Chopard L.U.C GMT One Rose GoldA few weeks ago we visited London for a special presentation by Chopard. Their manufacture line, L.U.C, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For this special occasion the company released two new models; the Chopard L.U.C GMT One and the Chopard L.U.C Time Traveler One. In our previous article that we published a few weeks ago we already talked about four models. The versions of the Time Traveler One made of steel, rose gold or platinum. We also covered the steel GMT One as well. However we also saw something that day that we could not discuss with you before.Rose GoldChopard made three versions of the Time Traveler One, you might already have wondere...
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The launch of the latest Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch generated a murmur amongst Speedy enthusiasts. Voiced around the world, we have seen this question or better said, remark, popping up quite frequently. So I am here today to try and address the burning question: can the current Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch still be considered a Moonwatch? And while Im at it, Ill be looking at other Speedmasters to see how they hold up when faced with this same scrutiny.In getting right to the point regarding the latest Speedmaster released by Omega earlier this year, the short answer is quite simply no. Strictly speaking, the Speedmasters that were worn on the moon were references 105.003, 105.012, and 145....
Michele Cuoccio, owner of the Russianwatches website and moderator of WatchUSeeks Russian Watches Forum, seems to have put a lot of effort in her Russian watch passion.On April 12, 1961, Yury Gagarin took along the wrist-watch Sturmanskie in the worlds first space mission. Since that time Poljot became the trade mark of the First Moscow Watch Factory.If you are passionate about Russian wristwatches as well, you better click here for more....
Welcome to the first Wrist Game or Crying Shame of 2021 and were starting things off with a look at the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. But firstI ended 2020 with a watch from omega with an anti-magnetic personality. The Milgauss attracted a 69% Wrist Game vote along with some pretty heavy criticism. Folks called it portly, a weak performer, and hardly deserving of its professional-grade nomenclature. This week, we have an incredibly focused watch up for your voting pleasure. Enter the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. I have a prediction on how this will go, but much like a Tiger Woods tournament entry these days, you just never know if it will end in a DNQ or a ...
OMEGA Speedmaster 311.33.42.50.01.001Its Speedy Tuesday We received with pride a number of photos of the 2007 OMEGA Speedmaster 1957 50th Anniversary model reference 311.33.42.50.01.001 from Darren Townend. Friend of the show and serious Speedy collector Lets zoom in a bit on this awkward but very cool Speedmaster model, limited to 1957 pieces only.Different from the MoonwatchThis Speedmaster 1957 was actually introduced in the very same year as the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 50th Anniversary model with the Seamonster logo printed on the dial (in gold color). In our Speedy Tuesday article of 21st of August 2012, we actually discuss this model in-depth with a lot of background informa...
Just recently we wrote an article on the Breguet 5447BR Classique Grande Complication, a 268.000 Euro timepiece that is mind blowing, but also about a dream piece. Unless something happens in the lottery, it will stay a dream piece as well I am afraid. A bit closer to the wallet is the Breguet we are featuring today here on Fratello Watches. The Breguet Tradition GMT. Almost two years ago we wrote about the Breguet La Tradition that was already introduced in the mid-2000s and featured the escapement on the dial side and had a pocketwatch-like construction (read more here).The Breguet Tradition GMT is another version of that family of watches with the escapement on the dial side of the watch...
I remember the first time my wife ever had a root beer. We were on our first trip back to my hometown in the U.S. from my new home in Japan. After being away for almost two years, my longest stint ever to that point, I was excited to eat and drink all the things that didnt exist in Japan ranch dressing, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cake that didnt taste like air, and yes, root beer My wife (then-girlfriend) and I swung into the convenience store, and with an enormous adolescent grin on my face, I bought an AW. I cracked that sucker open and took a swig. Breathing a satisfying sigh of nostalgia, I passed my Japanese partner the bottle, exclaiming You gotta try this Excitedly, she took her first...
Although the new Breitling Navitimer 8 has been in the spot light for months now, it is time to have a look at the revamped Navitimer 1. The most important version for the purists. Michael already gave a short introduction to all the new Breitling collections during BaselWorld (click here), but now it is time to go hands-on with my personal favorite: the?Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 in 43mm.The?Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 43mm would be my personal pick from the entire 2018 collection. This model comes in several variations: steel with a leather strap, steel on steel, gold with a leather strap, gold on gold, gold and steel on leather. For this hands-on article, I picked the full steel version with...
Finally, we were able to hit the road and our first major trip was to the Geneva Watch Days 2020 event. We take a very brief look at some of our favorite novelties.It feels like forever since weve been in show mode. With cancellations becoming the norm, it was actually invigorating to set ourselves up with a packed four-day schedule filled with new watches during Geneva Watch Days 2020. We promise to come back with loads of hands-on reviews in the near future, but we thought it best to mention the watches that left a lasting impression. Before that, though, lets talk a little about the event and how it felt to attend.Geneva Watch Days 2020With a pandemic still very much at large throughout t...
Guess what!? This is the 26th episode in the 52Mondayz column. That means that were half way. Half way the year that every week I wear a different watch which we present to you here at Fratello Watches.The Breitling Chronospace A56012.01 on my wristBreitling Chronospace A56012.01And this week Im going quartz again. A quartz watch from a brand which isnt directly my favourite, however from which one or two models always had my interest. First the classic Breitling Navitimer is of course a watch one cant neglect. This watch is as iconic and as of historical importance as the omega Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Heuer Carrera and the like.Secondly Breitling always attracted my interest with their ...
Ah, Spring is FINALLY here, after a murky winter with the bitterly cold wind howling past the window of my home office. But while my new Bianchi road bike is ready to hit the road, today, it's actually snowing again.What a perfect time to bring out the freshest, brightest PASTELS for Easter, and invoke the first rays of proper sunshine that actually warms us up. Unlike my fellow Norwegian countrymen, I will absolutely not go up a mountain to re-acquaint myself with some snow. This is a time to have a Negroni in the sun.The MoonSwatchI know, the web is already saturated with the most celebrated collaboration of the last decade. And while I understand those who find the black-dial Moon versio...
Piaget is not necessarily known for their manly watches. Don't get me wrong, I love the brand. I think what they do is beautiful and classy. Especially their lady's collection. Though we can't complain about the men's line-up either. ?So, this time we will concentrate on those models and run through the 2019 SIHH Piaget novelties. We have 6 watches all together; 3 from the Polo collection and 3 from the Altiplano. This article we give you a bit of an insight into the Polo models.Piaget PoloAs the brand says, the 2019 Polo collection brings vibrance to the SIHH. Obviously, these are very special pieces in looks. One new Polo color and 2 pieces with heavy diamond sets. Let's start with the mos...
About two years ago, Bert and I visited the boutique of the Davidoff Brothers in Geneva, and were able to capture a number of tropical dial Speedmasters. Among them, a CK2915 with tropical dial, but also the later CK2998, 105.003, 105.012, 145.012 up till the 145.022 (first watch with caliber 861). In total, we had 12 references in front of us, each with their unique (aesthetic) features.Because we know you love the Speedmaster and especially those with a tropical touch, we put this article in the spotlight once more. Enjoy your dose of SpeedyTuesday.Omega Speedmaster Tropical DialSome of the Speedmaster dials have the tendency to fade to brown. There are different shades of brown to discov...
The Planet Ocean series is a go-to choice if you want a cool alternative to the omega Submariner, and one you can actually pick up from an AD (remember that feeling?). This is perhaps the most important sports watch range from Omega, and as such, you would surely think this is a bonafide diver's tool, right? Considering the image of its burly 43.5mm size in classic steel and blue, or black with a tempting pop of orange, I understand the sentiment. But, like many popular ranges, the Planet Ocean series has morphed into a veritable sub-brand with a full 28 references. You could go diving with white gold and diamonds, or take this understated 39.5mm Planet Ocean 600M in stealthy black ceramic.A...
We know youve been waiting for Speedy Tuesday We know we have This weeks Speedmaster is a very rare model, a white gold 25th Anniversary Speedy that has been chronometer certified.This Speedmaster Professional Chronometer ref. BC 148.0062 (ref. 348.0062 with the white gold bracelet) was introduced in 1994 together with a version in stainless steel and a version in platinum. The white gold version is the only one that has been chronometer certified. It is basically a caliber 861 movement but since it was regulated to become a chronometer (and received chronometer certificates), it has been numbered 864. Omega also did some decorative work on this Lemania based movement.Just like the platinum ...
On July 21st, exactly 50 years after Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the Moon, Omega re-introduced their Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch caliber 321. In platinum. Meet the Omega Speedmaster reference 311.93.42.30.99.001.My first Speedmaster was a reference 145.012-67, produced in February 1968 according to the Omega archives and with caliber 321. At the time, in 1999, the watch was even cheaper than a caliber 861 with less mileage, but those days are long gone. In hindsight, I am happy that I chose the caliber 321 Speedmaster as a first watch (although I was actually after a more modern one, for daily wear) and I still have it today. Never sell your first Speedmaster, as they say!Over th...
Yesterday I received a velcro strap, made by Carl over at gasgasbones.com. This strap looks really great on my vintage Speedmaster and gives the watch its authentic astronaut look Today I wore the watch on the velcro strap while co-driving a classic Austin Healey 3000 from 1963. Both the driver and myself were wearing Speedmaster caliber 321s.This strap is the V1 model from his website, with the NASA product number label and custom made length to fit my wrist perfectly....
Last year, TAG Heuer celebrated the 50th birthday of an icon. The Heuer Monaco was one of former CEO Jack Heuers finest contributions to watchmaking (and, unwittingly, the silver screen). Following a rush of special edition timepieces dropped in 2019, TAG Heuer treats us to three more references (two dial colors) in the same vein. As 2020 slides towards non-existence, the TAG Heuer Monaco reminds us that it is still a relevant player in the sports chronograph category, now more than half a century after its debut.Its tough to do the same thing over and over again while remaining interesting. Even though I am not a huge fan of the TAG Heuer Monaco, I respect it plenty enough to have enjoyed t...
The story of the Speedmaster began in 1957, when OMEGAs Claude Baillod designed the watch for his manager, Head of Creation Pierre Moinat. The first few models (CK2915 and CK2998) had a symmetrical shape and were replaced by the a-symmetrical case as we happen to know it now, in 1963. When the Speedmaster was chosen by NASA to become part of the astronauts equipment, OMEGA added the wording Professional on the dial in 1965. The rest is history and has been discussed and documented by many, including here at Fratellowatches.Besides the Moonwatch, OMEGA developed and produced a number of Speedmaster watches that were not part of the Professional series. We would say that the Speedmaster Reduce...
Good morning. In an attempt to deliver you some news you may have missed without causing you to choke on your cornflakes, I will preface it with this: It is wholly unsurprising. In fact, it is such a common occurrence, that perhaps I should start reporting when A. Lange S?hne doesnt win at the Golden Balance awardsAwards are good. They provide us with some idea of industry direction. Thats never absolute, but they can be useful for ascertaining more what the industry itself wants us to pay attention to (irrespective of what the buying public are voting for with their wallets). Major awards like the Golden Balance are useful to those of us who cannot afford to buy many of the watches that wi...