These days, we seem to focus on the newest watch releases with a longing eye towards whatever might come next. We lap up the debuts and move on quickly. Furthermore, we also pine over those watches that are impossible to buy (ahem, omega). Its time to take a deep breath and realize that there are some truly great watches that are readily available and are, dare I say, modern classics. Lets have a look FOMO thats fear of missing out, for those of you who arent glued to your phone. Were addicted to platforms like Instagram where the pressure is on to keep showing something / anything new. In todays watch world, a competitive nature exists where yesterdays news is gone and forgotten in a heart...
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A while ago, I posted about the Girard-Perregaux Richeville chronograph with caliber 8381. This movement is not inhouse as I wrote, but it is based on the Lemania 1872. David Alstott emailed me this correction and included a nice scan of a Lemania 1872 trio.You can read more about Girard-Perregaux at WatchRap (by ThePurists), they have a special section for Girard-Perregaux....
It has been almost 2 months ago, since Frank and I visited BaselWorld 2009. One of the highlights was visiting the Blu stand in Hall 2.0 on our last day there. After looking at their displayed watches for a while, I decided to go and ask for some more information about them, as I liked their style and use of precious materials. My questions about the brand were answered by Mrs. Lederer, wife of Bernhard Lederer (Blu stands for Bernhard Lederer Universum). She invited us over to a desk, to show us some watches of the Blu collection and give us some more explanation on the brand. Our discussion was mainly about materials, such as diamonds on Blus watches for men. When our questions became more...
For many people, a watch is not only a device that tells time, as numerous other devices surrounding us can do that today. It is also a piece of art, jewelry, perhaps a status symbol or perhaps equipment for something else as well. From diver watches to chronographs with pulsation scale on its bezel for specific pusposes.? Then you have those watches that people wear all the time; even when playing sports.We all know the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso and the British polo players. Have you heard about Cartier's Basculante or Universal Geneve's Cabriolet though? Read on!Reversible Watchesphoto from rg_watches from eBayphoto from Universal Genevephoto by Jaeger Le-CoultreFor those of yo...
In the past couple of years FIDES, the investment group that owns the Geneva Hong Kong branches, has been carefully getting this group back on its feet. An interesting development since Antiquorum NY has been completely separated from Antiquorum Geneva Hong Kong, is the newest divide line has been drawn: the websites have been totally separated. The NY company is keeping the www.antiqurorum.com and Geneva has launched the new www.antiquorum.swiss to differentiate itself as a separate company. I thought it would be annoying, but it's really not. The Geneva based auction house has also launched its own app and looking forward to seeing how this new independence continues to evolve.FIDES has ...
Welcome, one and all, to the preliminary round of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello. Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, youre sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Help us decide the champion and share in its glory Let the games commenceIn this round, your task is simple: vote for your favorite watch. Below you will find a selection of 12 timepieces that we covered here on Fratello throughout 2020. Why not refresh your memory by clicking the links and reading those eruditely penned odes to wrist-wear? Once youve made your selection, vote using the poll ...
The latest news coming out of Holstein will surely please the fans of the Oris Aquis Date timepieces.The brand is releasing two new models, both Aquis divers and both with a date. Thats pretty much where the similarity ends, though. One of the cornerstones of Oriss strategy is to create affordable and high-quality tool watches. Whether we are talking about timepieces for pilots or divers, this DNA crops up in all of them. The brands watches are built to last and have a very distinct Oris look. The Aquis collection is arguably the best-known Oris line among divers. The Oris Divers collection appeals to those with an active lifestyle. Both of the collections new additions are more than capable...
After the last Watches and Pencils episode about Panda dials I decided to briefly discuss another dial which is related to an animal: spider dials. Although there are?similarities they are quite different in terms of creation. The human decided to design and create a panda dial, while the spider dial is (partly) created by the forces of natureHow did the spider dial originate?Roughly in the 1980s several brands delivered?watches with dials that would crack after?time. Often they altered the?dial from a matt finishing to one with gloss finishing with an extra layer of shiny lacquer. Due?factory defects (wrong mixtures in the?lacquer) and weather conditions (sunlight, temperature changes, etc....
I talked about the black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph in the previous installment of The Best Boring But Brilliant Watches In The World, but now it's time for something completely different. The Patek Philippe Calatrava. The Calatrava started out as a humble dress watch, but it also has a more outgoing and exuberant side that might surprise you. However, at heart, a Calatrava remains a very traditional and soft-spoken creation.Forgive me for sounding pretentious, but a classic Patek Philippe Calatrava reminds me a bit of a Schubert piano sonata. If my dad reads this, he would be proud, because it's proof he didn't play me all that classical music for nothing when I was still a youn...
With the new Serpenti and Octo Finissimo models stealing much of the limelight this week in Dubai, the Bvlgari Divas Dream collection has floated under the radar. But no longer. Here we give this concise range of jewelry watches their due.Although I dont wear much jewelry above the wrist, I never tire of seeing such time-honored techniques applied to watches. For many years now, Ive been critical of brands covering mens models in diamonds and passing them off as womens watches. I find it lazy, at best, insulting at worst. Were seeing more and more brands acknowledge misguided pasts (albeit quietly) by creating genuinely exciting watches for women. The Bvlgari Divas Dream collection appears s...
The SIHH 2014 in Geneva will start tomorrow and Fratellowatches will be there to bring you the latest news with our own photos and stories We also recently opened our Press Release section on our website, so you also will be able to read the official press release information that we receive from brands. However, we will of course continue bring you our unique content as well like you are used to from us.Today we received the pre-SIHH 2014 news on the Parmigiani Fleurier M tro collection. Not too long ago we paid a visit to the Parmigiani HQ and production facilities and we were more then impressed. Our photo report of that visit can be found here. The M tro collection is their latest introd...
Patek Philippe graces us with two new timepieces inspired by vintage watches from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. The first release is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5320G. The reference 5230 was introduced in 2017 with a cream-colored dial. While that watch is no longer part of the current collection, Patek Philippe decided to re-introduce it with a stunning new aesthetic. The second release is the Patek Philippe Chronograph 5172G, introduced in 2019 in a beautiful deep blue color. For both releases, Patek Philippe chose to equip the watches with beautiful gilded opaline rose gold dials, or as most people call them, salmon dials. Lets take a look at these two stylish beauties.Th...
Fans of manga, anime, and polarizing watches rejoice: Zenith may have released just the watch for you This Lupin The Third Final Edition is the latest installment into Zeniths highly successful Chronomaster Revival range. It is also the last piece in a trio of watches inspired by the Japanese manga and anime series Lupin The Third. The first two Chronomasters in this limited-edition series featured previously unproduced dials. The designs came directly from episodes of the anime series, and both had an overall classic aesthetic. For the final edition, however, Zenith went all out, combining the previous two dials for an eye-popping look.At Fratello, were big fans of the Chronomaster Revival...
We received an email from our reader Jeffrey. He wonders how the watch landscape would look like if omega were wiped from it and its history. We try to answer that question in the best way possible. As we meander down Hypothetical Lane, we took into consideration the brands accomplishments and innovations, but also made some assumptions. Let us know your take on this alternate history in the comments belowThat hypothesis doesn't only affect today's crazy market for (omega) watches, but it might also affect some of the innovations that omega introduced. Many think that omega was the inventor of the automatic movement, the date window, the diving watch etc., but that's not true. They might hav...
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...
The Seamaster Aqua Terra has been linked to golf for quite a while now. Players Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy even have their own versions of this watch. But today, Omega announces their Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light, with a weight of just 55 grams!Ive seen better days, as I am kept away from the European Masters in Crans Montana this week because of a middle ear infection which doesnt allow me to take the plane to Geneva. I like playing golf, and although my skills are not on any serious level (by a stretch), I like to see how the pros play this highly addictive game. Going to Crans Montana in the past actually made me start playing golf (again), as one of the teaching pros there convin...
In April 2009, just after I returned from BaselWorld 2009, I temporarily switched my omega Yacht-Master 16622 with a friends Submariner 16613.Although I really had to get used to all that gold on this Submariner, the watch was definitely an eye-catcher and felt right in terms of weight, size and looks. The blue dial was amazing, espcially during daylight.Since BaselWorld 2009, omega introduced the new stainless steel/gold Submariner 116613. Using their new style case, like the GMT-Master IIc 116710LN and the earlier introduced white gold Submariner 116619, it is evident that this is omegas way forward. It seems that omega listened to a lot of customers, and is firing their innovations to us ...
Cartier PashaBefore we come to this about 18 year old Cartier?Pasha, you should know that?(until about 10 years ago)?the production of Cartier watches was done very differently than it is today. It was ?around 2007, when there was a complete change in the way of working and that the production of actually everything, was re-arranged at Cartier.Manufacture in La Chaux-de-FondsWhen Cartier finally decided not to rely on third parties anymore (for calibers and parts), they?built a huge 30.000 square meters vertically integrated manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Cartier also hired new staff and appointed the right people to do the job. Carole Forestier-Kasapi?(responsible for the development and...
Popular WatchesOne of the things that fascinates me about the watch industry is that there are so many watch brands out there, with so many watch models to choose from. Yet, most people (including myself) find them selves keep getting back to some of the obvious choices. At least the watches that I think that are very obvious. Our colleagues from the German WatchTime website did some research together with watch market platform Chrono24, to identify the top 10 most popular watches.These watches are?the most sought-after models?on Chrono24, a website that has over 80 million pageviews a month. We?show you the top 10 most popular watches on Chrono24, searched-for between January 2016 and June ...
After our Singapore Speedy Tuesday Event, we travelled to Hong Kong to host the Speedy Tuesday event on Thursday, June 27th.Similar to the report of the event in Singapore, we share the pictures that we took during the Hong Speedy Tuesday Event. In the same constellation (no pun intended) as in Singapore (together with the Head of Brand Heritage Petros Protopapas, former NASA engineer James H. Ragan), we did presentations and a panel discussion in Hong Kong. Of course, there was also the opportunity to try the new Speedmaster Apollo XI watches. These watches are being delivered to the markets as we speak.I was very happy to see so many enthusiast Speedmaster fans in Hong Kong, and we also (a...