Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

In 2013, Oris released the Aquis Depth Gauge spawning a new collection of modern dive watches. This deep diver had a unique mechanical depth gauge highlighting Oris ambition to create practical applications rather than superfluous complications. Without further ado, lets dive into my first 52Mondayz column below.Oris Aquis CollectionThe Aquis was made a bonafide collection when the core design cues of the Depth Gauge were later separated into time-only, chronograph and many special edition watches. A subtle facelift in 2017 introduced even more angular design cues cementing the Aquis as Oris best selling model across all regions. The Aquis had always escaped me though. At the time, my intere [...]

Although most IWCs are not my cup of tea, I make exceptions for the Portugieser and the Ingenieur as pictured below. This photo was taken by a TimeZoner by the name of Lauranceyap at the IWC Forum.Actually, this IWC is the only IWC I can see myself wearing in the future. I guess my weakness for integrated bracelets plays part It is 42mm in diameter and has the inhouse IWC caliber 80110. Pricing seems to be on par with other brands that use inhouse movements or movements of similar quality. In the Sales Corner over at TimeZone and on Chrono24.com?you can find pre-owned 2006 models for around 4000 Euro. [...]

First things first. This Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT PAM00768 is not a new watch. The Lo Scienzato (the scientist) collection has existed since 2010. It pays tribute to the Tuscan genius Galileo Galilei.In 2019, Panerai introduced this Luminor Tourbillon GMT PAM00768. It is a bold watch, with its 47mm case diameter and skeletonized dial and tourbillon complication. Most of the time, I am not particularly interested in reviewing watches that are priced out of the ballpark. I like to review what is on my own horizon or radar, and what I can feasibly afford. A 145,000, watch is definitely not within my budget for watches. But, sometimes, when a watch is very special or has a certain complica [...]

If youve ever been to NASAs Kennedy Space Center recently, watched the Apollo 13 movie or.. even better.. witnessed it yourself, you know that the NASA astronauts used to have a strong preference for Chevrolet Corvette sports cars.The picture above shows the Apollo 12 crew with their beloved Chevrolet Corvettes. Astronauts Charles Pete' Conrad Jr., Richard Francis Gordon Jr. and Alan LaVern Bean with their 1969 Corvette Stingray coupes. Wired magazine did a nice article on NASA astronauts and their Corvettes last year, from which the picture above was taken (click here).In the book Last man on the Moon by astronaut Gene Cernan, he also refers to the Corvettes several times, being the choice [...]

It's no secret we love a chronograph or two here at Fratello. There's the obvious Moonwatch, but Navitimers and Daytonas get some attention too. But there are plenty of cool chronographs outside of the trifecta of iconic two pusher timers. Today's Pre-Owned Picks selects chronographs worth a punt on the largest online watch marketplace. All watches are offered with original box and papers.All these watches were selected carefully by me without any influence from Chrono24. I chose the topic and found suitable wristwatches that related to the topic. I only request the high-resolution photos from Chrono24 without the watermark. As these are only my suggestions, it is worth always carrying out y [...]

Since 3 years, Hamilton is the main sponsor of the Volkel Air Show in The Netherlands. This Air Show will take place on the 25th of May 2014, but Fratellowatches was invited to come to the press event that was held on the 7th of May.Hamiltons ambassador and pilot Nicolas The Quick Corsican Ivanoff (who currently races in the Red Bull Air Race World Series) was present to treat us with some impressive flying skills in his plane. Ivanoff will also be the first pilot to open the Air Show on the 25th of May.The association with aviation goes back a long way, to 1919. That was the year when a Hamilton watch ensured that the very first US airmail postal service flight was operated in a timely mann [...]

Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza Tag your watch snaps with fratellowatches to be in with a chance to win!Every week, we select four images. You can vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moves on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). Win that and youre into the final, which will be held at the end of the year. There will be five finalists in 2020 and ten from next year on.Basically, if you like winning things and there will be a prize for the champion of 2020 this year represents your best shot. So get snapping, get tagging, and get sharing. And dont forget to vote for yourself ObviouslyView [...]

While browsing the ViaPaneristi forum, I came across a post by AdrianNJ. He shows off his neat collection, and one of the watches really stands out. this D.Dornbluth Sohn! Good Taste!Picture by AdrianNJ [...]

If youve been paying attention since 2017, you might have noticed that Omega has been up to something. Every first (Speedy) Tuesday of the year, the brand has released either a new Speedmaster or something Speedmaster-related, like the caliber 321 re-introduction in 2019. This year, the 65th anniversary of the legendary chronograph brings us the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 in Canopus Gold, reference 311.50.39.30.01.001.I am very proud and honored to be able to go hands-on with this new Speedmaster Calibre 321. Its an incredible reproduction of the first Speedmaster CK2915, but in Omega's own white gold alloy, Canopus Gold. As the name suggests, it features the beloved 321 chronograph movem [...]

In February of this year, Grand Seiko announced four new GMT watches as new additions to their Elegance collection. Two of the four models are the Spring Drive powered SBGE269 and SBGE 271. The other two are the mechanical Hi-Beat SBGJ249 and SBGJ251. Together these four models form the special Seasons series of watches. This series focuses on the changing of seasons that inspired the dials for these watches. I had a chance to go hands-on with the mechanically powered SBGJ249 and SBGJ251. With the world opening up again, could these be your next travel companion?When it comes to GMT watches, there is no better brand than Grand Seiko. The brand offers a variety of different models that featur [...]

Funny, when I unboxed this new Oris Aquis Calibre 400 for this review, I couldnt stop looking at the dial. I know it should be all about the in-house caliber 400, but Ill tell you that it took a few minutes before taking the watch off again to have a glance at the new Oris movement.The dial (and watch) look quite similar to their Aquis Ocean Cleanup limited edition. That watch was a bit smaller, and there are some aesthetic differences, but it just reminded me of that one. If youre a watch fanatic, you havent missed the introduction of the new Oris movement: Calibre 400. It is interesting that Oris decided to introduce the movement first, and a few weeks later introduce the first watch to be [...]

What to do if you like the Rolex Submariner and GMT-Master models but you wouldnt want to be caught dead with a Rolex? You look for alternatives ofcourse Besides the usual alternatives like the Omega Seamaster Professional or even the cheaper MarcelloC rip-offs, what about spending some extra bucks (or whatever currency you have) and buy something more exclusive?As an alternative to the Submariner or Sea-Dweller diving watch, take a look at this Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Besides their rather classic looking watches, Blancpain also features this sporty diver in their collection. This large (45mm) watch is waterresistant to depths of 300 meters, features an inhouse mechanical self-winding moveme [...]

When On Her Majestys Secret Service was first released in 1969, people were not sure whether this was a step in the right direction for the Bond franchise. Fifty years later, the film is still good for a heated discussion, but the film has cemented its place in the history of the Bond saga. So it seems only right that Omega celebrates the 50th anniversary of the movie with the release of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 50th Anniversary Of On Her Majestys Secret Service.When discussing the classic James Bond film, to me, its all about the movie that features Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and George Lazenby. Although many people have their doubts about Lazenbys portrayal of Bond, his one-time perf [...]

Jaeger-LeCoultre had a strong game this year during the SIHH in my opinion. It is actually one of the Richemont brands that didnt seem to be searching for its own?identity, but did what it does best: design great watches using their heritage and impressive collection of in-house movements. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph is my favorite from their new collection. In this article, I will show you why.Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph ?Using HeritageMy first appointment at the SIHH this year was a coffee with the Dutch representative of Jaeger-LeCoultre. I had an interview planned with Stephane Belmonte later that day, and I thought it would be wise to already have a quick look at the [...]

Time for another Fratello contest This time, it's chronographs that take center stage. But not just any chronograph will do. We're talking chronographs with racing pedigree high-octane watches that get both watch freaks and petrol heads to shift into high gear. First up is a drag race between the well-established Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro SS and a rookie on the track, the Singer Reimagined Track1 Launch Edition. The Fast and the Fratelli, start your engines!The goal is simple, and so is the race. The Fast and the Fratelli Grand Prix will determine the best racing chronograph of the past ten years. On the starting grid, you will only see watches that are able to track elapsed time for [...]

Ah, dont you love it when everything just falls neatly into place? Isnt it a joy when things that never were, suddenly appear and feel as if theyve been present all along? I love it when that happens. It is not the most seldom sensation in watchmaking, but it is one of the industrys finest. The satisfaction one feels when viewing something so tidily realized for the first time is, I would imagine, akin to an athletes sensation of victory. It feels like it was all worth it. The hours spent hammering away at the keys, twiddling screwdrivers at the bench, and peering through shop windows longingly are at once justified. The new Patek Philippe In-Line Perpetual Calendar 5236P-001 makes me feel t [...]

Balazs and Mike make good on their promise to come back with frequency On this episode we give recommendations for the upcoming Holiday Season and then we talk about our favorite bracelets.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via?Buzzsprout,?Soundcloud,?Apple Podcast,?Google Podcast,?Deezer, Stitcher, and?Spotify.The Handgelenk KontrolleFirst, its a Handgelenk Kontrolle and Mike is wearing a vintage Meylan Chronograph while Balazs is sporting his Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical with a Kill Hubris NATO.The FratellorisThen, we talk about the Fratelloris Fratello x Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date thats now in our shop!Our Holiday Picks for 2020 are Affordable!Next, for the holidays, we r [...]

Since 1904, Oris has strived to make fantastic watches at accessible prices. The brand prides itself on its dedication to this mission, seeing it as an inseparable part of its identity. Through the years, watch enthusiasts have come to love Oris for this commitment to value. Indeed, this is one of the core values upon which the brand was built over 115 years ago.In this installment of A Brief History of Time, well explore as much as we can about where Oris came from, its struggles, its accomplishments, and its modern-day success. Admittedly, its a bit of a daunting task to fit such a long, uninterrupted history into a single article. Nevertheless, I hope youll stick with me, as we find out w [...]

Last week we held the first Speedy Tuesday Event again. Its been a long time since the last one (for one obvious reason that has affected all of us). We received an incredibly high amount of registrations, but we were limited (no pun intended) to 50 people in total. For these 50 persons, Fratello and Omega hosted the Speedy Tuesday Event at the Omega headquarters in Biel, with quite some nice surprises in store.Speedy Tuesday Event Biel Edition 2022When I started Speedy Tuesday back in 2012 10 years ago I didnt put a lot of thought into it. It sounded like a nice working title and it allowed me to write about my favorite chronograph at least once a week. The first get-together came in 2012, [...]

One of the most enjoyably divisive watch brands on Planet Earth has released a rush of new models during the LVMH watch week in Dubai. Hublot, known for its endless experimentation with unusual materials, strikes gold with the Classic Fusion Gold Crystal watch.Say what you like about Hublot, but this horological heavyweight knows how to cause a stir. The sheer proportions of many of Hublots models require their wearers to have bags of confidence. Throw in the often wild design of these laboratory-born showstoppers, and youre left with a product that will appeal to a small slither of the luxury watch audience. But that is exactly what this brand wants, and what it does so well. With often str [...]