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Watches – News, Reviews, Brands and Releases
As promised (to Martijn, see the comments of the GP post below), I hereby post a few pictures of a watch that I bought a few months ago, from a fellow Dutch collector. It is a Titus Geneve chronograph from the 1940s (ca.1946-1948) with a Landeron 48 handwound movement. It is a 38mm watch, which was quite big for those days, in a 18ct red gold case. The case is very light and has a metal ring inside, to make the thin 18kt red gold case a bit of solid. I was told that these watches were quite populair for US ex-soldiers from WWII to bring home, because these were one of the few gold watches allowed for them to import. I am not sure, but I think there were some kind of restrictions for the impo [...]
Last Friday we organized an event together with Seiko Nederland and Dutch print magazine Watching for fans of Grand Seiko watches. When we announced this Grand Seiko event?a number of weeks ago, our mailbox was flooded with messages from people who signed-up. However, we could only select 20 people as it was decided to keep it small and exclusive. In the end, it was stretched to 22 people that were invited to come to Amsterdam and join us for an afternoon packed with Grand Seiko.Grand Seiko EventGrand Seiko is something you still need to explain to people from time to time. The high quality is evident once you get to handle a Grand Seiko watch yourself, so we thought it would be a great idea [...]
Last week Bert Buijsrogge and I visited the assembly line of the much talked-about Omega Caliber 9300 movement. This in-house developed movement was introduced during BaselWorld 2011 in the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph as well as in the Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Caliber 9300.Ever since 2007, Omega is focusing on their in-house developed Co-Axial movements and started by equipping the De Ville and Seamaster models with their caliber 8500. Starting in 1999 already, Omega started using the Co-Axial escapement in movement as such, but (mainly) based on existing ETA movements.For?this in-house column wheel chronograph caliber 9300 movement with Co-Axial escapement, Omega?made huge in [...]
This week we have two stories in store for you, contributed by Speedmaster enthusiasts. One is from Mario and the other from Patrick. Completely different stories, but they have the exact same watch in common.I dont know about you, but I cant get enough of peoples stories on their Speedmaster watches. It is very interesting to see what the Speedmaster means to some of you. For some, it is a watch to celebrate something special. Others share their stories of how a Speedmaster has helped them to get the job done. This week, we have one of each!Your Speedmaster StoriesWe are interested in reading your story, and we're happy and proud to share them with all the Speedmaster fans that come to this [...]
Finally, my review on the Panerai PAM00113.Click here to read it! [...]
WASP 9.91 sees the guys go to two decimal places for the first time, much to the confusion of everyone else. Less confusing, however, is the duos shared love of a very special Omega Speedmaster created for the Olympics, but thats not the only Olympic watch to feature Far from itFor the first time ever, an on-air purchase occurs as Rob stumbles across his all-time favorite Swatch available on eBay for a stunning price (box and papers included). Additionally, Fridge and Freezer discuss Balazss recent purchases (lovers of vintage Angelus be sure to tune in) and Robs burgeoning collection of caps that had a sudden injection of volume thanks to the chance discovery of an old forgotten sports stor [...]
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 [...]
The Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 was my first sports Rolex back in 2003. After owning it for over 10 years, I decided to trade it for something else. Only to come to the realization a few Rolex sports models later that the Sea-Dweller is, in fact, the one for me.When I started taking my first steps into the world of watch collecting in the late 1990s, I had to learn everything from scratch. Magazines like Uhren Magazine, Chronos (later WatchTime), and websites like TimeZone, taught me a lot of the things I know about many brands, including Rolex. Although the prices (and availability) were much more attractive at the time, being a student, purchasing a Rolex was quite simply out of the question.B [...]
During my holiday in Italy, Ive missed the delivery of the new 39mm Rolex Explorer hitting the local authorized dealers. Ive kept my eyes open in Italy (see this link), but aside from the new Tudor Heritage Chrono, there wasnt much new to see in the displays. The new Submariner in black and green were already available before my holiday, and the green model surprised me in a positive manner I have to admit.Anyway, when I got back last weekend, I immediately noticed the availability of the new Rolex Explorer ref. 214270 on some of my sponsor websites. There was also this private seller on the Dutch Rolex Forum offering a BNIB Rolex Explorer 39mm for just above 4K euro.The picture above is a B [...]
Just recently, Montblanc held a watch event in The Hague, The Netherlands. Just a week after the SIHH2011 exhibition in Geneva, Montblanc showed us some of their new models. As established as this company from Hamburg is with regards to writing instruments, their timepieces did not get much attention from collectors until Montblanc took over the Minerva factory. With Montblancs Villeret and Rieussec collection, they stole the hearts of many collectors of haute horlogerie timepieces. I examined their collection carefully, and picked a favorite that I could see myself wearing at some point in the future. The new Vintage Pulsographe.The Vintage Pulsographe with its black dial and rose gold case [...]
This week, in Pre-owned Picks, I am highlighting four watches with Ferrari co-branding spanning more than four decades.The news of Sebastian Vettel leaving the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team this season, whatever is left of it, had me thinking about what Ferrari means to F1. The team from Maranello is the most successful in terms of driver's and constructor's championships. But they transcend any other team when it comes to prestige. F1 without Ferrari is not F1 to me.Credit: Edwin van Nes www.dacorsa.netClassic racing chronographsThe Formula One YouTube channel has been replaying classic races from previous seasons the past few months. The 2003 British Grand Prix was a particularly exc [...]
It is Speedy Tuesday and we have this Speedmaster Missions box for you Although Im at the SIHH in Geneva, following presentations and doing pictures for our instagram channel (follow fratellowatches on instagram), nobody can hold us down!!?Todays Speedmaster topic is the suit case with all the Speedmaster Missions models, a Speedmaster 1957 re-redition and a spare OMEGA caliber 1861 movement.There are 50 of these cases by OMEGA, introduced in batches of three. The first batch of the Speedmaster Missions collection?was 40 suit cases in 1997, and afterwards OMEGA produced / sold another 2 x 5 cases (1 in 1997, 1 in 1998).OMEGA Speedmaster MissionsAlthough I am not sure what the list price pri [...]
If you google this watch, one of the first headlines youll see names it the The Vacheron Constantin Overseas 37mm (Without Diamonds). Clearly, this cool reference was earmarked for women only back in 2017. It was a time before most men allowed themselves sub-40mm watches, with will also work for men as the go-to phrase for a review. This particular headline read as if the reader might not even want to bother with a 37mm watch without diamonds.We are in 2022, things have changed, and small is the new big. Many of you know this by now, but I am happy to wear smaller watches without feeling emasculated, metrosexual, or effeminate. Sure, I'll still rock 40-44mm chronographs and diver's tools. Bu [...]
Here it is, ladies, gentlemen, exuberant watch collectors, and machiavellian sea creatures alike, allow us to present to you the grand final of Fratellos Summer Splash tournament. The contestants? Mike, RJ, and Phil. They bring to battle their trusty Tudor Black Bay .925, the seasoned Omega Seamaster 300M, and the vivacious-yet-versatile Doxa Sub 300. Who will steal your heart and earn your vote? Lets find out.The vote will run until Sunday at 5 pm CET (September 26th). At that point, we will verify the legality of the voting for the final time and announce the winner, crowning the best summer watch available right now. Dive in one last timeMike Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925Well, well, w [...]
It's time for another installment of Two for Tuesdays where we compare a couple potential purchase choices. This week, we'll talk about the Tudor Black Bay 36 versus a neo-vintage Rolex Explorer.Back in 2018, I penned an article on the newly announced Tudor Black Bay 36. Specifically, the blue model was new and it joined a black dial edition that had been on the market for two years. I really liked it and spent a paragraph within the article comparing it to a neo-vintage 36mm Rolex Explorer. At that time, the price difference was within about 1,000. My how things have changed over the last two years. However, thats not why were here. I wanted to write this comparison for the simple reason th [...]
Divers Sixty-Five Green DialRumor has it that Oris is performing well this year in terms of sales. It is not that strange, as they hit home run last year with the Oris Divers Sixty-Five in 40mm (we reviewed it here). Another important aspect is of course the price segment in which Oris operates. Where a lot of Swatch Group and Richemont Group brands left the < 2000 Euro market, Oris does offer a lot of bang for the buck still. This year, they not only showed us the new 42mm versions of the Divers Sixty-Five, they now also introduced the Divers Sixty-Five green dial version, in 42mm.Oris Divers Sixty-Five Milking It?Oris has a couple of Divers Sixty-Five models in their collection today, [...]
Writing that vintage Seiko is very popular is slightly understated. It is huge. It is the brand that allows you to enjoy vintage references (that are even historically relevant) for a few hundred Euro or Dollars to highly sought-after vintage (Grand) Seiko references that will set you back a few thousand Euros or Dollars.Ever since Mike Stockton is writing for Fratello, Ive noticed this in my own collection of watches. The number of (vintage) Seiko watches increased rapidly. It is highly contagious and it will not break your bank.One of the concerns though, that is also shared by our own Fratello watchmaker Paul (who is currently occupied with customizing the trunk of his Maserati, with spec [...]
When we started the competition, we had 96 watches; now, were down to four. The remaining writers are now into their second head-to-head match-up. The winner moves on to the final; the loser goes home. At this point, its simply the best of the best. Your favorite four watches battle it out for eternal glory. Who will be crowned the winner of March Mania? Its up to you to help decide who will be the King!Were at the sharp end now. We have four heavyweights left in our March Mania competition. The semi-final stage starts now All four of our contestants can see the finish line where eternal glory awaits. With only two more match-ups to win, Gerard and Jorg go head to head in our first of two se [...]
The term rare has been a bit devaluated over the years with tons of rare watches jumping up here and there. I will tell you now what's truly rare in the vintage watch world finding a devoted female watch collector. Please allow me to introduce you to Sandy from Switzerland and her incredible vintage watch collection. I have been buying vintage watches for a few years now, but before Sandy, I had never traded any watch with a woman. I wish I had, but there is no directory that would allow you to list watch offers by a seller's gender. Watch collecting has always been the realm of men. Yet I always thought women could bring a new dynamic to the business. I guess my urge to see more women colle [...]
Two hundred years ago, Nicolas Rieussec invented the worlds first chronograph. It was a clever device that did not only measure time but could also record it with an ink drop on a rotating disc. Rieussec named the device chronograph, a combination of two words taken from the Greek. Chronos stands for time, while graphien meaning writing. The worlds first time writer was born.Montblanc pays tribute to this tremendous horological achievement by releasing the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Limited Edition 200. The watch is a new iteration of the brands already existing model with a new look.Chronograph by RieussecFor a long time, the watch world considered Nicolas Rieussecs creation the [...]
