Which Watch Should I Wear For Christmas Dinner?
Fratello is a broad church. We want everyone that visits our site to feel welcome and find something for them among our many pages. As such, in the run-up to Christmas, we want to focus a little more on ladies’ watches. Of course, these articles are mostly for our female readers, but also provide valuable insight into some of the watches the women in your life may be lusting over this yuletide.Today, two of our editors, Kristin and Franziska, share a recent email exchange regarding the perfect watch for the festive season. We’d love to know your thoughts on the format, so drop us a note in the comments section at the end of the article.19th November 2020Dear Franziska,I hope you ...
The Longines Legend Diver In Bronze A Timeless Dive Watch
When Longines introduced their Legend Diver a few years ago, it came in two flavors. A date and a non-date. At some point, Longines decided to only continue with the date version.Sure, Longines has its Skin Diver without a date, but that’s not the same. I was very happy - and a little bit surprised - to see that the Longines Legend Diver in bronze has no date. I am not really in favor of date windows on a watch (exceptions exist of course), so I am biased anyway. We did a Wrist Game Crying Shame article on a Legend Diver No Date and you were brutal as well though, 78% voted for the Legend Diver without a date. Now, they make one again! And it is in bronze!Longines Legend Diver BronzeWh...
The Cyberpunk T-2077 Digital Watch A 700-Piece Limited Edition
Stay ahead of the game with the most punctual piece of tech the dark future has ever seen. Its retro-futuristic design and titanium build make the T-2077 as eye-catching as the flashiest cyberware in Night City - but you won't find this gem in just any old ripperdoc clinic.Cyberpunk 2077 was the most anticipated computer game of 2020 by far. Its introduction might not have been flawless, but one year after the presentation, all flaws seem to have been ironed out. It’s a perfect time to introduce a spectacular timepiece inspired by the game’s virtual world.Cyberpunk T-2077 by?B?onieThe Polish developer of Cyberpunk 2077, CD PROJECT RED, contacted Poland’s major watchmaker B?...
Hands-on With The Motorsport-Inspired Montju?c Speed Watches
Named after the legendary street circuit which hosted Formula 1 for a number of years in the late 60s and early 70s, the Montju?c brand was founded by three passionate fans of motorsport and watches alike. The father-son team of Rosendo and Tendu Rabat come from a family with a long-standing tradition in watchmaking, and Eduardo Mendez has a background in motorsport. The three of them came together to create a brand that brings together their shared interests, culminating in watches whose design is inspired by the rich racing tradition in the Barcelona circuit of Montju?c.I am also a Spanish fan of motorsport, and there are two iconic circuit names that harken back to the glory days of racin...
Buying Guide: The Best Omega Watches From The 2000s
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It’s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Omega watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had prou...
Dear Seiko, Bring Back The 5717-8990 Monopusher Chronograph
This is the perfect series for me as a collector! I realized that I’m more focused on newer watches than I am on vintage. While I love the aesthetics of vintage watches, their fragility scares me a bit. Therefore, I often buy vintage-inspired watches, and that’s exactly what this series is about - vintage design combined with contemporary quality and finishing. So what watch would I like to get a modern version of? Dear Seiko, could you please make a re-edition of the 5717-8990 Monopusher Chronograph from 1964? And could you make it as true to the original as possible?This is my first time contributing to this series of articles, and to be honest, I had to think a little bit abou...
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Vs. Baltic Tricompax
In this week’s Sunday Morning Showdown, we’ll take a look at two affordable chronographs. This time around, that means that they retail for under $2,000. While “affordable” is always a relative term, in the land of chronographs, the $2K mark is definitely appropriate. For this week’s matchup, we narrowed it down even more by focusing on two manual-winding chronographs under $2,000 that are powered by the Sellita SW510 movement. One is the recently introduced Baltic Tricompax, and the other is the popular Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (or Chronomaster for short). Both take inspiration from the past, but which of the two comes out on top? It’...
Hands-On: Certina DS Super PH1000M
I am running out of words to describe Certina’s knack for releasing vintage-inspired dive watches. The brand just hits the nail on the head every time. It all started with the PH200M. That was a success and only the beginning of what would become the most incredible line of diver re-releases. A few years and a handful of excellent models later, we arrive at the Certina DS Super PH1000M, a remarkable diver for a fair price and in not one but two versions. I was lucky enough to spend some time with the orange-dial model, which did not cease to impress me.I was torn between the standard black-dial version and the orange limited edition. In the end, I had to go with the rare variant. There...
Carl F. Bucherer's Patravi ScubaTec Verde Raises Some Questions
In August of this year, the news broke that had bought Bucherer, a multi-brand retail store with over 100 locations worldwide. In 53 of those, Bucherer sells …as well as its own watch brand Carl F. Bucherer. And when I say “own,” I actually mean “previously owned by the retailer and now owned by The Crown. Therefore, I should refer to CFB as the “Bucherer house brand.” Anyway, the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Verde came to Fratello HQ, and as soon as I saw the watch, it started to raise all kinds of questions. Would buyers ever buy one of these watches? And, more practically, what would the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Verde be like on the wris...
Boldr Odyssey MGP: A Heavyweight In A Feathery Package
Today, we’ll take a look at the new Boldr Odyssey MGP, a watch endorsing a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve ocean biodiversity. It’s also an incredibly affordable titanium dive watch in a wearable size, which should appeal to both new and existing fans of the brand. Let’s take a closer look.Since its founding in 2015, Boldr has sought to create rugged, outdoor-friendly watches that are available at an affordable price. I had the opportunity to go hands-on with a model roughly five years ago, and I can affirm that the brand was well on its way to achieving that goal. I tested a 44mm GMT, and while it was nice, it was huge on my wrist. Today’s Odyssey MGP ...
Hands-On: The Ressence Type 9
Have you ever heard of UTOs? Unidentified time-telling objects can appear on the wrist out of nowhere, as sightings around the world indicate. Today, one appeared on my left forearm, and I got to try it on for a day.As it turns out, it may be spaceship-esque in appearance, but it isn't entirely unidentifiable after all. The dial appears sterile, but the true connoisseur will recognize the little hand icon, symbolizing friendly intent. Flipping this oddity over reveals that it is fully willing to identify itself as a Ressence Type 9. It's not from a galaxy far, far away but, rather, from Belgium, a 90-minute drive from our office in The Hague. Things don't look so intimidating anymore. Let's ...
The Datograph Diaries
The A. Lange & Sohne Datograph is a watch that needs no introduction. It's one of the iconic watches of the modern era. It's never been copied, simply because it can't be. And even though the movement was first conceived in 1999, it has the feel of an incredibly fine 19th century pocketwatch the layout is 100% traditional, with German silver bridges, screwed chatons to hold the jewels, a side-coupling column wheel chronograph with instantaneous jumping minutes and flyback function, and a very archaic screw-poised balance wheel with a swan neck regulator sitting atop a hand-engraved balance cock.All images can be clicked on for larger versions. This article has been one absolutely mammoth...
UNION GLASHuTTE BELISAR Chronograph Moon Phase
Just as the moon accompanies us day by day and yet always fascinates us anew, the new Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase from Union Glashutte proves to be a reliable and attractive companion for every day of the year. This elegant timepiece from Saxony features all calendar display elements and a mechanical chronograph movement with a power reserve of up to 60 hours.The phases of the moon are shown through a classic, handsome indicator positioned at 6 o’clock, where the celestial spectacle is acted out as though on a miniature dark-blue stage with yellow stars. The white dial with black, nickel-plated indices and numerals and blued hands form a subtle backdrop, which remains clear and tidy...
Speedy Tuesday: Today Marks The Return Of The Last Apollo Mission On December 19th 1972
Apollo 17 was the last mission to the Moon. The decision to cancel Apollo 18 and 19 missions was already done in 1971 and based on budget cuts. Apollo 20 was already cancelled before (in 1969). The Apollo 17 mission, while being the last one to go to the Moon, was the first to have a night launch on December 7th 1972. It put the first geologist on the Moon (Harrison Schmitt) and they brought back 110.4KG of samples. The Apollo 17 mission took 12 days and the three astronauts (Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrisson Smith) returned safely on Earth again on December 19th, 1972. Exactly 45 years ago today.The total surface EVA time was 22 hours and 2 minutes. Enough time to collect the 110.4K...
Do GPS controlled watches automatically change time zones?
This week we’re answering a question from globetrotter Jer?me about GPS-controlled watches. Jer?me is a frequent intercontinental?traveler and is looking for a watch that he doesn’t have to set when stepping out of a plane in another part of the world.You Asked Us: Do GPS-controlled watches automatically change time zones?Here’s Jer?mes’s question in full:From: Jer?meSubject: GPS-controlled watchesMessage Body:I am a frequent traveler and am looking at GPS time-controlled watches. Most of the time, my phone changes to the local time automatically as soon as I receive a carrier’s signal in my destination country. It would be nice if I could have a watch which doe...
#TBT Vintage Watches Wishlist For December
It is never too late to give yourself a nice present. If you order a vintage watch today, you know, you can pay FedEx to arrange for a little miracle and have it delivered to your doorstep (or shall I say under your Christmas tree) the next few days.So, if you haven't spent all of the savings on the ones you love the most, here is the December selection with watches from my never-ending vintage watches wishlist.Heuer Autavia 73363 Orange Boy StyleAfter the hype on vintage Heuers in the last few years, it is relatively quiet these days. Which is not bad. You have time to think twice and not to make impulsive purchases driven by fear of loss. I thought it might be the right time to talk about ...
Hands-On: Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Worldtimer
Let’s see if the new Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Worldtimer in Sedna Gold is something I can cosign.I'm not particularly a fan of gold watches. Unless they are white gold, that is. I have nothing against the alloy or anyone who wears a timepiece made of gold. I like the tone of rose gold, even yellow gold, and I also have some gold (plated) vintage watches. Mind you, I bought them for the importance of their movements or the model (like this Omega Moonphase Jumbo), not for their case color. Now white gold or platinum is a different story. Granted, they look like steel, and I guess this is why I like them. I think that gold does not go well with my skin tone. Or so I thought. Until I was ...
This Week In Watches: December 19, 2020 It's Nearly Christmas!
Here we are, in the final run-up to Christmas! It’s been a long time coming in a long year. There’s been a lot of up and downs, but at this time of the year, we like to focus on the good stuff. Christmas should be fun and enjoyable - Goodness knows we need it to be this year!Thankfully the watch world doesn’t disappoint and delivers some fun and grooviness. Santa is immortalized in watch format (FINALLY!) - that is itself should be enough, but there’s also some other coolness if you read on!Konstantin Chaykin Santa 2020 WristmonChristmas is nearly here. This time next week, Santa will have been down your chimney or other appropriate entry point and deposited vast numb...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup Thoughts From The Losers' Enclosure
Well, what a massacre the Grand Final turned out to be! Perhaps we should have had the Ed White ranked higher when we started the competition. Somehow, despite it clearly being beloved by the Speedy community, it feels like a bit of a dark horse winner. But I’m all for dark horses - the darker the better! And this dark-dialed beauty finally put the dog to the sword, slaying the Snoopy most of us thought would win…But what did we?want to happen? Who did we?want to win? As the rounds progressed, we all threw our allegiance behind different survivors. Some of us championed the Alaska over the Tintin in that memorable back-and-forth quarter-final. A plucky one or two hopped on the se...
NEW: Patek Philippe Advanced Research Minute Repeater
It hits me from the first images - the monochromatic Mandala-design dial within a classic case is hypnotic. Cheekily matched by a very unusual black stitch on the orange-brown alligator strap, it sets the tone for a much-needed distraction. Let’s forget about a certain co-branded Nautilus in all its hype. Right now, a thoroughly modern minute repeater with a mind-boggling 342 parts somehow fitted into a svelte 11.1mm case is just the respite we needed.For me, this simply reaffirms my beliefs in Patek Philippe's standing within the much-discussed holy trinity of Swiss watchmaking. And I understand Thierry Stern's sentiments on the evergreen 5711, ironically published on Hypebeast in Jul...