Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Omega recently added two new dials for its successful Seamaster Aqua Terra collection. One in blue, and one in green. While blue could already be found on previous Aqua Terra models, green was only used for details, like on the PGA edition of the watch.An entirely green dial is new for the Seamaster Aqua Terra collection. And, quite to my surprise, I must say it looks damn good. I was already quite impressed by the green accents on the Aqua Terra PGA edition (which we reviewed here). To me, those accents made it one of the most attractive watches in this collection. And now, a few weeks ago, Omega started to deliver these green (and new blue) dial Aqua Terra watches to its boutiques.The bran [...]

In this weekly Pre-Owned Picks series, a Fratello editor will select some watches from the pre-owned market and explain why it is an exciting offer (or watch).The pre-owned watch market is very significant. People who dont want to pay the full price for a watch, seek for a discontinued model or collect (vintage) watches rely on the offers in the pre-owned watch market. Unlike car manufacturers, watch manufacturers neglected the pre-owned watch market for a long time. Incredible, as it is an important and profitable part of the car industry. Some watch manufacturers also slowly trying to get a grip on the pre-owned business by introducing their Certified Pre-Owned program. However, brands (f. [...]

When considering mechanical chronographs, the 1980's and early 90's are often viewed as forgettable. Blingy, bad taste, bi-metal, quartz, or me-too automatics are just some of the characteristics that come to mind to describe the era. Then you have the brands Ebel, Movado, Concord, and even Omega making some very of the times pieces. Whatever you think about these watches and the era in general when it comes to watchmaking is likely a set of controversial topics best left for bar rooms or back alleys. Aside from the fact that some of these watches are starting to make their way back into the focus of collectors, it can't be argued that this was a different period Z. Cavaricci's anyone? A [...]

Rolex GMT-Master Black And BlueThe rumor machine was working full throttle before the Baselworld show started. Rumors included a new Rolex GMT-Master II with either a Coke (black and red) or Pepsi (red and blue) bezel. Eye brows were frowned when the curtain was lifted up and showed the stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR with a black and blue bezel.We waited a few days before posting news on this new GMT-Master II (except on our instagram account) as this was a combination we didnt expect as well and needed to give it a place first. After we tried it in the flesh during our appointment with Rolex in Baselworld, weve come to the conclusion that it is actually a nice addi [...]

The wait is finally over. We know the models Rolex has released for 2021 (so far, at least). The first one were covering on Fratello is the 36mm yellow rolesor Rolex Explorer.Leaning heavily on the brands association with Everest expeditions, the press material refers to the original size of the watches purportedly worn by Hilary and Norgay upon their successful 1953 summit of the worlds tallest mountain. However, those watches were not the Explorer models they would go on to inspire. While it appears true that Rolex did furnish that legendary expedition with Oyster Perpetual watches, so too did British brand Smiths supply the climbers with timepieces. While several members of the team wore [...]

Already announced in December 2013, but weve finally come to see it in the flesh during the SIHH 2014 in Geneva last week. The Reverso is perhaps the most iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece and since a few years it is possible to buy this Tribute to 1931 or simply 1931 model that comes very close to the original watch from the 1930s.After releasing a few boutique specials of this watch, Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to make this Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 with its pink gold case and chocolate-toned dial available for all JLC retailers.A while ago we did a hands-on review with the stainless steel version of the Reverso 1931 (which you can read here). The case dimensions of this new pink gold ve [...]

Even up till today, theres a Speedmaster with an LCD screen in the collection, the X-33 (since 1998). But even before that, there were several LCD Speedmaster references in production.Today, I will focus on just one of these models, the reference 186.0005. These were produced from the mid to end of the 1970s. The LCD Speedmaster always intrigued me, even during my first days of watch collecting. Whether it has to do with my year of birth (1977) and growing up with digital watches, or the fact that it reminds me of my friendship with the legendary Chuck Maddox (I once bought one for him here locally for 200 Dutch guilders and shipped it to him), the LCD has a special place in my Speedmaster h [...]

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 [...]

After exactly one month of silence, I am back ?? Holiday, and especially moving, took (and takes) more time than I expected. My cableprovider still has problems to connect me to the internet in my new home, but luckily I have some unsecured wifi networks in the area.I dont know if you watched Wimbledon 2007, but I was surprised that Roger Federer was wearing a Rolex Daytona when he received his Wimbledon-cup. Ofcourse, the Maurice LaCroix sponsorship is over since 2006, but the love was purely a contract it seems ?? By the way, he signed his sponsorship contract with Maurice LaCroix in 2004 for 5 years.. so it ended prematurely for whatever reason.Then, on the 6th of July, a number of watche [...]

For todays Speedy Tuesday article, we have a contribution from Nick Gould. Nick is a watch spotter and contributes to several watch magazines and blogs regularly.We love spotting watches on people, including those who are famous, as long as its genuine. In this case, Nick spotted a watch on the wrist of an actor that has discussed his share of watches on Mr Porters online journal. His most precious watch is a Seiko he received from his father. One he bought in Saigon in 1968, on his first of two tours in Vietnam. Thats a story (and watch) difficult to beat, by any brand ambassador, you could say. Milo Ventimiglia isnt an official watch brand ambassador, and he seems to be enjoying different [...]

In our on-going quest for affordable mechanical watches I stumbled upon Oris. Oris is a brand that only produces mechanical watches, there is not a single quartz watch in their catalog. Besides that, it is an independent brand that has produced watches from this little Swiss village called H?lstein since 1904. Their key to success is perhaps best captured in their slogan real watches for real people, something that we here on Fratello Watches certainly try to promote as well. Although there is still a lot of fun in writing about high-end complex pieces as well of course, but at the end of the day, most of our readers and you can include us into this category as well leave a watch shop wi [...]

Although we put a lot of care and work into our own Speedmaster archives here on Fratello, they are only available online (with the exception of the print publication we once did for the Speedmaster). Sometimes, it is nice to have something in print to enjoy on the couch with your favorite beverage. Books like Moonwatch Only, the Mondani books on Rolex, and now Magister are a nice way to spend a few hours in the evenings and weekends on your favorite watches.The Magister BookCollector and watch enthusiast Andrea Foffi released a special book on the Speedmaster topic. Meet the Magister book, covering 70 special Speedmaster watches from his collection. We already published about this book bein [...]

All images in this post may be clicked on for larger versions.You would be forgiven for thinking that the big number in its own box is the date, and the two hands on the dial are for the minutes and hours; and perhaps that strange little stubby hand in its own round window off to the top is in fact for power reserve, or perhaps continuous seconds.Youd be wrong.For starters, the watch is actually a jump hour (only adjustable in one direction: forward) with the big number being the hour; minutes and seconds are on the large dial, and the little stubby hand is in fact the moon phase display. Of course, not having a date, you cant set this accurately. Winding the crown forwards in the traditiona [...]

Boesch Motorboote from Kilchberg (Lake Zurich) creates reddishbrown mahogany boats since 1920. Boesch boats are famous for their quick starts, especially useful for water-ski matches. To celebrate its 80th birthday, IWC created the Aquatimer Chronograph Boesch, limited to 300 timepieces. Which is, compared to most other limited editions in this segment, really limited. The caseback of this watch has a mahogany inlay with a marine screw propeller and the dial shows the Boesch logo below the date window.Watch-Site, one of my blog sponsors, has this IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Boesch in stock and was so kind to let me do a review on this time piece. The pictures below do represent the actual watc [...]

Let there be light Lume is often referred to because of its functional properties. But there is something magical about it. Not too long ago, I was researching the best Heuer/TAG Heuer watches from the 1980s. During that quest, I was reminded of the brilliance of the brands full lume dial diving watches from the 1980s. On top of that, our Fratello master of lume Lex wears his Chronoswiss Timemaster with a full lume dial regularly. It triggered me to find out more about the brilliance of lume dials and put the spotlight on some of the best lume watches. Fiat lux!At first, the idea was to select the best full lume dial watches from the past and the present. But during the research for this art [...]

Whod have thought Bronze cases and red dials would become an almost mainstream thing here on Fratello? We certainly didnt see this coming, but here we are. Following on from last weeks very special limited edition Oris a Fratello Big Crown Pointer Date, we have another autumnal vision in bronze for you to feast your eyes upon. The Rado Captain Cook in bronze with a rich burgundy dial joins the clubA year ago, that club seemed pretty exclusive. But now, thanks to the Oris and this latest addition to the Captain Cook range, the Burgundy Bronze Brigade is gaining new members at an unprecedented rate. And why not? It is a color/material fusion that makes perfect sense. Green dials with bronze ca [...]

Breitling is one of the brands that has been capable to bring continuously bold, inspiring, and innovative watches since the early days. Picking my top 5 models from such a vast and inspiring catalog turned out to be quite a challenge.Opinions on the Breitling brand tend to be quite strong, one way or the other. I either meet collectors that feel zero affinity towards the brand or, more often, enthusiasts that have not just one or two, but dozens of Breitling watches. It only confirms that you have a lot of choices once you fall under the vintage Breitling spell.1. Breitling Chronomat ref. 769In 1940 Breitling applied for a patent on a rotating logarithmic slide rule, a tool for Mathematicia [...]

The first image Ive come across from the guy we have on Fratello today was in this dedicated Speedy Tuesday Facebook group?where he showed an incredible nice composition of the first Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday (2017) and some props.These props often consist of everyday things and Lego. A lot of Lego. Space Lego to be precise. Being a kid from the 1980s, I often recognize the little figures he uses as Space Lego was my favourite as well. Recently, he started an Instagram account (@Plywoodemoji) where he shares his artwork with the rest of the world. In the meantime, he also purchased the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman and did some amazing compositions with this edition as well.Space, Leg [...]

Trawling through watch blogs searching for useful, trustable information can be a slog. It can seem like an endless stream of positivity as many up-and-coming (and, regrettably, some established) blogs vie for sponsors' budgets. I was discussing with one of my colleagues just the other day how we try and avoid overwhelming bias on Fratello while remaining true to ourselves for the good of our readership. Quite bizarrely, the new Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon 5345 Quai De L'Horloge popped-up at just the right time for me to use it as a perfect example in answering this questionFirstly, it is true that we allow certain brands to advertise on our website. It is not something we hide as it [...]

The struggle is real Getting a new or used Rolex watch is becoming more difficult by the day. At least, if you want one of the usual suspects. A Rolex Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master, or even a Datejust is becoming virtually impossible.But behold There are still some Rolex models out there that are offered within reason. Especially considered what you get for your hard-earned cash. For this weeks installment of Pre-Owned Picks (in cooperation with Chrono24), I selected 5 less popular Rolex watches (compared to the obvious ones) that I find interesting. Actually, I own or have owned a few of these Rolex models myself.Five Less Popular RolexesBuy what you like, is the advice I often give to pe [...]