Laco Frankfurt GMT Schwarz, a Week on the Wrist
The origin of Laco lies in a company named Lacher & Co. Founded in 1925, in the first half of the last century, their production became one of the most important in the German Pforzheim region. Even in difficult times business continued. As one of five manufacturers, Laco produced reliable pilots watches for the German Luftwaffe.Laco’s first Pilot GMT Watch, the FrankfurtToday, Laco‘s pilot watches are an expression of that success. At the beginning of this millennium, the brand was re-introduced onto the market. With watches adopting the looks of times gone by, but which still satisfy modern demands. Besides historically-inspired pilot watches, Laco nowadays offers more mode...
Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M 52Mondayz, week #6-2020
For this week’s 52Mondayz, I chose to wear the Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M. The Ploprof has become an icon of the watch industry over five decades. But it hasn’t become the icon everyone is after, simply because it’s a watch that not everyone can wear. However, after wearing it for four weeks straight, I was reminded that the Ploprof is definitely for me.I don’t recall precisely when I had my first encounter with an Omega Seamaster Ploprof, but it was in the early 2000s. Robert-Jan and I visited fellow Fratello team member Gerard’s store as we did regularly back in those days. I still remember Robert-Jan pointing me in the direction of a freakishly bold watch ...
CODE41 DAY41: Emancipating women's watchmaking
More than 20,000 votes and comments later, with the design, diameter, and movement decided, the DAY41 project is finally becoming a reality, 8 months after its launch. Pre-orders open: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at 3 pm on www.code41.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnz97rcUKa0From women’s version to unisex versionDAY41 was originally a project just for women. But CODE41 soon realized that this mechanical piece also looks really good on men.?The DAY41 collection in 37 and 40mm DAY41 is available in diameters of 37mm and 40mm, with 5 color variants for the 37mm, including one set with diamonds, and 3 variants for the 40mm.?What’s more, a wide range of leather straps and steel ...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: Minerva Pythagore Edition 2001
Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns this week with a look at the Minerva Pythagore Edition 2001. This watch represents the last gasp effort prior to becoming part of something much bigger. Will you honor its death throes? Let’s see, but first…Last week, I showed you a bargain bin Zenith El Primero with the Epervier model name. Despite the incredible movement and inspirational pricing, this child of the late ’80s fell to a 57% Crying Shame loss. One day, when pleated pants make a proper return (not that half-baked attempt that the fashion industry is trying now), you’ll wish you’d bought this chrono. Oh well: we move onwards and upwards. If the Epervier represente...
Omega Seamaster 300M Winter Olympic Games 2022 One Year To Go
Omega has been the timekeeping partner for the Olympic Games since 1932. The last time should have been 2020, but it seems that it is at least postponed till this year (if the planned Tokyo edition goes ahead at all). However, the show must go on, and the Winter Games are already planned for 2022 in Beijing, 14 years after the city hosted a historic summer competition.To celebrate the countdown to the start of the Beijing Winter Games 2022, Omega introduces to you a special Seamaster 300M.Seamaster 300M Beijing 2022 EditionWhen Omega introduced the current Seamaster 300M collection in 2018, it took a step forward concerning innovations and technology, and a little step back regarding design....
The Latest And Last H. Moser & Cie. Swiss Alp Watch Brings An Awesome Concept To A Fittingly Electric End
You could be forgiven for wondering whether humor (or satire, even) has a place in luxury watchmaking. It is a fair consideration considering this is an industry that, at its very upper reaches, takes itself rather (too) seriously. But if after asking yourself that question, you find yourself on the fence, open to being convinced in one way or another, I’d encourage you to take a look at this, the latest and very last entrant in the H. Moser & Cie. Swiss Alp series. I’ve got to believe that this slice of high-end hilarity would plant a grin on the grumpiest of faces. Why? Because it is, quite simply, genius.I must admit to having an odd relationship with H. Moser & Cie. I...
RJ's Top 7 Mechanical Dive Watches Under $1,000 Tissot, Citizen, Seiko, And More...
It is becoming more and more difficult to find a mechanical divers watch under $1,000, especially from the big brands. The watch landscape changed tremendously over the past 10C15 years, and prices have increased quite a bit.Is it still possible to find a proper mechanical dive watch with this budget? In this top 7 mechanical dive watches under $1,000, you will find my favorites.Top 7 Mechanical Divers Under $1,000I am not a diver by any means. I only go for the occasional swim during my holidays. The real divers in our team are Gerard, Bert, and Andreas. They have their PADI qualifications and know a thing or two about what it takes to dive with a watch. And while I do like the looks of div...
#TBT An Eye-Popping Ernest Borel Datoptic
I dare say that the Ernest Borel Datoptic is at least as fascinating as the Submariner. It even costs as much as the Submariner. Well, as much as the Submariner cost in the seventies, that is…Bringing up is not random. Its cyclops magnifier first introduced in 1953 is one of the most iconic and most individualistic watch signatures in watchmaking history. At this moment, you are probably still confused why the hell I am comparing the mighty Submariner with some stodgy 35mm Ernest-Whoever watch. Well, did you look under the crystal and/or over the date?Forgotten or never discoveredYou know me already. I don’t really like writing article number 2,356 about a watch that everybod...
Pasha De Cartier Ready To Ascend The Throne Again
The history of the Pasha de Cartier is shrouded in mystery. Yes, the watch is named after the Pasha of Marrakesh, Thami El Glaoui. And it's also true that he commissioned a waterproof watch from Louis Cartier in the early 1930s so he could wear it swimming. Another fact is that in 1933, the Pasha got his desired watch. But here is where the mystery begins. No one knows exactly what the watch looked like, though experts point in the direction of the water-resistant gold Tank etanche. What we do know is that the watch didn't look like the Pasha we know today. The Gerald Genta-designed Pasha de Cartier only debuted in 1985. And when it did, it fit right into the decade of greed. With its exuber...
Tag Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Racing SE
Whether it's pedal to the metal or time for the rubber to hit the road, TAG Heuer has you covered with the new Formula 1 Special Edition in collaboration with Red Bull Racing. The brand's latest iteration of the Formula 1 chronograph comes on either a metal bracelet or a rubber strap. In the familiar colors of the Red Bull Racing livery, this is a perfect watch for all racing fans out there. TAG Heuer and Red Bull Racing celebrate the success of their partnership, which has reached new heights since its start in 2016. The team's driver Max Verstappen recently became Formula 1 world champion and went on to wear a TAG Heuer watch on the podium. Surely, that says it all!When I think of motorspo...
TAG Heuer Special Max Verstappen Is World Champion!
Shortly after the turn of the New Year, I invited our resident Formula One fanatic, Ben Hodges, into the smooth booth to record a TAG Heuer special. We focused on the brand’s most visible ambassador on Planet Earth right now - the flying Dutchman, Max Verstappen....
Strap Check: My Lovely Wonky And Wobbly Bonklip
Welcome to Strap Check, a column on Fratello where our editors showcase their favorite watch/strap combinations. We all know the feeling. When you’ve been wearing a watch for weeks on the same strap, there comes a time when the excitement starts to fade a little bit. Maybe that’s the time when you start looking. But looking for what? A brand new watch? Sometimes the answer lies not in the watch, but the strap on which you wear it! From the classic to the unique. From cheap NATOs to bespoke leather and special bracelets. This is where we get excited about perfect combinations that make you feel like you’ve got a brand new watch on your wrist. So tune in every week for a new ...
How Investors And Rising Prices Are Crushing Watch Dreams
All I can say is I'm deeply envious of older collectors like RJ who had the chance to wear and enjoy these iconic designs, wrote one of our readers below an article about the Royal Oak Jumbo. With many enthusiasts unable to fulfill their watch dreams these days, I’m afraid this reader’s sentiment is all too common.Sitting across from me is Ignacio, our Managing Editor. And then we have editors like Jorg and Daan, who also stepped into the watch game not too long ago. As you can read in this article, one of Ignacio's absolute dream watches is the Explorer II “Polar”. But with the current market value of watches, it might stay a dream. For Jorg, it’s an even tou...
Three New Complicated Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Models
After yesterday’s reveals of the regular Audemars Piguet models, today, the brand from Le Brassus graces us with seven new highly complicated timepieces. The different pieces are part of the four collections the brand currently carries. It starts with a spectacular Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin, moves on to the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT, and through the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph, we end up at the four Code 11.59 models featuring high complications. In this article, we will focus on the Royal Oak models specifically. We’ll highlight the spectacular new Code 11.59 timepieces in a separate article.In the ...
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
Sometimes you get confronted with watches that need time to sink in. Watches that need a second and a third look. And after that, you put together the story with the images that come with them. And once you have done that, you still have to grasp the magnitude of what you have just witnessed. These moments are rare, but when they happen, you will recognize them immediately. The introduction of the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 is one of those moments. This new timepiece is the most complicated that the brand has ever created. It’s also imbued with contemporary ways of using and experiencing a timepiece. The revolution is here, and it comes in the...
Introducing: Breitling Chronomat Six Nations Limited Editions
The Six Nations Rugby Championship returns this weekend! To celebrate Breitling’s second year as the event’s timing partner is a sextet of Breitling Chronomat B01 42 watches. Each watch reflects each nation that takes part in the Six Nations tournament - England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and France. While the underlying platform of the Chronomat remains the same as the 42mm model from 2020, the new team shades can demonstrate national pride or an outside interest in the sport.I was never adept at football (soccer for the Americans). I needed to catch up with the speed and technical precision of dribbling and trick shots. However, I found my forte with rugby. After an init...
Finding The Best Watches Under $500 Daan's Picks
This series on the best watches under $500 brings me back to around five years ago. The Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Calendar that I wore for about 15 years got stolen during a break-in. At that time, I wasn’t into watches like I am now, so I started looking for a replacement for about $500. In the end, I went with the all-time classic Seiko SKX007. But if I had to do it again today, I’d definitely go for a different watch. In addition, I’ll also go over some more quirky options if you’re looking for a nice on-the-side bonus watch.Let me first tell you why that SKX007 didn’t work for me, though. I was just too used to the hassle-free Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Calendar ...
The Story Of A Royal Australian Air Force IWC Watch
This is the story of how a group of mates in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) banded together to turn their horological dream - an homage to an original RAAF watch - into a reality. If you have an interest in special military timepieces, this one is for you.It should come as no surprise that I have a particular fondness for International Watch Company Schaffhausen. The story of IWC is embedded in my family history, and I got to trace these steps in a visit to the IWC factory late last year. The connection doesn't end there, though, as when I got my first significant job in journalism and embarked on an adventure far away from home, my father gifted me his very own Mark XV pilot’s ...
Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 42 Amsterdam LE
What is Amsterdam famous for? Exactly - the city's canals. Oh, sorry, were you saying something else? Well, that’s also correct, but it’s not the answer I was looking for. I understand it, though. The district you were referring to in the city center is associated with red, the color that shines brightly in the 75-piece Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 42 Amsterdam Limited Edition. The watch celebrates Mokum's 750th anniversary - Mokum is the Yiddish nickname for Amsterdam. Red is the dominant color of the city's flag, which also includes three white St. Andrew’s crosses against a black background. We got to try on this celebratory dive watch, but we didn't take ...
New: Grand Seiko "Mountainscape" Hi-Beat 65th Anniversary LE
Today, Grand Seiko introduces the SLGH027 “Mountainscape,” a limited-edition watch celebrating the brand’s 65th anniversary. The piece features the automatic Hi-Beat 9SA5 caliber, which debuted in 2020. As part of the Evolution 9 collection, this watch is not retro at all but a modern reference with stunning details.Grand Seiko always has a strong start to the year, and the new Mountainscape continues that trend for 2025. The Japanese luxury watchmaker is no stranger to celebrating various anniversaries, but this year is significant. Grand Seiko was founded in 1960, making 2025 its 65th anniversary. Judging from the initial press photos, this latest release appears to be a ...