Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

There's something undeniably charming about smaller tool watches that come on a steel bracelet. Nowadays, a lot of brands are going back to more classic watch sizing, as the masses have made their voices heard. Long gone are the times of 44-47mm wrist monsters now is the time for something that slips under the cuff. Perhaps two of the most iconic time-only watches in this category are the Rolex Explorer in 36mm and the Omega Railmaster from the 60th-anniversary Trilogy collection. RJ and Nacho will present their pick and why they think it has the edge over the other. But we also want to hear from you, so make sure to vote for your pick down below.It's no mystery that sub-40mm watches reall [...]

Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, youre sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale (with cheese) like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Welcome to our first round proper of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello.In this first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate the match-ups. So its number 1 vs. number 8, number 2 vs. number 7, number 3 vs. number 6, and number 4 vs. number 5. Vote [...]

Were two days out from March. Normally, that wouldnt get me so excited. I hate spring. Its my least favorite season. My dear old mum used to express horror at how openly I derided the gamboling lambs, fresh green shoots of optimism, and the soft, diffused post-winter sunlight. What can I say? All that new life puts me on edge Give me autumn the season of death any day. But not this year Oh no, this year, spring holds the greatest treat of all another knock-out competition on Fratello. This time, weve admitted 96 watches we reviewed last year to the March Mania arena. Only one will walk away victorious Its time to play ballAs you will see in the coming week or so, Ive taken more of a back sea [...]

We know we dont cover many ladies watches here on Fratello Watches, but this Richard Mille RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur that was presented to us this morning is really something you have to see. It is one of the two pieces that Richard Mille introduced during the SIHH 2015. Normally they have about 8 10 pieces every year, but they decided not to blow all their ammo during SIHH and get snowed-under with all the SIHH novelties from other brands. Later this year, Richard Mille will unveil more timepieces to reach their normal number of new watches.However, lets talk about this Richard Mille RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur first. We will cover the other novelties from Richard Mille during the rest of th [...]

Part of the appeal of the Jazzmaster collection is the beautiful balance of contemporary aesthetic and traditional watchmaking expertise. In 2019 Hamilton welcomes brand new automatic chronographs as hero pieces in its most refined collection. Their understated style is a style statement in itself.The contemporary H-21 automatic chronograph movement boasts a date function as well as a seamless 60-hour power reserve. The movement is based on the traditional ETA 7750 Valjoux movement, which is known for its quality. Hamilton has adapted it and made it more powerful to deal with the demands of modern life.Visit www.hamiltonwatch.com for more information.Polished stainless steel cases are mascul [...]

The Omega Speedmaster is probably the most iconic chronograph in the world. However, it is not always easy to find your way into the world of the Speedmaster. There have been so many different variations in the past, and theyre still are today. Since 2004, we have published 500+ stories on the Speedmaster. From hands-on reviews to very personal stories from Speedmaster owners. Youll find them all in our new Speedmaster Archive!The Speedmaster is the watch that was worn on the moon, by astronaut Edwin Buzz Aldrin in July 1969 and it is still worn by astronauts today. Weve covered the story on how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch more than once, but we also thought it would be good to have [...]

Although James Bond is probably perceived as one of the most stylish men around, he certainly messed up his watch in Goldfinger. In Goldfinger, he was wearing a Rolex Submariner (ref.6538 probably) on a NATO strap. On several Rolex Forums, the close-up below shows the watch with as much detail as possible:I dont like NATO straps at all, and find them far from stylish, but I guess that there are a lot of Rolex (and Bond) fans that do. But look at the width of the strap, it is way too small, approximately 18mm (if not any smaller). This looks pretty awkward, and I cant imagine they couldnt find a fitting NATO strap for this watch in 1964.Anyway, some of the Rolex / Bond fans are delighted by f [...]

Today, I had a drink with some watch friends and one of them was wearing this Cartier Santos 100 Carbon. Geo, the owner and moderator of the Cartier forum over at Revo-Online, handed over the watch and I was blown away by the stealth look of this otherwise classic watch brand. The stainless steel case had a ADLC treatment, the bezel and crown have been made out of titanium and the folding buckle is also a combination of ADLC stainless steel and titanium. This watch comes with a black fabric strap which perfectly underlines the stealth look of this Santos 100 Carbon.The case measures 51.1mm x 42.6mm and with these dimensions, you better get some exercise to make it fit right. Geo took his wat [...]

Watches are all about stories and experiences. That dent in the bezel reminds you of a particular holiday. You might have worn one of your watches on your wedding day. A watch might have been worn by an actor in your favorite movie. These are all things that you remember when you look down at your wrist. And I think the way you acquired a watch is just as significant as the memories you create with it when you wear it.?There are many different ways to acquire a watch, of course. You could, potentially, just walk into an AD and buy one. Or you might have to get on a waiting list for a while before getting the call. Maybe your watch was a present from your wife or your manager, or it was passe [...]

A journalists darling, it seems. I am talking about Grand Seiko. Whether it is here, or on any of the other on-line watch magazines and blogs, when theres a mention of Grand Seiko you hear violins playing in the background. To such an extent, that it becomes implausible perhaps. However, a few months back we took some of our readers with us to Japan to visit their manufactures and at the end of the day, they were all bitten by the Grand Seiko bug.Although it might come across as such, we are not paid by Grand Seiko to tell you these things or write these reviews. And make no mistake, there are also a couple of things we would like to see different from Grand Seiko. Their pricing and distribu [...]

Let me start by saying I dont care much for celebs. Often, I dont even recognize them or know who these people are. It is embarrassing?at times when a watch brand invites their ambassadors over at SIHH for example, and I dont have a clue who they are. It could also be me because I just have no interest in most of them. I dont look up to them, to be honest, although during a recent event I asked to be in a picture with a famous person for the very first time in my life (Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks in the Fresh Prince). But hey, thats nostalgy.I know that many people do enjoy these watch spottings on famous people though, entire Instagram accounts and websites are dedicated to th [...]

To be frank, weve been following Bell Ross from the start. It started with their watches with the Bell Ross by Sinn wording on the dial, heavily influenced by the models of Sinn. Nowadays, Bell Ross clearly have their own identity with the three collections they have: Vintage, Marine and Aviation.During our visit to them at BaselWorld, we sat down with a team of Bell Ross and discussed their timepieces. We zoomed in on their Vintage collection, and mainly at the new WW2 Bomber Regulateur. Inspired by the time keeping instruments used by bombers in the late 1930s and 1940s, this Bell Ross WW2 Bomber Regulateur is the third timepiece of the Vintage collection referring to war-pieces. In 2 [...]

There is no getting away from it, Rolex is HUGE in the big US of A, but is Rolex really an American Company? With the most recognizable brand on any dial from Key West to Montana, the myth has deep roots. Did you know that a surprising number of people actually believe The Crown to be as American as apple pie and ice cream sundaes? Thats right, and I am sorry to have to disappoint you, but it isn't. So where did this myth originate, and is there any truth to it? I mean Rolex sure is as Swiss as Raclette, right?The Origin of the 1 MythDid you believe Rolex to be a Latin term with intrinsic meaning, perhaps riffing on the passage of time itself? Well so did I, but do you know what? No, just l [...]

Although some people were sceptic about him at first, Daniel Craig has proven to be among the greatest James Bond actors. James Bond started wearing an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in 1995 (GoldenEye) and continued to do so when Daniel Craig took over this role from his predecessor. This year, Omega celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch and introduced a new and improved version of this watch in Basel. A new watch like this also needs a new face. And what is a better fit than Daniel Craig? Omega announces that Craig will be their new Seamaster Diver 300M ambassador from now on.Daniel Craig Represents The New Seamaster Diver 300MHowever, not everyone knows that [...]

Automatons, or automata, have amazed human audiences for over two thousand years.? Designed by humans to mimic living beings, automatas lifelike movements have fascinated everyone, from ancient royalty and medieval city-dwellers to 18th-century courtiers and modern-day museum visitors. What people may not realize, however, is just how closely related horology and automata really are.In fact, automata and clocks have developed side-by-side for millennia. Like clocks, many of the worlds finest automata employ incredibly elaborate mechanisms. However, understanding the most basic components that they share can help to demystify how they work. With this understanding, well be able to see the str [...]

March Mania marches on When we started the competition, we had 96 watches. Now were at the stage when the last 16 have been scythed in half to leave eight standing. At that point, our writers will have just one watch remaining each. So today, for the very last time, the watches that started in the preliminaries together will go head-to-head for the division champion crown. Where will the votes land?Thats it we are down to the final two match-ups to determine our group champions. Ben and Bert both have just two watches left. The quarter-finals commence tomorrow, so we need you to pick your favorite in this quick-fire round as youve not got long to register your opinion. Lets do this thing!L [...]

From mainstream Rolex to a highly exclusive original Roger Dubuis. Do you know that feeling? After wearing a certain type of watch for some time, you look for something totally at the other end of the spectrum? This week Im wearing what I consider one of the most beautiful watches in my collection.Roger Dubuis Hommage MonopoussoirThe Roger Dubuis Hommage Monopoussoir H40 on the wristA strange model indication isnt it? Watches mentioned as Hommage nowadays are very close to copy-cat watches, mostly of main stream high-in-demand watches. We all know these models from brands like Steinhart, Invicta and the lot.Made by Roger Dubuis himselfThis Roger Dubuis however is very much the opposite. This [...]

On May 24th 1962, Commander Scott Carpenter was the second American to perform an orbital space flight onboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. So busy was he taking photos of frost particles, or fireflies that he went off course and overshot the landing by 400km. But from the smooth launch, sitting atop the Mercury-Atlas 7 rocket, to splashdown, the Breitling Cosmonaute was Carpenter's watch companion. This journey makes the Cosmonaute the first Swiss chronograph worn in space. But my story about the Breitling Cosmonaute is much more personal. And it begins precisely ten years after Scott Carpenter's space flight.The start of a family traditionThe year is 1972, four years after my father won the Ge [...]

Sometimes it's nice to force yourself to like something. When you intuitively know something is good, but you can't see it or feel it right away. Sporadically, if you try long and hard enough, that feeling will eventually come. And when it does, it just feels so darn good Back in the 90s and early 2000s, IWC made pilot's watches that looked like flight instruments. Almost a bit boring, even, but beneath that dull layer of functionality lay a world full of adventure waiting to be discovered by those who persevered. And I did just that. From the Zero's comes this IWC Doppelchronograph Ref. 3713 a watch thats double the fun for those who dare.Back in the 90s ?I lusted over three IWC pilot's w [...]

Nothing beats buying a new watch Were happy that so many of you purchased the new Fratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date We also receive a fair few questions from interested readers who want to know whats inside the box. And so, RJ and Bert decided to oblige with a short unboxing video for youDetailed information on this new Oris can be found here. [...]