Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

After a couple of more open-ended topics, here we have a nice, simple, technical question to answer: Why do watches tick?Almost all watches tick. Generally, you will hear people saying that quartz watches tick and mechanical watches sweep. While this appears?true on the surface, it isnt technically correct.?There are very few mechanically-powered watches that dont tick. The most famous of which is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive?system. Exactly how that works and how it differs from more regular escapements is a conversation for another day. In the meantime, lets get back to the straightforward question posed: Why do watches tick?Every watch has a power source. For the sake of simplicity, lets [...]

Erik sent me an email with the link to his website a few days ago. It is about photography and horology.See for yourself, click here. [...]

Welcome to 2022 from Wrist Game Or Crying Shame This year, things are gonna be great I can feel it We will kick off this year hot on the heels of an Omega release from just yesterday The five-year-old Omega Speedmaster 60th Anniversary is in play. Before we get to it, thoughTravel back to late 2021 with me when I showed you the Cartier Ballon Bleu 36 automatic. I really had no idea how that one would go, but the watch took us out on a high note with a 60% Wrist Game triumph Folks truly campaigned on behalf of that watch due to its comfortable bracelet and lovely looks. Im impressed This week, were on point the first week of January is always Speedy week as we look at the Omega Speedmaster [...]

Hamilton is no stranger to Hollywood super productions. The brand with American Spirit and Swiss Precision has been on the wrists of the silver screen stars for decades. 2020 brings us yet another collaboration by British film director Christopher Nolan and Hamilton. The movie is Tenet, and the watch is the Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO.Many of us remember Agent Jay and Kay in the 1997 sci-fi comedy Men In Black (played by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) sporting the quirky/futuristic-looking Hamilton Ventura watches. Who can blame them? Even Elvis loved the Ventura, after all. Or how can we forget the most popular Hamilton of recent years, the Murph? This very model took its name from one of the mai [...]

We all know that James Bond has worn a lot of watches throughout his years of dazzling us on the silver screen. Many of them were included in the film for commercial reasons. Some were the actors choice. Some have aged well, others not so much. However, in the wake of the curtain falling on the Daniel Craig era, I thought it would be helpful for Barbara Broccoli and co. to have a few modern suggestions of which watches 007 should wear next time they head out into the field (or for dinner).James Bond has lived a very varied life over the years. As such, Ive picked one or two watches for his six favorite activities, which I deem to be driving, diving, fighting, listening to evil villains regal [...]

Dear Fratelli, we need your help Back in August and September, you decided on the best summer watch in our Summer Splash contest. It was the Omega Seamaster Professional 300 that came out on top. Its only fitting that such a competent and undeniably good-looking dive watch took the crown. However, the season has changed, temperatures have dropped, and summer now seems like a distant memory. That can only mean one thing: it's time for another Fratello contest This time, it's chronographs that take center stage. But not just any chronograph will do. This time around, we're talking racing chronographs. Put on your helmet, fasten your seatbelt, and fire up your engine: the Fast and the Fratelli [...]

Maastricht is (just like The Hague) one of the nicer cities in The Netherlands ?? My girlfriend and I went there this weekend to relax a bit and do some shopping. I took the opportunity to check out some watchshops in Maastricht!The first shop I paid a visit was Scorpione. The shop is located near the central station of Maastricht and besides watches, they also sell jewellery in gold and silver. The watches they sell are all vintage and displayed in the shop and on their website. The owner of the shop showed me two Movados, a gold chronograph and a steel chronograph. Both with inhouse Movado calibers. The stainless steel model featured an hour totalizer and the gold model didnt. The owner of [...]

This episode of 52Mondayz is kind of a goodbye to a watch. Soon, I will say goodbye to this beautiful Omega Seamaster 600 PloProf from the first generation. But before it is that time, let me talk a bit about this iconic divers watch from the 1970s.Omega Seamaster 600 PloProf54mm in width, 45mm in length and 15mm thickAfter four years of extensive testing Omega produced the first generation of the PloProf in the beginning of the seventies. The Compagnie Maritime dExpertises (short Comex) and well known professional diver Jaques Cousteau were of help to Omega with developing the first?waterproof watch designed and built solely for the diving professional. The watch was nicked PloProf, derived [...]

Designer Gerald Genta started his own brand in 1969, however, this talented haute horlogerie designer also did design work for numereous other watch brands. He is responsibles for some all-time watch classics that were produced in the 1970s. The most spectacular designs are those of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin 222 (Overseas) and the IWC Ingenieur.However, like I wrote before in the blog post on the Vacheron Constantin 222, these watches become unaffordable. A vintage 222 in stainless steel will cost you around 10.000 Euro, and I only found 1 for sale on chrono24.com. Do you love the vintage Patek Philippe Nautilus ref.3700 and want to save up f [...]

You must think I've lost my marbles, surely the Rolex Explorer II is a tool watch. Or am I simply on a roll after a well-read article on Explorer I alternatives this week? Well no, and I'll give you my reasons. Unless your daily choice is a vintage Daytona or an 18K white gold AP, the Explorer II is not a tool watch not anymore. Not for mere mortals anyway. It is a fresh white-dialed GMT watch, perfectly comfortable for traveling, in most cases under an expensive shirt. But even as the Rolex underdog it is rather predictable. The Grand Seiko 44GS 55th Anniversary Limited Edition is the sharp alternative. But what about the sensitive Zaratsu polish? Well like the Rolex, it's not a tool is it, [...]

The Speedmaster Rising Sun is probably not new to you, as a Fratello regular, but the truth is that it is still a very under-the-radar watch.In this video, Karina and I talk about the Omega Speedmaster Rising Sun, the limited edition for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Games have been postponed to later this year, but the watches were already introduced in the Summer of 2018.Only in Japan The Rising SunThe Omega Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Rising Sun reference 522.30.42.30.06.001 was officially only for the Japanese market, just like the other four models that were part of the Tokyo 2020 collection. Officially, all these watches are sold out, but you can still find them on the pre-owned market.Somehow [...]

50 years ago, Neil A. Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon for the first time. This remarkable historic moment was a giant leap not only for the culture and science but also for Omega making the Speedmaster Professional one of the most recognisable watch in the world.Releasing limited series of the legendary Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in Moonshine Gold, along with the stainless steel model, or hosting Speedy Tuesday World Tour, are just examples how Omega celebrates the first landing on the Moon and the Moonwatch legacy. With the market reevaluation and a drastic shift in consumer behaviour, a new dimension of collecting watches is dedicated to its enthusia [...]

John Holbrook recently bought this Rolex Submariner ref.1680 (approx. 1972), with red printing on the dial. As you can see on the photo below, the watch is quite worn. The bezel is incomplete (mind the missing luminous dot) and the bracelet is stretched. The watch case is still sharp edged, which means that this watch hasnt been polished much before. Especially on older Rolexes, the sharp edges are gone most of the time. This is mainly due to polishing of the case by a non Rolex service center. A lot of watchmakers who are asked to buff the watch to get rid of all scratches, polish a bit too fanatical. The movement in this watch is caliber 1570, seems to be in good condition and is still run [...]

If you are on the lookout for an affordable field watch, the chances are pretty solid that Hamiltons name will be at the top of your shortlist. With a pretty extensive range of Khaki Field watches available for under 1,000, the brand has a lot to offer. The latest addition to the Khaki Field King line-up is a stealthy full black version. I went hands-on to determine if this black version offers a new perspective on the familiar Khaki Field King.I like black. If you know me a little bit, you know thats my go-to color with pretty much everything. I have explained this before in articles. Its not a conscious effort. Whenever presented with a choice, I gravitate naturally towards anything black. [...]

Were back with a look at two Grand Seiko watches. One happens to be brand new, but its already gaining loads of attention. Does the new Grand Seiko White Birch have what it takes to dethrone the Snowflake in a battle of textured white dials?Over the last ten years, Grand Seiko has transformed itself from an eccentric JDM media darling into a legitimate global player. For certain, the brand no longer requires the ooh-ing and aah-ing of journalists and collectors to sell itself to the greater public. With a mix of models that draw upon past designs intermixed with a number of modern pieces, Grand Seiko has a lot to offer. Still, out of the entire lineup, theres one watch that fans love most. T [...]

German Krimis (detective series) on the television always drew ( draw) my attention. I cant exactly explain why, but it probably has something to do that I grew up near the German border so the surroundings/environment is very recognizable. Germany always had an advance on Dutch (not to confuse with Deutsch) television, they (probably) have more money to produce decent and professional TV series. A few weeks back I bought this DVD set of Derrick (Aus der Reihe) tv-series. Derrick was aired during 1974 1998 and was quite populair in The Netherlands. The two biggest roles were those of Stephan Derrick and Harry Klein, both detectives in Muenchen (Munich). Probably due to nostalgic reasons I b [...]

One of my favourite places to go during Baselworld is Oris. The laid-back atmosphere whilst being in the midst of chaos is impressive in their booth and, just as important, they keep introducing interesting and attractively priced watches like this Oris Aquis GMT Date.Just before I left for Baselworld, one of my friends ordered an Oris Aquis Date. Not per definition a watch guy (yet), but someone who likes to buy a good watch once in a while. I can see him slowly growing into becoming a watch collector, or at least as an enthusiast. The Oris Aquis is a great example of a watch that suits the needs of most people who are looking to buy that one good watch. An automatic movement, great water [...]

We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. This week we will be looking at some of the best Breitling watches from the 1960s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. While the 1950s introduced the sports watches next to the dressier timepieces people were used to, the 1960s took that trope to the extreme. The sheer amount of watches that pushed the visual boun [...]

This Sea-Dweller ref.1665 wasnt owned by Steve McQueen and neither did James Bond wear it during one of his missions. According to the seller of this 180,000 USD Sea-Dweller from 1967,???? it is:The first version of the Double Red Sea Dweller was produced in 1967. It is said that approximately 50 to 100 early versions were sent to dealers for promotional use. The existence of the Double Red Sea Dweller starts with the helium valve, it had been developed and the patent had been applied, but Rolex had not yet received final approval. Therefore, these watches were engraved on the case back with the words Patent Pending.This watch comes without box and papers, which makes me wonder what the pric [...]

Mike from Switzerland asked us if we could advise him on where he should have his vintage, 1981, Rolex Rootbeer GMT Master 16753 serviced. At Rolex or one of their official service centers, or would a local watchmaker be a better idea?Where should I have my Rolex GMT Master 16753 serviced?From: MikeSubject: You asked usHello,I would like to contribute a question to You asked us. I recently purchased a 1981 Rolex GMT Root Beer reference 16753.The watch tells time but needs service as the crown is not secure. My question?is regarding the hands and dial. I dont believe they need to be replaced and Im afraid if I send the watch to Rolex for service, that is exactly what theyll do. What are your [...]