Its been a long time, but travel is slowly starting to open up again. After not stepping on an airplane for 18 months, I have found myself arranging four trips to three different countries in a relatively short period of time. Different countries mean different time zones, and Ill be straight up in admitting that I lack the basic memory skills to remember time differences. With that in mind, I have recently found myself frequently looking at travel watches the perfect tool for those who travel and want a convenient way of keeping track of time wherever they may land.Travel watches come in many different shapes and sizes, from the instantly recognizable world-timers to the traditional and som...
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The omega Sea-Dweller 16600 was my first sports omega back in 2003. After owning it for over 10 years, I decided to trade it for something else. Only to come to the realization a few omega sports models later that the Sea-Dweller is, in fact, the one for me.When I started taking my first steps into the world of watch collecting in the late 1990s, I had to learn everything from scratch. Magazines like Uhren Magazine, Chronos (later WatchTime), and websites like TimeZone, taught me a lot of the things I know about many brands, including omega. Although the prices (and availability) were much more attractive at the time, being a student, purchasing a omega was quite simply out of the question.B...
Another week has gone by. It turns out not even James Bond is immune to the Coronavirus. But in happier news, a raft of new watches hit the market. With many new models, Grand Seikos 60th-anniversary celebration really took off this week. Were keeping you in the loop on that with our various articles on the subject. But we havent forgotten the other novelties and news as well. Enjoy some of it grouped here in This Week In Watches.CWC T20 QuartzIn 1980, the British Ministry Of Defence released a tender specification for the first quartz watch issued to all branches of the British forces. While the tonneau-shape case? employed by the 70s mechanical models was specified, the early Swiss quartz...
Weve been following the Toolwatch guys since their early start and they did a great job in creating a tool to measure the accuracy of your watch. First via their website, but now theres also the Toolwatch app available in the Apple Store and Play Store (Google).Checking the accuracy of your watchFor most of you watch enthusiasts out there, accuracy is an important aspect of your mechanical watch. The chronometer (COSC) standards is one way to guarantee the accuracy of a watch (down to -4/+6 seconds a day on average), but it is only valid for 5 years and perhaps -4 seconds a day still isnt good enough for you. Also, the chronometer testing and certification only applies to the movement itself...
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the online fun fest that allows you, the reader to decide whether a given watch has been naughty or nice.? This week, we take a look at an original 70's IWC Ingenieur SL Jumbo.? Let's see if it's too round to get down the chimney in your house right before the holidays But before we begin?-Sigh.? Just when I think I'm trying to do something creative and bring you a real surprise, you shoot me down.? Last week, I tried to make things colorful during this oft-gloomy time of year with the tri-colored omega Day-Date Tridor.? That 12,950 Euro watch went down in a ball of fanciful flames as it lost support with a 55/45% loss in favor of the Crying Shame ...
In 2022, Grand Seiko celebrates the 55th anniversary of its famous design language, known as the Grand Seiko Style. This particular style came to life in 1967 with the introduction of the 44GS case. This celebration calls for a limited edition from the Japanese manufacturer. Meet the Grand Seiko SBGJ255, the latest Hi-Beat GMT addition to the brands Heritage Collection.If this watch looks familiar to you, theres a good reason for that. I had to look twice when the press release came in from Grand Seiko, as it looks a lot like the reference SBGJ201 that I bought back in 2018. Besides taking a closer look at the new Grand Seiko SBGJ255 limited edition, I will also do a side-by-side comparison ...
The new omega releases dropped a few days ago, and that means that weve had a fair amount of time to digest the news. On March 30th, I penned an article with the basic specifications and some off-the-cuff thoughts. Now, for better or worse, you get to hear my unvarnished opinion on these watches. As always, we invite you to agree or differ in the comments section*Sigh* Another year, another batch of new omega releases. The last time I bought a brand-new omega at an AD was in 2014. I walked into a certain shop in Frankfurt, casual as all get-out (South Florida to the core here), and was suitably ignored for about five minutes while I pretended to browse the showcases. Finally, a bored salespe...
The watch everyone came to admire at their booth this year was the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic Perpetual Calendar. It is a beautiful watch, easily the most photographed one in their booth at SIHH 2019.However, let's not forget the fact that their Clifton Baumatic collection received an extension with 5 new other models (6 all together, including the perpetual calendar). The basis of these new models is two features: the introduction of a red gold case and a gradated blue dial. So far, the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic models only came in a steel or two-tone case. The dial options were white or black. With the new releases from Baume Mercier in 2019, this is about to change for the bet...
When my grandfather took a bath or even washed his hands, he would take off his Omega Constellation. It had some water resistance, but he just didn't risk it. He bought that watch around his 50th birthday and took great care of it. I imagine he would smile with bemusement at the size of my collection, but also with the oddly idiosyncratic way in which I interact with it and, in no small way in my mind, justify the presence of each and every watch thereinHow times have changed When I take a bath or wash my hands, I do take off my Moonwatch, I admit. But only because I am exchanging it for the Ploprof 1200M, or some other hulking diver that seems up to the occasion. It seems that for each task...
This time, Balazs and Mike welcome a very special guest from the icy North. Fellow Fratello member Jorg Weppelink graces the mic alongside the duo with his thoughts on the current trend of supposedly rare and exclusive watches.Yes, we touch on a topic thats top of mind for many watch collectors and thats this idea of rare and exclusive watches. We have so many questions Is it foolish when we call a watch such as the Submariner rare? Would we snap up a steel Rollie at retail? Do we think this current trend of finding scores of supposedly unobtainable watches on the grey market is a bit ridiculous? What do we think about burgeoning brands like MING or Unimatic that purposely limit production? ...
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...
Hannes posted a photo of his omega Daytona (ref.16520) on a omega Jubilee bracelet at Das omega Forum. Although I prefer a omega sportswatch on an Oyster bracelet, it seems to be suitable for the more formal dress code ??Click here for more pictures.Update: The omega Daytona jubilee bracelet conversion. The omega (Zenith) Daytona meets the 62510H bracelet. New photos from the archive!Were going through our articles from the past and try to update them every now and then if possible. When looking at this post I realised there are some similar photos in our photo archive.The omega Daytona Jubilee bracelet conversion. Ever wondered how your Daytona looks on a jubilee bracelet? These photos show...
Happy New Year and Welcome to This Week in Watches for January 4, 2020.? Were glad to be back for our second decade and to bring you some news that just might help you break that New Years resolution to stop buying watches.? Ha, good luck with that!Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer DateFirst up on This Week in Watches is a piece that actually came to us a few weeks back.? But, its been a busy time since then and we figured it was a fun watch to kick off the new year.? Oris sent us news of a new hue for its 40mm Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date.? Up until now, weve had the dark green version thats called the 80th Anniversary piece and one doofus (thats me) who threw an oxblood dial on his to make so...
You have probably heard the name G rald Genta countless times if you have an interest in watch design. His name is synonymous with two of the most successful wristwatch lines in the modern era; the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Numerous iterations have spawned from these core designs. And in the case of Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak is the cornerstone of the brand's design DNA, even 50 years after its birth.So how did it come to be that two of the holy trinity Grand Maisons ultimately owe these successes to not just one designer, but the very same man? To understand this, you first have to understand the man himself G rald Genta, a legend of 20th-century Swiss ...
The Omega Speedmaster Mark IIIt was at least ten years ago that I stumbled upon a very rudimentary website depicting a chronology of wild, boldly styled 1970's Omega chronographs and I enjoyed marveling at them, but one stuck out as especially notable: the Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014. Yes, amongst all of the crazy flying saucer-esque, deeply cased oddities, it was the Omega Speedmaster Mark II that caught my eye. However, priorities changed, time dragged on and I resisted buying one, or even seriously looking for one, for a long, long time. And then C I snapped one up and haven't regretted it since. Today's TBT takes a look at this revolutionary watch, briefly details its restoration,...
Aluminium is not a typical material used in the watchmaking world, but Bvlgari is not a typical company. The Italian watch brand has carved a bit of a niche for releasing expertly engineered watches with a healthy dose of Italian style.When talking about Bvlgari, I'd forgive you for immediately thinking of the famous and successful Octo Finissimo. After all, this is the brand's flagship model family and the one that's famed for breaking all sorts of records in the watchmaking industry. That said, it's not the only watch of note made by the Italian brand. Enter the Bvlgari Aluminium.The Diagono lives onThe Bvlgari Aluminium is essentially a refresh of the old Bvlgari Diagono Aluminium family....
The 130 years old retailer from?Lucerne in Switzerland collaborated with 11 different watch manufacturers to come up with their special Bucherer Blue Editions watches. This IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Bucherer Blue Editions in red gold is their 18th watch in this collaboration series. Previously, we reported about the Tudor that Bucherer did for this Blue Editions series, you can read it here. That watch is now well sought after by fans of the brand. Will the same thing happen to this IWC Blue Edition? Lets zoom in a bit.IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Bucherer Blue EditionsWith a limited run of just 88 pieces, this IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Bucherer Blue Editions (it s...
People love to see Top x lists, so we gathered the Top 10 best read articles in 2012 here on Fratellowatches. We also would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your interest in Fratellowatches in 2012. We had more visits than ever before We hope to take you aboard for 2013 as well and surprise you with some cool and interesting upcoming features!Number 1: Review of the Omega Speedmaster Caliber 9300This watch was introduced in 2011 and we received one from Omega to try test it later that year. It was and still is one of my most favorite modern timepieces. If I had one modern watch to pick in the 5000 6000 Euro price range, this would be it.Click here for the articleNumber 2. omeg...
This year for Panerai is all about the Submersible. The Radiomir and Luminor lines represent the heritage branch of the brand with a more subtle look and elegance. The Submersible family, however, goes back to the core of Panerai; diving.PAM00959These watches are more sporty, bulky and colorful than the aforementioned Radiomir and Luminor collections. Still making a sporty watch, especially if we are talking about a Panerai, does not necessarily mean +46mm monstrosities on the wrist. I know some of you guys dig those watches and I have nothing against Panerai at all. On the contrary, I used to own a Marina Militare a long time ago. Still, those sizes only look good for a very small percentag...
Omega Speedmaster SchumacherIts Speedy Tuesday This weeks topic is the yellow Speedmaster Schumacher. Omega introduced the Speedmaster Schumacher? in 1996 and was in production till 1999.As you might know, the Speedmaster was originally introduced as a watch for race car drivers. Or wannabe race car drivers. The very first Speedmaster advertisements were also referring to this, as can be seen below:The Speedmaster Schumacher (case number ST175.0032 or ref.3810.12.40) was of course being introduced by their (then) ambassador, Michael Schumacher. His brother and also F1 car racer Ralf Schumacher was also an Omega ambassador at that time. Later on, Omega introduced another Speedmaster that ...