Experiencing The Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart From Up Close
It’s no secret that we are fans of the Rado brand here at Fratello. Especially the vintage-inspired timepieces. These throwback fancies are loved by many Fratello team members. But the brand also made its mark in the 1990s with the introduction of a series of black ceramic watches. The material, the color, and the minimalist design propelled the Rado name to the forefront of the watch industry. The all-new Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart is a brand new addition to the Rado collection that takes us back to that time. And it brings back a lot of memories.Whenever I think of Rado, I think of its fully black ceramic watches. As a teenager, the sight of a black Rado Ceramica in a reta...
Omega Acquires Ralph Ellison's Speedmaster Ref. 145.012-67SP
Phillips auctioned off the Omega Speedmaster Professional ref. 145.012-67SP that belonged to American author Ralph Ellison. He wore it from 1968 till his death in 1994. Now it has sold for a whopping $667,800 including buyer's premium.The new owner of Ralph Ellison’s Speedmaster 145.012-067SP is the Omega Museum in Biel. The museum will display it beside an impressive line-up of special Speedmaster from noteworthy owners.Its first owner, author Ralph Ellison, wrote the Invisible Man novel of 1952. It received the prestigious National Book Award in 1953. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Invisible Man #19 on its list of 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.Image of Ralp...
This Omega Seamaster Gold Chronograph Has Great Power
Is there such a thing as the end of your horological journey? I used to believe that there wasn’t. But after wearing the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronograph in Sedna Gold, now I am tempted to think that there is. This started out as a story about my favorite model from the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M range. But it turned into an experience of answering questions and ticking boxes with regards to my personal journey with watches. Let me explain why this Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronograph in 18K Sedna Gold stole my heart.This story actually starts out pretty randomly. One afternoon not too long ago, Robert-Jan and I were discussing our favorite models of ...
Sweet #CANDYCANE Picks From Breitling, Casio, Hublot, And More
Unlike our dark #STEALTH picks a couple of weeks ago, this time we go all-in for holiday sweetness. After another heavy hit of pandemic life, if there is one thing we need, it's holiday cheer. And here at Fratello, we aim to please, so enjoy some sweet #CANDYCANE on us. Though I will warn you, this story might end with putting in some hard work to ensure a healthy New Year.I can't think of a better way to infuse yourself with the generous spirit of Christmas than with a sugary dose of candy. Inspired by the sweetness of a lickable candy cane, here are our immensely cheerful choices to lift your spirits, from Hublot to G-Shock, with style tips that include G-Star Raw and Nike.Just think twice...
The MB&F L'Epee 1839 Orb Quite Literally Rounding Off 2021
The Orb, available in either black or white, is MB&F's 14th clock co-created with L'Epee 1839. Both versions look the bomb. Especially the black one. It looks a bit like an old-fashioned bomb you can find in an old cartoon. And the white version looks like an eyeball! But joking aside, these days, table clocks are a rarity. This may be due to us spending so much time in the office - don’t look at the time in the lower right corner of your computer screen! But the MB&F L'Epee 1839 Orb takes this now-obscure object and guides it into modern times. Nowadays, a clock is an objet d'art that can enrich your horological life.You don't see many clocks here on Fratello. But when they ap...
The Intriguing Delta Type By Ardra Labs
The Delta Type represents horological idea-making at its best. Nava Krishnan, the founder of Ardra Labs, found a creative and artistic solution to a very personal problem - how to display the correct time in non-standard GMT zones with 30- and 45-minute offsets.I knew that there were some three-quarter- and half-hour offsets from the standard GMT zones, but I never paid much attention to them. Like most of us, I did not need to. I live in the “comfortable” Central European time zone, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).A mystical encounterMy lack of attention to these rarer time zones changed a few weeks ago whe...
Fratello Favorites: The Best Sub-$2,500 Watches Of 2022
While we have moved away from compact discs (anyone remember CDs?), one of my memories from growing up was the barrage of Now That’s What I Call Music! infomercials around this time of year. Revisiting the most popular songs from any given year is now as easy as a quick search on your music platform of choice (Spotify Wrapped, am I right?). While my greatest hits (or best sub-$2,500 watches) for 2022 will not have the same widespread appeal, I’m guessing that they might strike a chord with the Fratelli.For the last year and a half or so, as my collection has matured and rounded out, I have found more enjoyment and excitement for watch releases in the entry-level luxury space. Wat...
Revisiting The Tudor Black Bay Pro The Poor Man's
In April of this year, I asked myself if the Tudor Black Bay Pro was a sort of poor man's , exactly as Hans Wilsdorf once intended. Wilsdorf created Tudor as a watch brand that would offer quality and service at a lower price point - more affordable timepieces that would appeal to a larger audience. The new Black Bay Pro, I argued, was like a vintage Tudor Oyster Prince; it looked like a , was just as qualitative as a , but it didn't cost as much as a . The discussion in the comments saw the denial of any resemblance of the Black Bay Pro to the Explorer II 1655 Freccione, but was also very much about my use of the idiom poor man's . Let me address that.Let's first take a look at the express...
Hands-On With The Tuseno Shellback Dive Watch
Tuseno has been around for less than a decade and, in many ways, is following a path already well-trodden by microbrands around the globe. The brand’s first watch, a meca-quartz chronograph, was successfully crowdfunded in 2015. That was followed by its first automatic dive watch, produced in collaboration with the SSTS (Swedish Sea Rescue Society). Fast forward to 2021, and Tuseno launched the Shellback in limited numbers. This Swiss-made, automatic dive watch is designed to cope equally well beneath the waves or behind a desk.As someone who is quite adept at desk diving and not much beyond, my judgment of the capabilities of a true tool watch is usually limited to ticking boxes. Afte...
Hands-On: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Skeleton In Steel
After its tremendous success with the start of the Tonda PF collection in 2021, it was clear that Parmigiani would have to extend it. And indeed, the brand was able to surprise us again with the Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante. It is an exquisitely elegant take on the common GMT complication and, stylistically, is absolutely in line with the core characteristics of the Tonda PF Collection. The skeletonized dial of the Tonda PF Skeleton, however, provides a rather technical yet fairly traditional design. Does it suit the modern Tonda PF?When I saw the first images of the Tonda PF Skeleton, I was disappointed. Yes, absolutely! I felt so for two reasons. First, what I love so much about my Tonda PF Mi...
Hands-On: Czapek Quai Des Bergues 40.5mm N17
About two months ago, I covered the release of the new Czapek Quai des Bergues 40.5mm N17 Double Soleil on Fratello. Now I’ve had the time to go hands-on and truly appreciate what this watch is all about. Does the new size make sense between the existing 38.5mm and 42.5mm offerings? And what impression does this modern-formal Czapek make on me overall?I have spent some time with the black-dial version in steel. As you can see in the photos, this one came on a smooth black leather strap. If you were to purchase one, you would get an alligator version. For export/customs reasons, that has been omitted from the press sample.The Czapek Quai des Bergues 40.5mm N17 Double SoleilThis new Cz...
The Ebel 1911 Chronograph Brings Back An Iconic Form
The Ebel 1911 Chronograph has returned, and the result is a modernized version of an immediately recognizable watch from the 1980s. I can’t help but feel slightly nostalgic when looking at these new pieces. It’s no longer a passe feeling, though, as I now see these Ebel pieces as enduring classics. We can argue later…Ah, Ebel. It’s a brand that many of us recall from the ’80s and ’90s as one of the most popular on the market. With their distinctive, soft, hexagonal cases and amazing bracelets, these watches once battled quite victoriously against the likes of and Cartier for luxury supremacy. They were the thing in so much of the world and then, poof, Ebe...
Fratello Talks: Building A Watch Brand In 2023
Hello, and welcome to the 50th and penultimate episode of Fratello Talks this year. Today, we dive into the topic of building a watch brand in 2023. Joining your host Nacho are Morgan and Thomas, and the latter comes well equipped to share some insights into the experience. As some of you may know, Thomas, along with being a writer for Fratello, is also the brain behind the upcoming watch brand VPC. But what exactly goes into starting a watch brand today? What are the challenges one faces? And what are some of the most satisfying moments along the way? In this episode, we’ll get into this and much more. But first, we need to check what the guys have on their wrists today....
Hands-On: Alcadus Quantra Type 01 and Type 02
The Alcadus Quantra is a striking example of how a microbrand can evolve, delivering a product that competes with more established microbrands at higher price points. From its tasteful design and refined build quality to its thoughtful packaging and enjoyable unboxing experience, this watch encapsulates a level of sophistication that is rare at its price point. Having reviewed the Alcadus Dromo and Opus V2 back in 2022, I was already impressed by the brand’s attention to detail. However, the Quantra Type 02 marks a clear leap forward, showcasing a greater sense of maturity and overall quality.Delivering from the very startI appreciate the privileged position I’m in working here a...
Hands-On: New Yema Wristmaster Slim CMM.20 Limited Edition
Yema does not shy away from more creative uses of materials and colors. The French brand's latest release proves this point brilliantly. You would be forgiven for thinking this was a forged carbon watch at first sight. You would be wrong, however. The new Yema Wristmaster Slim CMM.20 Limited Edition is made of hand-finished black PVD-coated stainless steel.Yema will produce 200 units of this edition. Despite the limited numbers and large amount of handwork, the price of $2,449 is just $200 more than the non-limited versions. At the time of writing, the batch has not sold out yet, so you can still order one. Let's have a closer look together!The Yema Wristmaster Slim CMM.20Let's start with a ...
Vintage Watch Shopping In Geneva
When I was in Munich a few months ago, I’ve met with Roy Davidoff. We were both visiting a watch event there, and he told me about his boutique in Geneva. The Davidoff Brothers boutique is located in the city of Geneva, just a small walk from the famous Rue du Rh?ne with all its brand boutiques and famous shops. Actually, the Davidoff Brothers boutique is just across the street of the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery.The Davidoff Brothers focus on vintage watches only, made between the 1940s and the 1980s. As the name of the boutiques already implies, the two owners are brothers Roy and Sacha Davidoff. Both infected with the watch virus from a young age and with a professional career in the wat...
Speedy Tuesday One of the greatest days in manned space flight history
Most of you Speedmaster enthusiasts and collectors love a bit of NASA history as well. Now, you probably remember that when Omega introduced the Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” (we reviewed it here) in 2013, it was referring to the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. The second human space flight by NASA and the first where a spacecraft left Earth orbit to reach for the Moon and orbit it. Astronauts Borman, Lovell and Anders were the first to see that dark side of the Moon and perhaps even more important, to witness Earthrise.The mission took from December 21st till December 27th, so exactly 47 years ago this week. The 24th of December was one of the greatest days in manned space fligh...
The Platinum Seamaster 300M: Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gift
One of the items of the 2019 Neiman Marcus’ Fantasy Gift is an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera designed by Daniel Craig. A car that comes with a ‘free’ Omega Seamaster 300M ‘007’ in platinum, only 7 pieces.I had never heard of Neiman Marcus before, let alone their annual Fantasy Gifts. A closer look shows a $70.000 luxury doghouse from Rockstar Puppy (by Denise Richards), which includes a video chat with Denise. Or what to think of a one-of-a-kind pair of Christian Louboutin for $125.000. Or what about a date with Jeff Staple (sneaker designer), and on top of a romantic dinner with him, you will receive eight pairs of his collaboration sneakers. Price tag? $110.00...
A Look Back: Three Omega Speedmaster Watches Introduced In 2020
Of course, over the course of 2020, Omega introduced more than three Speedmaster watches. However, the release calendar was significantly scaled back in comparison to previous years. It seems that Omega took the feedback on limited editions very seriously.In all honesty, I somewhat regret the fact that there was no limited edition Speedmaster Professional for 2020. I love the “standard” Moonwatch, but I also like to add some variation as I consider myself to be a collector of Speedmasters. A limited-edition is not a bad thing, but what is bad, is that there are people who just buy them to flip them immediately to make a quick buck. It drives up the prices, and - just as bad - tak...
Podcast Talking With Omega's Andreas Hobmeier (Vice President Of Production And Procurement)
In this podcast, I talk with OMEGA’s Mr. Andreas Hobmeier, Vice President of Production and Procurement, about Master Chronometer and the role of METAS. We speak about all the facets of Master Chronometer, and why precision and anti-magnetism is such an important topic.I recently had a wonderful conversation with Mr. Ansdreas Hobmeier, to which you can listen below, or use one of the many platforms out there. Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Deezer,? Stitcher, and Spotify. Below, you can also find an overview of what Master Chronometer is about, and the role METAS plays.Podcast with Andreas Hobmeier...