Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

The Planet Ocean series is a go-to choice if you want a cool alternative to the Rolex Submariner, and one you can actually pick up from an AD (remember that feeling?). This is perhaps the most important sports watch range from Omega, and as such, you would surely think this is a bonafide diver's tool, right? Considering the image of its burly 43.5mm size in classic steel and blue, or black with a tempting pop of orange, I understand the sentiment. But, like many popular ranges, the Planet Ocean series has morphed into a veritable sub-brand with a full 28 references. You could go diving with white gold and diamonds, or take this understated 39.5mm Planet Ocean 600M in stealthy black ceramic.A [...]

About two years ago, Bert and I visited the boutique of the Davidoff Brothers in Geneva, and were able to capture a number of tropical dial Speedmasters. Among them, a CK2915 with tropical dial, but also the later CK2998, 105.003, 105.012, 145.012 up till the 145.022 (first watch with caliber 861). In total, we had 12 references in front of us, each with their unique (aesthetic) features.Because we know you love the Speedmaster and especially those with a tropical touch, we put this article in the spotlight once more. Enjoy your dose of SpeedyTuesday.Omega Speedmaster Tropical DialSome of the Speedmaster dials have the tendency to fade to brown. There are different shades of brown to discov [...]

Piaget is not necessarily known for their manly watches. Don't get me wrong, I love the brand. I think what they do is beautiful and classy. Especially their lady's collection. Though we can't complain about the men's line-up either. ?So, this time we will concentrate on those models and run through the 2019 SIHH Piaget novelties. We have 6 watches all together; 3 from the Polo collection and 3 from the Altiplano. This article we give you a bit of an insight into the Polo models.Piaget PoloAs the brand says, the 2019 Polo collection brings vibrance to the SIHH. Obviously, these are very special pieces in looks. One new Polo color and 2 pieces with heavy diamond sets. Let's start with the mos [...]

Ah, Spring is FINALLY here, after a murky winter with the bitterly cold wind howling past the window of my home office. But while my new Bianchi road bike is ready to hit the road, today, it's actually snowing again.What a perfect time to bring out the freshest, brightest PASTELS for Easter, and invoke the first rays of proper sunshine that actually warms us up. Unlike my fellow Norwegian countrymen, I will absolutely not go up a mountain to re-acquaint myself with some snow. This is a time to have a Negroni in the sun.The MoonSwatchI know, the web is already saturated with the most celebrated collaboration of the last decade. And while I understand those who find the black-dial Moon versio [...]

Guess what!? This is the 26th episode in the 52Mondayz column. That means that were half way. Half way the year that every week I wear a different watch which we present to you here at Fratello Watches.The Breitling Chronospace A56012.01 on my wristBreitling Chronospace A56012.01And this week Im going quartz again. A quartz watch from a brand which isnt directly my favourite, however from which one or two models always had my interest. First the classic Breitling Navitimer is of course a watch one cant neglect. This watch is as iconic and as of historical importance as the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Heuer Carrera and the like.Secondly Breitling always attracted my interest with their [...]

Finally, we were able to hit the road and our first major trip was to the Geneva Watch Days 2020 event. We take a very brief look at some of our favorite novelties.It feels like forever since weve been in show mode. With cancellations becoming the norm, it was actually invigorating to set ourselves up with a packed four-day schedule filled with new watches during Geneva Watch Days 2020. We promise to come back with loads of hands-on reviews in the near future, but we thought it best to mention the watches that left a lasting impression. Before that, though, lets talk a little about the event and how it felt to attend.Geneva Watch Days 2020With a pandemic still very much at large throughout t [...]

Although the new Breitling Navitimer 8 has been in the spot light for months now, it is time to have a look at the revamped Navitimer 1. The most important version for the purists. Michael already gave a short introduction to all the new Breitling collections during BaselWorld (click here), but now it is time to go hands-on with my personal favorite: the?Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 in 43mm.The?Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 43mm would be my personal pick from the entire 2018 collection. This model comes in several variations: steel with a leather strap, steel on steel, gold with a leather strap, gold on gold, gold and steel on leather. For this hands-on article, I picked the full steel version with [...]

I remember the first time my wife ever had a root beer. We were on our first trip back to my hometown in the U.S. from my new home in Japan. After being away for almost two years, my longest stint ever to that point, I was excited to eat and drink all the things that didnt exist in Japan ranch dressing, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cake that didnt taste like air, and yes, root beer My wife (then-girlfriend) and I swung into the convenience store, and with an enormous adolescent grin on my face, I bought an AW. I cracked that sucker open and took a swig. Breathing a satisfying sigh of nostalgia, I passed my Japanese partner the bottle, exclaiming You gotta try this Excitedly, she took her first [...]

Just recently we wrote an article on the Breguet 5447BR Classique Grande Complication, a 268.000 Euro timepiece that is mind blowing, but also about a dream piece. Unless something happens in the lottery, it will stay a dream piece as well I am afraid. A bit closer to the wallet is the Breguet we are featuring today here on Fratello Watches. The Breguet Tradition GMT. Almost two years ago we wrote about the Breguet La Tradition that was already introduced in the mid-2000s and featured the escapement on the dial side and had a pocketwatch-like construction (read more here).The Breguet Tradition GMT is another version of that family of watches with the escapement on the dial side of the watch [...]

Welcome to the first Wrist Game or Crying Shame of 2021 and were starting things off with a look at the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. But firstI ended 2020 with a watch from Rolex with an anti-magnetic personality. The Milgauss attracted a 69% Wrist Game vote along with some pretty heavy criticism. Folks called it portly, a weak performer, and hardly deserving of its professional-grade nomenclature. This week, we have an incredibly focused watch up for your voting pleasure. Enter the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. I have a prediction on how this will go, but much like a Tiger Woods tournament entry these days, you just never know if it will end in a DNQ or a [...]

OMEGA Speedmaster 311.33.42.50.01.001Its Speedy Tuesday We received with pride a number of photos of the 2007 OMEGA Speedmaster 1957 50th Anniversary model reference 311.33.42.50.01.001 from Darren Townend. Friend of the show and serious Speedy collector Lets zoom in a bit on this awkward but very cool Speedmaster model, limited to 1957 pieces only.Different from the MoonwatchThis Speedmaster 1957 was actually introduced in the very same year as the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 50th Anniversary model with the Seamonster logo printed on the dial (in gold color). In our Speedy Tuesday article of 21st of August 2012, we actually discuss this model in-depth with a lot of background informa [...]

Michele Cuoccio, owner of the Russianwatches website and moderator of WatchUSeeks Russian Watches Forum, seems to have put a lot of effort in her Russian watch passion.On April 12, 1961, Yury Gagarin took along the wrist-watch Sturmanskie in the worlds first space mission. Since that time Poljot became the trade mark of the First Moscow Watch Factory.If you are passionate about Russian wristwatches as well, you better click here for more. [...]

The launch of the latest Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch generated a murmur amongst Speedy enthusiasts. Voiced around the world, we have seen this question or better said, remark, popping up quite frequently. So I am here today to try and address the burning question: can the current Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch still be considered a Moonwatch? And while Im at it, Ill be looking at other Speedmasters to see how they hold up when faced with this same scrutiny.In getting right to the point regarding the latest Speedmaster released by Omega earlier this year, the short answer is quite simply no. Strictly speaking, the Speedmasters that were worn on the moon were references 105.003, 105.012, and 145. [...]

Chopard L.U.C GMT One Rose GoldA few weeks ago we visited London for a special presentation by Chopard. Their manufacture line, L.U.C, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For this special occasion the company released two new models; the Chopard L.U.C GMT One and the Chopard L.U.C Time Traveler One. In our previous article that we published a few weeks ago we already talked about four models. The versions of the Time Traveler One made of steel, rose gold or platinum. We also covered the steel GMT One as well. However we also saw something that day that we could not discuss with you before.Rose GoldChopard made three versions of the Time Traveler One, you might already have wondere [...]

The creations that come out of the design department of Davide Cerrato (Managing Director of Montblanc Watches) are spread out on a very wide scale. Some are affordable and modest. Others are complicated both in terms of watchmaking. All I'm saying is, that we should not jump to a conclusion when judging Montblanc and categorize them in one way or the other. Having said that, today we will have a closer look at the simplest SIHH 2019 release, the Montblanc 1858 Automatic Limited Edition. Simple in terms of complications, nothing else.1858 CollectionBefore we talk about the watch itself let's first position the 1858?pieces, into the Montblanc collection. Basically, the brand has two main desi [...]

There are times in a person's life when they depart the mundane. The stars align, the background noise of the day-to-day falls away, and one is left standing, full of life, defiant, in tune with oneself and the cosmos. These moments are when the poetry of existence reveals itself, and time and our place in it are not exempt. For such occasions, there is one watch I'd have on my wrist above any other, testament to myself and others that I am truly alive and full of wonder for the universe and my experience: the Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas.I am a man, as much as I am anything. The Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas, (ref. 102680 as my personal choice) is very much marketed to women. One might say it is a w [...]

Like most Dutch people, I'm looking forward to the speed skating events of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. And especially short-track speed skating on the small rink, because that's where we, most likely, can harvest a bunch of gold medals. In other countries, curling is the main event, or (ice) hockey, or biathlon, or downhill skiing. To be honest, I also enjoy sports I normally wouldn't watch because the Olympic setting adds significance to every event. And that's why we go hands-on, downhill, and round and around with the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Beijing 2022 watch a special edition, not a limited edition.It was in the Fall of 2021 that Omega presented the Seamaster Aqua Terra Beijing 2 [...]

Good day, everyone. Mike is in the saddle today and here with your pre-owned highlights. With me at the helm, there's a strong chance of vintage in the forecast and likely occurrence of gold drizzle. Shall we begin?Photo courtesy of Chrono24 and Oliver ClarkePre-Owned Highlights: Rolex Datejust 1600 Ghost DialOur first pre-owned pick comes to us courtesy of Chrono24 and the Los Angeles-based sellers Oliver Clarke. What we have here is a Rolex Datejust 1600. If you were guessing that a 36mm Datejust would find its way into this article because of my recent obsession, you scored However, this isn't just any old Datejust. This is a smooth-bezel model in steel and gold. More than that, though, [...]

One of our readers contributes a tribute to the late (and legendary) Chuck Maddox. Some of the Speedmaster enthusiasts that have been around a bit longer already, have probably encountered Chuck Maddox on one of the forums or via his own website. In 2004, RJ published a multi-part interview with Chuck Maddox here on Fratello Watches. Later on, it has been republished in one complete article for your convenience. While it is already 14 years old, some of the topics discussed are still valid. You can find the complete interview with Chuck Maddox here. If you are not familiar with Chuck Maddox, who sadly passed away in 2008, he was one of the first Speedmaster (and chronographs in general) coll [...]

If you are in London between the 3rd of July and the 2nd of October, make sure to pay 170 New Bond Street in London a visit. Haute Horlogerie boutique Marcus is celebrating three important things, his late fathers arrival in England in 1932, his 70th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his magnificent shop in London.On the picture above, you see owner Marcus Margulies wearing his AP RO, as also featured in the book about 40 years of Royal Oak.The Marcus watch store in London only hosts very interesting and often unique timepieces, including those of Alain Silberstein, Audemars Piguet (they always have +150 models in store), Greubel Forsey, Ikepod, MCT, Richard Mille and Urwerk to name a few [...]