It would feel like wearing a real Porsche on your wrist if it were made of steel. The full-titanium case and integrated bracelet seem are robust enough but wear more like your favorite dress watch. Let's dig deeper to discover the charm of the titanium Porsche Design chronograph by IWC.I have a very dear friend with whom I share not only a passion for watches but also for classic cars. Peter is a Porsche Garage owner, chief mechanic, and trusted caretaker of my 1981 911 SC. Anytime I pass by his workshop, I stop for a while and we chat about life, cars, or watches. As Peter wields a wrench as often as I type, I mostly see him with hands blackened by oil and a Casio watch on his wrist. But so...
Blog
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition for HODINKEE is here with styling that wont disappoint and a movement thats sure to surprise.Well now, its not every day that we cover a new timepiece made in collaboration with another watch magazine, but its rare that something looks as good as the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited Edition for HODINKEE.? Looks arent the only thing at work, though, as this diver contains a style of movement that harkens back to the original 1965 Oris Super, Star and Waterproof pieces head here for our comparison of old and new.? Thats right, theres a manual inside this thoughtful reinterpretation of one of Oriss most popular watches.The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Limited...
A few days ago, I posted about the new Dutch omega Forum. In the mean while, it is on line and running. Although they seem to have had a few technical difficulties, the number of users and posts is growing every day. The omegaForum.nl site is??managed by Peter, Karel and Gerard.For the non-Dutch speakers, there are a lot of alternatives ofcourse. My personal preference is still the German Das omega Forum. Here is a list of a few known on line omega Forums. If you are into this brand, just give them a visit and decide what you like best ??Das omega Forum (www.r-l-x.de) GermanomegaForum.nl (www.omegaforum.nl) DutchThe BJSOnline omega Forum (www.network54.com/Forum/380354/)WatchUseek omega Fo...
Its This Week in Watches for November 24, 2019 and we come to you just before Thanksgiving that fantastic tradition that involves stuffing your face and snoring on the couch.? Lets see if we can help fight indigestion with some watch newsDAEM x Basquiat WatchesBrooklyn-based DAEM Watches sent us news of three new pieces that tie into the works of iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.? The watches will release on December 4th and each feature an work by Basquiat on the dial along with a strap designed to fit the theme of the piece.Theres Undicovered Genius (which incorporates a piece commonly known as Skull), Nows the Time (this pays tribute to a Charlie Parker song of the same name), and Warr...
Back in June, I wrote an introductory article for the new Breguet Marine models for 2020. Although technically not new models, the three new additions to the collection debuted a full metal bracelet. In my article, I expressed my appreciation for the engineering, the quality, and the finishing of the watches and especially the new bracelets. Fast forward a couple of months, and I had a chance to find out whether the watches and bracelets are as impressive as I had envisioned them being. I had a chance to go hands-on with the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale.Before I started writing this article, I thought about how to make this work. The first thing that came to mind was a photo essay of Berts...
Baume Mercier excited us recently with an invitation to Geneva, where we got to see their novelty for the SIHH. Not exactly a new watch, but a new movement. Meet the Baume Mercier caliber Baumatic BM12-1975A. An in-house movement, developed with the help of ValFleurier and the Richemont Groups innovation hub. A certified chronometer movement with 120 hours of power reserve and ensuring anti-magnetism up to 1500 gauss. Lets have a closer look at the Baume Mercier Clifton Baumatic.Clifton BaumaticYou are probably already familiar with the Baume Mercier Clifton watch. If not, we reviewed it some of the Clifton collection?here?and here. When this watch was introduced 6 years ago, we were qui...
Once again, I'll try to swing the spotlight onto what I feel is a secret hidden in plain sight. This series is not based on bargain hunting, as your eyebrows might be raised already. It is simply a personal take on the impossibly narrow algorithms of Instagram and Facebook. omega is a perfect example of this. While we lament the impossibility of acquiring a Submariner or even a Tiffany-esque-blue 36mm Oyster Perpetual at its retail price, it is our own fault. omega has a substantial catalog of non-Submariner goodness, so dig deeper, and you might find a hidden treasure.Perhaps omega could ramp up production of the Submariner, but will it ever? I understand the brand just as much as I questio...
Only last week, I received this exact question at least three times during a discussion on purchasing a (new) watch.I received this question by email and twice during a discussion in the flesh. In a time where omega has issues delivering their goods to the final customers, or at least to fulfil the demand, theres a limitation on what you can buy. But if we include vintage and pre-owned watches, theres still enough to choose from. Were not into paying over retail for anything, so forget about the grey market supply for omega. Or douchy ADs who are willing to sell you one for a premium.You Asked Us: What omega would you buy?So basically, the question was directed at me. What omega I would buy....
The brand responsible for putting the biggest smile on my face recently when it comes to watches is Oris. But there is also a serious side to the brand. For a decade now the brand has been releasing a string of Aquis limited editions inspired by stories and organizations that are connected to taking care of our planets marine and aquatic life. Lets take a closer look at some of the best of these Oris Aquis limited editions.Just let me get back to my smile that was caused by the beautiful Oris Holstein Edition 2020. In my review, I expressed my love for the vintage looks of the Diver Sixty-Five Chronograph. And when it comes to Oris I often tend to focus on its vintage-inspired pieces in the ...
Beauty, they say, is only skin deep. That turned out to be the case for the well-received TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph models released last year before a worldwide product recall prompted speculation regarding the performance of the revolutionary Isograph hairspring. Thankfully, the LVMH powerhouse has stepped-up with a tried and tested solution the trusty Caliber 5.Product recalls are a nightmare. It doesnt matter how impressive the launch venue was. No one cares how tasty the canap|s were, or how easily the champagne went down. No, despite what the modern world of luxury sales would have you believe on occasion, the product still matters. It is the king. And the buying public? Well, they ar...
Some will remember that, for a period of exactly one year, which is 52 weeks, we published a rather popular column named 52Mondayz. Inherent to its name, after one year, this column came to an end. And although it has been a while since it stopped, we still get positive reactions concerning this feature.Revival of 52MondayzSo we think its a good time to revive 52Mondayz, although, with?a slightly different approach. Was it mainly me writing every Monday which watch I would wear that week, now all of the Fratello authors will take part in the fun. So, I will kick off this week, but next week youll learn about a watch worn by one of our other editors. This way, it will give an even larger spre...
Unlike our dark STEALTH picks a couple of weeks ago, this time we go all-in for holiday sweetness. After another heavy hit of pandemic life, if there is one thing we need, it's holiday cheer. And here at Fratello, we aim to please, so enjoy some sweet CANDYCANE on us. Though I will warn you, this story might end with putting in some hard work to ensure a healthy New Year.I can't think of a better way to infuse yourself with the generous spirit of Christmas than with a sugary dose of candy. Inspired by the sweetness of a lickable candy cane, here are our immensely cheerful choices to lift your spirits, from Hublot to G-Shock, with style tips that include G-Star Raw and Nike.Just think twice...
Every year, we receive a number of questions from our readers about the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Gen ve, also known as the GPHG. According to some, one of the most important watch events of the year. One of the recurring questions on the GPHG is why some brands are missing completely from the nominated watches. Brands that make sense to be part of the nominations, or which could even perhaps go on to win a prize.For this year's GPHG contest, we received several questions as well. One of them came from Jeffrey, asking why certain brands aren't included in the contest or nominations:Over the years, I've noticed some of the brands like Patek Philippe, omega, and Omega are missing from the GPH...
You know that when we talk about legendary bracelets sooner or later the omega Jubilee makes an appearance.It's just inevitable. The Jubilee is just one of those bracelets you immediately associate with omega. It is making a watch instantly recognizable as a omega. While the brand mostly used it on dressier watches, the Jubilee found its way to some sportier models too. Like the GMT-Master. Truth be told, it does not look good on all omega sports watches. Or does it? Well, we will talk about the newest models later. For now, let's stick with the vintage watches.Jubilee bracelet with all-steel claspHistory of the JubileeThe Jubilee, as its name suggests, was born to serve an anniversary. Hans...
I promised to get back on my new watch ?? At first, I was looking at omega watches again, but couldnt make up my mind. Although I like the new GMT-Master IIc and the Milgauss, it wouldnt add much variation to my current collection. Then I was looking at the Royal Oak Jumbo, but I am not ready yet to spend over 8K Euro on one wrist watch.However, as I have written before, I am a huge fan of the 1970s design of Gerald Genta. He designed the Nautilus, Overseas, Royak Oak and the Ingenieur. The original ref.1832 Ingenieur SL is highly sought-after I believe, and the prices paid for those are unbelievable. So I decided to settle for a brand new one To be honest, IWC isnt my brand. Omega and omega...
Were back with more block-rockin beats errrr, talk Balazs and Mike return (quickly) to talk about vintage watch opportunities in 2022. If you love the old stuff and are looking for value, tune in and relax!Thats right, the dastardly duo of Balazs and Mike is back, and we return to one of our favorite subjects the vintage watch market and where to find opportunities. As we know, theres little out there that hasnt been uncovered. However, that doesnt mean that value doesnt exist. Theres no highfalutin talk during this podcast, so your trust funds are safe!Vintage watch picks for 2022After a bit of a Handgelenks Kontrolle, we head off into our vintage watch picks for 2022. Balazs talks about An...
One of the age-old questions in our hobby is, Are there genuine alternatives for some of the most sought-after watches? At Fratello, we never back down from a challenge, having already provided alternatives to the venerable omega Datejust and GMT Master, as well as the iconic Omega Speedmaster and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. In this article, I am searching for five alternatives to the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 possibly the hottest watch in the world right now. Can anything come close? I certainly think so!Comparing any watch to something like the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 will always be a big ask. Not because that watch is so inherently better than every other watch out there, but reput...
Rafael Nadal, who won Roland Garros for the 7th time last Monday, reported his Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillon stolen from his hotel in Paris. This $374.000 USD tourbillon time piece was lend to him by sponsor Richard Mille. Unfortunately for Rafael Nadal (and Richard Mille), it wasnt the first time that he lost one of his precious RM pieces. It happed before in 2010 with his $500K USD Richard Mille.French news paper Le Parisien reported that the police traced the swiping card from hotel room and ended up arresting a bar tender from the hotel. The bar tender confessed the theft and led the police to the watch on Tuesday night. The bar tender hid the watch near a Metro rail track where the pol...
Integrated bracelets have been in vogue for several years and most brands now offer a choice in this highly competitive arena. Were here to take a look at the contenders.The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus are popular icons. Aside from the fact that both are 1970s Genta concepts, they also share a major design trait. Namely, they feature integrated bracelets. This look seems to fit the current trend of what has become an ever-widening grey zone between dressy and sporty. And so it makes sense that these watches are blazing hot today and nearly impossible to source. But whats a person to do if theyre not on a first name basis with their local AP boutique? Well, the posit...
Its Speedy Tuesday Every 5 years, Omega introduces a commemorative edition of the Speedmaster Pro with regards to the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. In 2009, the 40th Anniversary edition of this Speedmaster Pro Apollo 11 was a slightly modified version of the standard Speedmaster Pro 3570.50 model. A beautiful silver medal patch on the sub dial on 9 oclock and a big Eagle on the case back. We covered it in one of our Speedy Tuesday articles, of course (click here).Omega Speedmaster Pro?311.62.42.30.06.001It wasnt a surprise to anyone that Omega introduced the 45th Anniversary Edition of the Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 this year. However, I guess that nobody expected the watch to be like t...