Fratello's Top 5 Pre-Owned Sleeper Watches: Part 7
Another Friday, another Top 5! We continue our search for some of the best pre-owned watches currently available. With list prices for new watches soaring, we have dedicated this series of articles to finding pre-owned watches worth your attention. There are so many great watches available for great prices. In this seventh installment, we have picked five more watches that we feel are great buys.It’s been another great week at the Fratello office. Once again, we discussed some amazing pre-owned options available on the internet. As we like to dig up some of our favorite picks, why not share them with you? These consist of both forgotten gems and popular watches that have come down in p...
Introducing: The Extravagant SpaceOne Tellurium
Watches and Wonders is just around the corner. Last year, while I was there, I also visited a smaller watch fair organized at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Geneva. There, I met SpaceOne co-founder Guillaume Laidet while he was showing people the prototypes of the SpaceOne Jumping Hour. That watch - or should I say “spaceship”? ? became a huge success. Now, almost exactly one year later, Guillaume, together with his partner in crime, independent watchmaker Theo Auffret, launches this brand’s second watch - the SpaceOne Tellurium.The SpaceOne brand - or project - is all about bringing more advanced complications to the masses. That first SpaceOne Jumping Hour sells for roughly $2...
More Snoopy: MoonSwatch Mission To The Moonphase New Moon
If you looked closely at the teaser on February 19th, you saw Snoopy holding a cake with two candles - a white one and a black one. A few of you guessed it right in the comments of the introduction of the white MoonSwatch Snoopy. The black edition was still a surprise to others until the teasers showed up a few days ago.MoonSwatch New MoonThe white MoonSwatch Snoopy - officially, the MoonSwatch Mission to the Moonphase, is charming and was received well by MoonSwatch fans. Some, including yours truly, even thought it was the best version. The surprise effect the original MoonSwatch series had two years ago was not the same, nor were the queues, but the interest and demand were high nonethele...
The Best Watches Under $1,000: Lex's Picks
With several Fratello team members having already done cherry-picking, I knew that finding the best watches under $1,000 would be no mean feat. Still, I gave it a go and decided to go with funky stuff - lighthearted watches. I thought it was best to try to find some stuff that would look cool. I think I succeeded, although my selection is subject to personal taste. The fresh Studio Underd0g 02Series Field Pink Lem0nade and the stealthy Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide Camo are indeed choices based on the exterior qualities of those watches (although the Aikon #tide also is a promotor of sustainability). And while a white Square has been on my wish list for a little while, the Casio G-Shock DW-H56...
New: The Chanel J12 Bleu Collection In Matte Blue Ceramic
If your favorite cologne is Bleu de Chanel, look no further. Chanel dresses the J12 Bleu in matte blue ceramic this year to celebrate the watch's birthday. With 2025 marking a quarter century since the first J12 in black ceramic (and 22 years since the first white ceramic version), it's time for a new color. Blue is not just a random color, though - in the Chanel universe, everything has meaning. Rather, it harks back to the boxes of the 1932 Bijoux de Diamants collection. Chanel has interpreted the color today in a new shade exclusively for watchmaking. Fratello selected a few models to highlight from many celebratory blue J12s. Pick the one that goes best with your aromatic-woody perfume, ...
Introducing: The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria
The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication is a pice unique that showcases its maker’s horological muscle. The world’s most complicated wristwatch brings to the fore several groundbreaking features. Let’s take a look.The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers SolariaVacheron Constantin is a watchmaker that needs no introduction. One of the “Holy Trinity” (alongside Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet), the brand is a titan in the industry. So it seems fitting that Vacheron is turning heads this year at Watches and Wonders with the world's most complicated wristwatch. The Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication not only has 41(...
Hysek Anniversary Models for the Abyss
The last time we covered an article on (Jorg) Hysek was in 2008, which doesn’t do the man as an artist and designer, nor the brand HYSEK justice.Jorg Hysek was born in Berlin in 1953 and emigrated to Switzerland in 1960. After graduating from the Central School of Art in London, and spending four years in the design department, Jorg set up his own agency named HYSEK DESIGN.His work quickly earned him acknowledgement in the watch industry thanks to the timepieces he designed for the most prestigious brands such as Breguet, TAG Heuer, Tiffany, Ebel, Seiko, HD3(*) and many others. Besides reputation in the watch industry Jorg Hysek is highly appreciated for his designs of writing instrum...
Hands-On With The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo in Titanium and Platinum
There are a couple of watches that everyone wants, but only a few can have. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo is such a watch. The fact that you rarely see them in the flesh is not only because of its hefty price tag, it is also because of the limited production of the?Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo. This results in long waiting lists and it isn’t very likely you will come across one on display at a retailer or boutique, most of them are going straight to the customer who ordered one.In 2012, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo, or ‘Extra-Thin’ as it is being officially called since then, received an update. It was also the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak, celebrated i...
Sinn 142.St 52Mondayz, Week #15-2020
For many years the Sinn 142.St has been an important player in Sinn’s professional chronograph lineup. Unfortunately, the end of the Lemania 5100 caliber in 2002 initially resulted in this striking model’s curtain call.Sinn 142.St reference 142.010My first encounter with Sinn was in the early nineties. Helmut Sinn was still at the helm. Sinn was virtually unknown outside of Germany. Your best chance? Talking to an aviator who might have recognized the name?from some of their airplane instruments. Consequently, the bulk of Helmut’s clientele were pilots. This was a comfortable relationship for Helmut, who was a former pilot himself. But when one earns a reputation for excell...
Hands-on Review: Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst and C65 Cranwell
It's a hard choice to pick just one of the two military novelties from Christopher Ward. Do you prefer the smaller 38mm C65 Sandhurst or the 41mm C65 Cranwell?Tough as that decision is, it could have been tougher. You see, Christopher Ward introduced three military watches at once. To spare you from unnecessary pre-purchase overload, I dropped one of the three models immediately. More specifically, the C65 Dartmouth bearing the Royal Navy's Naval crown on its backplate. Let's say it is too Christopher Ward Trident and not as novel as the other two models. From the remaining duo, it took me just 10 seconds to arrive at the conclusion that I?like the bigger Cranwell more. Yet I?continued leani...
How Bill Gates's TAG Heuer Ended Up With A Watch Enthusiast
Last week, I got in touch with Johann who posted a story on his Instagram account about a TAG Heuer he received from his dad. This TAG Heuer once belonged to Microsoft founder Bill Gates. So time for us to ask a few questions to the current owner of the watch.Johann runs the Instagram account @watchyouwearin. He posts incredibly crisp wrist shots of his watches. Definitely, a? feed to add. Recently, he posted the picture of his TAG Heuer 2000 model. And, along with the pics, the amazing story of how this watch ended up on his wrist. Interested? You should be…Robert-Jan: Johann, before telling us a bit about that TAG Heuer 2000 on your IG feed, where does your love for watches come from...
Sternglas Hamburg A Piece Of Home In 42mm
Hamburg start-up, Sternglas, pays homage to its hometown. The Sternglas Hamburg is inspired by old measuring devices once used for maritime navigation.The hometown of this watch brand is emblematic of the seafaring tradition like no other German city. Hamburg certainly has its fair share of iconic locations. The Hamburg harbor, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the Speicherstadt, the Alster, to name but a few. And now, Hamburg-based Sternglas has created a model to celebrate a city replete with fine design.Vintage lookThe Sternglas Hamburg has a diameter of 42mm and a case height of just 6mm. Those proportions make an ideal everyday watch for the man with an appreciation for its blend of sty...
Sinn 142.St 52Mondayz, Week #15-2020
For many years the Sinn 142.St has been an important player in Sinn’s professional chronograph lineup. Unfortunately, the end of the Lemania 5100 caliber in 2002 initially resulted in this striking model’s curtain call.Sinn 142.St reference 142.010My first encounter with Sinn was in the early nineties. Helmut Sinn was still at the helm. Sinn was virtually unknown outside of Germany. Your best chance? Talking to an aviator who might have recognized the name?from some of their airplane instruments. Consequently, the bulk of Helmut’s clientele were pilots. This was a comfortable relationship for Helmut, who was a former pilot himself. But when one earns a reputation for excell...
Watches & Wonders Novelty: Greubel Forsey GMT Sport
When almost every other brand offers a sports watch on a steel bracelet, how could Greubel Forsey not do so? Of course, to be a true Greubel Forsey, such a watch must be outstanding in every way. The new GMT Sport lives up to this claim.To understand the brand Greubel Forsey and its watches, you actually must be holding one of their creations in your own hand and experience it in person. This may seem hardly possible to you, but it isn’t. I had the chance to do that for the first time when this brand presented itself on the 2017 edition of the Munichtime, a small fair in that German city, open to everybody. That was before I became a Fratello editor. Being a passionate watch enthusiast...
The Return Of The Breitling Premier Datora 42
The third model in the Breitling Premier Heritage Collection is the new Premier Datora 42. This is the most “complicated” model within the series, so let’s take a look.There’s no doubt that today is a big day for Breitling. The brand has released three distinct new models within its new Premier Heritage Collection. There’s the manual wind Premier Chronograph, the sublime manual wind Premier Duograph rattrapante, and the Premier Datora 42. In this article, we focus on the latter and, once again, we’re impressed.A quick look backJust like the other Breitling Heritage models, the Premier Datora 42 takes its inspiration from the brand’s back catalog. Fre...
Breitling Comes Out Swinging With The New Premier Chronograph 40
Wow, have things changed at Breitling. A few short years ago, if I told you that reasonably sized, gorgeous manual wind chronographs were on the horizon, would you have believed me? Well, the Premier Chronograph 40 line is here…My how the worm has turned regarding Breitling. Just several short years ago, the brand seemed intent on producing the biggest most garish watches on the planet. Since that time, bit by bit, the quality releases have just kept coming. Watches like the Premier, the Chronomat, the Aviator 8, and the Superocean Heritage ’57 are just some of the renaissance pieces. Breitling has faithfully grasped its heritage while focusing on finishing that can easily party ...
A Serious Stunner: The New Breitling Premier Duograph 42
The Breitling Premier Heritage Collection rolls on in serious style with the new Premier Duograph 42. Can someone say, “in-house, manual wind, rattrapante?”The Breitling Premier Heritage Collection is quickly becoming one of my favorites. This group of watches is made up of a beautiful manual wind chronograph, the Datora moonphase chronograph, and now the Premier Duograph 42. If you’re into classic chrongraphs and complications, this new Breitling just might be the ticket.Some history and other examplesBefore we get to the new Premier Duograph 42, let’s spend a moment on the Duograph name. This model name was given to Breitling chronographs with a rattrapante complica...
Greenish Blue With Envy: H.Moser & Cie Pioneer MEGA Cool Collection
Moser leads off its 2021 novelties with a pair of bold new blue green pieces. Enter the Pioneer MEGA Cool lineup!When it comes to Moser, the dials are often the star of the show. With the new Pioneer MEGA Cool collection, that trend continues in serious fashion. This is a two piece lineup that brings some small yet noticeable differences versus other watches in this collection. Let’s have a look at the two models.Moser Pioneer MEGA Cool Centre SecondsLeading things off is the “volume” model. The Pioneer MEGA Cool Centre Seconds is a time only piece in a sculpted 42.8mm by 10.6mm stainless case with textured and hollowed out flanks. The watch is powered by the in-house HMC 2...
The H.Moser & Cie Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger's Eye
With its latest novelty, the Moser Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger’s Eye brings natural beauty to a dial-focused brand. Two limited edition gold models make up this beautiful release.When most of us think of Moser, we think of fume dials. In my book, they make the best in the business and I’m always delighted to see a new color. What happens, though, when a natural gemstone steps in to emulate the gradient look? With the new Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger’s Eye, we get to experience this.The Moser Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger’s EyeThe new Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger’s Eye is a collection of two gold limited edition models. Instead of lacquer,...
Getting Funky With The H. Moser Endeavour X Seconde/Seconde/
H.Moser & Cie. loves to shake it up, and the brand did so on April 1st. This was no joke though as the Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/ is very real.Moser is one of those companies that invite controversy. Whether the watch is made of cheese, has a plant growing inside or takes a serious jab at other companies, they have a lot of fun. They also make some incredibly attractive pieces - gimme that green Streamliner now! With the new Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/, the brand collaborated with French artist Romaric Andre to create a funky limited edition of just 20 pieces.The Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/The spirit behind the Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/ is pretty simple. Mo...