Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Omega has been the timekeeping partner for the Olympic Games since 1932. The last time should have been 2020, but it seems that it is at least postponed till this year (if the planned Tokyo edition goes ahead at all). However, the show must go on, and the Winter Games are already planned for 2022 in Beijing, 14 years after the city hosted a historic summer competition.To celebrate the countdown to the start of the Beijing Winter Games 2022, Omega introduces to you a special Seamaster 300M.Seamaster 300M Beijing 2022 EditionWhen Omega introduced the current Seamaster 300M collection in 2018, it took a step forward concerning innovations and technology, and a little step back regarding design. [...]

Right off the bat, I know what youre thinking: Ben, you think the world needs another Omega Seamaster variation? Thats fair, and we did get a slew of new Omega releases, mostly within its sea-faring collection. Yet, my suggestion to Omega is to consider dive watches that dont plunge to the ocean floor but are pretty comfortable in the coral reefs. Im referring to reimagining the Seamaster 120. It shouldnt be a 1:1 recreation of a particular reference, but instead, a modern reinterpretation with a sprinkle of heritage flair.Just this week, news of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep dominated the watch world. Id been saying for a while that a civilian version of the record-breaking Planet O [...]

You love mechanical watches but dont want or cant afford to pay thousands of dollars for them? There are quite some alternatives on the market for small(er) budgets and beginning watch enthusiasts, like the watches from Guy David. This label is from Gassan (with whom we did an interview earlier this year) and aims at the young and starting watch enthusiasts with this line-up of fashionable mechanical watches for a very friendly price.For instance, this mechanical automatic diver is water resistant to 200 meters and has a diameter of a whopping 47mm.AC Watch Company sells them via their web shop, prices start at 199 Euro. Watches come with a 2 year warranty. [...]

Welcome to This Week in Watches for May 2, 2020. Today, were all about fun and I think weve got the right watches to turn that frown upside down.Nivada Grenchen Returns Thats Fun!Speaking of fun, Nivada Grenchen is back due to the work of a couple French entrepreneurs. Theyll be kicking things off with modern reissues of the Antarctica and the Chronomaster. The Chronomaster is one of the most popular semi-affordable vintage chronographs under the sun and it came in loads of variants. In fact, it came in so many variants that it inspired its own reference book called?Chronomaster Only. Orders will begin in June and deliveries are expected for December. Figure on 1,600 on a Tropic and 1,800 on [...]

Fluted bezels are not a Rolex exclusive. Omega puts a fluted bezel on the Constellation Globemaster, for instance. But still, a bezel with multiple facets reflecting light has an inescapably strong Rolex vibe. But did you know that back in 1927, the Minerva Manufacture in Villeret made a fluted bezel? Well, it did. And in 1939, the brand produced a chronograph with a rotating fluted bezel with a red marking on it. And that last bezel is back. During Watches Wonders 2022, Montblanc presents the Minerva Monopusher Chronograph Red Arrow LE88. And in the same Montblanc 1858 collection, the brand also launches a new Geosphere travel watch with an extra chronograph function, plus an icy cold dive [...]

It's the 25th anniversary of Parmigiani Fleurier, and the Val-de-Travers independent is celebrating in a big way. A total of seven new watches are being introduced, including three models in two different materials and a very special limited edition split-seconds chronograph. Variety is key here, as Parmigiani has all bases covered with these new releases. Starting with an ultra-thin two-hand time watch with a simple date complication and a micro-rotor movement. The brand is also launching a chronograph and an annual calendar. All four new models come on a nicely constructed integrated bracelet and feature a number of dial colors and textures.The Tonda family receives a whole new line of wat [...]

Time keeps on slipping(everybody now!) into the future (thank you, Steve Miller Band). Thats a given, and its what our watches help us witness. But the way we interact with time is another matter. The evolution of the simple wristwatch, driven by professional needs, has brought us numerous different functions for recording time. Dive watches utilize the eponymous divers bezel. Pilots watches as a genre utilize many functions and complications, of which the countdown bezel and chronograph are merely two. All three of these functions measure specific intervals of time. And all three have thoroughly infiltrated non-professional watch culture. Each one divers bezel, countdown bezel, and chronogr [...]

We who write for Fratello are passionate watch lovers like you. But our writing bears the risk of persuading ourselves to fall in love with one or the other watch or even follow one of the current trends in design. Next to the inescapable vintage trend and the continuously evolving diversity of structured dials in all imaginable color hues, the unbroken demand for what has been named luxury sports watches also haunts us Fratello editors in our dreams.Very few of these sports watches are indeed appropriate companions for really sporty situations. Many are too valuable to risk smashing against sports gear or on the ground when our enthusiasm gets the best of us. Others are plainly uncomfortabl [...]

Exactly 6 years ago today, at the beginning of Speedy Tuesday in 2012, we featured Porsche 911 collector and fashion designer Magnus Walker and his Speedmaster Automatic 176.0012 from 1974. I thought it would be nice to highlight this feature once more, as it is not only a very cool reference but also to watch the documentary on Magnus Walker again (below).Magnus Walker and his Porsche 911 and Speedmaster. Photo (c) https://www.autickar.czMagnus Walker SpeedmasterYears ago, I noticed Magnus Walker wearing his Speedmaster Automatic 176.0012 (Mark 4.5) in a copy of TopGear magazine. I contacted him and asked him about his Mark 4.5 for a feature on Speedy Tuesday. He was happy to cooperate and [...]

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 [...]

The Aquanaut is making its way through the ranks. The Aquanaut's design is a derivative of the Nautilus, and it always stood in its shadow, but the times they are a-changing. There are no less than 17 models in Patek Philippe's sporty-chic Aquanaut collection nowadays. And if that doesn't count for something, there are complications like the Travel Time and Chronograph models to add gravitas to the collection. Today Patek Philippe drops two white gold Aquanaut Chronographs in navy blue and army green gradient dials to further strengthen the ranks. The ambitious Aquanaut is on the rise.When introduced in 1997 the Aquanaut looked like a teenage version of the Genta-designed Nautilus. The round [...]

Our friends over at Hodinkee did a very interesting hands-on review with Eric Claptons Patek Philippe ref.2499 Chronograph Calendar timepiece in platinum. Only two 2499 watches have been made in platinum, only one of them was sold on the market. Click here to read all about this magnificent Patek over at Hodinkees.Watch the video below for Ben Clymers visit to Christies in New York City.Up Close with the Patek Philippe Platinum 2499 owned by Eric Clapton from HODINKEE on Vimeo. [...]

Picking your favorite watch from a show like Watches And Wonders is something that you simply cannot rush. It's kind of like making a perfect cup of tea. Your head is a teapot, freshly filled with boiling water. The releases are the tea, which is immersed in the water and must be allowed enough time to fully steep before a perfectly brewed cup can be poured out. If you pour too soon, the tea will be too light, flavorless, and diluted. And if you haven't had time to see everything and let it sink in, your opinion, like the tea, will be incomplete. After a couple of days of mulling over everything we saw, the team comes together to share our picks. And after only a couple of rounds of Rock Pap [...]

Sure, I saw the pictures, but who can trust pictures these days? I mean, some renderings you get from brands truly border on fakery. Reality sometimes has no place in those overly polished and touched-up depictions. You get no real sense of the hue of the colors used, the finishing, the shape, the proportions, and so on. And though the watches from JLC usually don't disappoint and the numbers and words in the press kit made sense, I only had the pre-produced photographs to go by visually. So I was a tad skeptical that's just how I approach things in my watch life, I guess before going hands-on with the steel Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Perpetual Calendar.What I wrote previously about the stee [...]

Today we're reporting on a partnership between Hamilton and Schott NYC. About a month ago, I visited Hamilton's HQ in Biel, Switzerland. They gave me a quick run-down on what was still to come for the brand this year. I saw some exciting watches, including this Khaki Pilot Schott NYC.The watch is the result of a partnership between Hamilton and Schott NYC. A limited piece that pays tribute to the heritage of both brands and what bonds them together; the United States Armed Forces. To celebrate their shared history, they released a timepiece today. Both Hamilton and Schott were companies that supplied gear to the Armed Forces, namely watches and jackets, as well as other garments. Furthermore [...]

On Thursday March 8th, Dutch auction house De Ruiter will offer an interesting Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675, once belonged to Sgt. D.W. Scheele.David Willem Scheele was a Dutch-born, Australian sergeant who served several missions in the Vietnam war. Sergeant Scheele enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1964. He joined the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam in March 1969 and was attached to the 2nd Mobile Strike Force, 5th Special Forces Group.Sgt D.W. Scheeles Rolex GMT-MasterSgt D.W. Scheeles GMT-Master [...]

In this video, I talk about one of my favorite wearers of the last two years. The Omega Seamaster PloProf 1200M, reference 224.30.55.21.01.001.I never thought I would say this, but the Seamaster PloProf 1200M could despite the dimensions of 48mm x 55mm x 17.5mm and weighing nearly 280 grams be my daily wearer. Yes, it is heavy and yes, it is a chunk of steel, but on the wrist, it wears relatively compact. In the video we made I explain to you all the details about the stainless steel Seamaster PloProf 1200M and talk about some of the PloProf history as well.Now discontinued, but it should still be possible to source one of these watches from an authorized dealer or boutique. This Seamaster P [...]

Andrew Babanin wrote a great essay on the Rolex caliber 3135 at TimeZone. He starts his review with the following short, simple but yet so caracteristic introduction, Rolex is a manufacture with old traditions and one hundred years of history. Rolex is always considered a luxury watch, giving assurance to its owner.I would like to review a quite common model Rolex Submariner (Ref. 16610). The case and the bracelet are made of stainless steel. It is a COSC certified automatic chronometer with central seconds and date indicator. Theres a special Triplock screwed down crown with increased water protection. And what follows is everything beyond short and simple.. a superb review on the caliber 3 [...]

It's been a few weeks since some of the Fratello team packed our bags and headed to Switzerland for Geneva Watch Days 2021. That may technically now be old news, but some of the fantastic things we saw were top secret and under embargo, so we've been unable to share them with you. Well, today, I can share one of those fantastical things now that it's made its way into the open. That is the new production version of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual-Time Everest.Back in 2019, Vacheron Constantin held an event in New York to celebrate the recent attempt of noted pro-photographer, explorer, and VC ambassador Cory Richards to ascend Mount Everest along the Tibetan North-East Ridge. Amazingly [...]

Omega Speedmaster Professional MIROne of Fratellos regular readers submitted his Omega Speedmaster Professional MIR edition for our Speedy Tuesday Only 28 pieces have been made in stainless steel and 7 in gold. This limited edition Speedmaster Professional commemorates the second American-Russian space link-up (the first was the Apollo-Soyuz, which also had its special Speedies to commemorate).The stainless steel version comes with two references, one for the 18 examples with a steel bracelet (ST 345.0022.105) and one for the 10 examples with a leather strap (ST 145.0022.105). The steel version has the Lemania based handwound caliber 861 movement and the gold version has the luxury finished [...]