Tudor Launches A Reworked Black Bay Chrono Plus A Silver And A Gold Fifty-Eight
To mark fifty plus one years of Tudor chronographs, the brand unveils the reworked Black Bay Chrono with a panda and a reverse panda dial. The Black Bay Fifty-Eight now also comes in a sterling silver and an 18-karat gold case with a see-through back.Black Bay ChronoThe first Oysterdate chronograph stems from 1970. Let's blame COVID-19 for not having had a massive birthday party last year and a new version of the Tudor Black Bay Chrono to mark the occasion. Having stalled the celebrations, Tudor could not stall any longer and has released the reworked Chrono this year. The Black Bay Chrono model combines diving and motorsport traditions in a chronograph with contrasting sub-counters and a fi...
Watches & Wonder 2021: Chanel Introduce Its New Collection Electro
It's more than 34 years since Chanel debuted with its first watch - Premire. Today, the French luxury fashion Maison introduces four new models dubbed the Chanel Electro collection. When I look at this collection I can immediately see a strong reference to electronic music and culture. Let's have a look at the four timepieces constituting the Chanel Electro line.J12 Electro?I couldn’t start with anything other than with the most recognizable watch Chanel has on its books - the J12. After 21 years of multifarious variations of the J12, today we're witnessing another interesting shade of one of the industry’s best-loved chameleons. This time polished black ceramic is given a shot ...
New Watch Alert Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition
Oris's Change for the Better campaign wants to make a difference. The company partners up with various nonprofit environmental organizations and clean-up movements that work around the world. Other than raising attention to these causes, Oris also releases beautiful timepieces, and through them, they support the project financially. Their new Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition is the next one in line.The company's latest project is with Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, a trilateral organization aiming to protect and conserve the Wadden Sea, the world's most extensive unbroken tidal flat system. Oris’s new watch is the latest in a line of timepieces dedicated to special marine life conse...
Watches & Wonders 2021: Introducing the New Cotton Candy Oris Divers Sixty-Five Bronze Models
By now, you may have noticed I have a strong affection for Oris watches. For me, it kicked off with the Divers Sixty-Five that I purchased in 2015. For Oris, this vintage-inspired model was a crucible for the revitalization of the brand. From there, Oris has gone strength-to-strength. By releasing a myriad of limited-edition models, chronograph options, and recently the third bronze Carl Brashear edition with Calibre 401, Oris has certainly kept us on our toes. Today, Oris unveils a trio of bronze watches with surprising “Cotton Candy” color codes for its latest trick.The new Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy receives a complete Bronze treatment on the bezel, case, and bracelet. How...
Watches & Wonders 2021: Oris Introduces The AquisPro Date Caliber 400 In Stealthy Black
The most important introduction by Oris last year was the introduction of their own in-house produced Calibre 400. By doing so, the brand made a move that watch enthusiasts widely applauded. Over the last couple of months, we have seen Oris equip more and more watches with the in-house caliber. The newest introduction powered by Calibre 400 is the Oris AquisPro Date. With this new introduction, Oris has made their ProDiver part of the successful Aquis series, equipped it with an in-house movement and impressive stealthy appearance. Time to find out more.It was only last October that Oris introduced their Calibre 400. It seems like it was longer ago. But in this case, it is a good thing as we...
New Watch Alert The TAG Heuer Aquaracer ?300 Professional Is Back
It’s been a long time coming. Today TAG Heuer releases the new generation of their famous Aquaracer line with a bunch of refreshed models. The new Aquaracer Professional 300 offers a bold yet elegant contemporary look in a functional and versatile form.The new Aquaracer 300 Professional comes in several iterations. You can choose between steel or titanium and regular production models or limited editions. Lastly, the collection consists of ladies’ and gents watches as well.Look backThe Aquaracer’s history started in 1978 with the iconic reference 844. That legendary diver had a distinct look with extensive lume-covered indexes, rotating divers’ bezel, and a red 24-hou...
New Watch Alert Montblanc 1858 Geosphere LE 1858
The latest Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 falls into line with the other two recently released models, the Split-Second Chronograph LE 18 and the Monopusher Chronograph Origins. All of them are homage timepieces paying tribute to the rich military history of Minerva.?Montblanc created the new 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858 to honor Reinhold Messner's 2004 solo trek of 2000 km across the Gobi Desert. It was a five-week, unprecedented borderline experience that deserves a tribute.?Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition 1858The Geosphere is one of Montblanc's iconic models. With its two distinctive domed turning hemisphere globes, the watch is easily recognizable even from...
Watches & Wonders 2021: Louis Moinet Releases The Unique "8 Marvels Of The World" Series
We said it before here on Fratello, the people at Louis Moinet are true artists. They use their watches as a canvas to tell the greatest stories. The dial, the case, the movement, every element is part of that story. With their latest series of eight watches, Louis Moinet pays tribute to eight of the most incredible human achievements across the ages. Stating that the results are spectacular is an understatement.Whenever you get info on a series of eight one-of-a-kind creations, you know you’re in for something special. After releasing the “Race To The Moon” series today, this is may well be even more impressive. This time, the incredibly skilled craftsmen and women at Loui...
The Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph Ref. 5990/1R Is Perfect For Reminding Your Friends How Much More Successful Than Them You Are
I guess by now you’ve heard of the Patek Philippe 5711. If not, let me brief you: basically, it is the modern stainless steel iteration of Gerald Genta’s (other) classic. It is one of the most desirable sports watches on the planet. In all seriousness, any list without the Nautilus in the top ten is lying to you. It is so desirable, in fact, that Patek Philippe can command $30,400 for a new one. Better still, pre-loved dealers are seeing prices for the recently discontinued blue dial model approach quarter of a million smackers. That’s a lot of cheddar for any mouse. However, if you can’t be mithered mixing it with the plebs as they chase after the “boring”...
Breaking News: Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A With A Green Dial (And A Date Window Surround)
It seems not even Patek Philippe is immune to the olive green trend we’ve seen sweep the industry in recent months. Following the high-profile discontinuation of the 5711 blue dial earlier this year, we knew something was just around the corner. This model, reference 5711/1A-014, is touted as the last of its kind. The last Nautilus of this generation, or so we believe. The question to you, dear Fratelli, is do you think that this olive green version is a fitting swan song for one of the industry’s most enduring classics?The Patek Philippe Nautilus has undergone many subtle changes throughout its almost half-century of existence. Few iterations have been as beloved and well balanc...
Vacheron Constantin Split-Seconds Chronograph Ultra-Thin Platine
Vacheron Constantin presents a strictly limited split-second chronograph (Rattrapante) as an addition to its Excellence Platine collection. The movement inside this watch is a modern interpretation of a classical Rattrapante movement with a number of enhancements, including a peripheral winding rotor. Almost every other part of this watch is made of platinum.Traditionelle Split-Seconds Chronographe Ultra-Thin Collection Excellence Platine is a strong contender for one of the longest names for a watch model. This name also is a funny mixture of French and English words. The French words “Rattrapante” and “ultraplat” the brand obviously considers too exotic for an inter...
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d'Art: Three Limited Edition Watches
Among many novelties, three of them from Vacheron Constantin are extremely limited. The Vacheron Constantin Metiers d'Art line is a tribute to some of the World's most famous explorers, and, as one would expect from this holiest of brands, each one of these pieces has been caressed into being by the hands of a trained artisan. It’s hard to associate work like this with the majority of the industry. This is real art. And while it is, like the kind of art we’d expect to see hanging on the walls of galleries around the world, divisive, no one could realistically disparage the effort and skill put into these models’ creation.?To commemorate the greatest Portuguese explorers of ...
Watches And Wonders Novelty: Purnell Escape II Absolute Sapphire Watch
Some of you may remember Dead Or Alive’s hit song from 1985. Rarely has it been a more fitting theme tune for a luxury watch, than it is for this one. You’ve heard of Tourbillons, I take it? Perhaps you’ve even seen watches with multiple Tourbillons before? How about multi-axis Tourbillons? Oh, okay. You’re clearly a pro. But tell me this: just how many watches with two three-axis-Tourbillons have you seen before? Interested? Me too…You don’t need to feel ashamed if you haven’t come across the brand Purnell before. It’s our task at Fratello to close such gaps. The brand’s subtlety and credo already give a clear impression of what it is ab...
Watches & Wonders 2021: Vacheron Constantin Unveil A Raft Of New Overseas Watches
When I took a look at the 2020 Vacheron Constantin Overseas QP in pink gold, I still longed for the steel version. The pink gold case with matching bracelet certainly had an allure with the luscious blue dial. But for many, gold is still a barrier of entry for those looking to upscale to a complicated timepiece with sumptuous hand-finishing, but in stainless steel. One of today’s announcement offers a glimpse to the potential of white metal on the QP, but if anything is more expensive in the white gold case and bracelet.Sorry to bait and switch with the promise of steel on blue dial Overseas QP. I, too, had the hope for a utilitarian material mixed with high-end hotness. For now, Vache...
New Watch: A. Lange & Sohne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase
If you’ve spent as long in and around the luxury watch industry as I have, you’ll know the feeling I’m about to describe: sometimes, you love a brand for all the right reasons and adore its products because each and every one has a distinct character, a story to tell, or a level of craftsmanship that blows your mind without seemingly having to try, and yet somewhere, in the back of your mind, you feel like there might be more to come. Often, in ways we cannot predict, brands are still able to surprise us. And, in doing so, show us a vision of something yet more majestic that could be just around the corner. The A. Lange & Sohne Little Lange 1 Moon Phase first bewitched ...
Watches & Wonders 2021: Louis Moinet Brings The Space Race To Life With Their Unique Moon Series
With every watch comes a story, whether personal or one of the world’s biggest events. A story connected to a watch is often the most powerful aspect of a watch. But what if the watch becomes the actual storyteller? By doing so, a watch becomes more than just a timepiece. It becomes art. Louis Moinet is a brand that has mastered the art of storytelling through its timepieces. Can you imagine our reaction when the brand announced its new Moon Race series? It won’t surprise that we were curious to find out what that would look like.You can look at a watch as a tool as most people do. The technical wizardry that goes into creating a watch is often already an art form. It’s an ...
The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar Just Got Better...
Some brands have icons. What we mean by that is a particular model that has not only stood the test of time but also come to define not just the brand but also an entire market segment. Sure, the term is grossly overused, but when using it to describe the Lange 1, there can be no doubt - we are in the presence of an icon. What makes the Lange 1 family different from, say, the Datejust or Submariner is exactly how much variation there is within it. The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar is really a model in its own right, and this particular iteration lives up to the long and prestigious history that came before it.From a distance, the models within the A. Lange & Sohne coll...
The New Vacheron Constantin egerie Is The Ode To Diamonds!
Not so long ago, in 2020, Vacheron Constantin released its second iteration of the egerie collection with a completely new design. Today the new egerie comes out! Indeed, it is a high jewelry timepiece but very contemporary regardless. For me, it's a very significant design that changes perspective on ladies' watches, and here's whyWe have two new models to assess: the 18k white gold and the 18k 5N pink gold Vacheron Constantin egerie. These watches are set with 912 round-cut diamonds, turning what would otherwise be a demure 35mm case into a devastating glitter explosion. Among the (beautiful) noise, it is almost lost that the crown sits at 1 o’clock - a nice touch that gives the case...
Watch Release: A.Lange & Sohne Triple Split In Pink Gold And Blue
Lange and Sohne is back with a host of new releases. In this brief article, we take a look at the flagship model, the limited edition Triple Split chronograph in pink gold with dark blue dial.Lange and Sohne rarely fails to impress. Since returning to the market in 1994, they’ve made some incredible watches that easily rank amongst the best of the best from the likes of Patek and other high end brands. Today, Lange returns with a new version of a watch that first debuted back in 2018 – the Triple Split chronograph. The original model came in white gold with a gray dial whereas today’s piece is in pink gold with a bold blue facade.The Long Triple SplitLange will make 100 pie...
Watches & Wonders: Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers
At Vacheron Constantin, there is one department that exclusively produces unique custom-made watches: Les Cabinotiers. Each year a few watches that have been built in this department are presented to the public. In 2021 the brand releases three single-piece, high complication watches.Have you ever dreamed of designing your own watch? Vacheron Constantin is making this possible for you. They are running a department that does nothing else. In commemoration of the tradition of watchmakers from the 18th century, this department carries the name Les Cabinotiers. A Cabinotier was a (usually highly skilled) watchmaker who built watches all by himself on request. Back then, there was no serial prod...