Dear Seiko, Bring Back 11A Indicator
Every watch enthusiast can think of a great discontinued timepiece that should return to the spotlight. Not as a reissue, but as a worthy successor to the original. An original 2.0, if you will. That's what we talk about at the Fratello offices. And these talks inspired us to come up with a series about watches that the Fratello editors would like to see make a comeback. Some watches are iconic, some of them are less popular. But all of them are loved by at least one of our editors. Let’s look at some of our favorites in this series. This time, it's Tomas who wants the 1950s Seiko 11A Indicator redone.In Fratello team discussions, we regularly dive deep into the archives of a brand to ...
Trying On The 2023 Cartier Tank Fran?aise
There's nothing like starting the day with a glass of champagne and a selection of interesting new watches. I know, coffee is also a good kick-start, but when you try out and try on the 2023 Cartier Tank Fran?aise in the boutique and you're given the choice between the two beverages, what would you do? Exactly. So I got the chance to have a closer look at all of the iterations of the redesigned Tank Fran?aise. Most of my attention went to the medium model in soft, shimmering yellow gold and the large model in steel.As you have probably already read right here, the renewed Cartier Tank Fran?aise comes in seven iterations. The collection includes four models in 18K yellow gold and three in ste...
Finding The Best Watches Under $500 Thomas's Picks
The price segment in question today is extremely interesting to me. It is where most budding aficionados find their entry into the hobby, seeking the best options under $500. Perhaps coming from fashion watches, the stretch to a more serious watch at this price seems logical and manageable. But don't get me wrong, it is a ton of money, and anyone is fortunate to be able to drop it on a watch. So naturally, you expect something significantly nicer than those fashion watches. Ideally, your pick will be something that you will enjoy for a lifetime without feeling the urge to graduate to higher segments.So let's have a look at two watches that have struck me recently. Two very different watches ...
Why Ed White Wore Two Speedmasters During His Spacewalk
You’re probably familiar with astronaut Ed White, who performed NASA’s first spacewalk in 1965 as part of the Gemini IV mission. In the pictures of that spacewalk, you can see him wearing two watches.Unfortunately, Ed White died in a fatal accident with Apollo 1. His name will live forever, though, as the first NASA astronaut to “walk” in space. As a member of the Apollo 1 crew, White should have launched into space once more on February 21st, 1967. However, during a test on January 27th, he and fellow crew members Grissom and Chaffee all died in a horrible fire in the command module.Ed White wearing two Speedmaster 105.003 watches. Image by NASASpeedmaster collectors...
Fratello Editors' Five-Watch Collections: Lex's Picks
If you're trying to find a theme in my five-watch collection, you can stop right now. The only thing that the five watches I selected have in common is that they frequent my wrist. Maybe you expected a more carefully curated selection in this installment of Fratello Editors Share Their Five-Watch Collections. Instead, you get a raggedy bunch that’s eclectic at best. But you know what? I never pretended to be a collector. Instead, I'm an acquirer of random timepieces that speak to me. They speak in different languages and sometimes in tongues, but I have a connection with all five of them.After handing over my five-watch collection to our in-house photographer Morgan, I started having d...
Enjoying Watch Collecting Without Always Buying More
Fratello On Air returns after a one-week break. In this episode, we’re discussing a topic suggestion from one of our listeners and readers. It’s a question that likely comes into most of our minds at some point along the way. Namely, how do we enjoy watch collecting without always thinking about the next acquisition? We share our thoughts....
Hands-On: G-Shock GA-2140RX-7A 40th Anniversary Clear Remix
How’s that? A G-Shock in the shape of Audemars Piguet’s most iconic model, sporting a module numbered like Patek Philippe’s most iconic watch? I can’t believe that’s a coincidence. I think Casio is joking with the watch industry on the other end of the spectrum. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, though Casio will never admit it.My love for transparencyI’ve always had a weak spot for transparent products, not just watches. Of course, we all - well, those who are old enough - remember the original 1985 Swatch Jellyfish. Otherwise, you may be familiar with the “Clearly” re-editions that are currently available in Swatch’s Core Col...
Why Ed White Wore Two Speedmasters During His Spacewalk
You’re probably familiar with astronaut Ed White, who performed NASA’s first spacewalk in 1965 as part of the Gemini IV mission. In the pictures of that spacewalk, you can see him wearing two watches.Unfortunately, Ed White died in a fatal accident with Apollo 1. His name will live forever, though, as the first NASA astronaut to “walk” in space. As a member of the Apollo 1 crew, White should have launched into space once more on February 21st, 1967. However, during a test on January 27th, he and fellow crew members Grissom and Chaffee all died in a horrible fire in the command module.Ed White wearing two Speedmaster 105.003 watches. Image by NASASpeedmaster collectors...
Introducing: Baltic Hermetique Dual Time Enduropale Edition
Here's one from out of the blue! With all our expectations for 2025, we did not foresee a Baltic Hermetique motocross edition, but here we are. More specifically, the Baltic Hermetique Dual Time Enduropale Edition celebrates a new collaboration between the young Parisian brand and a legendary annual enduro event.If you move quickly, you can score one of the 200 numbered launch editions with a specially engraved case back. Baltic always rewards its early adopters with such a launch version, which is nice. Still, the regular production model isn't any less interesting. Let's have a closer look!Enduropale du Touquet-Pas-de-CalaisBefore we look at the watch, let's quickly explore the Enduropale ...
Fratello's Potential Downsides To Buying A Microbrand Watch
Last week, we published an article about how much fun it can be to buy a watch from a microbrand. We gave you a list of seven reasons, and many of you agreed. Unfortunately, though, things are rarely only fun and positive. There are, of course, also some drawbacks to buying yourself a microbrand watch. So, to restore the balance a bit, today, we’ll go into the potential downsides of putting your money into a watch from a microbrand. The main argument here is that a microbrand isn’t a well-known, established brand yet, and that certainly has its downsides.But first things first - the word microbrand can be a bit confusing. As I did for last week’s article, I'd like to use?Th...
The Monocoque Seiko Tuna Models: A History And Overview
The Seiko Tuna is sacred ground to geeks and a rathole to others. This article, however, is for everyone. The hope is to provide insight into the history of all monocoque Seiko Tuna models, starting with the 1975 reference 6159-7010 and finishing with the SBDX038 and SBBN047 of today.You’ve probably all heard of the Seiko “Tuna” professional diving watches. And you might also know that this wasn’t the name Seiko gave the watch at its “birth.” Because of the cylindrical shape of the lugless watch case, its form resembled a tuna can. Some say the Tuna nickname came up years ago on one of the internet watch forums. I guess it’s clear that it has little ...
Fratello Talks: Watch Brands With Untapped Potential
Welcome back to?Fratello Talks. It’s time for some tough love! Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan are talking about a handful of watch brands with untapped potential. These are big names in the watch world that they deeply respect and admire but feel are not currently delivering to the full extent of their capability. This can relate to a brand’s history and legacy, its technical expertise, or even aspects of watchmaking on which a brand has fallen behind. Some of it may sound harsh, but it’s all well-intentioned feedback. These are brands that they are rooting for to do better and that they know, with some finesse and adjustment, could be genuinely excellent. Before we get into i...
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor RDDBEX0367 | Fratellowatches
Roger Dubuis was the brand at SIHH with the booth that was the talk of the town. Not because of their watches in the first place, but because of the incredible large gold eagle and the live American eagle they had on their booth. Roger Dubuis definitely knows how to draw attention.But what about their watches? You’ve probably seen the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Limited Edition (ref. RDDBEX0398) where the dial is a round table with 12 knights as hour markers. What about their other SIHH 2013 novelties?We zoom in on the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Quatuor (reference RDDBEX0367) that was presented to us during the SIHH 2013 exhibition in January.In all honesty, I have seen the huge Roger...
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500 versus 15202
Almost 10 years ago, I wrote a comparison between the Royal Oak 15202 Jumbo' and the then' standard Royal Oak Date, with reference 15300. Both 39mm Royal Oak watches but with a huge difference: the movement. In 2012, this reference 15300 was succeeded by the 41mm reference 15400 and last month Audemars Piguet introduced its successor: The Royal Oak 15500. This watch is also in 41mm, but Audemars Piguet made some changes to the dial and, more importantly perhaps, installed a new in-house manufactured movement. Time for a new comparison between the Royal Oak Date reference 15500 and the iconic reference 15202 Extra-Thin or Jumbo'.Royal Oak BackgroundI am not going to lie, there's only one Roya...
#TBT Marvin Tyre Watch
After reading this article you will definitely start thinking about what car to match with this watch. Ideally? A new old car. Ladies and gentlemen (or just gentlemen according to current analytics on readers, but we believe we will attract more female fans in days to come!), fasten your seatbelts. We are about to explore a unique 70 years old marvel the Marvin Tyre watch.Watch in a tyre?Very few watches can achieve embedding a unique selling proposition into its name in a way that allows you to instantly get the whole story and not sound generic, superficial or made up. No over the top headline needed for an article about the Marvin Tyre watch. It is a simple descriptor, yet it has that wow...
Pre-Owned Picks Lange, Breguet, AP, Omega, and Swatch
This week we have a bit of an awkward line-up for Pre-Owned Picks. We have three watches from high-end brands A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, and Breguet. On the other end of the spectrum, but nevertheless interesting, we have a Swatch. Last but not least, a Speedmaster that didn’t sell at first but is highly in demand today.Last week we solely focused on dive watches, as that seems to be one of the most popular styles or categories of watches. However, there’s more out there and with this week’s selection, we hope to prove this. There’s only one divers’ watch, from Audemars Piguet, and although it is up to the task, you can wonder which percentage would ...
Norqain And Kenissi Work Together On NN20 Movements
Well, things just got interesting. Just two years after being founded, independent brand Norqain is buddying-up with Kenissi to create two proprietary movements, the NN20/1, and the NN20/2. If you’re thinking you might have heard of Kenissi before, you’re probably right…In an age of desperate flame-fanning and molehills regularly becoming mountains, real, actual, intriguing news should come with a health warning. As someone who is effectively allergic to hyperbole in real life (although not averse to a little bit of literary overstatement) this press release had me bouncing around the room, two bacon sandwiches shy of a heart attack. And I’ll happily tell you why̷...
IWC Portugieser Chronograph Watch With Display Case Back
The IWC Portugieser Chronograph is one of the most recognizable watches in the industry. It’s clean and clear display is often taken for granted, but it is a masterpiece of dial design, with particular attention paid to the spacing and layout of all information. Now fitted with an in-house caliber, the Portugieser is ready to be the go-to watch of the next generation.In recent years we’ve seen the fashion watch industry move over to exceptionally pared-back designs. The success and proliferation of brands such as Daniel Wellington, Olivia Burton, and Ted Baker may not seem all that relevant to readers of Fratello Magazine, but lest we forget the massive effect the high-volume sal...
Why I Don't Consider Myself A Watch Collector
I can cut a long story short by giving you the quick answer to why I don't consider myself a watch collector. First and foremost, I’m a watch journalist. A bit of distance between subject and journalist is preferable, in my opinion. But when I went through my little troupe - I don't dare call it a collection - of watches, I did find something like a common denominator. It also made me reminisce about the collection that could have been.Before I started writing about watches, I looked at them, talked about them, saved money for them, and rationed myself for them. When I was a poor student but had already caught the watch bug, I bought them, sold them, and went through that process all o...
The All-Black Hamilton PSR Introduces A Cool Stealthy Look
It’s been only two months since Hamilton released the special limited-edition PSR MTX to commemorate the release of the first Matrix film. That version of the legendary PSR featured an all-black PVD-coated case and bracelet and came with a green-colored display. Personally, I loved it because it looked very cool. For the newest PSR, Hamilton has chosen the same stealthy black aesthetic, combining it with the classic red display seen in the movie Live and Let Die. Could this be the perfect Bond watch for 007’s nighttime missions? If not, it could be the perfect timepiece for yours.The Hamilton PSR is one of the coolest watches out there! And it’s not only me who thinks that....