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Watches – News, Reviews, Brands and Releases
Last week we held our Speedy Tuesday events in Singapore and Hong Kong. Together with Omegas Petros Protopapas (Head of Brand Heritage) and former NASA engineer James H. Ragan, we travelled to these two great places to host the Speedy Tuesday events.I already briefly gave a summary on the trip itself in yesterdays Fratello on Air podcast (episode 2), but heres the photo report of the events itself. Let me start by saying that it was inspiring to be in Singapore and Hong Kong. Ive been to Singapore before when I was still in banking, and I was happy to be back. However, on the contrary to my previous visits, I had only a little time to explore the city. The Speedy Tuesday event itself was hel [...]
Chronoswiss kicks off its Watches and Wonders showing with the new Open Gear ReSec Paraiba, a limited edition model with a dramatic handmade guilloch dial.Whenever I see a new Chronoswiss, I must admit that two distinct memories come to mind. Firstly, I think about seeing Chronoswiss watches from the 90s with their massive crowns and how my Dad almost bought one. My next and final recollection is far more recent. I return to recent Baselworld events, seeing the watches, and recall the evening Chronoswiss cocktail event. While those things are in the past, one thing continues on and thats Chronoswiss and some mighty fine looking watches. Today, that continues with the new Open Gear ReSec Par [...]
Today Im going to launch one of the most requested watches since the launch of Watches and Pencils. It will be all about this famous?thirst quencher:Old NicknameThe nickname Pepsi for the Rolex GMT-Master seems to be quite old. I found several sources that go back multiple decades. It is an old and at least one of the most famous nicknames. Almost every watchnerd knows what youre talking about when you speak about the Rolex Pepsi. Intentionally, Rolex created the famous blue/red bezel by request of Pan-Am. This airliner asked Rolex to develop the watch because the flights were becoming longer and pilots needed something to read multiple timezones. One of the requested features in this projec [...]
The Rolex Submariner is a legendary dive watch. Safe to wear in a tux as well as in the briny depths. As I write this sentence, a gentleman sitting opposite me on the train comfortably wears one as he feverishly types on his laptop. With a storied history and proven dependability, the Submariner has become the trophy for the hard-working backbone of society. As a result of more well-to-do ambitious workers in this era, demand outweighs Rolexs steady output. Therefore, it hasnt taken long for prospective buyers to seek out alternatives. These brands still cement a stake in aqua nautical timekeeping. The watches also go toe-to-toe with the Sub in features specific to diving. Without further ad [...]
Welcome back once again dear Fratelli You spoke, we listened. You voted, we counted. And now only six Summer Splash wild card picks remain. Which one of these underdogs will go on to the final splashdown? Will one of these unlikely last-minute picks dethrone the editors picks for a major upset in the finale? Theres only one way to find out. In the meantime, you can check out the final six choices, and cast your vote!After your vote in the Wild Card round one, round two, and round three, the two top picks from each round have been selected in the least corrupt and fairest way possible. We aim to assure a clean, Kraken-free contest So thats it, the bell is about to ring: gloves up and no shots [...]
Choosing between a Rolex or an Omega is a question nearly as old as time itself. With all the hype surrounding the new Submariner Date, we ponder whether the stalwart Seamaster 300M is actually the better deal.No matter the aspirational product, two fierce rivals typically exist within the space. Cars, clothes, cameras, and most certainly watches are great examples. When it comes to dive watches, there are loads of options out there from loads of brands. But when it comes down to choosing a daily watch that can do it all, it seems that Rolex and Omega rule the conversation. Its no secret that weve loved and felt that the Omega Seamaster 300M represents one of the best deals in the watch univ [...]
Which vintage Omega Speedmaster should I buy today? We get this question a lot. And a lot doesn't mean once per week, but at least a dozen times per week. It is also a very valid question, as it can be quite a minefield out there. Especially with today's prices on these watches, you need to be careful. But it is a very personal question, which applies not only to vintage Omega Speedmasters but also to watches in general.Its very difficult to advise you what to buy, as its an incredibly personal decision. I might like and buy a watch for a completely different reason than you do. But at least I can give you a rundown of some of the options and tell you my preferences when it comes to buying a [...]
Not particularly a fan of quartz, but I dont hate it either. Especially when it is done right, in a special way or with specific functionality (think Breitling ExoSpace or Omegas X-33 for example). The Grand Seiko does not provide digital or specific functionality, but the quartz movement surely is special. In fact, I prefer a Grand Seiko 9F quartz movement over some of the (non-Grand Seiko) mechanical movements out there. So before you click away, because it is about quartz, you might want to keep reading.Some times, quartz can be done in an interesting way, even without digital functions. Like Rolex did with their Oysterquartz movements, it was in production for roughly 25 years (starting [...]
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. Its a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Zenith watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch histor [...]
2019 was an amazing Speedmaster year, not only because of the 50th anniversary of Apollo XI and the Speedmasters celebrating this, or the re-introduction of the famous caliber 321 but also because of the many Speedy Tuesday events we were able to organize.Together with Omega, we hosted 8 events from January 2019 till December 2019. We visited Japan, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Singapore, and Hong Kong to meet with you and celebrate our passion for the Speedmaster. It was amazing to meet many of you during these events, and it felt heartwarming every single time, even in places where weve never been before. Thank you for that. I also would like to thank all people that bro [...]
2020 was a challenging year for everyone involved in the watchmaking industry. The calendar was turned upside down, and expectations turned inside out. No one had any clue of how to successfully navigate a now, almost-entirely digital landscape. However, through a mixture of good timing and exceptional design, Bvlgari came through a difficult 12 months looking stronger than ever. The new monochrome Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S reference 103464 is a continuation of that success and sets up 2021 to be even better than the year before.As it turned out, LVMHs decision to drop the majority of its brands releases in January last year couldnt have worked out better. No one knew the sweeping restriction [...]
As the dizzy haze of Christmas and New Years dissipates, we face the grim reality of returning to work. The only option is to work from home for some of us, preferably still in sleepwear. But with restrictions lifting in certain regions, office managers enforce presenteeism, requiring us to suit up and commute. To make the journey more palatable, here are my choices for the best office wristwatch.Well, firstly, what is an office watch? Were used to pilots, divers, and explorers watches. It is less common, however, to relegate timepieces distinctly to an office or work environment. Brands often prefer their models to emanate a tough and enduring air. By contrast, the typical office space does [...]
It seems to be some kind of accepted spin-off hobby by Rolex collectors world-wide, spotting Rolex watches on the wrist of famous actors, singers, models, presidents, sports people, and soccer players wives (see picture below). This spin-off activity can therefore be pretty exhausting, as most famous personalities actually wear (gold) Rolex watches. I wonder if not spotting a Rolex on a movie stars wrist isnt going to be a better challenge.Results of this spin-off hobby can be found on the German Rolex Forum (also known as Das Rolex Forum or www.r-l-x.de). They have (currently) 189 pages of pictures with famous people wearing a Rolex. The Dutch Rolex Forum has only 26 pages, but remember tha [...]
If theres one thing that Grand Seiko absolutely masters, it is the art of dial making. This collaboration piece between Texas-based dealer Timeless and Grand Seiko is the perfect example of that.Grand Seiko needs no introduction here on Fratello, we covered them a lot in the last few years, and with good reason. It took us a while to get acquainted with the high-end watches from Seiko (and since 2017, Grand Seiko is operating as a separate legal entity). Still, once this bug has bitten you, it becomes tough not to compare them to high-end Swiss watch brands. Based on their extreme efforts in finishing dials, hour markers, hands, and basically all other parts, Grand Seiko is an exciting brand [...]
Speedmaster Pro Ref. 145.012-67Today we feature one of the most popular vintage Speedmaster watches with a caliber 321 movement: The Speedmaster Pro reference 145.012. We have featured this specific reference number many times before here, as it was one of the watches that was worn by an Apollo 11 crew member in 1969. Also, as it is one of the most common caliber 321 Speedmaster models, it means you are able to source one without too many problems (and money).Speedmaster Professional 145.012We did a comparison between this Speedmaster Prfofessional 145.012 model and a modern Speedmaster Professional 3570.50 in the past (click here for that story), to show you the changes Omega applied to the [...]
At Watches and Wonder 2021, we saw several beautiful new watches launched by many different brands. Some were expected, and some were a bit of a curveball and caught us by surprise, but in a good way At the digital event, TAG Heuer launched its new Aquaracer Professional 300 collection. The release marked a new generation of the famous model, with a refreshed look that blended a bold-yet-elegant contemporary look with a functional and versatile form.After the launchs success and the subsequent availability of the watches from boutiques and dealers, TAG Heuer has revealed an unprecedented look behind the scenes of the fascinating advertising campaign that accompanied the launch. So sit back a [...]
You can't control your heart. And a watch lovers heart, especially, tends to skip a beat when it encounters something that strikes a chord. And boy, did my heart skip a beat when I sat down during Grand Seiko's touch-and-feel session during Watches And Wonders. It has been a few weeks since the event in Geneva, and Ive been trying to calm my heart ever since. But there is just no denying it. Even after a cool-down period of a few weeks, I've fallen for the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT SBGE285 Mist Flake. What is it that makes my heart go boom?I can tell you right away why my heart goes boom when I look, feel, touch, and wear the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT SBGE285 Mist Flake. It's the combina [...]
Searching for the right watch roll or watch box can be quite a journey. I have tried many boxes, including the now-discontinued Orbita aluminum case and a bunch of wooden boxes as well. None of them really wowed me, though, until I saw a handmade wooden watch box from Officina Creativo.Watch boxes by Officina CreativoI had already noticed Officina Creativos work on Instagram, and not too long ago, my friend Ralph (@fiftyfathommilspec) brought his custom-made Officina Creativo case to the watch get-together we reported about here. I was thrilled and got in touch with Richard, the owner of Officina Creativo, to discuss the possibility to create a box for some of my Speedmaster watches. Althoug [...]
Marc Menant from Jaeger-LeCoulte mailed me some information on their new Master Compressor Diving Navy SEALs watches. The grade 5 titanium cases with unidirectional bezel and water resistancy of 1000 meters meet the most stringent requirements for the United States Navy SEALs diving watch. Jaeger-LeCoultre consulted snorkelling record holder Patrick Musimu about the relevance of Jaegers diving watch innovations.The Master Compressor Diving models have a shot-peened ceramic bezel and are engraved with the Navy SEALs emblem. Before paying thousands of dollars for a vintage COMEX diver from Rolex, you might want to investigate these new three models from Jaeger-LeCoultre.Jaeger-LeCoultre introd [...]
The most famous watch brand from Geneva did not only shocked the World with their new range of Rolex Oyster models, but also introduced a range of watches that belong to the Rolex Cellini collection. Admitted, I dont have a lot going on for the previous Cellini models and that includes the revamped Cellini Prince models. However, I was happily surprised to see that Rolex came up with classic but modern-sized dress watches in Basel.Rolex introduces three different versions of the Cellini: Cellini Time, Cellini Date and Cellini Dual Time. Each available in two different materials for the case and buckle, namely 18 carat white gold and 18?carat Everose gold. Each version is then also available [...]
