Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

In our Sunday Morning Showdown, 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. Todays showdown is all about the practical wristwatches for the every-day-adventurer the Rolex Explorer 214270 versus the Grand Seiko SBGH279.Last week was the finale of our silver screen Bond watch mini-series. The ensuing votes resulted in Jorg and the Spectre Aqua Terra taking the victory with 59% [...]

We take a look at a curious riff on the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary in bronze.I needed a new watch like a hole in the head, but there I was at Baselworld 2019 making a decision on what novelty I'd procure.? I'm not really what you'd call an altruist, but I like to support the industry by purchasing a watch every year that's actually in production instead of always defaulting to vintage.? That's really not such a chore these days as I think we're living during the time of some really great watches.? In fact, there's hardly a brand that doesn't offer something that I wouldn't mind calling my own.? But it was our annual meeting with the still-independent brand from H?lstein tha [...]

A Dutch fellow by the name of Peter took the initiative to start a Dutch Rolex Forum. I am pretty sure that there are a lot of Dutch Rolex collectors and fans. However,??because??a lot of??Dutch people also understand the??German language, I wonder if the Dutch Rolex Forum can get a few of those R-L-X.de visitors from The Netherlands into their new forum. I also wonder if the Dutch can keep the forum as friendly as the R-L-X forum is. Rolex Forums tend to attract people that can loose their temper quite easily ?? As for now, the Dutch watch forums horlogeforum.nl and dezinvanluxe.nl seem to do allright!??Photo by Gerard from HPN. [...]

We joined the official launch of the new Omega Seamaster 300M James Bond watch in NYC. We thought it would be interesting to share some impressions of that event, as Omega also took the opportunity to talk about their connection with military watches.In the past years, I've had many experiences which I would have never had if I would still be working in real estate. Visiting NYC twice for two cool Omega events (one being our own Speedy Tuesday event in collaboration with Omega and the other this James Bond launch) is a privilege. Enjoy my report.The Launch Of The James Bond WatchThe official launch begins with a word of welcome by Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann, followed by sharing the first [...]

Ask any watch enthusiast who has known me for more than a day, and they will tell you of my love for Zenith. It's true. My favorite watch in my humble collection is the 2009 El Primero Striking 10th, and I am an unabashed fan of the brand. Now, I wouldn't say I'm exactly a fanboy. Not every release makes my heart palpitate, and there have been some in the last decade that were just plain hideous (48mm Tribute to Rolling Stones Pilot, anyone?).These days, however, I do greatly appreciate the overall direction in which the brand is heading. From Elite to Chronomaster and Pilot to Defy, Zenith's current offerings cater to a wide range of classical, sporty, romantic, and futuristic tastes, all w [...]

If there is any watch that resembles the famous early original Omega Speedmaster CK2915 then it is the Rodania Geometer. Or is it vice versa? This week, we shine a light on a long-standing but unanswered question: which of these watches influenced the look of the other? Some collectors say Rodania Geometer dates to 1954, which is three years before the original Speedmaster. But does anyone know for sure?In September 2018, a Rodania Geometer sold at Sothebys fore4,750 (hammer price). Just a few months later, Miller Miller Auctions (in Canada) offered another Rodania Geometer with its box. It had an estimate ranging from $1,500 C2,000. The final price including the buyers premium was 16,700. [...]

As you might have heard, 2020 is a special year for Grand Seiko the brands 60th anniversary. For some time, a determined team in Seiko's Suwa facility in central Japan had been working on the creation of a watch that would be as precise, durable, comfortable, and beautiful as humanly possible. The re-creation of that legendary timepiece has just launched. And it is a beauty.The result of their efforts? A watch with a 14k gold filled case and a slim movement, whose precision met the highest international standard of the time. The level of their achievement was such that it was decided to call the watch Grand Seiko. Now, in this special year, a re-creation of the first Grand Seiko watch from 1 [...]

Every so often, a press release hits the inbox that looks so familiar you almost ignore it as old news. And then, because a little voice in the back of your head calls out and stays your cursor as it hovers over the trash can, you look again and you realize that this is actually something new. It is something that, while new, looks so much like something that should have already existed you genuinely believed for a second that it did. Your apathy morphs into excitement. This new watch feels like a vivid dream that has leaped from your subconscious and manifested in metal and sapphire before you. Such was my first encounter with the Hamilton Khaki Field in BRONZE.There are few watches so wide [...]

The Rolex Datejust is arguably the most recognizable luxury watch in the world. The combination of a Cyclops, fluted bezel, and Jubilee bracelet are symbols of luxury that even the untrained eye will spot instantly. For once, calling this watch an icon is an understatement. But is the Datejust an exciting watch? Well, it's not as prestigious as the flagship Day-Date, and it also lacks the raw sex-appeal of the Submariner. Based on that observation you could call the Datejust neither fish nor fowl, bland, and even boring. But can you really do that?I know one guy that will completely disagree with me when I say the Rolex Datejust is a boring watch. That guy is Thomas van Straaten who very rec [...]

Of my meticulously planned collection of eight watches, my Zenith El Primero Striking 10th is the star of the show. Sure, its only my second-most expensive piece. But it takes the centermost spot in my watch box as well as my heart. Whenever I see it, I smile. Whenever I wear it, the pride of ownership oozes out of my pores. And whenever I talk about it, I bumble like an idiot, at a complete loss for where to begin (evidenced by the fact Ive started this article seven different times by now). But the road to acquiring my beloved Zenith El Primero Striking 10th was anything but smooth. Like with any watch worth having, the story of my Zenith is one of passion, patience, and persistence. It is [...]

Why you want an Extract of the ArchivesWhen I bought my first vintage Omega Speedmaster, I wanted to know more about this specific watch. Information on the Speedmaster I could find on-line or in magazines, but I was curious to learn about the history of my own Speedmaster. For this, Omega and a number of other brands are able to provide you with an extract from the archives.Omegas?Museum And ArchivesI ordered quite a few of these Omega Extract of the Archives documents over the years as I feel they do add value to the (vintage) watch.?It also gives you a production and shipping date, as well as the country it was originally shipped to. But what exactly are these archives, and why is Omega [...]

For this week in Pre-Owned Picks, I am selecting watches from the Twentieth Century that have seen a revival in the Twenty-First. I do not mean watches that have iteratively had improvements throughout the decades ala, the Speedmaster or Submariner. Specifically, I refer to watches that were once made, in a time-gone-by, but ceased production. Decades later, the watches are brought back to life as a re-edition with similar or identical styling and modern materials.Are we living in a crisis of watchmaking? that was the question posed by Tomas in his TBT article here. Quite possibly, we are. But importantly, it is we who are to blame. We reminisce of when wristwatches had to meet the standard [...]

To understand why it seems that everybody on Earth wants a Rolex, I decided to try and look at it from the inside. Not by trying to see things The Rolex Way, but from within the brain of the consumer. That's right, I will dive into the brain to try and figure out why your Lizard Brain has you lusting after Rolex watches. I'm not a brain surgeon, nor am I a neurologist, but after plenty of research and putting one and one together, I think the key to explaining the ever-growing Rolex urge can be found hidden inside the mirror neurons. Open your mind, and bear with me.Youve heard of the so-called Lizard Brain, havent you? The Lizard Brain is the popular term used for the limbic system inside o [...]

Today, Roger Ruegger pointed out to me that The Crossing is being presented by IWC on their website. The Crossing has been played in front of 1700 guests during a gala night organised by IWC at the SIHH watch fair earlier this year.The text below is a short summary of the official press release by IWC:IWC presents the short film of a multimedia performance by the Sydney Theatre Company, interpreting the story of how the watch manufacturer was founded and starring Cate Blanchett and Joseph Fiennes. The watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating the online premiere of ?e??? ?Minutes of a Separation?e???�� , with the lead roles played by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Hollywood actor Jo [...]

During 2020, my watch rotation was different than a typical year. One of the significant factors was remote working from home, but also other reasons seeped in. Due to the combination of these situations, one watch became my predominant wrist companion and even accompanied me on my limited but worthwhile vacation time over the past year. That watch was the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Expedition Charles Darwin.But why this IWC in particular? And what led me to it? Lets dive in and find out.The hunt for bronze treasureIn 2014, IWC presented the overhauled Aquatimer collection during SIHH. At the time, then-CEO Georges Kern had a preference for renewing single model lines each year. Among [...]

Let's make no mistake here: being able to collect watches at all is a privilege. Spending 10,000 on a watch is an even bigger one. I have friends who would love to start a watch collection, but the hobby is simply too expensive for them. I also recall that I had some issues wearing a watch at this price point, as I felt it was just too much money to spend on one piece. What if you lose it, or it gets stolen or damaged? That's a lot of money to tie up in one watch.If you have 10,000 to spend all at once, you may immediately start to look for watches that are around that price. Thus, you will end up with a collection of one, and despite what some may tell you, that's not a watch collection. So [...]

Bvlgari brought the mythological motifs and iconic Italian style with the highest precision that created a seductive dream on a big scale ?the smallest tourbillon for women.And, of course, welcome to this first installment of Karinas Korner, where I will put the spotlight on womens watches here on Fratello Magazine. I would like to kick off with the new collection of Bvlgaris Serpenti Seduttori watches.A Serpenti Seduttori is bornFirst conceived in the late 1940s, the Serpenti collection has long been known for its strong design. Uncompromisingly elegant, the artisanal aesthetic stands out thanks to a unique combination of vibrant colors and precious stones. But the most memorable of charact [...]

Weve been covering the Omega Speedmaster on a weekly basis now for many years and in the comments section of these articles, countless questions have been asked about the watch. We have selected some of the most common and reoccurring Speedmaster questions and done our best to provide the answers. Should you find yourself in need of more information about this Omega classic, then read on, as you might just find the answers you are looking for.The Omega Speedmaster is hotter than ever before, not only because of its popular editions like the Silver Snoopy Award 50th anniversary but also because of the recent long-awaited update on the movement and bracelet. You could also say, that these new [...]

Thats the question that keeps Michael Sandler of TZ busy ?? A lot of reactions, and it almost seems to be a Rolex vs Other brand.It is nice to see all those opinions, and sometimes Patek is getting the same blame as Rolex. Do you want it because it says Patek? Pfff unbelievable. Some people tend to forget that buying a watch is very personal, either you like it better than the other or you dont. Most of the time people cant even explain why they like the other one better. And they dont have to in my opinion. It is about taste, not about a name on the dial, especially not with watches with these kind of names on it.Oh btw, it is this watch:and this one..Personally, I would go Patek. To me, it [...]

Today, the 27th of April is Kings Day in the Netherlands. King Willem-Alexander van Oranje celebrates his birthday and therefore I will show some watches that have a bit of orange (oranje) in them.King Willem-Alexander is also a big fan of watches, and you might even see him wearing an Omega Speedmaster once in a while. I personally think it is cool that he wears a Speedmaster while he can (and probably does) wear any high-end brand on any day of the week. His wife, Queen?M exima Zorreguieta, often wears a Rolex.FOTO: ? GTRESONLINEAfter seeing an image of Willem-Alexander in a Dutch newspaper, I thought I recognized a Speedmaster on his wrist. After going through dozens of images of our King [...]