Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

I feel like Ive gone full circle. The wardrobe of my youth was filled with Levis jeans and denim jackets that seemed to last a lifetime. Before the pandemic, I only had suits and chinos, but now, I have seen the light once again. Ive come around and now embrace DENIM blues and indigo cool. Having said that, however, the image has changed. Gone are the 501s from my bachelor days. Instead, we have access to online bespoke cool from Sweden and the best denim from Japan. Like the grand value of mechanical Seikos (light pun intended), Nippon denim bears a mark of craftsmanship. The Japanese do love a good pair of jeans, but they have taken the US aesthetic and made it their own. There is a deep, [...]

Longines has leveraged its outstanding expertise in quartz technology to create the ultimate high-precision wristwatch: the all-new Conquest V.H.P. This collection constitutes another milestone in the history of quartz timepieces, successfully incorporating many features of today's smart connected watches, such as ultra-precision, technical sophistication and a sporty feel, without any of the drawbacks, and all this while preserving the brand's signature elegance. The watch also has an in-built system that resynchronises the hands after exposure to a shock or a magnetic field, a world first that guarantees timekeeping which is as accurate as the new-generation quartz movement itself. Around [...]

Ahoy friends and all aboard for this weeks edition of Wrist Game or Crying Shame. Well take a look at the very first IWC Aquatimer Cousteau Divers. But firstEvery time I try to have a little fun around here, you guys go and get all kinds of serious. And so it was with the Corum Bubble Shark Diver. You burst my bubble because this expressive diver sunk into the abyss with a 75% Crying Shame loss. Boo hoo Staying on theme with the water ready, though, lets see if youll turn a kinder eye to the IWC Aquatimer Cousteau Divers.Jacques Yves CousteauIf Richard Dawson were still alive and hosting one of my all-time favorite TV game shows, Family Feud, Id try to qualify as a contestant. And if I got t [...]

About seven years ago, in 2001, I had this Bulova Accutron Spaceview wrist watch. I wrote a review on that watch and posted it here.I bought it off eBay and wore it for about a year or so before I traded it again. I remember that I was too afraid of damaging the movement, which would result in having a useless watch in my drawer. Repairing an Bulova Accutron is expensive and time consuming. Good spare parts are hard to find. However, there is hope. The Watch and Clock Forum created an Accutron forum. Perhaps I should have kept it and wait until there was this Accutron community ?? The nicest Accutron Spaceview Ive ever seen is a triangular cased 14ct white gold version on a leather strap. Be [...]

Today, our friend and colleague journalist Michael Clerizo broke the internet with his story How Paul Newman's Legendary Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Was Foundaand Where It's Going Now published on Wall Street Journal.I am not going to quote anything from the article, as I believe you should read the entire story over at WSJ. Other websites also covered the big find. The watch was actually in the hands of James Cox, he dated Paul Newmans?daughter Nell for many years and was gifted the watch by her father. Although they are not together anymore, they remain close friends. Cox?will be offering it for auction on October 26th in New York at Phillips. This happens to be the first watch auction in tha [...]

Being separated from our watchmaking partners can be difficult. Most of what we see and hear from the brands takes the form of new releases when they are revealed to the world (or sometimes slightly before that). Without the movement of people, the rumor mill runs dry. Non-physical developments made by brands are easy to miss unless the brand communicates them directly. One brand that has made a good fist of that during this Covid-stricken era, is Breitling. And now the brand unveils a novel watch subscription program we hope will be of interest to readers, enabling an Authorized-Dealer-starved clientele to try before they buy.Last year, Breitling announced its new blockchain security system [...]

Time and Gems friend of Fratellowatches proudly introduces the first Black Gold Rolex watches. Stainless steel (904L) and 18ct gold Rolex watches have been coated with Time and Gems ultra hard scratch resistant PVD. For now, Time and Gems re-worked the Submariner and the Daytona, both iconic time pieces for the Giant from Geneva.Below you can see the introduction video by Time and Gems, presenting the Black Gold Sub and Black Gold Daytona. The deep black on these watches, in combination with the 18 carat yellow gold is simply stunning.Price are unknown yet. Keep an eye on the Time and Gems blog for more information. [...]

Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at an iconic timepiece in the Movado Museum Watch. Lets see if youd like to become a supporter of the arts with your vote. But firstLast week, I showed you a decent but potentially altered Doxa SUB 300 Professional for 3,500. After some hemming and hawing, you folks saw it fit to award the old salt a 62% Wrist Game win. Orange you glad you voted? Now thats enough of the jocularity. Its time to get all sorts of nose in the air like a proper patron of the arts. You know the type. Theyre the snooty folks who proclaim to see something deep and profound from a piece of art that looks more like a dogs doodling. Today, we have a real piece of art in th [...]

As some of you may know, my horological life began some 25 years ago with an Omega Speedmaster Professional. Of course, it wasnt my first watch. Although my very first watch was a mechanical one, quite a lot of quartz and digital watches like Casio G-Shock, Citizen, and many many Swatches had been on my wrist already.?But it must have been beginning of the 90s that a friend of mine bought a Speedmaster. It didnt take more than a month before I had one on my wrist as well.Omega Speedmaster Professional ref 3570.50.00That was not only the start of an ever-growing watch collection, but it also spurred a career change. My interest in these kinds of watches felt so natural that it was an easy c [...]

The Rolex Explorer 1016 sprawls on a table, a scant few years shy of its 30th birthday, appearing much as it did when it was produced in 1989.An odd paradox of a watch by this time, its ultimate year of production, for it must have looked like something from so long ago, but yet it bore, and still bears, that newish look of a semi-modern Rolex. These contradictions, and the fact that the 1016 is, in my highly biased opinion, the most starkly beautiful Rolex sports watch ever created, make it a highly covetable timepiece indeed. In this week's edition of TBT, we take a closer look at the end of the line for one of Rolex's greatest creations.The Rolex Explorer 1016The Rolex Explorer 1016, of [...]

,The latest, number 25 to be exact, James Bond movie is in the making. Finally It was time for the team to continue on this epic journey and bring the adventures of 007 to the silver screen.For a long time, it seemed that the 25th Bond movie was not going to happen anytime soon. First, the debate came about who'll play Her Majesty's secret agent. Now we know that Daniel Craig is back C or rather, never left. Then, Danny Boyle jumped ship, and the production lost its director. Luckily, they found a new person in charge rather quickly. To direct this epic film, the producers chose none other than Cary Fukunaga who most of you might know as the director of True Detective's first season. Fukuna [...]

Rodrigo is in the need of a dress watch with a brown leather strap. He noticed the Oris Classic Date that retails for under 1000, but he also has a couple of other thoughts he shared with us. He already owns the Omega De Ville Hour Vision, with a black leather strap and he likes the idea of being a one-brand guy.Finding the right classic dress watch isnt easy. Ive been struggling with this myself for a while, and also mentioned this in articles like this one. So lets see how we can help Rodrigo.You Asked Us Oris Classic Date or an Omega De Ville Prestige?Good afternoon, dear friends at Fratello Watches,I am a young man who started collecting watches not a long time ago. I own an Omega DeVil [...]

Were just one day away from the finals of The Fast And The Fratelli competition. One of the finalists will be a Speedmaster, and the decision seems to be fixed that it is the Speedmaster Calibre 321 presented by RJ. The other finalist will be the winner of this race here either Daves Fortis or Andreass Zenith. Which contestant shall go head-to-head with the mighty Speedmaster?Andreas Zenith El Primero A368 RevivalSo its Daves Fortis that you Fratelli chose to oppose my Zenith in the semi-finals. Well then, lets take a look at that opponent. Why does the Fortis B-42 always remind me of the B-52 Stratofortress? Is it the robust look or the generous dimensions of this chubby little Cosmonaut? Y [...]

Our friend Jeff Stein from OnTheDash shows his grails from Heuer. An amazing article with an overview of his Heuers with beautiful close-up pictures and descriptions.I confess I dont know that much about Heuer. There are other Fratelli that have more knowledge about these. There are also websites like Jeff Steins OnTheDash. His website is considered to be the authority on the subject. Ive had the pleasure to meet Jeff for the first time not too long ago in Switzerland, but we have known each other for much longer as we shared an old friend in common.Skipperrera. Image by Analog Shift.Vintage Heuer GrailsJeff Stein also makes some recommendations on alternatives to each of these grails. He wr [...]

The Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition models are here and were treated to amazing engraved details that are meant to evoke Shizukuishi the home of the brand.Shizukuishi is the location in Japan where Grand Seiko watches are expertly crafted. It also happens to be a mountainous area well known for its natural beauty. In order to celebrate the area and the birthday of Seikos upper tier marque, we have the Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition models. Two watches were created for this anniversary and well see that both boast some amazing detailing.SBGW263 Platinum and Engraved by HandThe first and most exclusive piece within the Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary Limited Edition o [...]

English actor?Roger Moore?took over Sean Connery's role as 007 in the 1973 movie Live and Let Die. The year after, he appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun, and five other Bond movies starring Moore followed The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only?(1981), Octopussy (1983), and A View to a Kill (1985). Moore (1927-2017) was the oldest Bond; he was 45 when he played 007 for the first time and retired at the age of 58. Moore portrayed Bond with humor and a Rolex Submariner 5513. Seiko also had a strong presence in the 1980s Bond movies. Lets have a look at the James Bond watches of Roger Moore's era.Who is your favorite Bond? Sean Connery? Daniel Craig? Both are at [...]

When Rolex does an update, you know that the new version will be the same but better. In 2009, Rolex did the last significant upgrade of the Submariner. First the bi-color model, then the Date model (2010), followed by the classic Submariner (2012). But is it also nicer? Thats of course in the eye of the beholder, but initial opinions seem to vary since the news broke.When Rolex introduced its previous versions, the Submariner maintained the size of 40mm. But Rolex gave its diving icon beefier lugs, and more importantly a ceramic diving bezel.? It was a very welcome update, in my opinion, but I am biased since I didnt like the last aluminum bezel Submariner Date (16610). I didnt like it at a [...]

The SIHH 2017 is over and were left with mixed feelings. If all SIHH brands knew how to make us smile like A. Lange S?hne seems to be able to do every year, there wouldnt be any issues. This year, A. Lange S?hne showed their 1815 Annual Calendar watch, and it immediately became the talk of the exhibition.Walter LangeIt was a bit of an awkward moment, when A. Lange S?hne gave their presentation on all the new timepieces they have for us (and you) in store. Just a few moments before, we received the message that Walter Lange (92) passed away the day before. He spent his entire life dedicated to watches and was the man who helped building up A. Lange S?hne after Germany was reunited again i [...]

The Rolex Submariner 14060What else do you need? This week Ill be very much off the beaten track, and very much off-line as well. In and out the water, swimming and hiking, name it a sporty holiday.Beatable, readable and unclutteredFor these circumstances I almost always choose a beatable, readable and uncluttered watch. Not afraid of water as well. And no date. In order not to disturb my time-off with the perspective of when it will end.A Rolex Submariner, although not very original nor exclusive, is perfect for this. And so thats why I chose it to wear as my 52Mondayz watch this week.Supplied in 1992The one Im wearing is a reference 14060 and has a N-serial number. It dates from 1992, as i [...]

A little watch review for this weeks Speedy Tuesday topic Once upon a time, the Speedmaster Reduced enjoyed existence within Omegas collection. Those days are past. In its place is the Speedmaster 38 collection. Omega doesnt feel it necessary to explicitly define this as a gents or a ladies watch, and were just fine with that. For some wrists, this unusual addition to the range will be exactly what theyve been searching forMy wife owns two Speedmaster watches. One of which is a Moonwatch model (42mm) and the other one is this Speedmaster Lady model in 38mm. She got it in 2013, and it was clearly marked as a ladies model. Last year, my mom bought herself a Speedmaster 38 Cappuccino with the o [...]