Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

We received an email from our reader Jeffrey. He wonders how the watch landscape would look like if Rolex were wiped from it and its history. We try to answer that question in the best way possible. As we meander down Hypothetical Lane, we took into consideration the brands accomplishments and innovations, but also made some assumptions. Let us know your take on this alternate history in the comments belowThat hypothesis doesn't only affect today's crazy market for (Rolex) watches, but it might also affect some of the innovations that Rolex introduced. Many think that Rolex was the inventor of the automatic movement, the date window, the diving watch etc., but that's not true. They might hav [...]

Patek Philippe graces us with two new timepieces inspired by vintage watches from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. The first release is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5320G. The reference 5230 was introduced in 2017 with a cream-colored dial. While that watch is no longer part of the current collection, Patek Philippe decided to re-introduce it with a stunning new aesthetic. The second release is the Patek Philippe Chronograph 5172G, introduced in 2019 in a beautiful deep blue color. For both releases, Patek Philippe chose to equip the watches with beautiful gilded opaline rose gold dials, or as most people call them, salmon dials. Lets take a look at these two stylish beauties.Th [...]

Fans of manga, anime, and polarizing watches rejoice: Zenith may have released just the watch for you This Lupin The Third Final Edition is the latest installment into Zeniths highly successful Chronomaster Revival range. It is also the last piece in a trio of watches inspired by the Japanese manga and anime series Lupin The Third. The first two Chronomasters in this limited-edition series featured previously unproduced dials. The designs came directly from episodes of the anime series, and both had an overall classic aesthetic. For the final edition, however, Zenith went all out, combining the previous two dials for an eye-popping look.At Fratello, were big fans of the Chronomaster Revival [...]

The SIHH 2014 in Geneva will start tomorrow and Fratellowatches will be there to bring you the latest news with our own photos and stories We also recently opened our Press Release section on our website, so you also will be able to read the official press release information that we receive from brands. However, we will of course continue bring you our unique content as well like you are used to from us.Today we received the pre-SIHH 2014 news on the Parmigiani Fleurier M tro collection. Not too long ago we paid a visit to the Parmigiani HQ and production facilities and we were more then impressed. Our photo report of that visit can be found here. The M tro collection is their latest introd [...]

With the new Serpenti and Octo Finissimo models stealing much of the limelight this week in Dubai, the Bvlgari Divas Dream collection has floated under the radar. But no longer. Here we give this concise range of jewelry watches their due.Although I dont wear much jewelry above the wrist, I never tire of seeing such time-honored techniques applied to watches. For many years now, Ive been critical of brands covering mens models in diamonds and passing them off as womens watches. I find it lazy, at best, insulting at worst. Were seeing more and more brands acknowledge misguided pasts (albeit quietly) by creating genuinely exciting watches for women. The Bvlgari Divas Dream collection appears s [...]

I talked about the black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph in the previous installment of The Best Boring But Brilliant Watches In The World, but now it's time for something completely different. The Patek Philippe Calatrava. The Calatrava started out as a humble dress watch, but it also has a more outgoing and exuberant side that might surprise you. However, at heart, a Calatrava remains a very traditional and soft-spoken creation.Forgive me for sounding pretentious, but a classic Patek Philippe Calatrava reminds me a bit of a Schubert piano sonata. If my dad reads this, he would be proud, because it's proof he didn't play me all that classical music for nothing when I was still a youn [...]

After the last Watches and Pencils episode about Panda dials I decided to briefly discuss another dial which is related to an animal: spider dials. Although there are?similarities they are quite different in terms of creation. The human decided to design and create a panda dial, while the spider dial is (partly) created by the forces of natureHow did the spider dial originate?Roughly in the 1980s several brands delivered?watches with dials that would crack after?time. Often they altered the?dial from a matt finishing to one with gloss finishing with an extra layer of shiny lacquer. Due?factory defects (wrong mixtures in the?lacquer) and weather conditions (sunlight, temperature changes, etc. [...]

The latest news coming out of Holstein will surely please the fans of the Oris Aquis Date timepieces.The brand is releasing two new models, both Aquis divers and both with a date. Thats pretty much where the similarity ends, though. One of the cornerstones of Oriss strategy is to create affordable and high-quality tool watches. Whether we are talking about timepieces for pilots or divers, this DNA crops up in all of them. The brands watches are built to last and have a very distinct Oris look. The Aquis collection is arguably the best-known Oris line among divers. The Oris Divers collection appeals to those with an active lifestyle. Both of the collections new additions are more than capable [...]

Welcome, one and all, to the preliminary round of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello. 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 like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Help us decide the champion and share in its glory Let the games commenceIn this round, your task is simple: vote for your favorite watch. Below you will find a selection of 12 timepieces that we covered here on Fratello throughout 2020. Why not refresh your memory by clicking the links and reading those eruditely penned odes to wrist-wear? Once youve made your selection, vote using the poll [...]

In the past couple of years FIDES, the investment group that owns the Geneva Hong Kong branches, has been carefully getting this group back on its feet. An interesting development since Antiquorum NY has been completely separated from Antiquorum Geneva Hong Kong, is the newest divide line has been drawn: the websites have been totally separated. The NY company is keeping the www.antiqurorum.com and Geneva has launched the new www.antiquorum.swiss to differentiate itself as a separate company. I thought it would be annoying, but it's really not. The Geneva based auction house has also launched its own app and looking forward to seeing how this new independence continues to evolve.FIDES has [...]

It has been almost 2 months ago, since Frank and I visited BaselWorld 2009. One of the highlights was visiting the Blu stand in Hall 2.0 on our last day there. After looking at their displayed watches for a while, I decided to go and ask for some more information about them, as I liked their style and use of precious materials. My questions about the brand were answered by Mrs. Lederer, wife of Bernhard Lederer (Blu stands for Bernhard Lederer Universum). She invited us over to a desk, to show us some watches of the Blu collection and give us some more explanation on the brand. Our discussion was mainly about materials, such as diamonds on Blus watches for men. When our questions became more [...]

For many people, a watch is not only a device that tells time, as numerous other devices surrounding us can do that today. It is also a piece of art, jewelry, perhaps a status symbol or perhaps equipment for something else as well. From diver watches to chronographs with pulsation scale on its bezel for specific pusposes.? Then you have those watches that people wear all the time; even when playing sports.We all know the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso and the British polo players. Have you heard about Cartier's Basculante or Universal Geneve's Cabriolet though? Read on!Reversible Watchesphoto from rg_watches from eBayphoto from Universal Genevephoto by Jaeger Le-CoultreFor those of yo [...]

These days, we seem to focus on the newest watch releases with a longing eye towards whatever might come next. We lap up the debuts and move on quickly. Furthermore, we also pine over those watches that are impossible to buy (ahem, Rolex). Its time to take a deep breath and realize that there are some truly great watches that are readily available and are, dare I say, modern classics. Lets have a look FOMO thats fear of missing out, for those of you who arent glued to your phone. Were addicted to platforms like Instagram where the pressure is on to keep showing something / anything new. In todays watch world, a competitive nature exists where yesterdays news is gone and forgotten in a heart [...]

A while ago, I posted about the Girard-Perregaux Richeville chronograph with caliber 8381. This movement is not inhouse as I wrote, but it is based on the Lemania 1872. David Alstott emailed me this correction and included a nice scan of a Lemania 1872 trio.You can read more about Girard-Perregaux at WatchRap (by ThePurists), they have a special section for Girard-Perregaux. [...]

Despite the cancellation of Grand Seikos summit, the new watches are being introduced anyway (kudos for that). Thus, were kicking off with the new Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Professional Divers 600M.Thats right, Grand Seiko was born in 1960 and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Not exactly the celebration they had in mind in Japan, but I am sure we will get an opportunity to see the watches live and to test drive them. For now, well have to make do with the press releases theyve shared with us.Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Divers 600MThis watch might look familiar to you. It looks similar to the Grand Seiko Diver SBGA231G (that I reviewed here) or perhaps better sai [...]

Rolex NoveltiesAs every year, everyone started running towards the Rolex booth right after the opening of the Baselworld exhibition. Rumours about a new Rolex GMT-Master II seemed to be true, although there wasnt a Coke or Pepsi configuration to show. Instead, Rolex came up with a blue and black configuration. New was the Rolex Yacht-Master II in stainless steel. More about those models later. Lets focus on the brand new Rolex Daytona reference 116506 first!Rolex Daytona 116506Although Rolex doesnt celebrate it officially, its the 50th anniversary of the famous Daytona model. The all platinum version of the iconic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is not a limited edition nor is it a time limited edi [...]

I remember when Zenith first released the Defy 21 back in 2017. I was invited to a showcase event where many of the new watches from that years Baselworld. It was the first time I was able to see these watches up close and personal. I was rather excited as that year had seen a few new watches released that I was eager to see up close and personal. One of these was the Zenith Defy 21.The Zenith El Primero Defy 21 was a big update and upgrade on the original El Primero movement from 1969. The movements frequency was given a bump up from 5Hz to 50Hz, in turn giving a considerable increase in timing precision from 1/10th of a second to 1/100th of a second for chronograph readings. This means tha [...]

This coming Wednesday, June 5th, the Fortuna Exchange auction will take place again. A monthly live auction where you can bid on watches. In this month, Fortuna offers no less than 153 watches of which we selected 4 to show you: Rolex Explorer 1016, Rolex GMT-Master 165, Omega Seamaster 300 165.024 and a Zenith A. Cairelli CP-2.Lets start with the last one, the Zenith chronograph for the Italian Airforce.Zenith A. Cairelli CP-2 ChronographIf youre not into vintage watches, you might recognize this model anyway as Zenith did a re-edition of the CP-2 not that long ago (we reviewed it here). This particular watch, however, was sold in the 1960s by the Italian defence contractor, A. Cairelli. Th [...]

Last time out, I gave you a breakdown of all the watch and F1 team partnerships for the 2021 season. In the closing statement, I pondered the possibilities of Omega becoming an official partner of the sport for the first time. Thats unlikely to happen with Rolex as the official timekeeper. But it made my imagination run wild with other possible tie-ins between carmakers and watch brands. My list today looks at a fantastical selection of collabs. These do not necessarily relate to motorsport, and some only tie a specific watch to a car model.We often dismiss it or lie to ourselves about how much we are driven by marketing. Watch aficionados especially resent the marketing tactics of our favor [...]

One of the coolest looking exhibition spaces at Baselworld is the double booth by Seiko.Since Grand Seiko became a different brand the Japanese powerhouse shares a twin booth, between their two major brands, Seiko and Grand Seiko. On the one side, you have the displays for the latest Seiko timepieces, while the other side belongs to the Grand Seiko novelties. Writing a run-down on both brands would be a too long article so this time we will only take a closer look at the 2019 novelties of the other Seiko brand, Grand Seiko. GS has some seriously cool watches to show us this year, both for men and for women. For the sake of gender equality, I think it is time to talk about the ladies' models [...]