We all like the three, differently colored sub-dials on a Zenith chronograph, don't we? It's a distinct look for sure. And it stands for something; it clearly says In know my chronographs. But that connoisseur-approved look can also be very present. What if you want something a bit more understated. The distinguished Zenith El Primero 36,000vph Chronograph 42mm with its black dial could just be the chronograph for you.I don't want to step on anyone's toes so I'm not going to make a ranking based on qualities, but I think the unofficial chronograph Top 3 must include the omega Daytona, the Omega Speedmaster, and a Zenith El Primero-powered model. But which El Primero? Is it going to be the El...
Blog
Last week we wrote a detailed hands-on article about the new Omega Speedmaster Master Chronometer in Sedna gold. This week, were bringing you a video in which Karina and I talk about the Speedmaster Sedna versus the Daytona Everose.In this new video, were presenting the Speedmaster Professional Master Chronometer in Sedna gold, Omegas own rose gold alloy. Instead of silver, the brand uses use a specific amount of palladium in the composition. This ensures an enduring rose gold color. omega has a similar alloy for its rose gold watches, and calls it Everose. We compare the Speedmaster Sedna and the Daytona Everose and tell you why we think the Speedmaster is a better pick.Speedmaster Sedna ve...
Whats the first to say about a Top-5 list of vintage chronographs? That there are too many to choose from. I have to say that compiling this list and seeing the watches together did open my eyes to some of my preferences. The most important? All of these chronographs have a strong link to the 1960s and have their roots within a decade of each other. I never considered myself a 1960s chronograph guy, but now its hard to deny thats exactly what I am. So lets check out my Top-5 Vintage Chronographs and see if you are too.The fact that these watches are all from the same period in time is not the only thing that links them. As they are all from the same era, you can see a connection in some of t...
Paneristi rejoice The Italian brand has released its latest watch, the Luminor Marina 44mm Guillaume N ry Edition PAM1122. The PAM1122 celebrates the 70th anniversary of the birth of Luminor, a patented tritium-based substance with luminescent properties. It is also a tribute to freediver and Brand Ambassador Guillaume N ry.Forming an important part of dive watch history, Panerai has done some exciting things with the Luminor Marina. The PAM1122 was developed by the Panerai Laboratorio di Idee, using DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) technology, which shapes the titanium case using a 3D printing process. The finished product takes on a cool granulated texture.hands-on takeaways of the tech...
Magnetism, it is actually one of mechanical movements biggest enemies. That, and dropping your watch on the tiles in the bathroom. Numerous brands have tried to take precautions and some of them took it to another level. Were sure you know about the IWC Ingenieur and the omega Milgauss. The latter one even has this lightning-shaped second hand to indicate its very very anti-magnetic.Perhaps you havent heard about the Railmaster before. Or perhaps you did, but didnt link it to anti-magnetic watches. However, the first Railmaster that was introduced in 1957 had a double case to prevent it from being influenced by magnetic fields. Especially designed for scientists, technicians and other people...
A white gold case, a gray dial with day, date, and month indicators, and the added bonus of a moonphase give the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar its name. Traditional in its layout and fashionable in its dial color slate gray is the new black this white gold Vacheron appears both complicated and understated.Let's talk calendars before going deeper into the Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar (41,200). There are watches out there with simple, double, triple, full, complete, annual, semi-, and fully perpetual calendars. Sometimes, the differences are purely semantic. Most of the time, however, the functions are different. So, it all starts with the simpl...
As soon as you buy (or collect) a few nice timepieces, make sure to store them safely to protect them for dust, moisture, children, hungry pets etc. The best way to store your watches would be in a safe, so make sure you pick a watch box that will fit your safe or the safe you have in the bank.One of my favorite on-line accessory shops, watch-winder.co.uk, sells a few great watch boxes. I have ordered some watch winders from them before, but never a suitable watch box. Their black piano finish watch box with this orange effect for holding 8 timepieces was the way to go for me. The compartments are 35mm wide, which means every strap or bracelet will fit on the pillows. Since I have a collecti...
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 dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. After a short break for March Mania, were back with todays candidates. Each contender revives a cooky layout from its past in a modern guise. The Breitling Top Time and Zenith Chronomaster El Primero A385. Which revival riles you up?Dont adjust your television set. You are indeed looking at two brand new ...
When Omega introduced their Speedmaster Automatic 376.0822 in 1987, they never guessed it would be nicknamed The Holy Grail by Speedmaster collectors and fetch prices between 20.000 and 30.000 Euro.We wrote an article on the Speedmaster Holy Grail last year, with an explanation of mainly the technicalities of this watch. The production number (believed to be 2000 pieces), production years (1987 and 1988), and how it was initially being delivered (which bezel, dial, hands, bracelet, etc.). If you are looking for that, please read this article, as it covers the extensive research done by the authors of Moonwatch Only as well as the author of OmegaHolyGrail.com.But what makes the Speedmaster Ho...
Watch fanatics will instantly recognize this slogan. Perhaps, even their significant others will do too. Patek Philippe, considered to be the best watch brand, uses this slogan since 1996. Besides this campaign, Patek Philippe also has separate one for women which started in 1999 for their 24 collection and was refined in 2006.As more than ten years after it was first presented, the ?e??? ?Generations?e??? campaign enjoys continued and unprecedented success. Only a few theme campaigns of such longevity exist. According to Tim Delaney, the Chairman of Leagas Delaney and the creative mind behind the campaign, this timelessness originates primarily from its central message: ?e??? ?Patek Phili...
Oris introduces you to their Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 111 with blue dial. Most interesting about this watch is the in-house caliber 111 movement that is being used. This hand-wound movement was introduced a couple of years ago, and now also available in the Big Crown ProPilot watch. In their Big Crown ProPilot collection, you will find a variety of models (with different complications), but this is the only reference with an in-house movement. Normally, Oris core collections use third party movements (from Sellita for example) to keep their watch affordable and in a certain price bracket. The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Calibre 111 starts at 5,200 CHF (up to 5,500 CHF for the watch on a croco ...
Make no bones about it; the Seiko Spring Drive Tuna is the most over the top watch I own. Strike that, mine is even zanier because it's the limited edition Spring Drive Golden Tuna. Yes, I know that this article publishes on a Thursday, which means it's TBT and vintage, but I'll bend the rules big time I suppose because I will review a watch that isn't vintage but it has been out of production for roughly three years. You see, I have a soft spot for the big brand from Japan and, therefore, I'll invoke some license to talk about a seriously different watch.The official release photo of the Golden Seiko Spring Drive Tuna from 2013 (photo credit: Seiko)The Birth of the Seiko Spring Drive T...
I love a good auction. They used to scare the heck out of me when I first got into watch collecting. But now I swear by them as great access points for all collectors. If youre just starting out you can always find the odd bargain. Sure, it may go for a low price because no one else likes it, but who knows? It could be the next big thing For established collectors, auctions present an opportunity to acquire the holy grails of our industry. At 9 pm (UTC+1) October 1st, Veritas Art Auctioneers (based in Lisbon, Portugal) is hosting a very interesting event: Auction 100: Watches.Between September 25th and September 30th, from 10 am C8 pm daily, youll be able to view the rather vast catalog deta...
In this Sunday morning column, 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 dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. After last weeks battle of sophistication vs. opulence, the Omega Aqua Terra beat the omega Yacht-Master in the end. This week the Breitling Chronomat 42 B01 battles the Tudor Black Bay Chrono SG for a showdown of the B01 movement.Last week looked like it was going to be a tight battle until the finish lin...
Setting quite substantial watches with diamonds is always a bold idea. The square shape, solid bracelet, and prominent steel screws are what define the Santos de Cartier. I have this feeling that to make the entire design even more outstanding only diamonds were missing. That was, of course, until nowNew Models From The Santos de Cartier CollectionThe French brand expands its Santos collection with three new timepieces. However, the pure asceticism of the case is gone, usurped instead by a glittering case encrusted with 206 brilliant-cut diamonds. The beautifully shaped concept comes in three different variations.The first one, my favorite, a stainless steel watch with a steel sun-brushed di...
Howdy-do fine folks and welcome to This Week in Watches for May 9, 2020 the Everything Edition. Ive given it this name because weve got quite the smorgasbord of new watches for you. So, grab your plates and hit the buffet!Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire EditionWhen I said we had everything, I meant it. We kick things off with a new Christopher Ward C60 Diver. This 40mm dive watch has a blue dial made from sapphire. With this, the Sellita SW200 automatic is visible. Christopher Ward tells us that creating such a dial takes 20 production steps. Lapping, grinding, and polishing are just some of the measures required to fit this slice of sapphire into a watch case. The watch has a display back in ...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame is back after a lengthy hiatus with the omega Submariner 16613 Silver Serti. Yes, another omega, but it was time to review one of these dials. Before we doWhen we last met, I gave you plenty of James Bond references when I brought out the Seiko 7549-7009 Golden Tuna. I love that watch, but the real reason I wrote the article was to pick on, On Her Majestys Secrezzzzzzzz. Oh, sorry, Im up now and so were you because you gave the Seiko a 66% blessing. Well done Now, todays omega Submariner 16613 Silver Serti promises to bring real pandemonium in our comments section. Will it garner supporting votes? Has it reached a level of kitsch that has become cool? Lets seeThe o...
Many of the readers of Fratellowatches come from the United States according to our statistics. In that respect, we feel that this part of our readers are probably more familiar with Hamilton than we are. You should know, that Hamilton wasnt very known in Europe until a few years ago when their PR machine started here as well. Especially with the Khaki models, they quickly conquered the market for affordable mechanical watches. The presentation we received by one of the Hamilton representatives last year in Basel was reason for us to have a closer look at this brand. We asked or a Hamilton Khaki Pioneer Pilot Chronograph watch and we received it for a hands-on review.The Hamilton company has...
It?has been exactly 60 years since?the introduction of the first omega Day-Date, reference 6511. This is being celebrated by a dedicated omega Day-Date 40 exhibition at one of the largest retailers in The Netherlands, Schaap en Citroen. Even better, their boutique in The Hague was chosen for this exhibition. A home game for us, for a change.omega Day-Date?PresidentIn the last 60 years, a lot has changed about the Day-Date, but a lot has also remained familiar. Todays omega Day-Date 40 (introduced in 2015) is clearly a descendant of the very first Day-Date from 1956. A child can see that. It is the?watch that was worn by presidents. After?U.S. President, Lyndon Johnson was elected (and wearin...
With the F1 of Spa-Francorchamps coming up this weekend we look back at our trip there some weeks ago. We joined IWC and AMG for the 24hrs of Spa and had the opportunity to wear an IWC Big Pilots Watch. Having that watch on the wrist for a few days, I got quite used to it despite the fact that I feel that 40mm is the perfect size for a watch. That being said, lets have a look at the IWC Big Pilots Watch IW501001 and if I would buy one.IWC Big Pilots Watch First ImpressionsMy initial thought when opening the box was that its clearly called Big Pilots for a reason. With a stainless steel case that measures 46.2 mm its one of the biggest watches I have ever worn. With a thickness of 15.6 mm its...