Hot on the heels of the Fratello team's visit to Zenith in Le Locle, it's time to talk more Zenith.A joke, you say?? It's not April 1st and this isn't a comedy site.? So, really, does your author truly have the audacity to bring the commonplace Seiko 6139 chronograph into the ring against the legendary, and FAR more valuable, Zenith A386 El Primero?? Well, if you clicked on this, you likely noticed loads of prose.? So, the simple answers are: this is no joke and I will attempt to convince you that these two timepieces are worthy of a battle royale.? In the end, though, you'll likely want both in your collection.First, let's discuss a little history.? In the 60's, with a large shift to automa...
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Since I live in Geneva, I got the opportunity to stop by Antiquorum and check out some of the watches in the houses upcoming May auction. They tend to have large catalogs so I do recommend looking through this one in advance or you might miss something cool as I have several times in the past.Antiquorum has just finished its Hong Kong sale and, overall, it looked like strong results across the board. I went back over it and was surprised as they sold some things well over what I expected. It is always interesting to see what kind of momentum auction houses carry from one country to another in the same season. I think it will do well, but auctions are always a bit of a gamble. Hence, the fun ...
Despite all the things happening in the world that are holding us back, the last two months of the year flew by. So when our Managing Editor Nacho asked me to come up with my Top 5 Watches of 2021, I was surprisingly caught off guard. But looking back at the year behind us, I can only say it has been a very long year with plenty of great releases. Its been so long that its hard to believe that some of these watches were actually released in 2021. That made it quite tough to come up with a top-5 list of my favorites.A fair question would be if I can ignore the watches we as a Fratello team have released in collaboration with the different brands. Of course, I cannot ignore them, but they will...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the world of vintage watches. It's 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 priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Heuer watches from the 1970s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. The sheer amount o...
Trip To New York!Its Speedy Tuesday I remember that a few years ago, I wasnt too fond of all the limited edition Speedmaster Professional models that were being introduced. However, over time that changed a bit although I still do not get all of them and I am now looking forward to Baselworld each year to see if there is a mission patch model or limited edition in the new collection. One of the biggest regrets I had when it comes to watches, is that I did not buy the Omega Speedmaster Professional Snoopy when it came out in 2004.Ive come so close to pull the trigger on a Snoopy Speedmaster a few times, but it was either too expensive in my opinion (which I regretted later again) or not com...
Hey there, its Wrist Game or Crying Shame, out attempt to bring power to the people!? This week, we check out a omega Datejust Tuxedo diallets see if youre spiffy enough for this dapper do!Before we get to the omega Datejust Tuxedo dial, lets chat about last weeks Breitling Cosmonaute with a Lemania 1873.? This watch cruised to a rather decisive 60/40 Wrist Game win.? Honestly, I tried to throw in a controversial one as that watchs $5K+ price tag was a bit of a spicy meatball, but you all lapped it up with gusto!? Onwards and upwards as they say and we move on to a bit of an oddballomega Datejust Tuxedo DialIf youre an American, youve likely rented a tuxedo for some sort of formal occasion.?...
We usually don't find an NDA document in our mailbox. I can't remember having to sign a nondisclosure agreement before any event. So when you receive one from A. Lange Sohne, you know something big is about to happen.A. Lange Sohne invited us to Dresden last week, to meet up with Anthony De Haas (Director of Product Development). He talked us through the latest family member of the Glashutte company that re-established in 1990: the A. Lange Sohne Odysseus. According to A. Lange Sohne, there was demand from their existing clientele for a sportier watch in steel. They listened and designed an A. Lange Sohne in stainless steel. Without further ado.A. Lange Sohne OdysseusA Lange watch and ...
The Speedmaster long before it became know as the MoonwatchIt is Speedy Tuesday Today we have a guest contributor that writes about his much beloved Omega Speedmaster. Our friend from WatchesandArt in Germany has sent us his story on his love for Speedmasters and queste for the right one (CK2998-61).Over the years, I have had different Omega Speedmasters from different periods of time. I started with the famous Moonwatch, an unworn example in 1998 which I kept for over a decade before letting it go. In the meantime, many other Speedies from different periods of time arrived on my wrist, references such as the reference 145.022 from 1969, 145.012 from 1967 and 145.003 from 1965. None of them ...
Start your engines, folks, because its time for Wrist Game or Crying Shame This week, we fire up the TAG Heuer Carrera 1964 from back in 1996. Lets see if it will hoist champagne on the podium or go out in a DNF. Before we go thereLast week, we discussed a watch that supports racing of a different kind. The omega Yacht-Master II was intended for sailboat racing and it seems that that small crowd was the only group who voted for this watch. As a result, this one capsized with a 73% Crying Shame loss This weeks watch is far more of a classic, but it is a modern reissue of sorts. Lets see what you think about the TAG Heuer Carrera 1964.Weve often written about how TAG Heuer has continued its ev...
Earlier this week, we broke the news about our first ever Fratello a Oris collaboration in the form of the Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. If you read the release, you'll know this one is near and dear to me, so I thought I'd share some additional views on this limited-edition watch.It was back in 2019 at Baselworld when I first saw the newest Big Crown Pointer Date models. I was truly impressed. As I've mentioned before, I really enjoy how Oris manages to keep its models fresh by adding color. But Oris doesn't just run into the direction of trends by just adding the typical colors. Instead, they go in unorthodox directions that sound a little strange on paper but look incredible in person. T...
Actually, there are two Top 5s. One with watches in the more affordable range and one with watches that should be considered extreme haute horlogerie. Since I joined Ernie Romers of Watchuseek during BaselWorld, Ive put both Top 5 lists in the BaselWorld forum at Watchuseek. Click here to go there.Here are two teasers from both lists. In the extreme haute horlogerie list, I only picked two established brands and one of them is Patek Philippe with their Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref.5270. With a price tag of approx. $155,000.- USD definitely not for everyone, but for those who can You need this watch. Period.In the other Top 5, I picked Omega as one of the brands with a model worth ment...
Perhaps the mother of all modern wrist watches, the omega Datejust. Although it has been succeeded by the Datejust II (which we described here as the new cool), the 36mm Datejust remains a classic timepiece.omega introduced the Datejust collection in 1946 and although those very first Datejust models are looking a bit different from the models we know from the 1960s-now, they are unmistakably ancestors of the current Datejust II.For todays standards, a classic Datejust might just be a bit boring. It is its history that makes it a cool watch though. It is probably the most recognized Swiss wrist watch, youve seen them on the wrists of tourists, colleagues, movie stars, singers, politicians an...
Speedy Tuesday is here Just recently, after a few of our posts on Instagram (follow @fratellowatches also on Instagram) we got in touch with Kathleen Yap. She followed-up with her precious Speedmaster in white. In case you didnt know, also ladies can join Speedy Tuesday with specific ladies Speedmaster watches.Kathleen is wearing one of our favorite ladies Speedmaster models, reference 324.30.38.40.04.001. A white dialed 38mm Speedmaster, much like the Speedy Reduced we know from the mens collection, with an automatic chronometer movement caliber 3304. This model is available on a stainless steel bracelet as well as on an alligator strap in white (reference 324.33.38.40.04.001).The case back...
Time for a treasure hunt. And, as you would expect, X marks the spot. The treasure you're seeking is the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton LE. There are only 175 pieces of this watch around waiting to be discovered. The reward is a provocative and polarizing watch. A watch that helps you to get in touch with your inner buccaneer because of its outrageous styling without compromise. Ulysse Nardin has been about adventure, discovery, and marine chronometers since 1846. And this latest creation revives that adventurous spirit in a futuristic fashion.The Diver X Skeleton looks to be the result of a Ulysse Nardin Diver and a Blast from the Executive Skeleton, slamming into one another. That's exactl...
Not many words stir up emotions and a sense of adventure like being asked to get packing for a Safari. You might consider it a hashtag, travel goal, or lifestyle. It evokes adventure, warmth, and dusty dunes. Like me, you might even have memories of a mythical rally, where cars as unlikely as the Mercedes SL and Porsche 911 battled through the desert. The word Safari will conjure up images of consummate style with a dusting of sand. You might be an urbanite at heart but will feel the need to google flights to Tunisia or Dakar after reading this, while wearing gnarly-soled suede boots. So pack your finest duffel bag and read on.Seiko SNJ029 SafArnieA demure 38mm skin diver is all well and go...
Breitling flesh out its Professional collection with a new suite of Endurance Pro quartz chronographs made with ultra-lightweight Breitlight?.Breitling is no stranger to adversity. Amid a pandemic, Breitling has faced the challenge of maintaining a fixed release schedule and executing a global communication strategy head-on. A successful webcast that may have had a few technical hiccups but still got the message across. Better still, it came at a fraction of the cost for what Breitling would have spent for a Baselworld booth.Endurance Pro collectionNow Breitling is gearing up for Geneva Watch Days. But just before the first major fair since COVID broke kicks off in earnest, we have a little ...
Constructing a watch case from ceramic is almost by-the-by these days. With Tudor entering the chat to join Panerai and Omega, forgetting who pioneered this concept is easy. The new Pilots Watch Chronograph by IWC serves as a reminder of the mack daddy of the ceramic game. The IWC Da Vinci reference 3755 in 1986 was the first production watch with a ceramic case. For 2021, IWC takes inspiration from its military program to give civilians a choice to cherish the elite squadrons. Namely, the U.S. Navy squadrons, Royal Maces, Tophatters, and Blue Angels?, with matching color accents to the logos. By delivering a one-two-three punch knockout, IWC cements its strong association with military avia...
In 1995, the association between Omega and the Americas Cup legend Sir Peter Blake started. Along the way, Omega also started to support and partner with the Emirates Team New Zealand. As their main partner, Omega started to equip the sailing team with the special Speedmaster X-33 Regatta.?Emirates Team New Zealand TimepiecesWeve been covering Omegas ETNZ watches before and also have shown the different?Americas Cup models in the past. In this article, you will see an overview of the Americas Cup (and ETNZ) models up till 2015. For the 35th edition of the Americas Cup and especially for the Emirates Team New Zealand, Omega?has unveiled two new timepieces. Below, youll see the very first Amer...
Ive been more intimately acquainted with most modern Rado watches than most people would care to know. And trust me, although the very recent stuff is pretty smartly designed, the semi-modern output from the late nineties to 2010s was Well Lets just say, it was sent to try us. Manufacturing watches out of ceramic has come a long way since those days, and Rado has always been at the forefront of the practice. Those early attempts were creatively executed, but now were seeing signs of a master maker settling down into its field of expertise. So are these new flagship models in the Captain Cook range worthy of flying the flag for the famous Swiss brand? Lets find out.Flashback to the days I spe...
Unless youve been under a rock or holidaying at the Baltic Sea (as I was), you might have noticed A. Lange Sohne Germanys undisputed grand-daddy of watchmaking companies just dropped a watch that, on paper at least, sounds like the sexiest thing to enter my mind since I had that weird dream about Lex in a skimpy yellow speedo. But even though it seemingly brings together all of the coolest elements of the brands range, is it really the best yet?Okay, my analysis of this piece is going to be highly subjective. Technically speaking, nobody in team Fratello, nobody reading this site, heck, nobody in this industry is likely to argue that the Zeitwerk is anything but a complete masterpiece. The ...