I dont usually buy into the hype around things. When people around me are all praising something, I typically try to avoid it. For example, when Game Of Thrones was on TV, my friends were raving about how fantastic it was and how I simply had to watch it. I declined and didnt even give it a chance. My friends later tricked me into watching an episode, which turned out to be just as good as they had promised, so I went back and watched the entire thing. Curses At least I wasnt trapped in the one episode a week and months/years between seasons cycle. The same goes for Bvlgari and its Octo Finissmo watches. The hype and praise are unanimous and unrelenting. Today I have been given the Bvlgari O...
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The introduction of the new Omega a Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch collaboration did not go unnoticed. Some of my colleagues went to see the queues last weekend in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and they were absolutely crazy.We covered the Omega a Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch last Wednesday evening. As the media embargo was broken by another site, we got the OK from the Omega and Swatch HQs to publish a few hours ahead of schedule. And the interest in this watch exceeded all expectations We had the MoonSwatch in the office a few days in advance, and most of the Fratello team was incredibly excited about it. But this run to Swatch boutiques and the massive amount of comments on our art...
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week we put on our fancy duds with a look at the Cartier Tank Basculante 2390. But firstIt turns out that the once unpopular Omega Dynamic Chronograph is a rip-snorting cultish success these days. Despite its initial sales flop, a full 69% of you favored this low calorie Omega. If those 800 or so positive voters had only bought one of these watches, perhaps it would still be in the lineup today. This week, we are moving onwards and way upwards with a look at a watch from one of the most luxe brands arounds: Cartier. Enter the Cartier Tank Basculante 2390.Visiting a Cartier boutiqueI often talk about my formative years in South Florida. And hon...
There are some Omega Speedmaster watches that I missed out on in the past. As a Speedmaster enthusiast and collector, that sometimes hurt. But you cant have it all, I guess.In this article, I will share with you the five Speedmaster watches that I missed. Either during its introduction or just because I only realized later on that I need it. Of course, you can still add it later on, and in some cases I did.Five Speedmaster Watches I Missed Out OnThis overview is about the watches that I missed from the start, so not those Speedmasters that were introduced before I got into collecting them. Otherwise, the list would be very long. Very long. A borderline pick would be the 2003 Speedmaster Snoo...
If youve read my recent article, you may well have noticed me banging on about dial textures and why theyre so important. The dial is probably the first thing we see when looking at a watch for the first time. They say first impressions are the key to success, so the dial is quite an important element in this regard. Its not just color that can make a dial truly eye-catching, texture can and does play a key role when it comes to this. I decided to go back and take a look at some of the best dial textures out there today, as well as the brands responsible.As a forewarning and a caveat, Ive purposely tried to steer clear of guilloch dials for this article. Guilloch is an art form of its own ...
This report is about the kick-off of Panerais new approach to Limited Editions, the Panerai Comsubin Experience. Panerai now offers buyers a unique experience when they purchase one of their special and highly limited models. This year, at SIHH 2019, we saw three different models offered, each including an exceptional package.We explained this already briefly in our article on an interview with Mike Horn; these three special editions are linked to two Panerai ambassadors and Panerai's history employing the Italian Navy or Marina Militare. Concerned models are the Submersible Chrono Guillaume N ry Edition (PAM983, 15 pieces), the Submersible Mike Horn Edition (PAM985, 19 pieces), and the Subm...
Watches And Wonders 2022 is officially over. After a week full of new releases, its time to look at some of the hidden gems. These timepieces were not among the most talked-about pieces of the show, but they are ones that deserve attention for a number of reasons. Lets take a look at some of the watches that you might have seen but forgotten about, or maybe you havent seen at all due to the simply massive amount of new releases.The biggest downside of a week full of new releases is that it is sometimes hard to keep up. Additionally, you might forget some of the models after a couple of days because what came after was equally worth your attention. Obviously, the big brands like omega, Tudor,...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. Its a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best omega watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had proudly reclaim...
This article is a direct counterpoint to the article I released 90 minutes ago. Whenever Only Watch lights up the internet, we are reminded of one thing: theres no accounting for bad taste. Truthfully, however, what I define as bad taste could be seen as quite the opposite from another mans point of view. Exactly how far apart my taste is from that of the future owners of these watches will become apparent when they go under the hammer in November. Before then, though, why dont we have a bit of fun sharing our candid thoughts on the belowPlease dive into the comments and tell me what you think of the watches featured in this article and the one from earlier today (you can read it here: its s...
Unlike the omega Daytona, where it is quite common to make a choice between a white dial or a black dial, the Speedmaster Professional comes with a black dial. Most of the time, that is. There are some limited and numbered editions from the past where Omega decided to use a white dial instead for the Professional. In all other cases, you need to seek for Speedmaster models that do no belong to the Professional series (or are a Moonwatch) if you want to have a white dial.With this article, Id like to give you an overview of white dial Speedmaster Professional models.?Let me start by saying that the most beautiful white dial version in my book is the one that they never produced, a prototype...
During the pandemic, we all inevitably became online shoppers. Now, in many countries, the third wave is abating. Finally, we can go shopping again. But do we want to?Visiting the high street near your home now, after you couldnt do so for months, because everything was closed, will probably leave a bitter taste in the mouth at first. You will notice all those shops that didnt survive. Maybe, you recall the last time you were buying something there, and perhaps you remember the people who worked there.Possibly, you dont notice anything like that because youre just exuberantly happy to return to normality and to meet other people again in an almost relaxed atmosphere. Potentially, your desire...
Only late in 2016 (October), the famous chronograph manufacturer from Le Locle?came out with their Zenith Heritage Cronometro TIPO CP-2. This model refers to the famous (and sought-after) Zenith Cairelli chronographs from the 1960s. A. Cairelli was the Rome-based distributor for a number of watch brands, including Zenith.?Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2The Italian Air Force chose (amongst others) Zenith chronograph for their pilots and Cairelli did the delivery?for them. 2500 of these Zenith Cairelli chronographs were delivered to pilots and this original?Zenith Cronometro TIPO CP-2 was used by them till the late 1970s. The original version didnt have an El Primero chronograph movement of course...
Tell me, are you an avid user of dark mode on your electronic devices? Personally, I set my devices so that they change from light to dark mode automatically based on the sunrise and sunset. And you're just like me, you must be very happy that Piaget has just given you the option to do the same with your Altiplano Ultimate Concept (AUC). Whereas the previous two versions were both light-silver-colored, Piaget has now introduced a dark mode to the thinnest watch in its collection.At 2.0mm thin, you're probably aware that the Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept is not the thinnest mechanical watch around anymore. That award will now go to the recently introduced Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra at 1...
When I took a look at the 2020 Vacheron Constantin Overseas QP in pink gold, I still longed for the steel version. The pink gold case with matching bracelet certainly had an allure with the luscious blue dial. But for many, gold is still a barrier of entry for those looking to upscale to a complicated timepiece with sumptuous hand-finishing, but in stainless steel. One of todays announcement offers a glimpse to the potential of white metal on the QP, but if anything is more expensive in the white gold case and bracelet.Sorry to bait and switch with the promise of steel on blue dial Overseas QP. I, too, had the hope for a utilitarian material mixed with high-end hotness. For now, Vacheron int...
Nothing beats buying a new watch Were happy that so many of you purchased the new Fratello a Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date We also receive a fair few questions from interested readers who want to know whats inside the box. And so, RJ and Bert decided to oblige with a short unboxing video for youDetailed information on this new Oris can be found here....
Sometimes it's nice to force yourself to like something. When you intuitively know something is good, but you can't see it or feel it right away. Sporadically, if you try long and hard enough, that feeling will eventually come. And when it does, it just feels so darn good Back in the 90s and early 2000s, IWC made pilot's watches that looked like flight instruments. Almost a bit boring, even, but beneath that dull layer of functionality lay a world full of adventure waiting to be discovered by those who persevered. And I did just that. From the Zero's comes this IWC Doppelchronograph Ref. 3713 a watch thats double the fun for those who dare.Back in the 90s ?I lusted over three IWC pilot's w...
On May 24th 1962, Commander Scott Carpenter was the second American to perform an orbital space flight onboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. So busy was he taking photos of frost particles, or fireflies that he went off course and overshot the landing by 400km. But from the smooth launch, sitting atop the Mercury-Atlas 7 rocket, to splashdown, the Breitling Cosmonaute was Carpenter's watch companion. This journey makes the Cosmonaute the first Swiss chronograph worn in space. But my story about the Breitling Cosmonaute is much more personal. And it begins precisely ten years after Scott Carpenter's space flight.The start of a family traditionThe year is 1972, four years after my father won the Ge...
From mainstream omega to a highly exclusive original Roger Dubuis. Do you know that feeling? After wearing a certain type of watch for some time, you look for something totally at the other end of the spectrum? This week Im wearing what I consider one of the most beautiful watches in my collection.Roger Dubuis Hommage MonopoussoirThe Roger Dubuis Hommage Monopoussoir H40 on the wristA strange model indication isnt it? Watches mentioned as Hommage nowadays are very close to copy-cat watches, mostly of main stream high-in-demand watches. We all know these models from brands like Steinhart, Invicta and the lot.Made by Roger Dubuis himselfThis Roger Dubuis however is very much the opposite. This...
March Mania marches on When we started the competition, we had 96 watches. Now were at the stage when the last 16 have been scythed in half to leave eight standing. At that point, our writers will have just one watch remaining each. So today, for the very last time, the watches that started in the preliminaries together will go head-to-head for the division champion crown. Where will the votes land?Thats it we are down to the final two match-ups to determine our group champions. Ben and Bert both have just two watches left. The quarter-finals commence tomorrow, so we need you to pick your favorite in this quick-fire round as youve not got long to register your opinion. Lets do this thing!L...
Automatons, or automata, have amazed human audiences for over two thousand years.? Designed by humans to mimic living beings, automatas lifelike movements have fascinated everyone, from ancient royalty and medieval city-dwellers to 18th-century courtiers and modern-day museum visitors. What people may not realize, however, is just how closely related horology and automata really are.In fact, automata and clocks have developed side-by-side for millennia. Like clocks, many of the worlds finest automata employ incredibly elaborate mechanisms. However, understanding the most basic components that they share can help to demystify how they work. With this understanding, well be able to see the str...