where todays trains are controlled by high-tech systems using GPS, in those days the network heavily relied on the railroad watches to safely operate and control the train time table.Due to the 1891 accident (and many accidents before), the?Railroad Timepiece Standards Commission presented new guidelines, referred to as the General Railroad Timepiece Standards. These guidelines consisted of:Be open face (no lid over the dial), size 18 or 16 (size 18 equals 44. [...]
And it's that time of year again and we always look forward to the new releases from one of our favorite brands: Seiko. Today, though, we'll give you a sneak peek at the 2017 Grand Seiko Baselworld novelties. Last year, this was a widely read story and we expect you're interested again While we normally refrain from using stock photos, we will have only just walked out of the press conference held by the brand and still have a hands-on appointment in the wings. For now, let's take a look at three new models.The 2017 Grand Seiko Baselworld noveltiesThe 2017 Grand Seiko Baselworld novelties usher in a serious change that seemingly everyone outside of Japan has desired. Quite simply, the models [...]
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 [...]
As always, a lot happened this week in the watch world. COVID-19 ain't gonna stop us Some cool watches launched, and it's challenging to pick just a few things. We did get some colorful releases, so I'm christening this the colorful edition. Here are some of my favorites from the past week.Zenith Pilot Type 20I'm a big fan of Zenith and what they've been doing lately. As ever, watch design is very subjective, but Zenith has been ticking a lot of boxes for me. This week they launched a new version of their Type 20 Pilot's watch. It has a fascinating blue dial, and when looking at it, the nickname Blueprint makes sense. It adds a nice colorful flash to the model lineup.a matte blue base showin [...]
This is a Rolex you wont see every day: the Submariner Big Crown Four Liner 6538. Four Liner refers to the four lines of text on the dial that not only indicates the model name (Submariner), depth rate (200 meters / 660 feet) but also that it is an Officially Certified Chronometer.Submariner Big CrownAlthough it is definitely related to todays Rolex Submariner, this reference 6538 chronometer model is something else With a diameter of just 37.5mm, it looks very distinguished and the big crown (8mm diameter) gives you immediately the feeling of having a proper vintage tool watch on the wrist.A 1957 Reference 6538In the early days of the Submariner (introduced in Basel in 1954), things were a [...]
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Breitling watches from the 1980s.While the 1970s were a decade filled with tremendous chang [...]
