Thor's Top 5 Watches Of 2021: Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, And More
Let me just start this with a disclaimer: for me, picking an easy Top 5 Watches of a rather exciting 2021 is almost impossible. I have fallen in love with wristwatches many times this year, from press shots to the hitherto unknown joy of handling a $100,000 piece of wrist art at, get this, an actual event. Remember those?So with this in mind, I went with my ten-minute instinctual scribbles. To be fair, these might not be my final Top 5 Watches of 2021, but my personal and strongest impressions of the year. Did I expect more actual events than the charming Geneva Watch Days? Yes. Was this a couple of days to savor, leaving my wrist dazed and confused? Absolutely.Thor’s Top 5 - Jaeger-Le...
The New Mid-Range Kings, Please Stand Up!
In the past, brands like Longines, Tudor, Oris, and TAG Heuer dominated the mid-range of the watch market. But every year - and sometimes even multiple times a year - many watch brands increase their prices. It usually happens in fairly acceptable increments and often without much notice or any explanation. But then, all of a sudden, a few years later, all those fairly small increments have added up to a substantial amount. Their watches used to be quite attainable, but it now looks like they belong to a whole new league of upper-range brands. That leaves room for the new mid-range kings to stand up!When I first got into watches, I wasn’t used to spending four-digit amounts of money on...
The Renaissance Of British Watchmaking In 2022
You know that I'm Norwegian. It’s a given with that Norse god’s name that brings me nothing but embarrassment. I mean, I don't ski, fancy glacier climbing, or even enjoy nature much either. But never mind, my dad has been living just outside London for 40 years, so I consider myself half-British by proxy. But that is only one of the reasons I'll happily fly the flag for the rapid rise of watchmaking on the Isles. I'm well proud of the strong British players in the watch game. Furthermore, unlike the ubiquitous, trend-following retro divers and big sports watches, each of these brands manages to bring something new to the table. So I claim that 2022 has been the year of British wa...
Oris Aquis Regulateur Der Meistertaucher 2.0: Let Me Revisit That
Dear Oris, please tell me you haven't already started producing titanium cases for the Aquis Regulateur Der Meistertaucher 2.0. I really need to revisit the matter of Der Meistertaucher because I'm having second thoughts. In my article about the regulator-dialed diver this past October, I wrote that I wanted you to bring that standout dive watch back because of its originality, functionality, and great looks. Nothing has changed in that regard. But when you launched the Big Crown ProPilot Coulson Limited Edition a month later, that watch got me thinking. Maybe titanium isn't the optimal material for the Aquis Regulateur Der Meistertaucher 2.0 after all. Maybe a 3D-printed case is the best wa...
Parmigiani Fleurier 2022 Roundup An Outstanding Year
Michel Parmigiani had made a name for himself as a highly skilled restorer of antique timepieces and mechanical automatons when in 1996, the Sandoz Foundation supported him in founding his own watchmaking brand, Parmigiani Fleurier. This brand thrived, and those curious enough to approach it soon discovered its promising potential. Yet, for quite a while, it remained an insider’s tip. This lack of recognition probably was a consequence of restrained marketing matching the style of the brand and the character of the man behind it. But in 2021, on the 25th anniversary of Parmigiani Fleurier, Guido Terreni became the CEO. By contributing his in-depth experience in the watch business, he g...
#TBT Recap: The Top 10 Vintage Watches Featured In 2023
In our #TBT series this year, we featured a quartz Breitling Colt, a unique design by Tian Harlan, and pleasingly original names like Telefoot. We highlighted never-before-seen complications like a Medana with a rotating day crystal, rare pieces like the Heuer Autavia with rounded numbers, and even virtually unknown models like the Gallet Big Date Chrono. It’s time to take a look back at the top 10 vintage watches that inhabited our #TBT column in 2023.The surprising Breitling Colt ref. 80180It was never on my radar, but since I first put it on my wrist during a random visit from my friend, it felt like it was made for me. It is adventurous and masculine but also quite sleek and decent...
The Best Watches Of 2023: Mike's Picks
When it came to picking my entries for this Best Watches Of 2023 series, I decided to dig deep - far deeper than I did for a recent podcast with Balazs, in which my initial picks were all from the last several months. That’s a challenge in a watch market where our attention span is often short. So yes, I’ve done my best to consider the past 12 months. Get ready for some surprises!This was an interesting year in the world of watches. There were a lot of color variations on a familiar theme. Those can be nice from time to time, but like so many of us, I like new models. Therefore, my picks for the best watches of 2023 are essentially all new, and, even more, they come from a wide s...
Fratello Talks: The 2023 Wrap-Up Episode
Hello, and welcome to the last episode of Fratello Talks in 2023. Today, RJ, Lex, and your host Nacho are here to discuss their personal, professional, and horological highlights of the year. It’s the 2023 wrap-up episode! Tune in and watch (or listen) as the guys reminisce over some of the past 12 months. They touch on topics ranging from some of the year’s best watch releases and events to horological innovations, articles, and personal achievements. We put a ribbon on 2023 and send the year off on a high by reading off a handful of your comments. But before anything else, it’s time for the final wrist check this year....
Hands-On: Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS
Maybe you remember that I once came up with an iron rule: if it’s over $10K, it must be less than 10mm thick. In the explanation that followed, I mentioned the Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 XPS. This 41mm steel Alpine Eagle iteration, with a sophisticated Monte Rosa salmon-pink dial and small seconds at 6 o'clock, made the cut with great ease. Not only is it very slim, but it also features the in-house caliber L.U.C 96.40-L with a micro-rotor. When the watch landed on my desk at Fratello HQ, I grabbed my chance to go hands-on, wear it, and see if it lived up to its specs.Value for money. In the world of luxury horology, there's always tension when it comes to that. Still, there must be some ...
Introducing: The G-Shock MRG-B2000JS-1A Juryoku-Maru: San
Casio G-Shock presents a high-end MR-G model inspired by Japanese craftsmanship every year. A regular MRG-B2000 is already on G-Shock’s top shelf. However, models designated with resounding Japanese names, such as Tsuiki, Tetsu-Tsuba, Sadanobu Gassan, Shougeki-Maru, and Hana-Basara, are the epitome of G-Shock technology. The Juryoku-Maru: San, a katana specially made for G-Shock by master swordsmith Teruhira Kamiyama, inspired the 2024 MRG-B2000JS-1A.G-Shock MRG-B2000JS-1A Juryoku-Maru: SanTeruhira Kamiyama is a young swordsmith of exceptional talent. He is also the leader of the katana world?in modern Japan. Kamiyama’s pursuit of the strength and beauty of the Japanese sword ali...
De Bethune DB26 Photo Essay by Ming Thein
De Bethune DB26,?there are few modern manufactures as diverse as De Bethune: in addition to some extremely classical looking timepieces, there are also extremely avant-garde models on offer such as the DB26.Even the balance shape is unconventional – teardrop shaped rotating eccentric masses on the end of blued arms, and no sign of a circle to be seen anywhere! There is also a tension spring holding the balance bridge in place; presumably for a combination of both increased shock resistance and controlled endshake.This particular watch has a beautiful blue guilloche dial, with a neat touch at the 12 o’clock position: a power reserve gauge. Unusually, the manufacturer’s name ...
Speedy Tuesday Best Read Speedy Tuesday Articles Of 2015
We started with Speedy Tuesday on May 29th 2012 and with great pride we write you that in 2015, we published 55 Speedy Tuesday articles. Even though we wanted to stick to one per week, we did some extra at times we thought it was necessary. On Instagram, we noticed that there are over 16,000 images tagged #SpeedyTuesday, wow! We often browse through all tagged images and love that there is so much love for this stunning timepiece from all over the world. We also noticed that even those with impressive watch collections including pieces from Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne and so on, have a (vintage) Speedmaster as well, just because it is such a nice piece. Also, we noticed that there a...
#TBT Wittnauer 235T Chronograph a Possible Moonwatch?
Here we are in the last week of 2016 and we're going to kick it old-school style by looking at a classic chronograph, the Wittnauer 235T. We've featured a watch from the brand before with a look at the remarkably unique and bold 242T and while today's watch might not trigger any grail alerts, it's deserving of its own #TBT because it's such a satisfying watch. Also, if you're a at all a speculator, this Witty may be a good gamble but we'll expound on that a little later. Take a break from those post-Christmas sales, turn off the questionable bowl game (or English football) and take a read about a really nice and, for now, affordable vintage chronograph.The Wittnauer 235T is a Classic Chronog...
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo- A Refreshing Roman Design
Last October, I was invited to a Bvlgari event in Rome, Italy. Together with a group of journalists from other watch media, I had a diner with the CEO (Jean-Christophe Babin). During this diner, listening to Babin talk about the (Italian) DNA of Bvlgari and discussing the Bvlgari Octo design, it became clear to me, that watches aren’t some side project for Bvlgari, known for its precious jewelry pieces, fragrances and accessories. Heck, there are even Bvlgari hotels.I don’t want to give you a full trip down memory lane, but Bvlgari was founded in 1884 already, in Italy of course. So it is quite an old company with a lot of history, but mainly on jewelry. History on their watch pr...
Baselworld: Grand Seiko and Casio are OUT Indies are IN
It may seem a little early to talk about news' of Baselworld 2020. But news has been breaking from the organiser and from major brands lately, and we don't want you to miss out.A while ago, Fratello has been informed by Grand Seiko and Seiko that the brands have cancelled their presence at Baselworld 2020. Instead, they will be staging their own GS Summit in Tokyo in early March.After exhibiting for 30 years, Seiko has cited the dates of the 2020 event as the official' reason for its departure. Scheduled for 30th April 5th May, the fair is too late for the manufacturer because it conflicts with the Golden Week (a major holiday in Japan).Following suit, Casio, maker of G-Shock, has also annou...
Speedy Tuesday The Discontinued Speedmaster FOiS
The Speedmaster First Omega in Space is now being discontinued. What makes the Speedmaster FOiS 311.32.40.30.01.001 so special and do you need to order one while you can?The word has been out for a while already: the Speedmaster FOiS is being phased out. Omega also confirmed to us that it’s over and done with. In a lot of countries, they are already sold out and not being restocked. In some countries, you might still be lucky to find one at an Omega boutique or an authorized dealer.Although I like the design and idea of the watch, I never felt a lot of excitement for the Speedmaster First Omega in Space. Mainly due to the sapphire crystal and the modern case back. The number of votes f...
Balazs' Top 10 Straps Every Watch Guy Should Have
Unless you want to go down the road of modded watches, the simplest way to give your precious timepiece a fresh look is a new strap. Especially if the piece is on a bracelet, throwing a leather strap can change how the watch looks and feels entirely. This is not rocket science; many of us use this trick. However, for those of you lost in the world of wristwear, I have selected the Top 10 Straps you should own.My list, as always, does not come in a hierarchical order. These are just the styles I prefer and wear on my watches the most often. I hope you'll find at least one that you have not heard of before.1. Exotic leatherNow, this is a tricky one, I know. Exotic leather is not exactly “...
Hot Take: Oak & Oscar Olmsted Matte Watch Review
We take a quick look at the new Oak & Oscar Olmsted Matte, a thoughtful variant on the brand’s field watch.It’s hard to believe that it was almost a year ago when I caught up with Oak & Oscar founder Chase Fancher in person. He visited Frankfurt and was kind enough to host a cocktail event at my favorite spot in town. Aside from the fantastic refreshments, Chase brought the brand’s newest release: the Olmsted 38. I still recall taking pictures of these new watches in the Autumn weather on Berger Stra?e and I came away wanting one in my collection. I added the white dial version and picked it up on my last trip to the States way back in February. Now, here we are in ...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: The Cartier Ballon Bleu 36
We welcome you back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame with a take on the Cartier Ballon Bleu. Will you take it or leave it? We’ll have to see, but before we get there…A couple of weeks back, I showed you the JLC Master Control Ultra Thin, and an overwhelming 93% of you did the right thing by awarding that watch a Wrist Game win. Hey, 7%-ers, it’s ok to be flat-out wrong sometimes! This week, with the Cartier Ballon Bleu 36 on deck, we will talk about something decidedly more divisive. It’s just the kind of article that should help blow some time while you wait for New Year’s Eve (seriously, this period between Christmas and NYE just feels like a weird no man’s...
Why The Tissot PRX Might Be The Brand's Gateway To Glory
When we talk about Tissot and 2021, there is one obvious place to start the Tissot PRX. Its release was an instant success. It suddenly, and kind of out of nowhere, refreshed the Tissot brand from top to bottom, and it gave the brand’s core collection a new anchor. When I think of Tissot now, I think of the PRX. That is a crazy thing to say for a novelty, even if it is based on a model from the archives. As the year draws a close, I wanted to share my previously unaired thoughts on the model and what it could mean for the brand going forward.Or should that be backward? When I looked back on the articles we've published this year about Tissot on Fratello, I noticed something. We've bee...