All the news from the watch industry including boutique openings and new watch releases. Featured.
Watches – News, Reviews, Brands and Releases
As Christmas is getting closer every day, the annual rush to find a great present is about to begin. Of course, I buy a lot of socks (classic) but since I recently got into watches, I figured that my beloved husband deserves something classier than boring old stockings. No, this year, I have my heart set on a watch for him; not any watch but a watch that expresses appropriately how I feel about him. The only problem? He wants an Apple WatchSo, I am wondering if an Apple Watch can do the job of an emotionally loaded timepiece that symbolizes eternity, love, belonging, and family? Imagine him in about 50 years, in 2080, giving his grandchild a rather exceptional present for a birthday: the App [...]
Well, well, well. None of us saw this coming. The Omega Speedmaster World Cup has reached the incredibly sharp end of the competition. By this point, we expected to have just four contenders still standing. However, a neck-and-neck contest ultimately marred by voting irregularities in Quarter-Final 4 (between the Speedy Tuesday 1 and the Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary) saw both watches qualify in a magnanimous dead heat. They join the easy winner of Quarter Final 3, the Ed White 321, championed by Balazs. And so, rather unexpectedly, it is time for you to pick between your favorite of three for the second slot in next weeks finalWe alluded to the issue of voter fraud in Thursdays Semi-Final [...]
Desk diving is without a doubt the favorite pastime of many watch enthusiasts. The number of diving watches that will never be used for their intended purpose is enormous. And at Fratello, a majority of the team is also guilty as charged. Luckily we also have some people on the Fratello team that do take their diving watches into the water and test their true functionality. But for all of you that do not go diving this summer, we have made a list of the eight best desk diving watches that look great in the office. Additionally, they will make for a great watch summer watch. So lets desk dive in!The thing that has always surprised me the most when it comes to discussing watches is how some pe [...]
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 [...]
Some time ago, Jon Langballe (co-moderates the Omega Forum at WatchUseek) sent me a picture of his Seamaster 300.I guess Omega nowadays seeks the internet as well, looking for whats hot and whats not amongst customers and collectors. Omega uses details from watches like these and apply them on new models like the Seamaster Planet Ocean and others (think of the vintage Constellation pie-pan and the modern DeVille Co-Axial).Thanks Jon!! [...]
We all know someone who has or had this awful disease called cancer, perhaps you do or did yourself. Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men? Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve mens health or help them live longer.?Today, 5.6 million men are living with or beyond prostate cancer. Testicular cancer continues to claim young lives. Every year, 500,000 men take their own lives that's one a minute. Keep on reading, theres a watch to talk about as well.The Movember FoundationYou might have heard about the Movember Foundation, or at least about this [...]
Last week was very impressive auction week. First, the Omega Speedmaster CK2915-1 that sold for a over 230.000 Euro via the Swedish auction house Bukowski (click here for our report) and then there was the Rolex Daytona Paul Newman reference 6239, owned by Paul Newman himself, that fetched a whopping $17,752,500 USD at the Phillips auction in New York.Another great watch that was sold during that Phillips auction in New York last week, is the Omega Speedmaster Alaska III reference 145.022. As you know, it was exactly this model that inspired the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday that were so proud of, and several years ago we actually had one in our hands (read our story about the astronauts watch [...]
Speedmaster fans were excited to see the SpaceX crew wearing the titanium Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 watches last Wednesday. Or, at least visibly on the wrist of astronaut Bob Behnken.Behnken was wearing the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 watch on board of the SpaceX Falcon 9. Over his spacesuit. Astronaut Doug Hurley was wearing the X-33 under his suit, but we couldnt identify it on the images that NASA broadcasted once he was on board of the Falcon 9.X-33 comes from NASAs codename of a Space Shuttle project in the early 1990s. Omega decided to adopt that codename to make the X-33 a worthy successor of the Moonwatch.Last Wednesday, the weather conditions were too bad to launch the Falcon 9 so the [...]
Patek Philippe introduced some white dial versions for their Nautilus collection during the BaselWorld 2012 exhibition. Fratellowatches had a chance to get them in front of the lens during our meeting with Patek and were happy to share our photos with you. We also were able to get the new Patek Philippe 5204P (split seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar) in front of our lens, we will get to that fantastic timepiece in another blog post.As you may know, the Nautilus is together with the Royal Oak a watch that get mentioned a lot here. We love icons, especially when designed by the late Gerald Genta. Last years BaselWorld brought us a new version of the Aquanaut (Travel Time)?ref.5164 f [...]
Whenever A. Lange Sohne announces new timepieces, I immediately shift towards the edge of my seat. That also happened when the brand announced its venture into luxury sports watches with the Odysseus back in 2019. It was a release that did not go unnoticed. Watch fans worldwide expected a watch that would aim to compete with the Pateks and APs of the world. Instead, A. Lange Sohne chose its own path with an extremely unique, characteristic design. Three years after the release of the stainless steel Odysseus, the brand releases the new titanium version. This is not only the most sporty Odysseus to date, but its also the first time weve ever seen a titanium A. Lange Sohne watch. Time to fi [...]
Most of you who want to buy a watch, select based on price and brand name. It turns out that very few are after a specific complication. But for those who do care about functionality, there are a couple of interesting propositions on the market for perpetual calendars, moon phase?watches, chronographs, divers and now an annual calendar as well. Brands like Montblanc and Frederique Constant achieved?being able to offer a perpetual calendar under 10.000 Euro not long ago. This year, Longines makes it possible for you to buy an annual calendar with their Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar watch for under 2000 Euro.Longines Master Collection Annual CalendarThis year, Longines caught us b [...]
The Rolex Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, so only a relatively new member of the Oyster family. Now, 27 years later, they introduce something big, bold and in white gold.Although a bit underwhelmed at first based on the press images, the new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 with reference 226659 did not disappoint. I feel kinda old realizing that I vividly remember the introduction of the Rolex Yacht-Master reference 16622. When the Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, it was only in yellow gold. A watch that wasnt meant as a divers watch, with its bi-directional bezel and water resistance of just 100 meters. It was meant and still is, as a lifestyle piece rather than a tool watch.Theres also a Ya [...]
This year, at Geneva Watch Days 2021, Breitling brings us three chronographs inspired by a fairly surprising topic: 60s American sports cars. The Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Shelby Cobra are featured within a new capsule collection of Top Time Chronographs.I have to admit that I wasnt expecting classic American cars to star in the latest Breitling capsule collection. However, its wise to assume the unexpected these days when it comes to the ever-evolving brand. The fact that these watches sit within the Top Time line seems fitting as well. After all, we have 60s-based chronographs and cars from the same era. Blending cars and watches are a tough business with more failures than not [...]
Welcome to Group H of the Speedmaster World Cup. In the absence of Euro 2020, we thought our beloved readers might enjoy a tournament of a different kind. We've assembled eight groups (A CH), each governed by a different Fratello team member. Each writer has been assigned four watches, which they will pitch to you during the group stages.All we need you to do is vote for your favorite to move on in the competition. The next round will be the quarter-finals, which will see the eight group winners go head-to-head for your votes. The four winners progress to the semis. Following that, a third-place play-off will precede the final round, due to be held on Sunday, December 13th (get the whiskey i [...]
In our Sunday Morning Showdown, 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. Todays showdown continues some unfinished business. In part two of our GMT Wars saga, the Grand Seiko SBGJ237 aims to finish the fight against the Rolex GMT-Master II Batman.Cast your mind back to May last year. Benny and Bobby faced off in Part One of the fabled GMT Wars. At the time, Rob won with th [...]
As The Fast And The Fratelli quarter-finals get underway, we see a dangerous number of Speedmasters slicing their way through the competition. Here, it's Balazss Speedmaster Ultraman, which goes toe-to-toe with Nachos humble Hamilton Intra-Matic. But will Ultraman fall to his latest foe? Or will the Intra-Matic lose its Intra-Magic and require a tow back to pit lane? The fate of these two is in your hands So pick wisely and may the best racing chronograph win.We'll start off the Balazss Speedmaster Ultraman, a watch very close to our hearts here at Fratello. As you all likely know, this was the second Speedy Tuesday release, paying tribute to the 1967 Speedmaster known as the Ultraman. A spe [...]
You probably have read it by now, but Montblanc seems to be the big surprise of the SIHH show in Geneva. Again, as the brand from Hamburg could really enjoy some positive and overwhelming responses during the SIHH in 2014 as well.Let us add some words on Montblanc and its position in the Richemont group or the watch universe in general at the end of this article. First, we speak about this Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, their world timer watch with an in-house developed complication.Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis TerrarumMontblanc surprised everyone this year. Not only with this Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum (euh, World Timer) but actually with their entire range of [...]
A GTG (short for Get Together) organized by a few members of the Vintage Rolex Forum is always good for a lot of photographs of impressive watches and watch collections. Vintage Rolex Forum calls these GTGs Passion, because of the passion for vintage Rolex watches. Looking at the photos, the guys also share passion for cigars, bags and watch boxes.Below youll see a Rolex ref.6200, a very nice vintage early Submariner without the printing on the dial being a Sub. The gilt dial is very nice on this experimental Submariner. Probably produced around 1955.And this is not a Rolex, but being an AP fan and all, I though this might be worth posting here. An Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept on a mesh [...]
As a fan of watch design, I have developed a healthy obsession with the first generation Omega Constellation Manhattan. The Constellation Manhattan is Omegas biggest icon introduced in the 1980s. But its also one of the few introduced in the decade of decadence. The seventies is where the true magic of vintage Omega design is for me. Enter another healthy obsession. Its time to take a look at a selection of brilliant releases from the seventies that have crept to the top of my list of vintage wants.I couldnt believe it when I read it, but the 1970s have officially been hailed as the most stylish decade ever. Sure, the 1980s are criticized for a lack of taste (although I feel very much at hom [...]
Its Speedy Tuesday For today we have again something special for you Speedmaster fans out there. As you probably know, Omega produced a number of mission patch models as part of 50 white suitecases with the Speedmaster Mission collection in 1997 (40 sets) and in 1998 (2x 5 sets). Each suitcase contained 22 Speedmaster Professional mission patch models, 1 57 re-edition (reference 3594.50) as well as a spare Lemania-based caliber 1861 movement. The model we have on Speedy Tuesday today is the Gemini V mission model, also featured in this suitcase.Omega Speedmaster Professional Gemini VThis particular mission patch model commemorates the Gemini 5 flight that was performed by NASA astronauts L [...]
