Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Ive been into watches since the 1990s and started Fratello in 2004. Ever since Ive seen a lot of different watch bracelets. It always amazed me that only a few watch brands are getting it right with these bracelets. Sometimes, they look gorgeous but wear like crap. And other times, the looks arent very attractive but wear fantastic. It is a very personal and thus subjective matter of course, but let me share with you the best watch bracelets in my book.Top 10 Best Watch Bracelets1. Rolex PresidentThe King, euh, President, of all bracelets as far as I am concerned. Only available in precious metals like white gold, yellow gold, red (Everose) gold and platinum. It consists of three semi-circul [...]

Here at the Fratello offices, we get a lot of questions from you, our readers. Probably the most-asked questions are centered around the topic of what to buy for different budgets. The most popular budget question is what watch to buy for under 5,000 in different watch categories. Thats why we decided to set up a small series of articles focusing on the best watches that you can buy within that budget. In this first installment of the series, we will look at the best GMT watches available for under 5K. Lets find out what some of your potential best travel companions are.With the world opening up again, its time to travel With two years full of quarantining and travel restrictions, its time t [...]

In this Sunday morning column, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. This week, the youthful Rolex Air-King is the subject of this macho tug-of-war twixt RJ and Jorg. Enjoy!When Rolex introduced this Air-King reference 116900 in 2016, it simply confused me. I even wrote that in this article on Fratello later that year. It appeared to me that Rolex used their 40mm Milgau [...]

If you're at all active on Instagram, then you've likely noticed some things going on around the Breitling brand. First, a couple Saturdays ago, there was the LegendaryFuture event where Breitling collectors posted pictures with their favorite chronographs from the brand. Alongside this, Breitling showed hints of an upcoming line on their feed. Then, last week, events in Asia debuted the new Breitling Navitimer 8 series. We'll get a chance in a week's time to see these pieces in Europe when Breitling continues its roadshow combining a museum-like display with the new pieces. For now, though, we'll continue to examine the brand's heritage in our recurring TBT series. Today's episode focuses [...]

Autumn is here and that must mean it's time for a Vintage Watch Market Update. In the time since I've started writing these, we've seen a lot of changes on the vintage scene. We've gone from highlighting opportunities on the market to discussing the craze that affects so many of us regarding collecting and how it has rapidly changed pricing. It's been a whirlwind and it's one that shows little signs of abating aside from a few stormclouds on the horizon. Today, though, lets focus on some of the trends I've noticed over the past quarter regarding the types of pieces that people are collecting and the behaviors that are becoming ever more present within social media outlets and forums.Former P [...]

Introduced in 2013 as a Speedmaster Professional Racing, but we soon found out it wasnt a Racing, at all. Omega told us the red and white checkered minute track was a reference to the rocket of Tintins Explorers on the Moon. Here on Fratello, the watch was immediately dubbed Speedmaster Tintin.You all know the story about the Speedmaster Tintin. We covered it in 2013 here and a larger article in 2016 here. We even received a legal letter from Herg s protectors if we could remove it from our website (here). The Omega Speedmaster Tintin 311.30.42.30.01.004 has since then become a very collectible piece. But that wasnt always the case. Only a few people picked up the story at first, mainly Spee [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday As you probably know and as its name really suggests, the Speedmaster was meant for those who were active in sports or better yet, racing cars. Long before the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch, the tachymeter and chronograph were actually used for timing car racing. Even today the Speedmaster collection has two pillars, one is the Moon program and making sure that new models have enough Moonwatch heritage and the other pillar is racing. Whether it is a dedicated Speedmaster Racing or a Speedmaster Professional that refers to its racing history, there is always a Speedmaster that refers to the original purpose of the collection.One of the dedicated racing models from the pa [...]

You know you did something right when people start to compare your watch to one with a price tag three times as high.Whether it was justified or not to criticize the Breitling Premier chronograph for being a very expensive Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono (Michael Stockton mentioned it already in his Breitling Premier B01 review here), the comments do stick with you. I handled both the Hamilton Intra-Matic Chrono and the Breitling Premier B01, and I prefer the looks of the Hamilton. However, lets make it clear that this doesnt mean that the 1995 will buy you the same or better quality and finished watch as the 7500 Breitling. It just might buy you a better-looking watch. But again, the comme [...]

Welcome to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly online reality show that lets you decide whether a watch stays on the island or takes the slow boat home. We even allow keimschleuder to vote This week, we focus on a beacon of glowing light during these dark times with the Chronoswiss Timemaster. But firstLast week, I showed you a two tone Rolex Daytona 116523 with a slate grey dial. And while its not my jelly, it seems to be your jam. The salt and pepper Daytona just barely pulled itself over the chin up bar. As a result, it mustered a 53% Wrist Game victory. What the Chronoswiss Timemaster eschews on gold, it makes up with a glow of another kind. Lets take a look.The Chronoswiss Timemaster [...]

The following article is by no means meant to discourage you from buying vintage [Rolex] watches, damage the reputation of certain sellers or to doubt particular watches being for sale at this moment.Recently, a number of Rolex enthusiasts and collectors started doubting the origin and authenticity of certain vintage Rolex watches that were listed for sale. If you are not at home in this material, you have to know that collectors of?vintage?Rolex timepieces love the so called tropical dials [those that faded to a brown color due to over exposure to the sun],patina hour markers and patina hands. Prices of Rolex watches that have these tropical dials (click here for a bizarre example that my f [...]

Oris is introducing a new movement in its third collaboration watch with the Carl Brashear Foundation. Meet the Oris Carl Brashear Cal. 401 limited edition watch of 2,000 pieces.I am pretty sure you will remember the recent introduction of the Oris caliber 400 movement. The 400 is an in-house movement with a power reserve of 5 days. It is anti-magnetic (2,250 gauss) and comes with a warranty of 10 years. My colleague Ben (our in-house Oris guru) wrote an opinionated piece on the Aquis with caliber 400 here. But, today, we are showing you the new Oris Carl Brashear Cal. 401, which is limited to 2,000 pieces in total. It is a bronze variation on the popular Oris Diver Sixty-Five model.Carl Bra [...]

Buckle up, folks Youre in for a ride. Somewhat out of the blue, we woke up today to the news that Patek Phillippe had dropped three new complicated chronographs. Patek is well-known for its mastery of the humble chronograph. So, what better way to cement that legacy than with variations of three of its most celebrated chronograph movements? The Manufacture is expanding its vast selection of chronograph watches by unveiling three new variations of the 5204, 5905, and 5930 models.Patek Philippe Reference 5204R-011: Split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendarFirst up is Reference 5204R-011. The Patek Philippe Reference 5204 has lived in the brands collection since 2016. It comes in two ver [...]

I remember Omega introducing the Speedmaster X-33 in 1998 with a digital display, it took me a while to start breathing again. Omega labeled this Speedy the Mars watch, ready for the next landmark in space traveling. Sadly, Omega thought it was necessary to introduce a From Moon to Mars Speedmaster Professional as well, the fugliest* Speedmaster in my humble opinion.This is probably one of the Speedmaster models with the shortest production number ever, since the X-33 Mark II was introduced shortly after, because some NASA or professional users of the watch complained about the high polished parts on the watch. The price of an Omega Speedmaster X-33 is increasing rapidly over the last few ye [...]

There is something intriguing about a watch brands collaboration with a clothing company. These two worlds are so close in some ways yet far away from each other in many others. This brings an exciting ambiance to the partnership. Thats what captivated me about Oriss new collaboration with Japanese denim manufacturer Momotaro Jeans. Lets check that piece out.I dont even know why am I doing this piece and not Jorg. He has an eye for those things as much as I do, if not better. Granted, in the past, I have written about similar collaborations. Remember the Pinion a Iron Heart watch? Or the Hamilton a Schott project? Well, this one is equally cool in my book. One of the most excellent indie bra [...]

A member of the Dutch Rolexforum posted a few pictures of his vintage ref.1675 Rolex GMT-Master from 1960. This GMT-Master has a beautiful aged dial, that Rolex collectors point out as a gilt tropical dial.The wording on the dial are special as well, since it only says Officially Certified Chronometer instead of the Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified wording. The reference before this one (ref.6542) used to have this wording on the dial as well. Before you think it is an older dial in a newer case, its not, as the diameter of the dial is different. The owner of the watch claims that this particular model was only in production for less than 12 months.Please note the beautiful sleek [...]

For many years the Sinn 142.St has been an important player in Sinns professional chronograph lineup. Unfortunately, the end of the Lemania 5100 caliber in 2002 initially resulted in this striking models curtain call.Sinn 142.StC reference 142.010My first encounter with Sinn was in the early nineties. Helmut Sinn was still at the helm. Sinn was virtually unknown outside of Germany. Your best chance? Talking to an aviator who might have recognized the name?from some of their airplane instruments. Consequently, the bulk of Helmuts clientele were pilots. This was a comfortable relationship for Helmut, who was a former pilot himself. But when one earns a reputation for excellence in a niche fiel [...]

I can't believe it is already nine years since I published my first Speedy Tuesday story. In 2012, I posted a picture of my Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch on Facebook with just It is Speedy Tuesday', as it was a Speedmaster and a Tuesday. Fast forward to today, and Omega now drops its new Speedmasters on Tuesdays (deliberately). You could say a lot has happened in the last nine years.Since then, we've published nearly 500 Speedmaster articles and the Speedy Tuesday hashtag has been used over 280,000 times on Instagram by Speedmaster enthusiasts and collectors. In 2017 and 2018, we even had the opportunity to create two Speedmaster Professional watches, the Tribute To Alaska III and the U [...]

Last week, I attended the Omega event on Capri, a small island near the city of Naples in Italy. Omega invited me, and a number of other journalists, over to this beautiful island to join their Seamaster Planet Ocean introduction and announcement of a special collaboration.To start with the latter, Omega and environmentalist/filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand are collaborating on creating a film about the Earths oceans. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, famous for his movie HOME, showed up together with this other famous Omega ambassador, Buzz Aldrin, to announce their plans on this joint venture.Besides this introduction, Omega took us on a boat and sailed away to the beautiful coast of Capri with their fa [...]

Last week, Omega introduced its new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition. I wrote how much the watch reminded me of the Seamaster 300M Americas Cup from 2000, with the white gold bezel inlay.Omega made this new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton watch available to us for a review. However, with the remark that the watch is not being delivered to the boutiques before October 2020. Well noted.We received both versions of the new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton edition, with a rubber strap and with a stainless steel bracelet.Omega Seamaster Diver 300M NektonSince I already wrote the introductory article last week (click here), I will leave out the dry specs that were shared. In our hands, we have two Seama [...]

Our December 2019 Watch Strap Review featured a small brand from icy Minnesota, Velle Alexander. At the time, the name represented nothing more than a passionate young man doing what he does best in the corner of his small Minneapolis apartment. A lot has changed since 2019, and Velle Alexander is now an established watch strap brand. It would only make sense to revisit Alex, look at his new goods and talk about what has changed over the past two years since we last met.Don't worry; we will be back with some fresh new makers next month for those interested in new ateliers. At the same time, we will also add another country to the Watch Strap Review map. Until then, however, let's look at the [...]