Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza for the last time in 2020 We will soon find out who will be the lucky winner of this years contest!In case we need to bring you up to speed, this is what happened so far:Every week, we selected four images. You could vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moved on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). The winner of each semi-final went straight into the final.The previous Semi-Finals were one, two, three, four, and five.Over the course of the contest, we have collected over 80 images from Instagram from different users. We checked who tagged our account or used...
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We like to talk to watch collectors and enthusiasts about their watches, and as you know, weve got a small thing for Speedmasters here as well. Were happy to publish your story about your Speedmaster, the connection you have with the watch, or simply why you love it. Whether you have one Speedmaster or 100, youre all welcome to share your stories with us and the Speedy Tuesday community.Wed like to introduce Aashdin Billimoria from Bombay, a watch collector, author, and archivist for over 30 years. Hes currently working on a book on vintage watches, but today, we talk to him about his Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022-76. Aashdin started collecting watches at the age of nine. His father...
Shortly after the turn of the New Year, I invited our resident Formula One fanatic, Ben Hodges, into the smooth booth to record a TAG Heuer special. We focused on the brands most visible ambassador on Planet Earth right now the flying Dutchman, Max Verstappen.We discuss the controversial conclusion to the 2021 Formula One season that saw Sir Lewis Hamilton denied a record eighth drivers championship in almost unbelievable circumstances. Whether what came to pass should have happened in the first place is, by now, a moot point. The result is in the books and the Netherlands has its first World Champion in the sport.In addition to recapping the wild final lap that decided one of the most talke...
It will be difficult to not use the name Yacht-Master in this write-up. One glance at the midsize Omega Seamaster Professional Automatic Chronometer 300M Diver watch is enough to show you very clearly what I mean. Doesn't that bezel ring a bell? It does, doesn't it? The edgy shape of the uni-directional white gold bezel is distinctly Seamaster and the same goes for the wave pattern on the deep black dial. This dressy Seamaster is quite the sophisticated yachtsman. Or noble diver, if you prefer.With its 36.25a11.5mm white gold case, the midsize Omega Seamaster Professional Automatic Chronometer 300M Diver watch (ref. 2652.50.91) is a very versatile creature. Because of its modest size, it sli...
Every year, we see watches not getting the attention we think they deserve. In 2021 again, some watches were underrated. But what does that mean underrated, underestimated, or undervalued? These words all seem to indicate that a watch is not appreciated highly enough. But in what sense? Are its technical specifications on a higher level than is generally believed. Is its price lower than the actual product is worth? Or could it be that people just dont value the watch due to its appearance?Looking at the reader numbers of the articles about the following watches, we could tell that these watches werent very much in demand this year. Lets start with what is, in general, a popular watch model,...
You merely look after it for the next generation. With this slogan, Patek Philippe seduces you to take the plunge on one of their magnificent watches. It creates some kind of justification to spend a tremendous amount of money on one time piece that could have bought you half a dozen other Swiss quality watches.One of my favorites is the Patek Philippe Nautilus (ref.5711/1A) in its purest form: stainless steel and with hours, minutes and date only. However, Patek Philippe also manufacturers the 5712/1A, which is basically the same watch in terms of design or look feel, but it features a moon phase, date and power reserve indicator. These complications make it the ultimate luxury sports watc...
I am delighted to be sharing my research on a newly discovered and unique Omega coming up for auction at Antiquorum in Geneva. You can see the full catalog here. But first, I will go back through a bit of history to put things in context.When we think of Omega watches, each of us will likely have an image of a particular watch pop into our minds. In my case, it's usually a Speedmaster. However, among its peers of the biggest brands at the top of the Swiss watchmaking industry, Omega is one of the most varied. Historically speaking, it might even be the broadest. It has covered more categories, made more references and calibers, and ventured into more prototypes than many of its peers.A uniqu...
Hello neighbors, welcome back to This Week in Watches for April 13, 2019.Did you miss last week's episode of This Week in Watches?? Well, I missed me too, but as much as I love jawing at you fine folks, there was simply nothing to talk about last weekend.? Plus, I was still feeling good about myself for playing a dirty April Fools trick on you about the demise of the steel Submariner.? It was clickbait for sure yes, I am guilty because something like 200,000 of you poured onto the site to read about the death of a watch you can't buy anyhow!? Well, don't worry, the Submariner and the rest of the enigmatic group of omega steel sports watches are still around.? They're ready to jump onto t...
Panerai is introducing two new Luminor Marina references, in 42mm and 44mm, with a new silver coloured dial and with a stainless steel bracelet.Today, Officine Panerai breaks the news with two new references for their Luminor Marina collection. The PAM00977 with a modest 42mm diameter case and the PAM00978 with the more traditional 44mm diameter case. Both watches have the manufactures caliber?P. 9010 movement. Where the SIHH show in Geneva last January was all about the Submersible, it seems that Panerai is now slowly adding some new Luminor watches to their collection as well. It is interesting to see that brands are releasing more novelties through-out the year, instead of showing it all ...
Today on TBT we'll talk about a watch that's become a real easy go to piece one that looks good with just about everything because it looks so good the Hamilton 600 diver. Hamilton is a brand I like to feature because of its historic link to Lancaster, Pennsylvania: a place where I've spent a lot of time. However, it's not just the American tie but it's also the fact that the brand made some really nice watches that exercised a high level of constraint in their execution as well as what I'd call quiet confidence. Hamilton was such a powerhouse at one time in the United States that even though they were flagging by the late 60's and the onset of the quartz/Japanese invasion, they still d...
We tend to tell romanticized stories of brave men and women in survival situations. As watch-lovers, we find ourselves drawn to the wrists of these heroes and heroines. A watch worn during an adventure can take on a character of its own. And for those of us that cant get enough of these little tickers, they can make or break the story of survival itself.How many of you have pointed at your Omega Speedmaster, explaining to the non-watch aficionado that it went to the Moon? Or how the Speedy helped bring the Apollo 13 astronauts back to Earth? Maybe you drone on about the omega DEEP-SEA Sea-Dweller diving the depths of the Mariana Trench? Perhaps you prefer to talk about the Smiths Explorer su...
We introduced to you the Longines Spirit collection last June, an important new collection for the brand from Saint-Imier. Today, we go hands-on with the three-handed Longines Spirit L3.810.4.53.0.If youd like some more background information on the Longines Spirit collection, please click here for a recap. This review is about the watch itself, how it looks on the wrist, and basically what youll get for your hard-earned money. Without further ado, lets have a closer look at the Flieger from Saint-Imier.Longines Spirit L3.810.4.53.0The new Longines Spirit collection consists of a number of variations. Besides a Longines Spirit version with a chronograph, the three-hander comes in both 40mm a...
In this video, Michael Stockton and Balazs Ferenczi go hands-on with the Breitling Co-Pilot AVI Ref. 765 watch a re-edition for the fans of this iconic 1953 chronograph.Earlier this year, we reported about this release from Breitling (in this article by Rob Nudds). Mike bought one of the 1953 pieces a while ago, and together with Balazs, talks about this chronograph on video.Breitling AVI Ref. 765The Breitling AVI Ref. 765 was introduced before the world went into this lockdown situation. It is almost hard to believe our guys were still traveling every week, while today, all of us work from home or meet up at Fratellos HQ when it is allowed. A few weeks ago, when it was still OK to travel fr...
The omega GMT-Master (II) finally stepped out of the shadow of its diving brother, the Submariner. With the introduction of the ceramic Pepsi and Batman (on Jubilee) recently, the hype is real. Long waiting lists and market prices far over retail result in disappointed customers, but that doesnt seem to slow down the demand. On the contrary.I can imagine why the omega GMT-Master II is so much in demand. It is a great daily companion, with the added value of an extra timezone. I had my share of GMT-Master watches, including a few vintage 1675s and a GMT-Master II 16710. When I was ready to purchase a GMT-Master II Ceramic or Batman in 2017, I was confronted with the above-mentioned demand for...
What comes to your mind when you hear the name Breguet? Some might think of the inventor of the Breguet overcoil, the tourbillon, or retrograde time display. Others visualize a bust of Abraham-Louis Breguet, the man behind the legend, the grandfather of watchmaking. There might be a few out there who associate the name with a jewel of the Swatch Group crown. But has anyone ever thought of the Breguet Marine 5517? You might, after this article.Breguet is synonymous with fine watchmaking of the highest order. A brand that produces elegant, Haute Horlogerie pieces while paying attention to the typical Breguet elements. The round case with the short, straight lugs. The unmistakable Breguet-style...
I like big clocks and I cannot lie. The French antique comtoise clock hanging in my parent's house, for instance. But also the highly decorated table clock my grandmother left me and that has found a place in the bookshelf. And if I had the budget for it and the matching design house on the coast but that is a different matter I would give the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos in Marc Newson design a prominent spot. And since the Ulysse Nardin UFO table clock landed on my Fratello desk, I also put it on my imaginary list. Another great thing: I felt like Indiana Jones when I uncrated the UFO.The Ulysse Nardin UFO table clock (Ref. 9023-900LE-3A-BLUE) is spectacular in every way. Even the box it com...
Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5Speedy Tuesday is here Last week we already had a Speedmaster pre-Professional CK2998, but that doesnt hold us back to present another wonderful Speedmaster CK2998. This time, it is an untouched Omega Speedmaster CK2998-5, where the dash 5 stands for one of the last versions of this CK2998. To our best knowledge, the -62 is the last CK2998 (after -5 came -6, -61 and -61).The owner of this watch is a chronograph nut, and as he said, one has to decide fast if you see one, as these Speedmaster CK2998 watches tend to sell very fast. Especially when they are as good as this one here. We fully agree with him, as it becomes quite difficult to find a decent Speedmaster with...
Within our team, the Hamilton Intra-Matic Chronograph is a popular beast. I know for a fact that a couple of the Fratelli will be racing out to buy this new green version that, on balance, is one of the best value propositions in the industry today.High praise? Indeed it is. But is it justified? We've all known for a long time that when it comes to branding, genuine heritage, and bang-for-buck, it is really difficult to get past the entry-level Swatch Group brands. When Hayek went on his industry-wide sweep up in the early eighties, he corralled several established powerhouses that had, thanks to the quartz crisis, fallen on hard times. Names like Longines, Certina, and Tissot joined the por...
The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Razzle Dazzle is an easy-to-spot watch. Its disruptive black and white attire is definitely not something you often see in the world of watches. The watch might remind you of a zebra, or of the WWI Dazzle paint job on ships. But does a wildly striped pattern camouflage beast and objects alike, or does it make them very confusingly conspicuous? What a razzle dazzle livery does without a doubt is to make you almost forget to mention the stunning flying carousel movement that normally would be at the center of attention.So, what is razzle dazzle and what does it do? Interestingly the razzle dazzle pattern is about being conspicuous rather than invisible. So strictly sp...
Omega Museum in BienneIts Speedy Tuesday Although we welcome any type of Speedmaster for this topic, today we have something really rare. No other than the OMEGA Museum in Bienne contributed this Speedmaster for this Speedy Tuesday. This Speedmaster ACP was in their museum archives and we had the opportunity to shoot some photos of it.Speedmaster ACP Automovil Club PeruanoThe OMEGA Speedmaster ACP is a reference 105.012 Speedy that was delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano. A common misunderstanding is that ACP stands for Association of Chief of Police on these watches.The strange thing is, that the Speedmaster ref.105.012 goes back to 1963, together with the 105.003. The 105.003 had no c...