At Baselworld 2019, after years of seeing many new releases from the brand, the TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph was the primary focus.Thats right, we walked into the TAG Heuer booth, sat down in the conference room and aside from seeing a digital presentation of a new Golf watch, we physically saw one watch. Ok, thats not exactly true. We saw a handful of different variants of the same watch and that ought to tell you how important the new TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph is to the brand. And whats more, this new piece kicks off a new lineup with more models to come. A new chronograph will be announced later this year and in a case that differs from the current retro Heuer Heritage Autavia that is on t...
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The NBA has a new champion since Thursday night; the Toronto Raptors.?We do not talk about sport here at Fratello. We have our occasional articles from various car racing events or golf, for example.Perhaps a sportsman gets onto a list when we talk about famous watch wearers. Pretty much that's about it. However, we love sports, and I, for one, am a huge basketball fan. As such, I was following this year's NBA finals with great enthusiasm to see if the NBA finals-rookie and underdog Toronto Raptors (a city I will be visiting in August) would be able to defeat the All-Star-studded Golden State Warriors or get schooled by the last two years' NBA champion. Well, the Raptors did it. A franchise ...
We would like to invite you for an exclusive Grand Seiko event. This will take place on December 7th in Amsterdam and will be organized by Fratello, Watching Magazine, Horloge.info and Seiko Nederland B.V.This is your chance to have a closer look at the Grand Seiko brand and their incredible craftsmanship. Besides having lunch in style, there will be a number of presentations, exclusive Grand Seiko and Credor watches to admire up close and a demonstration by one of Grand Seikos Master Craftsmen with a Snowflake watch.Location: Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDate: December 7th, Start 12:00 (Ends at 16:30)There will be only a very limited number of available seats, so make sure to sign up asap.Plea...
The OMEGA Speedmaster CK2915!Just recently, I got in touch with a watchmaker by the name of Sampo from Finland. He mainly collects Omega watches from the 1950s and 1960s? and works for one of the Omega Service Centers. His main interest goes into the Seamaster 300 watches, Railmasters and Speedmasters from that era. Only two years ago he decided to go vintage and sold his new watches and bought a beautiful Speedmaster 105.012-66, Speedmaster 105.003-63, a Ranchero CK2990, Railmaster 2914-1 and two Seamaster 300 CK2913 models.? An incredible collection so far, but he recently added a Speedmaster CK2915 as well. The very first Speedmaster from 1957.Omega Speedmaster CK2915By coincidence, he fo...
Hey there, its time for Wrist Game or Crying Shame where you get to play a little pick em choose em. This week, we super size things with an IWC Big Pilot. But firstLast week, I showed you a modern-day Omega Speedmaster Mark II Co-Axial with a racing dial for just under 3,600. You gave this one the checkered flag as it motored to a 78% Wrist Game win. Im pretty happy about that one, but I wonder if youll be happy with todays IWC Big Pilot.Do you remember big watches? Well, back in the early 2000s, lets just say they were a, um, big thing. You can lay a lot of the blame or credit on a then pluckily resurging brand called Panerai. But there were fast followers from the more established names. ...
I'll have a coffee and every Omega ?bSwatch MoonSwatch to start the week, please. Do I have to ask what you did last weekend? Do you want to talk about camping outside the nearest Swatch boutique? Please share your adventures and let me know if you scored one of the eight, not eleven, possible planets the Sun is a star, the Moon is a satellite, and Pluto is NOT a planet according to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Or in the very possible case that its been mission impossible, its good to share your frustration over a coffee to get it out of your system. If you really don't want to talk about it, maybe speculate with me on an updated Daytona; what should it look like, and what sh...
Welcome to my top list of chronographs that have become icons. The focus is on modern interpretations of chronographs that have stood the test of time. Whether by sheer brilliance or historical significance.My list is made up of modern timepieces but the core design DNA stretches back decades. There are some examples in this list that are square-millimeter-perfect recreations and some whose design and mechanisms have evolved over time. No matter the evolution, the term iconic applies to all of these chronographs. But I am always keen to know your personal choices. Especially on any watches I may have missed. Importantly for me, an icon needs to be identifiable with only the silhouette.Withou...
Its Speedy Tuesday This week we have an interesting Omega Speedmaster for you, the reference 105.003-63. Thats right, one of the very first models of this reference number. The Omega Speedmaster 105.003 is considered to be the 3rd generation of Speedmasters, as the CK2915 and CK2998/105.002 (basically the same watches) are its predecessors.The interesting part about this particular Speedmaster is that it still has the Alpha hands that were also on the CK2998 and ST 105.002 references. Most of you will know the 105.003 as the first watch with the white baton hands, as pictured below. However, these official database results from the Omega website also tell you that the 105.003 was delivered w...
Welcome, one and all, to the preliminary round 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 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 round, your task is simple: vote for your favorite watch. Below you will find a selection of 12 timepieces that we covered here on Fratello throughout 2020. Why not refresh your memory by clicking the links and reading those eruditely penned odes to wrist-wear? Once youve made your selection, vote using the poll ...
This years marks the 50th anniversary of the omega Sea-Dweller. For that occasion, theres the new omega Sea-Dweller reference 122600 with red writing on the dial. A larger case, a cyclops, red writing on the dial and a new movement. Lets have a look.The New omega Sea-Dweller Ref. 126600Almost 3 years ago, I wrote about the new omega Sea-Dweller reference 116600. You might remember that this was the long awaited successor of the 16600, but now with ceramic bezel and matte finished dial. Between 2009 and 2014, there was no Sea-Dweller in the collection. As of now, that reference is being discontinued (run for the stores, you investment buyers) and being followed up by this new omega Sea-Dwelle...
Last January, at the SIHH in Geneva, Cartier launched two new Drive de Cartier models. Two models that, despite the name, not have that much in common besides the shape of the case and the large blued hands.?Drive de Cartier Moon PhasesOne is the Drive de Cartier Extra Flat, the watch that made headlines, as soon as it was presented, a stunning dress watch in white- or pink gold. And the other one is the Drive de Cartier Moon Phases' that we're having here this week, a watch which is also not to be sneezed at.The Moon Phases' model shares the typical details with the earlier Drive de Cartier models, that were launched last year. For instance the 40mm x 41mm cushion-shaped case, the guilloche...
The design of the Submariner 114060, is unmistakably omega, despite the size and use of modern materials such as ceramics. Compare the modern 114060 to the 1953 omega Submariner 6204 and you will immediately notice that these watches share the same DNA.Owning and wearing a omega Submariner is one thing, but to dive into the history of this watch is quite a task. To make it somewhat easier for you, we hereby show you the history of the Submariner in a nutshell, including a table with most important references since 1953 till the current line-up of Submariner watches.Diving Into omega SubmarinerThe omega Submariner is a watch with an interesting story. Introduced over 60 years ago, the current...
Although the name De Ville Tr sor is not new, the new Omega Tr sor ladies collection definitely is. Most ladies watches are based on gents models within the Omega collection: smaller diameters, different dials and colors etc. This is the case for many watch brands out there. The new Omega Tr sor ladies collection though, is all-new. They could have picked an entirely new name, or a new collection even, as it doesnt look like anything released before. I had to think about it for a bit, as I am used to look at watches that are based on something existing. Even when Omega introduced the De Ville Tr sor in 2014, with the hand-wound Co-Axial in-house movement, there were elements in there that we...
Today is, of course, the last day of February, the day before the madness begins As Rob highlighted, we love a good competition. Thus last week we wondered how cool it would be to celebrate our championship with a bang, and here we are. Do you fancy the brand-new Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono? Check out what you have to do to win this watch!Play the game!To win the Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono, all you have to do is:Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow Fratello Watches on InstagramSubscribe to our YouTube channelTake part in MarchManiaSounds easy, right? It is. As soon as the March Mania tournament kicks off tomorrow, go ahead and dive right into the comments section. Well be looking ou...
Revisiting a piece of Italian naval historyNature can be cruel. I was born in Lancashire where the local dialect lacks the seductive timbre of an Italian accent.I could try to affect the ristretto flavoured vernacular of a Milanese resident but I would still lack the stylish coiffed locks, sun-kissed complexion and catwalk- worthy attire.To be Italian is to be bestowed with an intrinsic appeal, few females can resist.Panerai watches are blessed with the same aesthetic appeal as the alpha-males who populate the land of opera, fast cars and Barolo. They have passion, romance, style and culture running through their veins.Panerai have sought their own approach to watch design. They have not emu...
It is not every day you get to meet a world-record making explorer. Victor Vescovo is the first human who has climbed the highest mountains, skied to both the North and South poles, and now?reached the deepest depths of the planet.Vescovo has just returned from the Five Deeps Expedition, the unprecedented endeavour to reach the bottom of all five oceans in a manned submersible. His ship is passing through our straits and docking in London for two days.On board is the man himself, his expedition team, and the submersible that made the historic dives. On its external robotic arm, strapped the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional timepiece that descended together.Ultra DeepOmega...
Not too long ago, I noticed Cult Watches, the worlds enduring classics in a window of a book store in The Hague. It is a book by Michael Balfour, whom I think is also responsible for more horological titles.I flipped through the pages and looking at the pictures and stories of all-time classics (Speedmaster, Submariner, Navitimer, Nautilus, Royal Oak, Tank and so on..) I was immediately interested. However, asking 50 euros (almost 75 USD at this moment) was a turn-off. It is no reference like the Pattrizi books or Mondani books on omega, or the Saga book on Omega by Marco Richon. This Cult Watches book is a nice-to-read book and I am not paying 50 euros for those ??Anyway, when I got home, I...
A topic that is always actual for watch enthusiasts: watch photography We published the 10 tips for better watch photography early 2015 and would like to put it in the spot light again for those who have missed it or forgot about it.Watch photography is not easy, but with these 10 tips from top (watch) photographer Bert Buijsrogge (who did and still does?numerous shoots and campaigns for watch brands during the last couple of years) you should have a flying start. It also will show you that you dont always need to have the most expensive gear and accessories, but that success is heavily depending on your own creativity.Once youre done reading and learning from Berts tips, make sure to visit ...
Heres our Top 10 Grand Seiko overview An overview of the hottest Grand Seiko watches according to our readers.We measured the reading and clicking behavior from May 2019 till now. The result? A list of the Top 10 Grand Seikos according to you, the Fratelli. Grand Seiko made big steps in the last few years. And with every new release, the brand figured out new ways to surprise us. Besides the unmatched dial and hands finishing, the cases are simply to die for. Zaratsu polishing for example, has become a standard. Only a few years ago, nobody except a few enthusiasts had heard about this. Due to the efforts that Grand Seiko took to create more worldwide awareness, the brands watches have becom...
Last week we introduced you to the U-Boat U-51 Chimera Bronze edition, if you havent read it yet, go there first as it has a small introduction on the brand as well.We decided to do a U-Boat review once every week in July and we picked this U-Boat U-42 BB reference 6947 as our second watch to review.The case parts of this 53mm large U-42 (which refers to the founding year of the company by Italo Fontanas (CEO) grandfather and certainly not to the size of the watch) have been made out of titanium with a black coating. However, the size of 53mm doesnt appear to be extra-ordinary, just plain large.However, if you ever seen one of the Fratello guys, you know were no slim and short guys. So maybe...