Oris introduced a number of watches during Baselworld 2019 that are worth checking out. We were able to invite some of our readers to have a first look at them.Last Thursday we organized an event with Oris for our readers. In the center of Amsterdam, in the Oris boutique. We already showed you some of the new Oris watches here on Fratello, but nothing beats it seeing them in the flesh and giving them a try. It was a wonderful evening, with approximately 45 guests in total and in the presence of Dutch Oris representative Gijs van Hoorn and the Oris boutique staff.If youre ever visiting Amsterdam, make sure to visit the Oris boutique (Rokin 48), aside from the watches, they have great coffee a...
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Dirk Claassen over at www.horlogenieuws.nl (Dutch) reports that Corum introduced the Admirals Cup Competition 48 especially for nautical sports.The watch has a La Joux Perret caliber 8235 movement, which is based on the famous and often discussed valjoux 7750??movement. It is chronometer-certified (COSC), with 24 jewels, high-end finish and personalised rotor.The watch case is 48mm in diameter and is made out of titanium. The Corum has a vulcanised rubber strap and the water resistancy is 300 meters. The watch is available in either black or blue. Dirk notes that the watch has this stunning twelve-facetted sapphire crystal.Although the Corum website??does not show the Admirals Cup Competitio...
You guys seem to enjoy our Top 10 articles, so we thought it would be interesting to do another one. This time we would focus on watches below the 2k mark. But heres the twist: instead of just listing ten watches that I love, I decided to open this up to the team. Our editors got one choice and one choice only. Lets see what theyd spend their 2,000 onI asked nine of our editors to send me their favorite picks under 2k. Its a pretty exciting list that reflects the versatility we have at Fratello. Youll see each editors selection with a quote from the person explaining why they went with it. Additionally, Ive included the price and a few thoughts about the watch from me. As always, wed love to...
Hamilton is releasing a new military-inspired piece, the Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical, after the remarkable success of the Khaki Field Mechanical.That watch took the industry by storm for its originality and price. The Khaki Field Mechanical looked almost exactly as its vintage counterpart and this was a huge chunk of the charm. The other favorable factor was the hand-wound movement inside and last not but least, the super affordable price tag. Today we have a look at the evolution of this model. Yet another re-edition, yet another military watch. But you dont hear us complaining. The Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer Mechanical is the modern reinterpretation of the legendary Hamilton W10. You'...
Hello homebound friends, we welcome you to another episode of This Week in Watches for April 4, 2020. We have a decent amount of news today, so lets get to it!Ollech Wajs COVID-19 AidIts nice to know that while youre homebound, there are companies at work trying to do the right thing. Zurich-based Ollech Wajs sent a couple emails over the last week. Firstly, theyve announced that every watch sold will result in a donation of 100 CHF to the Italian Protezione Civile.?If you head to their site, youll learn that equates to roughly 10% of the sales price of most watches. Second, OW is in the process of making and donating 10,000 surgical masks to front line professionals. Will this save the wo...
If you are in favour of big and bold diving watches, think Deepsea or Ploprof, you can add another to that list: the Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive. Theres nothing much toned down about this particular watch, but I assume that this is also not intended by the Le Locle based manufacture.Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive It Will Not Go UnnoticedThere are more watches on the market with a case as big as 46mm, or even larger. But even my approx.50mm Seiko Tuna 6159-7010 looks less bold. The 46mm isnt that extreme these days, but the two extensions on the Ulysse Nardin Diver Deep Dive creates a watch that will not go unnoticed. But I believe that is exactly what Ulysse Nardins team of designers had i...
Im starting to think I might have a very specific type when it comes to watches. The Omega Seamaster GMT Great White 2538.20.00 is a watch that certainly ticks all the boxes. Its a rugged stainless steel sports watch with plenty of water resistance and a GMT function. It has the classic Seamaster looks, but with a twist or two that make this a very attractive piece indeed. However, the fact that Im writing about it in this article means one thing it's no longer in production. Omega axed this particular model sometime in the early 2000s, and that makes me very sad indeed. But I'm sure we can all agree that the Omega Seamaster GMT's comeback is long overdue. And when the time (hopefully) comes...
Grail watches are supposed to embody the best. Best, however, is a subjective term. Thats why everyones grail is different. What I consider best for me is a watch that doesnt require careful handling. My best is a watch that can keep up with me in all that I do. Beyond that, I want the ultimate expression of capability in specs and design, as well as efficiency of material and cost. Thus, as far as my judgment is concerned, I want an Oris. And if Im buying tomorrow, I want an Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400.If my grail is a watch, the tower that keeps it is Oris, and I admit Im more enamored with the tower than the various potential grails within. Oris has spoiled me these past couple of years, ...
Grand Seiko seems to be the communitys darling. Since?a few years, collectors and watch journalists are all over it and it seems to be increasing by the day. With in-house GS ambassadors such as Joe Kirk, who happens to be Director of the Seiko Boutique Miami Design district and puts out beautiful images on his Instagram and Facebook account, we get to see how the community responds to the amazingly well-finished Grand Seiko watches.The enthusiasm for Grand Seiko is so huge, that some people do wonder whats going on. Is it all paid-for content that is being published? Is Seiko giving away free stuff to press who talks positively about them? Grand Seiko is all over the place on social media, ...
Today, Steef notified the Dutch omegaForum members about a website that covers diving watches and diving stories. The owner of the website, Michael OLeary, military and commercial (COMEX) diver, is also a watch aficionado. Most interesting is his story about the omega COMEX ref.16600 Sea Dweller and the fact that he dives with his Double Red Sea Dweller (ref.1665) from 1972. It all started with his omega Submariner ref.5513 that he got for his 21st birthday in 1978, and from there on, he built this impressive collection of (vintage and COMEX) omega watches.Be sure to visit Michaels website at:...
It is the last day of the year, time to share with you the Top 10 best read articles on Fratello in 2018. In total, we published just over 450 posts on watches.2018 was a very important year for us, as we made a number of important decisions for the future of Fratello, which we will tell you more about soon. Also, of course, there was the release of another Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday (Ultraman) which means a great deal to us. We very much enjoyed doing watch reviews (a big thank you to all brands that cooperate with us on that) and hosting watch events (another thank you to the brands and boutiques involved). We will do more events in the future, starting next week actually.For 2019, we hope...
Its This Week in Watches for June 27, 2020 the variety edition. Weve got serious diversity this week, so without further adoTAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited EditionOur first entry in this variety edition comes from TAG Heuer. I got a bit excited when the press release came in and I saw a 1972 Montreal chronograph. Well, it turns out that were getting a 39mm Carrera with the familiar Glassbox construction in the guise of a Montreal. This 1,000-piece limited edition features blue, yellow, and red highlights on its dial and a blue leather alligator strap. The in-house Calibre 02 automatic powers the three-register chronograph. The 6,400 watch will begin hitting boutiques and online ...
Hamilton further expands its collection with a new jazzy case to showcase the H-10-S movement. The Jazzmaster occupies the dressy-casual void that seems distant from the Khaki Field and Scuba watches. With a variety of dial hues and case shades, the Jazzmaster is sure to complement a plethora of styles.Jazz may not be an obvious inspiration for a wristwatch, yet it is not uncommon. Just this year, I went hands-on with the Oris James Morrison. While the Hamilton may be less overt in displaying the source of inspiration the Oris has a trumpet symbol on the back the roots remain. Hamilton has a longstanding association with the arts, mostly in Cinema. But watches like the Ventura are well-remem...
Wow, have things changed at Breitling. A few short years ago, if I told you that reasonably sized, gorgeous manual wind chronographs were on the horizon, would you have believed me? Well, the Premier Chronograph 40 line is hereMy how the worm has turned regarding Breitling. Just several short years ago, the brand seemed intent on producing the biggest most garish watches on the planet. Since that time, bit by bit, the quality releases have just kept coming. Watches like the Premier, the Chronomat, the Aviator 8, and the Superocean Heritage 57 are just some of the renaissance pieces. Breitling has faithfully grasped its heritage while focusing on finishing that can easily party with other bra...
Lately, Ive been in some lengthy conversations with a friend who is looking for either a omega Submariner 16610 or Sea-Dweller 16600. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the prices of these models Its time to look back on a couple of popular watches that left us more than ten years ago.Sure, we talk a lot about omega, but hardly a day goes by when someone doesnt message with questions about one of their models. New or old, theyre always on peoples minds. Recently, it seems people are turning their attention to modern models that were discontinued roughly ten years ago. The omega Submariner 16610 and the Sea-Dweller 16600 are two dive watches from the same period. Their differences are subtl...
With the UEFA EURO 2020 European Championship football full swing underway, we see all kinds of watches on the wrists of famous European football players. Most of them are from the same brands, though. omega, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille are kings in the land of football. No surprises there, really. Neither are the models of those brands. But we have tried to spot some less common timepieces. At the same time, they might still be part of the usual brands. Some of them may be less expected. Or maybe there is an interesting story. So let find out what has been on the wrists of some of the prominent players and managers of the UEFA EURO 2020 European Championships.Where th...
Welcome back to another round of Wrist Game or Crying Shame and this week we take a look at a gold Omega Seamaster 120M. But firstLast week, I discussed what I found to be a lovely Patek Philippe Gondolo 5014G. Despite some cranky comments, 73% of our respondents like putting the art in deco. Today, we stay with the metal of kings with an Omega Seamaster 120M in 18K.Its amazing to think that companies once gave their longtime employees gold watches upon retirement. These days, a lot of companies look to rid themselves of their most dedicated translation: costly staffers before theyre really ready to retire. In lieu of a gold watch, these folks often hear a chorus of, dont let it hit ya whe...
Recently, Seiko has been celebrating its 140th anniversary. This milestone also coincides with 20 years of the Japanese brands ingenious Spring Drive movement. The beating heart of this watch has been developed by an elite team of craftsmen at the brands Micro Artist Studio in Shiojiri. And it seems that each time Grand Seiko releases a Spring Drive watch, it comes in an even more mouthwateringly beautiful packageathis time capturing the wintery backdrop of Shinshu.The three-handed Grand Seiko watch paints a lasting memory of the snowy scenes that surround the brands manufacturing facility for its Spring Drive watches. It features a pink gold case with matching faceted hands and indexes, dis...
On April 17, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role on the return trip, that NASA decided to give a Silver Snoopy Award to Omega on October 5th of that same year. Some think the Snoopy cartoon on a Speedmaster is a bit childish, but often, those people dont know why it is there. In this article, well explain how Snoopy ended up on the dial of a Speedmaster.In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford presented a Silver Snoopy Award to Omega. Not everyone realizes how important this award is. It is an award given by NASA crew to staff or contractors for their special contribution and o...
From an outside perspective, watch collecting is often seen as an exclusive past-time for the wealthy. But as soon as you take a closer look, you begin to see that there is another side to it. It is one that is much more humble and down-to-earth people who enjoy a Seiko diver, Vostok Amphibia, or a digital Casio watch as intensely as some might enjoy a omega, Omega, or Patek. This is where I made my start. A time in my life when the watch budget was non-existent, as a university student living in the city of M1nster in North-Western Germany. Considering my limited means at the time, I still look back fondly on those first steps into the world of watches and what they taught me. And looking ...