Millennials might associate the omega Day-Date with fictive characters like Tony Soprano, but theres much more to this watch, of course. The omega Day-Date is the watch worn by Presidents, captains of industry, people from the entertainment industry, and all those who appreciate a timeless watch in precious metal.My first encounter with the omega Day-Date was relatively late. In the small village where I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, there werent many people that spend on luxury items. They were all over on tv-series and movies, though, and advertisements. omega is known to have some pretty fantastic ads, and many of them included the famous omega Day-Date, featuring people like Arnold Pal...
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When Omega introduced their De Ville Tr sor back in 2014, it was only available in white, yellow and Sedna gold. The watch received a lot of appreciation, but it was merely out of reach for many of us. Omega listened and came with a stainless steel version.Two versions, with a blue dial (that we have here today) and one with a silvery opaline dial. The Omega De Ville Tr sor in white gold is a watch that I looked at many times in boutiques, but the price tag of 12.800,- was a bit too steep for me. A pity, as it ticks a lot of boxes for a proper dress watch. A few months ago, during the Time to Move event in Switzerland, Omega showed us the new De Ville Tr sor, with models in gold and stainles...
Throughout the last couple of months, we have witnessed the great appreciation our readers have for the Grand Seiko brand. In our weekly Sunday Showdown series, many of the Grand Seiko models are incredibly popular. And there is more fuel to add to that fire. For 2020 we have seen a string of brand new Grand Seiko models as well as updated models replacing current models in the line-up. With the introduction of the new Grand Seiko SBGP001, SBGP003, SBGP005 models, the brand introduces three new regular models. All of them are powered by the new Grand Seiko 9F85 quartz movement. We go hands-on with the black-dialed Grand Seiko SBGP003.In the last week of January, Grand Seiko released its high...
The GS Snowflake, or reference SBGA211, is one of those watches that really got to me. It does not happen that often (in recent years), but once in a while I am still swept off my feet when I see a beautiful watch. I've been writing for Fratello since 2004 and the times that this happens is simply very rare. Especially when it concerns a watch that doesn't have the same price tag as a decently sized car or an entire house. I think it has to do with the fact that we see so many watches every day and week, that the ones that truly stick, are just a few.Grand Seiko SBGA211 SnowflakeIt was in October 2015, when I visited the Grand Seiko manufactures in Japan (I reported about that trip here, wit...
I have read different stories about the (relative new) history on the omega Yacht-Master models. So, what else can I do on this wednesday evening and sort it out ). If I do a Google-search on omega Yacht-Master history I get a few hits, but the information in there talks about the introduction of the steel/platinum (omega calls this combination Rolesium) version in 1997. That cant be right, since the introduction was during the Basel fair in 1999. Lucky me, I have this Mondani book called 100 years of omega, which is a must-have for omega aficionados anyway, and all the Yacht-Master information can be found in there. As I am sure not everyone is eager (or able) to pay 275 euro for a book, I ...
A Datejust ref.1600 was actually my first omega. I still have it, and although that watch became a bit obsolete in my collection, I do cherish it. It is a classic and especially on a Jubilee bracelet, an incredibly comfortable watch to wear.Later on, I added a omega Datejust 16200 and even an OysterQuartz Datejust 17013. The omega Datejust 16200 didnt add much to the Datejust 1600 in my opinion, so it had to go, but I regret selling the 17013 a bit. That is an awesome watch, despite horological purists are known to throw a bit up in their mouth when hearing the word quartz or battery.I selected a few different omega Datejusts for this article, pre-owned models, that I think are interesting t...
As a watch collector, you will need to have proper resources in order to prevent from buying fugazzis, frankenwatches, put-togethers, fakes and so on. One of the advantages of collecting omega watches is that there are a lot of books and other publications on their watches to help you with this.Collecting omega watches especially vintage models can be a snake pit as weve mentioned a few times in the past. Even if you arent a newbie to [omega] watches, it wont hurt to come prepared. The books by Guido Mondani Editore are being regarded as the most complete and best documented works of art on the subject. Although they carry books on Panerai, OMEGA and Patek Philippe as well, they are best k...
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where, this week, well take a look at the Omega Speedmaster Teutonic. Get ready for a serious discussion, but firstLast week, the bulls were on parade as the Longines Legend Diver No Date crushed it with a 78% Wrist Game win. It turns out that many of you are just like me in the sense that you really dont care about such silly things as a calendar. This week, lets reach a bit to keep on theme with another watch that foregoes the dreaded date window. Our questionable candidate of the week just so happens to be the Omega Speedmaster Teutonic. Huh?The Omega Speedmaster TeutonicIll forgive you if youve never really heard of the Omega Speedmaster Teutoni...
Almost all watch forums seems to have these weekly or even daily threads about whats on your wrist today. Well, in my case it is quite easy, the vintage Submariner I recently got is hard to beat on a sunny day like this ??Our friends over at the German omega Forum (Das omega Forum) are clearly having fun with this What are you wearing?-thread, hence the 469 pages (and counting) filled with the most beautiful watches AND photos. Forum member Kurt tops the last few pages with his white gold omega Cosmograph Daytona (I love the dial on the white gold version), this picture could easily be in the omega catalogue if you asked me.This white gold omega Cosmograph Daytona has reference number 116509...
Breitling made 1,000 pieces of this Old Navitimer with the red and white logo at 3 o'clock. That's a lot more than there are pilots in the flight demonstration team of the Royal Canadian Air Force. But no matter: piloting the 1995 Breitling Old Navitimer Snowbirds Limited Edition is a lot easier than doing barrel rolls with a CT-114 Tutor. You just put it on your wrist, close your eyes, and pretend you're a Canadian Maverick. Or Iceman, it's up to you.Of all Breitlings, the Navitimer is the one I like the most. Ive owned quite a few of them my favorite being the Navitimer Fighters ref. A13330 with its brushed case and bracelet and loved them. Unfortunately, thanks to finding myself tempted b...
Its Summer and what better way to celebrate than to check out some new watches? This Week in Watches for July 11, 2020 is here so lets cannonball into the local lake and take a look.Frederique Constant Runabout RHS Chronograph AutomaticSummer and boating make perfect sense and Frederique Constant is bringing the two together with its new Runabout RHS Chronograph. Since 2009, Constant has worked with the Riva Historical Society (RHS) in order to preserve these magical wooden speedboats. These new chronographs commemorate that partnership. Available with either a dark grey or silver?guilloch dial, each 42mm chronograph will be made in an edition of 2,888 pieces. A small wooden boat will come w...
Oris, for me, is definitely on the right track. They were one of our Baselworld 2019 favorites, and weve seen many attractive products coming from H?lstein lately. The novelties we saw in most of their model lines, like the Aquis, Big Crown, and Sixty-Five were all spot-on.Only last week, on May 6th, 2019, a very attractive two-tone Sixty-Five Divers Chronograph in steel and bronze was introduced. This was the follow up to the full-bronze Carl Brashear variation presented last year. We covered those in our articles?Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph and?Brashear Chronograph Limited Edition. What we didnt cover yet is a special Bucherer Blue Editions Chronograph which was introduced in betwee...
Knight Industries Two Thousand, or K.I.T.T, the car driven by Michael Knight in the 1980s hit TV-series Knight Rider. Michael Knight communicated with his fabulous car (based on a Pontiac Trans Am) via his wrist watch.A??guy over at the Dutch DeZinVanLuxe watch forum, asked for a replica of this K.I.T.T. wrist watch. It seems to be a Nelsonic or Advance Digital Radio Watch.Someone in the forum replied that there is this Japanese site, with full instructions on how to build your own K.I.T.T wrist watch. The only thing you need, is a car to communicate with. Click here for the Do It Yourself page.However, if you prefer a more up to date wrist watch with similar features -), try the CamCo syste...
We are honored to have Petros Protopapas, Omegas Brand Heritage Manager, on our podcast. His first appearance on a podcast ever, and we talk Omegas Constellation collection. From 1952 to now.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Deezer,? Stitcher, and Spotify.Petros? ProtopapasWe cant imagine you have not heard of Petros Protopapas if youre into Omega watches. He leads the Omega museum and archives department, together with a team of experts and a watchmaker. Although he has been accompanying us on a number of events, those were all Speedmaster related. Its time to talk about something else for a change. We asked Petros Protopapas...
Under the bright booth lights at Baselworld, it's far too easy for a watch like the Omega Seamaster Titanium Tantalum to disappear into the ether. With its soft colors, the watch blends into the light earth tones that Omega employs within its confines (or did, as 2018 was the last year for the brand at the show). And so yes, I consider this to be a bit of an already-forgotten piece despite the fact that it hasn't shipped to boutiques yet ? it's planned for March. Therefore, I thought it wise to bring this Seamaster back to the forefront with a hands-on review. I kept and wore this watch for nearly two weeks and took a lot of pictures because, with this watch, the details are key.2018 The Ye...
Todays subject is one of the less common Patek Philippe models: the Ref. 5055. Its powered by their staple Cal. 240 micro rotor movement, with the added complications of power reserve, moon phase, date and offset sub seconds. The movement of course carries the Geneva Seal, as with all Pateks.As usual, all images in this post may be clicked on for larger versions. Enjoy MT...
We ask a lot of our watches. Sure, they have to tell the time, but we also ask them to look good and impart something about ourselves to the world. We also require that they go with us everywhere. Water resistance once an indicator of how well a watch could stand the rigors of daily life has been incrementally cranked up to levels that most of the currently rated watches will never see. And neither will their owners. The eternal search for daily beaters and GADA (Go Anywhere Do Anything) watches, along with projecting a level of our own utility to the world via our watches has resulted in a market largely weighted towards watches that can survive harsher conditions than most humans can. But ...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily 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, and some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Panerai watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had pro...
Although the new ceramic omega Daytona 116500 and Explorer 214270?got most attention from this years novelties from Das Haus, the new 40mm omega Yacht-Master 116621 or Yacht-Master 40 as they refer to it themselves is definitely worth checking out as well.Ive been a long-time fan of the omega Yacht-Master and had a reference 16622 myself somewhere mid-2000s. I did a bit of trading-up to buy one of my grails, but I some times regret having done so. It was a very nice daily wearer, especially during summer times with its platinum dial, bezel and sporty little red accents on the dial.At the time, the omega Yacht-Master wasnt the most sought-after time piece and list was somewhere around 7000 ...
A 7-year waiting list for the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Youll already need to own a Patek Philippe already in order to order a Nautilus. A new Patek Philippe Nautilus is the perfect investment. Just a few of the discussions and statements we have read, heard and had ourselves about the Patek Philippe Nautilus in the past.The Patek Philippe Nautilus collection consists of 33 different watches today, the newest model being this Nautilus 5740/1G, or the Nautilus Perpetual Calendar. The Nautilus 5740/1G is actually the first grand complication in the collection. While the simple three-hand Nautilus 5711/1A is the most wanted reference, there is also a date moon phase model (reference 5712), an a...