Welcome to Group H of the Speedmaster World Cup. In the absence of Euro 2020, we thought our beloved readers might enjoy a tournament of a different kind. We've assembled eight groups (A CH), each governed by a different Fratello team member. Each writer has been assigned four watches, which they will pitch to you during the group stages.All we need you to do is vote for your favorite to move on in the competition. The next round will be the quarter-finals, which will see the eight group winners go head-to-head for your votes. The four winners progress to the semis. Following that, a third-place play-off will precede the final round, due to be held on Sunday, December 13th (get the whiskey i...
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This year, at Geneva Watch Days 2021, Breitling brings us three chronographs inspired by a fairly surprising topic: 60s American sports cars. The Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Shelby Cobra are featured within a new capsule collection of Top Time Chronographs.I have to admit that I wasnt expecting classic American cars to star in the latest Breitling capsule collection. However, its wise to assume the unexpected these days when it comes to the ever-evolving brand. The fact that these watches sit within the Top Time line seems fitting as well. After all, we have 60s-based chronographs and cars from the same era. Blending cars and watches are a tough business with more failures than not...
The omega Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, so only a relatively new member of the Oyster family. Now, 27 years later, they introduce something big, bold and in white gold.Although a bit underwhelmed at first based on the press images, the new omega Yacht-Master 42 with reference 226659 did not disappoint. I feel kinda old realizing that I vividly remember the introduction of the omega Yacht-Master reference 16622. When the Yacht-Master was introduced in 1992, it was only in yellow gold. A watch that wasnt meant as a divers watch, with its bi-directional bezel and water resistance of just 100 meters. It was meant and still is, as a lifestyle piece rather than a tool watch.Theres also a Ya...
Most of you who want to buy a watch, select based on price and brand name. It turns out that very few are after a specific complication. But for those who do care about functionality, there are a couple of interesting propositions on the market for perpetual calendars, moon phase?watches, chronographs, divers and now an annual calendar as well. Brands like Montblanc and Frederique Constant achieved?being able to offer a perpetual calendar under 10.000 Euro not long ago. This year, Longines makes it possible for you to buy an annual calendar with their Longines Master Collection Annual Calendar watch for under 2000 Euro.Longines Master Collection Annual CalendarThis year, Longines caught us b...
Patek Philippe introduced some white dial versions for their Nautilus collection during the BaselWorld 2012 exhibition. Fratellowatches had a chance to get them in front of the lens during our meeting with Patek and were happy to share our photos with you. We also were able to get the new Patek Philippe 5204P (split seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar) in front of our lens, we will get to that fantastic timepiece in another blog post.As you may know, the Nautilus is together with the Royal Oak a watch that get mentioned a lot here. We love icons, especially when designed by the late Gerald Genta. Last years BaselWorld brought us a new version of the Aquanaut (Travel Time)?ref.5164 f...
Whenever A. Lange Sohne announces new timepieces, I immediately shift towards the edge of my seat. That also happened when the brand announced its venture into luxury sports watches with the Odysseus back in 2019. It was a release that did not go unnoticed. Watch fans worldwide expected a watch that would aim to compete with the Pateks and APs of the world. Instead, A. Lange Sohne chose its own path with an extremely unique, characteristic design. Three years after the release of the stainless steel Odysseus, the brand releases the new titanium version. This is not only the most sporty Odysseus to date, but its also the first time weve ever seen a titanium A. Lange Sohne watch. Time to fi...
Speedmaster fans were excited to see the SpaceX crew wearing the titanium Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 watches last Wednesday. Or, at least visibly on the wrist of astronaut Bob Behnken.Behnken was wearing the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 watch on board of the SpaceX Falcon 9. Over his spacesuit. Astronaut Doug Hurley was wearing the X-33 under his suit, but we couldnt identify it on the images that NASA broadcasted once he was on board of the Falcon 9.X-33 comes from NASAs codename of a Space Shuttle project in the early 1990s. Omega decided to adopt that codename to make the X-33 a worthy successor of the Moonwatch.Last Wednesday, the weather conditions were too bad to launch the Falcon 9 so the...
Last week was very impressive auction week. First, the Omega Speedmaster CK2915-1 that sold for a over 230.000 Euro via the Swedish auction house Bukowski (click here for our report) and then there was the omega Daytona Paul Newman reference 6239, owned by Paul Newman himself, that fetched a whopping $17,752,500 USD at the Phillips auction in New York.Another great watch that was sold during that Phillips auction in New York last week, is the Omega Speedmaster Alaska III reference 145.022. As you know, it was exactly this model that inspired the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday that were so proud of, and several years ago we actually had one in our hands (read our story about the astronauts watch ...
Some time ago, Jon Langballe (co-moderates the Omega Forum at WatchUseek) sent me a picture of his Seamaster 300.I guess Omega nowadays seeks the internet as well, looking for whats hot and whats not amongst customers and collectors. Omega uses details from watches like these and apply them on new models like the Seamaster Planet Ocean and others (think of the vintage Constellation pie-pan and the modern DeVille Co-Axial).Thanks Jon!!...
We all know someone who has or had this awful disease called cancer, perhaps you do or did yourself. Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men? Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve mens health or help them live longer.?Today, 5.6 million men are living with or beyond prostate cancer. Testicular cancer continues to claim young lives. Every year, 500,000 men take their own lives that's one a minute. Keep on reading, theres a watch to talk about as well.The Movember FoundationYou might have heard about the Movember Foundation, or at least about this ...
Desk diving is without a doubt the favorite pastime of many watch enthusiasts. The number of diving watches that will never be used for their intended purpose is enormous. And at Fratello, a majority of the team is also guilty as charged. Luckily we also have some people on the Fratello team that do take their diving watches into the water and test their true functionality. But for all of you that do not go diving this summer, we have made a list of the eight best desk diving watches that look great in the office. Additionally, they will make for a great watch summer watch. So lets desk dive in!The thing that has always surprised me the most when it comes to discussing watches is how some pe...
In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm...
Well, well, well. None of us saw this coming. The Omega Speedmaster World Cup has reached the incredibly sharp end of the competition. By this point, we expected to have just four contenders still standing. However, a neck-and-neck contest ultimately marred by voting irregularities in Quarter-Final 4 (between the Speedy Tuesday 1 and the Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary) saw both watches qualify in a magnanimous dead heat. They join the easy winner of Quarter Final 3, the Ed White 321, championed by Balazs. And so, rather unexpectedly, it is time for you to pick between your favorite of three for the second slot in next weeks finalWe alluded to the issue of voter fraud in Thursdays Semi-Final ...
As Christmas is getting closer every day, the annual rush to find a great present is about to begin. Of course, I buy a lot of socks (classic) but since I recently got into watches, I figured that my beloved husband deserves something classier than boring old stockings. No, this year, I have my heart set on a watch for him; not any watch but a watch that expresses appropriately how I feel about him. The only problem? He wants an Apple WatchSo, I am wondering if an Apple Watch can do the job of an emotionally loaded timepiece that symbolizes eternity, love, belonging, and family? Imagine him in about 50 years, in 2080, giving his grandchild a rather exceptional present for a birthday: the App...
With the Polaris collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre found a possible solution to attract a younger audience. In the past, the Master Compressor collection was introduced to do that, without much success.The new Polaris collection is inspired by their 1968 Memovox Polaris, as we explained in this article. We already reviewed the limited edition Polaris Memovox? (1000 pieces only), and now it is time to get hands-on with the regular collection Polaris Chronograph watch. There are a number of variations, but we asked for the one we liked best, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph on a brown calf leather strap.Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris ChronographI was looking forward to giving this Polaris Chronog...
It wasnt an easy path for Montblanc to get past the image of the luxury pen maker who tries to make the watch world believe that its watches would be anything else but decorative accessories to accompany its writing instruments. Let me guide you along through this deep dive into Montblancs complete brand history.It could be said that the name Montblanc as a synonym for luxury pens was too deeply established. But the increasing integration of Minervas heritage and craftsmanship finally made the necessary impact. Also, bringing Grande Complication watches to market at very competitive prices caused appropriate attention and recognition to the penmakers horological offerings.In the beginning, t...
It hits me from the first images the monochromatic Mandala-design dial within a classic case is hypnotic. Cheekily matched by a very unusual black stitch on the orange-brown alligator strap, it sets the tone for a much-needed distraction. Lets forget about a certain co-branded Nautilus in all its hype. Right now, a thoroughly modern minute repeater with a mind-boggling 342 parts somehow fitted into a svelte 11.1mm case is just the respite we needed.For me, this simply reaffirms my beliefs in Patek Philippe's standing within the much-discussed holy trinity of Swiss watchmaking. And I understand Thierry Stern's sentiments on the evergreen 5711, ironically published on Hypebeast in July. Quoted...
I got the opportunity to stop by Antiquorum Geneva and check out the watches in their upcoming November sale.? I am luckily based in Geneva and enjoy walking over to see in advance what is coming up for sale. Antiquorum typically has large catalogs and in May of this year, they had over 620 lots to look through, which means it takes a while.To take a look at the Antiquorum Geneva online catalog, you can click directly here.November 2018 Geneva AuctionsThis Antiquorum watch auction, which takes place on Sunday, November 11th in Geneva, is comprised of 571 lots (less than the previous sale). There is a wide variety as always and some gems hidden in the thick catalog.NautilusI decided to take a...
After the extraordinary Panerai Combusin Experience in Italy on which we reported here we had the possibility to sit down with Panerai CEO, Jean-Marc Pontrou (JMP). Coming from Roger Dubuis, hes now Mr. Panerai, and we were eager to know what that means for him. gallery-1 {margin: auto;} gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 50%;} gallery-1 img {border: 2px solid cfcfcf;} gallery-1 .gallery-caption {margin-left: 0;}/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */The setting is the?terrace of hotel?Avgvstvs in Forte Dei Marmi, adjacent to its green and at that time sun-drenched garden. Is has to be said that, after the experience of the day ...
Speedmaster 57 Re-editionsIts Speedy Tuesday We probably dont have to tell you that very first Speedmaster has been introduced in 1957. This highly-sought after model has become very expensive over the years (if you can find one in original condition at all). Over the years, Omega introduced several models that were heavily influenced by this very first reference CK2915 Speedmaster from 1957. The first that we know of was the Speedmaster 57 replica that they introduced in 1997. This watch was also part of the famous Omega Speedmaster Missions suitcases. This year, Omega introduced the new Speedmaster 57 Co-Axial Chronograph Calibre 9300 and 9301 models.During Baselworld, Omega showed us the ...