Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Bell Ross is not only producing the rectangular aviation watches, but also has a fine collection of other models like the vintage series and the WW1 and WW2 collection (covered here and here). For me personally, the Vintage BR collection is very attractive as they offer very clean round watches at an interesting price point. Today, I will show you the Bell Ross Vintage BR 123 GMT 24H that Bell Ross sent us just before the holidays.Bell Ross Vintage BR 123 GMT 24HDuring a diner with Bell Ross not too long ago, they showed me a number of new models that were either just released or about to be released. One of the watches that drew my attention was this Bell Ross Vintage BR 123 GMT 24H. [...]

When you read the reviews and articles on Fratello Watches, I'm sure you have probably seen us talk about stainless steel watches. I mean, it's tough to get away from steel, as it's the most commonly used metal for watch cases and bracelets. It's a relatively affordable metal that offers excellent strength compared to its price to produce it. Sadly, as with anything in life, it's not just that simple. There are different types of stainless steel, each with its own pros and cons. You may have seen us classify different watches as using 316L or 904L steel. The thing is, what does that mean? What is the difference between 316L and 904L stainless steel?First things first, what is it?Technically [...]

Rolex has a rich history of advertising built for decades. The brand has produced some of the most remarkable ads ever created by a watch brand. In this recurring series, we take a look at the most iconic ads Rolex has created over the years.One of the most exciting and fun things to do when diving into the history of a watch brand is to look at their advertising.?Rolex has always been a brand that has created some of the most remarkable ads in the industry, not least because they are connected to outstanding achievements and famous people. Some of the advertisements are stylish, some of them are thought-provoking, and some are blessed with an excellent sense of humor. All of them represent [...]

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 are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Breitling watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had proudl [...]

I cant believe it is already two years ago that I was visiting Matera to see the set of No Time To Die. A beautiful village in Italy, where parts of the James Bond movie have been shot. It was there, where Omega showed us (I was there together with Hodinkees Ben Clymer and Revolutions Wei Koh) the new Seamaster 300M No Time To Die edition.We were also invited to come to the set, where the crew (including Daniel Craig) were working on the scene with the Aston Martin being under fire. An incredible experience and I even ended up with some shells that were used during the opening scene (no worries, they were given to me, I didnt pick them up from the ground).It was in Matera where Omega showed [...]

One of the questions we get a lot is which watch you should buy. Or which one is considered a good investment. First of all, I think you should buy a watch to wear and enjoy as that's what they are made for in the first place. But when collecting, it sure helps when a watch keeps value. But many have watches with emotional value.Balazs, I hope that some of my watches will become heirlooms for my kids one dayThese watches can be priceless for various reasons. This could even go for watches that are not even that valuable. It is something that comes to mind occasionally so I asked our team if they have watches that are emotionally valuable to them. Here are the stories behind the watch(es) tha [...]

Baume Mercier brought one of the biggest surprises during the recently held SIHH by introducing the Clifton. Although Baume Mercier already had sent out press releases to announce this new collection, I didnt want to say much about it before seeing it in the flesh.The Baume Mercier Clifton collection grabs back to their watches from the 1950s. Elegant shaped cases, long lugs with perfectly beveled edges, a domed sapphire crystal and applied numerals and hour markers.The inspiration for the Clifton is clear. 1950s timepieces from their own collection from that era. During my interview (that will be published later on) with Baume Merciers Alexandre Peraldi (design director), Ive learned th [...]

Welcome to Strap Check, a column here on Fratello where our editors showcase their favorite watch/strap combinations. We all know the feeling. When you've been wearing a watch for weeks on the same strap, there comes a time when the excitement starts to fade a little bit. Maybe that's the time when you start looking. But looking for what? A brand new watch? Sometimes the answer lies not in the watch, but the strap on which you wear it From the classic to the unique. From cheap NATOs to bespoke leather and special bracelets. This is where we get excited about perfect combinations that make you feel like you've got a brand new watch on your wrist. So tune in every week for a new combination. A [...]

At Vacheron Constantin, there is one department that exclusively produces unique custom-made watches: Les Cabinotiers. Each year a few watches that have been built in this department are presented to the public. In 2021 the brand releases three single-piece, high complication watches.Have you ever dreamed of designing your own watch? Vacheron Constantin is making this possible for you. They are running a department that does nothing else. In commemoration of the tradition of watchmakers from the 18th century, this department carries the name Les Cabinotiers. A Cabinotier was a (usually highly skilled) watchmaker who built watches all by himself on request. Back then, there was no serial prod [...]

We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily 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 Omega watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch histor [...]

Three months ago Breitling opened its first boutique in The Netherlands. And about time, too Many other brand boutiques in Breitlings league were already present in our attractive capital. The way a brand boutique differs from a regular multi-brand shop is how a brand is experienced. Breitling, in this case, makes things utterly clear. Its Amsterdam boutique exudes mancave style, with a pool table and a Norton motorcycle displayed in front of exposed brickwork, decorated with multiple pictures representing the Breitling way of life.So experience is the keyword here. That means that a visitor should actively be part of whats happening. In his review on the boutique, Robert-Jan was looking for [...]

It is with sadness we must convey that Grand Seiko has taken the governmentally-advised decision to cancel its upcoming summit. It would have been held in Tokyo from the 4th-5th of March 2020.Grand Seiko had intended for the summit to be a vehicle to celebrate its 60th anniversary, alongside the 55th anniversary of?Seiko Divers. If you havent already checked out the models released to mark this occasion, you can read about the mens pieces here and the womens piece here.For those that had tickets in their hands, this will come as a crushing blow. Grand Seiko is one of the most beloved and interesting watch brands outside of Europe. Many of its fans were looking forward to following the events [...]

In early 2020, Omega introduced the new Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. But the concept of the Moonwatch itself is not new, so its difficult to speak of a new watch when it has been already around for over 60 years. But this latest upgrade was so massive, that for the first time in nearly 25 years, many will actually see it as a new Moonwatch. Not only did we have the time to play with it for a few weeks when it was first released, but a number of the Fratello team (myself included) have also bought one since.As you know, this isnt my first Speedmaster (and hasnt been my last either). So its interesting to compare it directly to previous Moonwatch models and also give you an update on ho [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, where, this week, we take a look at the IWC Portuguese Vintage. To consider this one, youll require a large wrist and a pretty large wallet. Before we head down the pathLast week, I discussed a fancy piece of horology with the Breguet Tradition 7027. What a stunner Thankfully, most of you agreed as this watch danced its dapper duds to a 74% Wrist Game win. Heck, even our most prolific commenter, Chow, is thinking about donning his leisure suit every week to find a reason to wear such a watch. Please send us a pic This week, we stay on the slightly dressier side of things, but we up the size spec with one of historys all-time favorite big watches. I [...]

Omega Museum in BienneIts Speedy Tuesday Although we welcome any type of Speedmaster for this topic, today we have something really rare. No other than the OMEGA Museum in Bienne contributed this Speedmaster for this Speedy Tuesday. This Speedmaster ACP was in their museum archives and we had the opportunity to shoot some photos of it.Speedmaster ACP Automovil Club PeruanoThe OMEGA Speedmaster ACP is a reference 105.012 Speedy that was delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano. A common misunderstanding is that ACP stands for Association of Chief of Police on these watches.The strange thing is, that the Speedmaster ref.105.012 goes back to 1963, together with the 105.003. The 105.003 had no c [...]

The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Razzle Dazzle is an easy-to-spot watch. Its disruptive black and white attire is definitely not something you often see in the world of watches. The watch might remind you of a zebra, or of the WWI Dazzle paint job on ships. But does a wildly striped pattern camouflage beast and objects alike, or does it make them very confusingly conspicuous? What a razzle dazzle livery does without a doubt is to make you almost forget to mention the stunning flying carousel movement that normally would be at the center of attention.So, what is razzle dazzle and what does it do? Interestingly the razzle dazzle pattern is about being conspicuous rather than invisible. So strictly sp [...]

Within our team, the Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph is a popular beast. I know for a fact that a couple of the Fratelli will be racing out to buy this new green version that, on balance, is one of the best value propositions in the industry today.High praise? Indeed it is. But is it justified? We've all known for a long time that when it comes to branding, genuine heritage, and bang-for-buck, it is really difficult to get past the entry-level Swatch Group brands. When Hayek went on his industry-wide sweep up in the early eighties, he corralled several established powerhouses that had, thanks to the quartz crisis, fallen on hard times. Names like Longines, Certina, and Tissot joined the por [...]

I like big clocks and I cannot lie. The French antique comtoise clock hanging in my parent's house, for instance. But also the highly decorated table clock my grandmother left me and that has found a place in the bookshelf. And if I had the budget for it and the matching design house on the coast but that is a different matter I would give the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos in Marc Newson design a prominent spot. And since the Ulysse Nardin UFO table clock landed on my Fratello desk, I also put it on my imaginary list. Another great thing: I felt like Indiana Jones when I uncrated the UFO.The Ulysse Nardin UFO table clock (Ref. 9023-900LE-3A-BLUE) is spectacular in every way. Even the box it com [...]

Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5Speedy Tuesday is here Last week we already had a Speedmaster pre-Professional CK2998, but that doesnt hold us back to present another wonderful Speedmaster CK2998. This time, it is an untouched Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5, where the dash 5 stands for one of the last versions of this CK2998. To our best knowledge, the -62 is the last CK2998 (after -5 came -6, -61 and -61).The owner of this watch is a chronograph nut, and as he said, one has to decide fast if you see one, as these Speedmaster CK2998 watches tend to sell very fast. Especially when they are as good as this one here. We fully agree with him, as it becomes quite difficult to find a decent Speedmaster with [...]

What comes to your mind when you hear the name Breguet? Some might think of the inventor of the Breguet overcoil, the tourbillon, or retrograde time display. Others visualize a bust of Abraham-Louis Breguet, the man behind the legend, the grandfather of watchmaking. There might be a few out there who associate the name with a jewel of the Swatch Group crown. But has anyone ever thought of the Breguet Marine 5517? You might, after this article.Breguet is synonymous with fine watchmaking of the highest order. A brand that produces elegant, Haute Horlogerie pieces while paying attention to the typical Breguet elements. The round case with the short, straight lugs. The unmistakable Breguet-style [...]