Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

There is something distinctive about the leather straps of yore. Something which we do not see in todays modern offerings. Although the quality of modern leather straps is undeniable, sometimes a watch calls for a period-correct counterpart with the signature features of the era. Strap thickness, taper, rounded ends, box-stitching, and hot-pressed lines on the keepers. Matteo Torre spent many years studying vintage watch ads and catalogs from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Thanks to this deep dive, Matteo Torre developed his own style that is based on precise reproductions of the era. It may sound unoriginal, but the results confirm quite the opposite. In today's oversaturated market, Torre St [...]

Where a number of brands have huge difficulties delivering their novelties before (or in the) summer, IWC announces a special summer edition of their Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph. For this occasion, the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club reference?IW390507 has been fitted with a stunning sun burst blue dial with white subdials as well as a beautiful?blue rubber strap.IWC Portugieser Yacht ClubAs always, the IWC Yacht Club comes with their in-house calibre?89361 movement. This chronograph movement has a flyback function and the chronograph hour and minute subdials are located at 12 oclock. The running seconds can also be found at 6 oclock. The large red chronograph second hand gives a nice cont [...]

On the 11th, 12th and 13th of July 2008, the vintage sports car event Le Mans Classic is to be held. Richard Mille is the main sponsor of the event and is also the official time keeper.Especially for the Le Mans Classic 2008 event, RM created a Flyback Chronograph as pictured below. This is the RM 011 Flyback Chronograph watch, that should breathe the same atmosphere and style as the event itself. The green and white checkered logo at 12 oclock marks this watch as being a special Le Mans Classic watch!The RM 011 features a skeletonized automatic, winding movement with adjustable rotor geometry with flyback chronograph in hours, minutes and seconds, 60-minute countdown timer, 12 hour totalize [...]

Magus Bosse, regular on TimeZone and owner of the Ornatus Mundi site, posted an essay on Minerva watches on TimeZone. And not to forget, Magnus Bosse is moderating the official Blancpain forum.The first collection (called 1858) of Minerva after their change of management is showed on the TimeZone Minerva Forum.Below, youll see the Minerva Coll. 1858 Cal. 48 White Gold case/grey dial. By clicking here you will find the complete essay by Magnus.Picture by Magnus Bosse. [...]

Here at Fratello, we love to write about our favorite watches. We are big fans of the chronograph, with many articles dedicated to this seemingly humble complication. In fact, right now, we are running another one of our super-popular competitions, The Fast And The Fratelli. This competition is dedicated to determining the best racing chronograph of the last ten years.Now, this article is not dedicated to chronographs per se, but rather, something that the majority of chronographs have. Thats it sub-dials How could you write a whole article about sub-dials? I hear you cry. Quite easily With sub-dials forming such an essential part of so many watches, I wanted to look at some of my favorites. [...]

Allow us to proudly introduce the Fratello-designed collaboration watch. This time, weve teamed-up with Oris to bring you the Fratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date with oxblood red dial. With a festive palette and a heartwarming story behind its creation, it is the perfect watch with which to kick off the holiday season.RJ and his Fratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer DateFratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer DateRobert-Jan: It is with great pride that we are introducing the Fratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. This adventure to create a watch together with Oris has been a great experience from start till end. Michael Stocktons idea of creating a bronze watch with a r [...]

Much time has passed since the last Fratello event, for reasons known to all of us. So, we are extremely happy to announce that we will be having our first event on October 1st after an extensive hiatus. We feel very proud that it will be in partnership with an incredible watch brand: Grand Seiko. To top things off, the event will take place in a very special location la ville de lamour Paris!Together with Grand Seiko Europe, we have organized an event for 15 of our readers in the beautiful Grand Seiko boutique on the Place Vend?me in Paris. The event will start at 11:00 AM when we will welcome you to the Grand Seikos Paris location together with Fr d ric Bondoux, President of Grand Seiko Eu [...]

Xetum is a relative new brand that should be followed closely by fans of modern design watches.? Xetum uses proven watch manufacturing techniques combined with a fresh design of cases and dials. Ive met Jeff Kuo CEO and founder of Xetum in 2009 and he showed me some prototypes of his watches. I was really impressed by his work and am very glad to see that his watches made it to production shortly after.Xetum deserves attention, not in the last place because of their eco-friendly production methods and initiatives. Italian cork lining in Xetums watch straps, a rubber wood watch box and a protective outer carton box made of ecological fibers, to name a few. Inside their well designed watches [...]

If I didnt already have one, I would seriously consider this IWC Ingenieur 3227-01 that is for sale over at Horloge Platform Nederland. This discontinued model was only in production for a short time, 2005 2008. IWC introduced this new Ingenieur model in 2005, to be a worthy successor of the original IWC Ingenieur SL model as designed by Gerald Genta in 1976/1977. Last year, I wrote an article on Gentas classics and their current versions here on Fratellowatches (click here to read the article) and although I concluded that this revised Ingenieur is only influenced by its original design (unlike the almost unchanged Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak), it is still an impre [...]

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SLGH002 watch is the latest in a long line of rootin tootin anniversary release from the hyperactive Japanese brand.And I love it. In fact, I take that back. I?adore it. And when you see the hands-on pictures we took of this baby when it passed through our headquarters in the Hague, I am sure you will too. But dont be distracted by the movement. The watch we received to photograph was a pre-production non-working sample. The movement that will feature in this watch is a princely caliber, but, for now, we had to make do with a sweet sticker on the inside of the sapphire display window. I thought that was worth mentioning right off the bat, on the off chance anyone assu [...]

Welcome, one and all, to the first round proper of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello. Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, youre sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale (super-size Coke, please) like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Help us decide the champion and share in its glory Let the games commenceIn this first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate the match-ups. So its n [...]

Yeehaa The 13th episode of Fratello on Air, talking about some of the 60th anniversary Grand Seiko releases.The main topic of this podcast is a preview on some of Grand Seikos novelties for 2020. It is a BIG year for them, due to the 60th anniversary of Grand Seiko. Corona or Covid-19 ruined it a little bit, as Grand Seiko was about to host their first Grand Seiko Summit in Japan, but decided to introduce their new watches nevertheless. Mainly digital, but we see that some of the new releases are traveling around the world to be introduced to journalists and collectors. Since this week, we have a few of them (see our Instagram feed), but that was after we recorded this podcast.After the mand [...]

Buzz Aldrins Speedmaster!Once in a while we have guest contributors for the Speedy Tuesday topic. Todays it is Boris of the Watches and Art blog and contributor to WatchTime.net. Just recently, he also contributed to Speedy Tuesday with his wonderful Omega Speedmaster ref. 2998-61. Today, Boris contributes with a story on his Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012, supposedly the same reference that Buzz Aldrin had in space. Although it has never been confirmed and weve seen other references for Adrins watch as well.Note In the meanwhile we know that Aldrin and Armstrong wore 105.012 references and Collins wore a 145.012 during the Apollo 11 mission. This has been confirmed to us by Omega.O [...]

Wrist Game or Crying Shame is here with a look at the TAG Heuer Carrera Telemeter. Its a watch that gave us a window into at least part of the brands future. Will you fall for its trailblazing ways? Before we get to thatLast week, I shared the IWC Fliegerchronograph IW3706 with you and all I can say is, WOW You fine folks brought this one onto the runway with an 83% Wrist Game landing. I know these were popular, but this blew me away. Do we have a future collectible on our hands? Perhaps, but thats a discussion for a different time. This week, after only a week off, we go right back to talking about the Carrera. However, this TAG Heuer Carrera Telemeter is a newer watch that is somewhat sign [...]

Since they began their association with Phillips auction house to reboot the watch department, the power couple, Aurel Bacs Livia Russo, have been rocking the watch auction scene. They have done that with exciting auctions and impressive results. Their two upcoming Geneva auctions in May, including their thematic stainless steel chronograph sale (entitled Start-Stop-Reset), are again impressive. The catalogs are simple and elegant yet bold and exciting. The adrenaline filled action in the room during their auctions is something that watch aficionados fly in to see live or watch via streaming video.There are a few smart moves to note for this team that has put them on top. It begins with the [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly article that puts your hand eye coordination skills to the test. Yes, we ask you to click a button in order to tell us if youd wear our watch of the week or not. Today, we look at a white whale of sorts with the Grand Seiko SBGX115. But firstLast week, I asked you to look at a homely kinda old Rolex Submariner 14060. It wasnt overly special, but it was special enough in your eyes to conquer with an astounding 85% Wrist Game win. Id liken that 15% to the one person who didnt vote for Derek Jeter on their Hall of Fame ballot. Jeez, and I cant stand the Yankees Were going to keep on the diving theme today with a look at the very recent, but [...]

Its Speedy Tuesday today and after the recent passing away of Neil Armstrong perhaps the most famous Speedy owner we thought we need to focus on a special Speedy. What would be better than to put a Speedmaster in the spotlight that has a moon and stars on the dial?Picture from Antiquorums Omegamania auction.One of our friends and avid readers of Fratellowatches sent us two pictures of his ref. 345.0809 Speedmaster Professional Moonphase. This particular model has been re-introduced in 1999 with some minor changes to the dial (and a modern bracelet). However, Speedy enthusiasts prefer the original model which has a somewhat cleaner dial and the famous reference 1450 bracelet.The movement in [...]

Throughout the haze of confusion that was Spring 2020, there were watch announcements aplenty. Yet many were buried by more pressing news items. The new Khaki Aviation Converter collection by Hamilton was unfortunately not given much exposure at the time of the unveiling. So, let us change that and provide this tactical Hamilton with a second chance. To its credit, Hamilton was precisely on time with its release schedule just like the Swiss railway network. But, as with any battle, the first casualty is the plan.Now we are on the road to recovery, we can provide some breathing space for this collection of practical tool watches with a cracking design. The Converter part of the name refers to [...]

How did the Easter Bunny treat you this weekend? No, don't tell me, keep it to yourself. And since you might not want to share too much with your colleagues either, here's a bit of coffee corner watch talk to kick off the week featuring G-Shock, a space-going Omega Speedmaster in yellow gold, a rare and complicated F.P. Journe creation, plus an upcoming exhibition at the Mus|e International dHorlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.Some people mix and match like there's no tomorrow. And by that, I mean they combine watches and clothing without considering if the soul of the watch matches the spirit of the attire. But others do, and for those picky G-Shock-wearing mixers and matchers, the [...]

King Seiko versus Grand SeikoYou cant imagine this today, but back in the 1960s, Seiko made two of its manufactories?compete with?each other. These two plants were?Suwa Seikosha and?Daini Seikosha. The objective was simple, to design beautiful watches and create the most accurate movements. Suwa Seikosha introduced the very first Grand Seiko in 1960. Not much later, in 1961, Daini Seikosha came with the first King Seiko. The rivalry went on until the 1970s. This history is documented everywhere on the internet, yet official documentation is not really available on the subject (or only in Japanese language).Grand Seiko is pretty well known. After an absence of 24 years, not counting the quart [...]