Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

When I took a look at the 2020 Vacheron Constantin Overseas QP in pink gold, I still longed for the steel version. The pink gold case with matching bracelet certainly had an allure with the luscious blue dial. But for many, gold is still a barrier of entry for those looking to upscale to a complicated timepiece with sumptuous hand-finishing, but in stainless steel. One of todays announcement offers a glimpse to the potential of white metal on the QP, but if anything is more expensive in the white gold case and bracelet.Sorry to bait and switch with the promise of steel on blue dial Overseas QP. I, too, had the hope for a utilitarian material mixed with high-end hotness. For now, Vacheron int [...]

Tell me, are you an avid user of dark mode on your electronic devices? Personally, I set my devices so that they change from light to dark mode automatically based on the sunrise and sunset. And you're just like me, you must be very happy that Piaget has just given you the option to do the same with your Altiplano Ultimate Concept (AUC). Whereas the previous two versions were both light-silver-colored, Piaget has now introduced a dark mode to the thinnest watch in its collection.At 2.0mm thin, you're probably aware that the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is not the thinnest mechanical watch around anymore. That award will now go to the recently introduced Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra at 1 [...]

During the pandemic, we all inevitably became online shoppers. Now, in many countries, the third wave is abating. Finally, we can go shopping again. But do we want to?Visiting the high street near your home now, after you couldnt do so for months, because everything was closed, will probably leave a bitter taste in the mouth at first. You will notice all those shops that didnt survive. Maybe, you recall the last time you were buying something there, and perhaps you remember the people who worked there.Possibly, you dont notice anything like that because youre just exuberantly happy to return to normality and to meet other people again in an almost relaxed atmosphere. Potentially, your desire [...]

Only late in 2016 (October), the famous chronograph manufacturer from Le Locle?came out with their Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2. This model refers to the famous (and sought-after) Zenith Cairelli chronographs from the 1960s. A. Cairelli was the Rome-based distributor for a number of watch brands, including Zenith.?Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2The Italian Air Force chose (amongst others) Zenith chronograph for their pilots and Cairelli did the delivery?for them. 2500 of these Zenith Cairelli chronographs were delivered to pilots and this original?Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 was used by them till the late 1970s. The original version didnt have an El Primero chronograph movement of course [...]

Unlike the Rolex Daytona, where it is quite common to make a choice between a white dial or a black dial, the Speedmaster Professional comes with a black dial. Most of the time, that is. There are some limited and numbered editions from the past where Omega decided to use a white dial instead for the Professional. In all other cases, you need to seek for Speedmaster models that do no belong to the Professional series (or are a Moonwatch) if you want to have a white dial.With this article, Id like to give you an overview of white dial Speedmaster Professional models.?Let me start by saying that the most beautiful white dial version in my book is the one that they never produced, a prototype [...]

This article is a direct counterpoint to the article I released 90 minutes ago. Whenever Only Watch lights up the internet, we are reminded of one thing: theres no accounting for bad taste. Truthfully, however, what I define as bad taste could be seen as quite the opposite from another mans point of view. Exactly how far apart my taste is from that of the future owners of these watches will become apparent when they go under the hammer in November. Before then, though, why dont we have a bit of fun sharing our candid thoughts on the belowPlease dive into the comments and tell me what you think of the watches featured in this article and the one from earlier today (you can read it here: its s [...]

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. Its 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 Rolex watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had proudly reclaim [...]

Watches And Wonders 2022 is officially over. After a week full of new releases, its time to look at some of the hidden gems. These timepieces were not among the most talked-about pieces of the show, but they are ones that deserve attention for a number of reasons. Lets take a look at some of the watches that you might have seen but forgotten about, or maybe you havent seen at all due to the simply massive amount of new releases.The biggest downside of a week full of new releases is that it is sometimes hard to keep up. Additionally, you might forget some of the models after a couple of days because what came after was equally worth your attention. Obviously, the big brands like Rolex, Tudor, [...]

This report is about the kick-off of Panerais new approach to Limited Editions, the Panerai Comsubin Experience. Panerai now offers buyers a unique experience when they purchase one of their special and highly limited models. This year, at SIHH 2019, we saw three different models offered, each including an exceptional package.We explained this already briefly in our article on an interview with Mike Horn; these three special editions are linked to two Panerai ambassadors and Panerai's history employing the Italian Navy or Marina Militare. Concerned models are the Submersible Chrono Guillaume N ry Edition (PAM983, 15 pieces), the Submersible Mike Horn Edition (PAM985, 19 pieces), and the Subm [...]

If youve read my recent article, you may well have noticed me banging on about dial textures and why theyre so important. The dial is probably the first thing we see when looking at a watch for the first time. They say first impressions are the key to success, so the dial is quite an important element in this regard. Its not just color that can make a dial truly eye-catching, texture can and does play a key role when it comes to this. I decided to go back and take a look at some of the best dial textures out there today, as well as the brands responsible.As a forewarning and a caveat, Ive purposely tried to steer clear of guilloch dials for this article. Guilloch is an art form of its own [...]

There are some Omega Speedmaster watches that I missed out on in the past. As a Speedmaster enthusiast and collector, that sometimes hurt. But you cant have it all, I guess.In this article, I will share with you the five Speedmaster watches that I missed. Either during its introduction or just because I only realized later on that I need it. Of course, you can still add it later on, and in some cases I did.Five Speedmaster Watches I Missed Out OnThis overview is about the watches that I missed from the start, so not those Speedmasters that were introduced before I got into collecting them. Otherwise, the list would be very long. Very long. A borderline pick would be the 2003 Speedmaster Snoo [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week we put on our fancy duds with a look at the Cartier Tank Basculante 2390. But firstIt turns out that the once unpopular Omega Dynamic Chronograph is a rip-snorting cultish success these days. Despite its initial sales flop, a full 69% of you favored this low calorie Omega. If those 800 or so positive voters had only bought one of these watches, perhaps it would still be in the lineup today. This week, we are moving onwards and way upwards with a look at a watch from one of the most luxe brands arounds: Cartier. Enter the Cartier Tank Basculante 2390.Visiting a Cartier boutiqueI often talk about my formative years in South Florida. And hon [...]

The introduction of the new Omega a Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch collaboration did not go unnoticed. Some of my colleagues went to see the queues last weekend in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and they were absolutely crazy.We covered the Omega a Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch last Wednesday evening. As the media embargo was broken by another site, we got the OK from the Omega and Swatch HQs to publish a few hours ahead of schedule. And the interest in this watch exceeded all expectations We had the MoonSwatch in the office a few days in advance, and most of the Fratello team was incredibly excited about it. But this run to Swatch boutiques and the massive amount of comments on our art [...]

I dont usually buy into the hype around things. When people around me are all praising something, I typically try to avoid it. For example, when Game Of Thrones was on TV, my friends were raving about how fantastic it was and how I simply had to watch it. I declined and didnt even give it a chance. My friends later tricked me into watching an episode, which turned out to be just as good as they had promised, so I went back and watched the entire thing. Curses At least I wasnt trapped in the one episode a week and months/years between seasons cycle. The same goes for Bvlgari and its Octo Finissmo watches. The hype and praise are unanimous and unrelenting. Today I have been given the Bvlgari O [...]

For Grand Seiko USA, we created a small magazine on the four special edition watches to celebrate the Japanese 24 seasons. Additionally, we cover the original 62GS design to have a better understanding of the current models. Last but not least, theres an article on Grand Seikos Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements.This magazine is created for the US market and can be found in a number of their boutiques. For you, we have a digital copy of the Grand Seiko magazine available for download. When you are a Grand Seiko fan, theres probably nothing much new for you to discover, but I am sure you will enjoy it anyway!Grand Seiko MagazineThis 16-page magazine covers three articles. Theres one big artic [...]

The Tudor Black Bay Pro was the big one for Tudor at Watches And Wonders 2022. The watch was met with a lot of praise, but its design also sparked a lively discussion. Did Tudor make the right move by copying the design of the legendary Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655? Or is it a different watch influenced by the original Explorer II? The same questions can be asked looking at the second big Tudor introduction. The new Tudor Black Bay GMT SG Root Beer was inspired by the iconic Rolex GMT-Master Root Beer models. The original models represent the style of the 70s and 80s perfectly. Did Tudor successfully salute that aesthetic, or should the brand have left it alone? Lets find out.For Tudor, 2022 [...]

Goldene Unruh 2013Every year, readers of the German Uhren Magazine and Focus magazine (a Munich based news magazine) can select a winning watch from a number of brands, in different price categories. This year, the selection process was even easier for voters using the Focus internet platform.Anyway, in total 25.246 people participated and voted for their most favorite watches amongst the 426 candidates. Voting took place between 15th of December 2012 and the 31st of January 2013. The categories of watches are as follows:Category A up to 2500 EuroCategory B up to 5000 EuroCategory C up to 10.000 EuroCategory D up to 25.000 EuroCategory E over 25.000 Euroand then there was the Gold-Medal [...]

The first Rolex Yacht-Master debuted in 1992. It was a yellow gold watch with a full gold bracelet and a bi-directional bezel with raised numerals. I cant imagine that Rolex intended that watch to be a serious companion for those who were sailing. Rather, it was a watch to show off that you probably owned a boat, even when you werent actually on the boat itself.It wasnt until 1999, in fact, that Rolex released the Yacht-Master in Rolesium a combination of steel and a platinum bezel and dial. That watch, reference 16622, was one of the Rolex models other than the Daytona that had a long waitlist at first. Soon after, it became the model that was always available, more or less.Rolex Yacht-Mast [...]

Every month my company Chronolytics sends out a newsletter to the watch industry, watch enthusiasts and press with some facts figures on watch consumers and their behavior. Todays newsletter is about the awareness of German watch brands by consumers from the USA. Based on IP-address and cookies, Chronolytics is able to track the on-line behavior of millions of watch enthusiasts on the largest watch market platform in the world. I thought it would be interesting to show how German watch brands are doing in the USA, as some of them are clearly trying (and with quite some positive results) to get a piece of the US market for (luxury) watches.This article is an excerpt of the original newslette [...]

I thought I was an as-found kind of a watch collector. Just get a watch serviced, and thats it. That was until I found a beautifully patinated all-black Gallet Multichron 12 with a portion of lume missing from the minute hand. That got me thinking should I relume or not?What was I to do? One part of me wanted to keep it that way as almost a sign of respect for what the watch was. Now, I dont want to overcomplicate the sentiment here, but just as I dont try to change people and I take them as-is, I always thought Id prefer to take a watch with all of its dents, scratches, and even little cracks on its Plexiglass crystal.Missing lumeHonestly, I had not faced this dilemma before because I alway [...]