Although some people were sceptic about him at first, Daniel Craig has proven to be among the greatest James Bond actors. James Bond started wearing an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in 1995 (GoldenEye) and continued to do so when Daniel Craig took over this role from his predecessor. This year, Omega celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch and introduced a new and improved version of this watch in Basel. A new watch like this also needs a new face. And what is a better fit than Daniel Craig? Omega announces that Craig will be their new Seamaster Diver 300M ambassador from now on.Daniel Craig Represents The New Seamaster Diver 300MHowever, not everyone knows that ...
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To be frank, weve been following Bell Ross from the start. It started with their watches with the Bell Ross by Sinn wording on the dial, heavily influenced by the models of Sinn. Nowadays, Bell Ross clearly have their own identity with the three collections they have: Vintage, Marine and Aviation.During our visit to them at BaselWorld, we sat down with a team of Bell Ross and discussed their timepieces. We zoomed in on their Vintage collection, and mainly at the new WW2 Bomber Regulateur. Inspired by the time keeping instruments used by bombers in the late 1930s and 1940s, this Bell Ross WW2 Bomber Regulateur is the third timepiece of the Vintage collection referring to war-pieces. In 2...
There is no getting away from it, omega is HUGE in the big US of A, but is omega really an American Company? With the most recognizable brand on any dial from Key West to Montana, the myth has deep roots. Did you know that a surprising number of people actually believe The Crown to be as American as apple pie and ice cream sundaes? Thats right, and I am sorry to have to disappoint you, but it isn't. So where did this myth originate, and is there any truth to it? I mean omega sure is as Swiss as Raclette, right?The Origin of the 1 MythDid you believe omega to be a Latin term with intrinsic meaning, perhaps riffing on the passage of time itself? Well so did I, but do you know what? No, just l...
Let me start by saying I dont care much for celebs. Often, I dont even recognize them or know who these people are. It is embarrassing?at times when a watch brand invites their ambassadors over at SIHH for example, and I dont have a clue who they are. It could also be me because I just have no interest in most of them. I dont look up to them, to be honest, although during a recent event I asked to be in a picture with a famous person for the very first time in my life (Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks in the Fresh Prince). But hey, thats nostalgy.I know that many people do enjoy these watch spottings on famous people though, entire Instagram accounts and websites are dedicated to th...
A journalists darling, it seems. I am talking about Grand Seiko. Whether it is here, or on any of the other on-line watch magazines and blogs, when theres a mention of Grand Seiko you hear violins playing in the background. To such an extent, that it becomes implausible perhaps. However, a few months back we took some of our readers with us to Japan to visit their manufactures and at the end of the day, they were all bitten by the Grand Seiko bug.Although it might come across as such, we are not paid by Grand Seiko to tell you these things or write these reviews. And make no mistake, there are also a couple of things we would like to see different from Grand Seiko. Their pricing and distribu...
Watches are all about stories and experiences. That dent in the bezel reminds you of a particular holiday. You might have worn one of your watches on your wedding day. A watch might have been worn by an actor in your favorite movie. These are all things that you remember when you look down at your wrist. And I think the way you acquired a watch is just as significant as the memories you create with it when you wear it.?There are many different ways to acquire a watch, of course. You could, potentially, just walk into an AD and buy one. Or you might have to get on a waiting list for a while before getting the call. Maybe your watch was a present from your wife or your manager, or it was passe...
Today, I had a drink with some watch friends and one of them was wearing this Cartier Santos 100 Carbon. Geo, the owner and moderator of the Cartier forum over at Revo-Online, handed over the watch and I was blown away by the stealth look of this otherwise classic watch brand. The stainless steel case had a ADLC treatment, the bezel and crown have been made out of titanium and the folding buckle is also a combination of ADLC stainless steel and titanium. This watch comes with a black fabric strap which perfectly underlines the stealth look of this Santos 100 Carbon.The case measures 51.1mm x 42.6mm and with these dimensions, you better get some exercise to make it fit right. Geo took his wat...
Although James Bond is probably perceived as one of the most stylish men around, he certainly messed up his watch in Goldfinger. In Goldfinger, he was wearing a omega Submariner (ref.6538 probably) on a NATO strap. On several omega Forums, the close-up below shows the watch with as much detail as possible:I dont like NATO straps at all, and find them far from stylish, but I guess that there are a lot of omega (and Bond) fans that do. But look at the width of the strap, it is way too small, approximately 18mm (if not any smaller). This looks pretty awkward, and I cant imagine they couldnt find a fitting NATO strap for this watch in 1964.Anyway, some of the omega / Bond fans are delighted by f...
The Omega Speedmaster is probably the most iconic chronograph in the world. However, it is not always easy to find your way into the world of the Speedmaster. There have been so many different variations in the past, and theyre still are today. Since 2004, we have published 500+ stories on the Speedmaster. From hands-on reviews to very personal stories from Speedmaster owners. Youll find them all in our new Speedmaster Archive!The Speedmaster is the watch that was worn on the moon, by astronaut Edwin Buzz Aldrin in July 1969 and it is still worn by astronauts today. Weve covered the story on how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch more than once, but we also thought it would be good to have...
Part of the appeal of the Jazzmaster collection is the beautiful balance of contemporary aesthetic and traditional watchmaking expertise. In 2019 Hamilton welcomes brand new automatic chronographs as hero pieces in its most refined collection. Their understated style is a style statement in itself.The contemporary H-21 automatic chronograph movement boasts a date function as well as a seamless 60-hour power reserve. The movement is based on the traditional ETA 7750 Valjoux movement, which is known for its quality. Hamilton has adapted it and made it more powerful to deal with the demands of modern life.Visit www.hamiltonwatch.com for more information.Polished stainless steel cases are mascul...
We know we dont cover many ladies watches here on Fratello Watches, but this Richard Mille RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur that was presented to us this morning is really something you have to see. It is one of the two pieces that Richard Mille introduced during the SIHH 2015. Normally they have about 8 10 pieces every year, but they decided not to blow all their ammo during SIHH and get snowed-under with all the SIHH novelties from other brands. Later this year, Richard Mille will unveil more timepieces to reach their normal number of new watches.However, lets talk about this Richard Mille RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur first. We will cover the other novelties from Richard Mille during the rest of th...
Were two days out from March. Normally, that wouldnt get me so excited. I hate spring. Its my least favorite season. My dear old mum used to express horror at how openly I derided the gamboling lambs, fresh green shoots of optimism, and the soft, diffused post-winter sunlight. What can I say? All that new life puts me on edge Give me autumn the season of death any day. But not this year Oh no, this year, spring holds the greatest treat of all another knock-out competition on Fratello. This time, weve admitted 96 watches we reviewed last year to the March Mania arena. Only one will walk away victorious Its time to play ballAs you will see in the coming week or so, Ive taken more of a back sea...
Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, youre sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale (with cheese) like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Welcome to our first round proper of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello.In this first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate the match-ups. So its number 1 vs. number 8, number 2 vs. number 7, number 3 vs. number 6, and number 4 vs. number 5. Vote ...
There's something undeniably charming about smaller tool watches that come on a steel bracelet. Nowadays, a lot of brands are going back to more classic watch sizing, as the masses have made their voices heard. Long gone are the times of 44-47mm wrist monsters now is the time for something that slips under the cuff. Perhaps two of the most iconic time-only watches in this category are the omega Explorer in 36mm and the Omega Railmaster from the 60th-anniversary Trilogy collection. RJ and Nacho will present their pick and why they think it has the edge over the other. But we also want to hear from you, so make sure to vote for your pick down below.It's no mystery that sub-40mm watches reall...
The watch industry is full of trends. Brands and companies typically move in a similar direction, guided by the flow of the current preferences of the watch-buying public. If you've been paying attention, you've more than likely identified some of the preferences to which this newly re-designed Oris Big Crown Pointerdate Calibre 403 caters. With this latest release from the H?lstein brand, it seems that less is more in terms of size, and more is more in terms of in-house engineered movements. I won't overstep and be so bold as to claim that these preferences apply to everyone. But to the large majority of you who are in tune with these latest trends, you can start getting excited right about...
With the dust having settled after the first four days of Watches Wonders 2022, we can see clearly see the impressive number of new releases from all the different brands. Hublot, of course, also brought the heat with an array of new model variations and an entirely new line. As usual, the brand does not shy away from loud colors and cutting-edge materials for its Big Bang collection. On top of that, Hublot introduces the new Square Bang with a familiar but new shape for the brand. Finally, there are some remarkable one-offs that combine materials, colors, and watchmaking magic. So lets find out more about the new Hublot releases.The great thing about seeing all the new Hublot releases is t...
Recently, I chatted with one of my favorite artists, Misha Mansoor, about his newfound interest in watches and how it all started. Misha is the founder and one of three guitarists in the American metal band, Periphery. His collection starts with an interest in watch mechanisms and grows to the appreciation of design and history. Whether you're into this type of music or not, Misha is a highly knowledgeable and passionate collector of watches and one of the nicest guys in the music business.Periphery is one of my favorite rock bands in existence. As soon as I heard the opening riff to Icarus Lives from Periphery's eponymous first album, I was hooked. The music is heavy for many tastes but is ...
We take time with the Rado Golden Horse 1957.If you're following along here at Fratello, you'll note that this is the second review of a Rado within a rather brief period of time.? Recently, I reviewed a green-dialed Golden Horse, a watch that I concluded would make a great daily wearer.? I'll keep saying this until the effect wears off, but it's really nice to have Rado in the mix of brands that people like myself (whatever that means) would actually consider for a purchase.? Yes, the brand's modern watches are definitely turning in the right direction.? Today, though, we're going decidedly retro as we take a close look at the limited edition Rado Golden Horse 1957.The Rado Golden Horse 195...
The design of the Submariner 114060, is unmistakably omega, despite the size and use of modern materials such as ceramics. Compare the modern 114060 to the 1953 omega Submariner 6204 and you will immediately notice that these watches share the same DNA.Owning and wearing a omega Submariner is one thing, but to dive into the history of this watch is quite a task. To make it somewhat easier for you, we hereby show you the history of the Submariner in a nutshell, including a table with most important references since 1953 till the current line-up of Submariner watches.Diving Into omega SubmarinerThe omega Submariner is a watch with an interesting story. Introduced over 60 years ago, the current...
For IWC, 2009 is the year of the Aquatimer relaunch. IWCs first Aquatimer saw daylight in 1967 and I doubt that one of these first models ever saw some water, because they didnt look very water resistant. However, looks might be deceiving because IWC claimed it to be water resistant to 200 meters. Anyway, between 1967 and now, IWC has had several sports watches (GST, Ocean, Aquatimer) suitable for use below the surface.The new line of Aquatimers have been presented at SIHH 2009 and a number of jewelers organized introduction events for their customers (click here for the Ace Jewelers presentation earlier this year). One of my personal favorites this year, is the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edi...