Yes, you read the title correctly. omega just pulled a Kansas City Shuffle on us yesterday. While we were looking at the shiny new releases in its keynote presentation, omega quietly updated its configurator with some new options.The omega Explorer I and Explorer II updates received much of the attention, along with new unique dials for the Daytona and Datejust. Look at the love-it-or-hate-it leafy green Datejust dial Opinion has been somewhat divided among the team, but I think it's a pretty cool summer watch. However, we noticed a few additions to the configurator that went slightly under the radar.Rob noted the blue fluted dial in his article for the new unique dials for the Datejust. Tha...
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Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Limited SeriesWhen OMEGA introduced the Speedmaster in 1957, they never could have guessed that it would take off to these great heights. As far as we know from their own documentation and advertisements, it was a watch meant for those who needed to time certain activities. Sports or racing, it didnt matter. In this article we focus on the Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Limited series that Omega introduced 50 years after the original introduction.The brochure above shows a few early Speedmasters and there is no clue or hint about NASA or the Moon race. In all these years, since 1957, only small tweaks and updates were applied to the watch and it evolved to wh...
Welcome to The Fast And The Fratelli. The goal? To find the best racing chronograph of the past ten years. The rules? Each editor selects two watches that must be able to track elapsed time for at least one minute. The watch choices must feature a tachymeter scale, and their movements must be mechanical. And most of all, each watch must be thoroughly fantastic. But we'll leave that up to the Fratelli to decide.Without further ado, let's take a look at my picks. I decided to go with two totally different watches, covering two ends of the spectrum. One is classic and understated, and the other is far more out there. The thing they have in common? They're both underdogs in the competition (one ...
There is something magical about salmon-colored dials. Its not a dial color you see very often, but the love for them amongst enthusiasts is palpable. I also love a beautiful salmon dial. So I was more than happy to see Montblanc add the Heritage Monopusher Chronograph to its collection. With its vintage aesthetic and great salmon dial, this might just be the most stylish piece in the catalog.We have seen a stylistic growth from Montblanc over these last few years. The brand uses the vintage looks of the Minerva watches from the early 20th century to develop its own style. Minerva professional tool watches from the 1920s and 1930 inspired the 1858 collection; the Heritage collection is inspi...
A Patek Philippe watch isnt your typical sports watch, even though they want to make you think otherwise with their Aquanaut and Nautilus watches. The new Aquanaut Chronograph does not change anything about this, but surely is an interesting and welcome addition to the Aquanaut collection. The Aquanaut is a beautiful and refined high-end watch, simulating to be a rugged sports watch based on its appearance: an all steel case and bracelet, or rubber strap. You could say the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph is what a Bentley Bentayga is to SUVs (except for being not ugly). You will rarely come across one in the mountains or desert, as youll more likely to see a Toyota Landcruiser, G-Wagon o...
Earlier this year, I reported about the new Omega Constellation 39mm Gents collection. The lines of this model are a bit sharper than the previous model, and they are now all equipped with the in-house caliber 8800/8801 movements. My only concern, as I wrote in this article, is the thickness of the case. Lets see if that has been addressed by Omega.I never really took notice of the Constellation Double Eagle collection from 2003 and the later 2009 Constellation collection (38mm). They were much bulkier than the Constellation watches that were made from 1982 to 2002 and somehow I simply didnt warm up for them.The new Constellation 39mm Gents collection looks more mature, compared to its prede...
A great watch dial is made beautiful by techniques such as guilloch . Created by skilled artisans called guillocheurs, who pour thousands of hours into their work, guilloch is the art of engraving fine and intricate patterns on metal with the use of a rose engine, straight-line engine, or brocading machine. Traditional guilloch methods are slowly dying out, as computer automation paves the way for cheap and precise but cold detailing on watches. Guilloch , once a thriving art form taught in dedicated schools, is now used only by a few specialist brands.Guilloch is created by operating the cranks of the machine to orientate the dial of a watch. The guillocheur then applies pressure to the ...
2011 was the year of the Seamaster Planet Ocean, but 2012 was definitely a year packed with some cool Speedmaster news. Already in 2011, someone from the Omega staff briefly mentioned that a new Flightmaster alike timepiece was in development, but with a quartz movement. As it didnt seem appropriate to ask any further about it during the introduction event of the new Planet Ocean, I didnt even try to find out more.However, it kept me busy for quite some time as the Flightmaster (1969 till somewhere in the 1970s) had an odd shaped case that was very typical for that time period. Would it do well in 2012? It was clear to me that this would probably be the successor of the short-time produced S...
Moonphase watches are among the most elegant timepieces with complications that are available for a relatively affordable price. A simple classic three-hand watch is perfect for most occasions when you need to dress smartly. A moonphase, however, adds a touch of elegance even to that, elevating the watch to another level. At least this is how I look at it. I've had my fair share of moonphase watches in the past from Leonidas to Omega Cosmic and beyond. Certain sporty pieces, like a Speedmaster Pro, also bear this complication. Lastly, watch icons such as Patek Philippe's 5970, my exit watch, has a moonphase indicator too. I associate the name Montblanc with such elegance. This is why I reall...
In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm...
There are people who wear watches strictly for themselves. The calm and introverted types who, unaffected by hype and trends, go their own way. They buy watches that go completely unnoticed. Kudos to them. But there are also people many more people, I dare say who want their watch to send a message. A clear message, even, of status, prestige, or wealth. But their watches can also be an expression of personal style and taste, and an exuberant person will proudly wear a watch with the same characteristics. The right watch will get you noticed in real and virtual life for all kinds of reasons. Buying status, visibility, and likes for less than 5K is possible. And guess what? You don't need a ...
In 2014, I wrote a guest piece about my three-year-old Submariner 14060M. I threw it all out there and did my best to explain why I was so attracted to this watch. I even brought in references from my childhood in South Florida. Now, seven years later, and nearly ten years after this diver was canceled, the love affair continues.Despite the odd world we currently live in, 2021 has been a symbolic year for me. It marks ten years since I left the United States for Germany. That same year, I also met my wife, and life has been an amazing adventure since. Even back then, Id say that I understood the gravity of those events and I decided to mark it right then and there with the purchase of my Sub...
This early up-down Breitling ref. 174 chronograph powered by a Venus 170 is truly a rare piece, especially in a black dial version.It would be a killer chronograph if it had a 38mm case. Well, it doesn't, but it still makes for a spectacular timepiece. The design, originality and unique feeling under your fingers when you start playing with the timer functions all contribute to the wow factor of this 33mm Breitling chronograph.Baby BreitlingBigger Breitling watches easily fetch north of 2,000 and getting a decent piece has become more and more challenging. As Mike used to joke, a smaller diameter Breitling is just too small for WatchFred?(check his Instagram, if his name doesn't ring the bel...
Five years after the release of the hit movie Interstellar, we're treated to something that fans of the movie and watches alike have pined for: a serial production version of the Hamilton Khaki Field Murph.The 2014 Christopher Nolan film was incredibly popular and depicted Matthew McConaughey as a NASA physicist Cooper who travels via a wormhole to another dimension in order to find a place where Earth's population can escape what has become a dying planet. Before leaving to this other dimension, he hands his daughter Murph, played by Jessica Chastain, his watch. While showing a watch in a film isn't so unique, the timepiece plays a greater role later in the film as Cooper communicates with ...
Just before SIHH 2014, I received this Officine Panerai Luminor Marina 8-Days reference PAM00510 for a review. A week of wearing this Panerai made me go back 10 years ago, when I first bought a Panerai Luminor Marina. A watch that I fell immediately in love with at the time, with its large case and thick vintage looking calf strap. This time however, the Panerai comes equipped with an in-house developed 8-days power reserve movement instead of the Unitas based hand-wound movement it had before. Lets have a look at this PAM00510 that was introduced to us about a year ago, during the SIHH 2013 exhibition in Geneva.I even quite well remember where I saw the Panerai Luminor Marina up close when ...
The hashtag EXPLORE has been misused for fashion purposes, maybe even by myself, on Instagram and other SoMe channels. This time, however, its the real deal. Maybe you fancy yourself exploring tropical reefs next summer with a dive watch strapped over your wetsuit. Or there might be a mountain range in Nepal with your name on it.Personally, Im trapped in my self-imposed bubble of a guilty conscience, living in Norway and not enjoying nature. Perhaps Im merely channeling here, but with the pandemic easing off finally (knock on wood), its time to experience more than your (and yes, my) neighborhood. These are the toughest tools and the right gear, but the motivation needs to come from within,...
Ever since I first got into watches, there have been a few pieces that have always struck me as special. The omega Explorer II 16570 is one example. Another is the Omega Seamaster 300 M ref. 2254.50. This is a watch that takes us back to the days of aluminum bezel inserts and Pierce Brosnan playing the world's favorite British secret agent. Though the original Omega SMP shares its 1993 birthyear with the author, the specific model I'll be making a case for today, the fifth-generation SMP, was released in 2000. With its sharp sword hands, it's this brilliant iteration of Omega's flagship dive watch that I'd love to see make a comeback today. As the latest reference in the Seamaster line (the ...
This is largely going to be a visual exercise. What you're about to see is three Fratelli Sofia, Nacho, and Jorg trying on a wide range of watches. Nothing new so far, I agree. But what they will be doing is wearing very differently sized watches, ranging from the elegant Cartier Tank Solo to the beast-like Omega Seamaster Ploprof to see and feel what fits and what doesn't. We are trying to settle a watch/wrist size dilemma is there such a thing as a watch thats too big or too small? Since this is no exact science, there is and will be plenty of room for debate.Whether something is too big or too small in the case of a watch is always and I repeat, always a matter of personal preference. The...
There is nothing like a flash of LUME to brighten up those gloomy winter days. And it's no longer a gimmick; it has been embraced by the big hitters of horology and fashion. Who would have thought that we would see bright lume on a Lange dial or the fabric of a high-tech sports jacket?I get seriously frustrated by weak lume. I stay off-grid while I'm sleeping, with my cell phone left downstairs and a watch on my wrist. While we have a digital clock radio on the night table, I prefer peering sleepily at my wrist to ask myself why I'm awake at 5:00 AM. Id love the full effect of a lume dial while having a late-night walk, or for the more adventurous among us, while hiking or camping. The last...
Since the introduction of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A in 2006, the watch has reached a mythical status. Especially during the last few years, it seems this watch has been picked up by a larger audience than ever before.With a retail price of?26.810,- Euro, not an easy sell for an all stainless steel watch with no complications other than a date. Wrong These watches have a long waiting list today, and a pre-owned Nautilus 5711/1A is not a cheap alternative with prices starting at around 40.000,- Euro. It is the watch craze we live in today I am afraid, but it has gone to extremes with the Nautilus.Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A and 5711/1A TodayThis article is a comparison between th...