Establishment Of The Gerald Genta Heritage Association
We recently learned that, chaired by Evelyne Genta, the Gerald Genta Heritage Association has been established. Evelyne, a citizen of Monaco, today lives in London and has founded the association to pay tribute to one of the greatest watchmaking designers and encourage and reward promising young talents.Evelyne Genta establishes the Gerald Genta Heritage AssociationFor years and years, Gerald Genta’s designs have intrigued watch aficionados worldwide. We were amongst them, proving the fair amount of coverage of Gerald’s work from the early days here at Fratello Watches. First articles on this design genius appeared here and here early 2009, that’s 10 years ago. We even orga...
Carpathia Chicago Watches Rooted in Swiss Tradition
A Chicago based start-up brand by the name of Carpathia Watch Co. has debuted their first watch, the Ascent. Aiming to combine vintage appeal and modern trends, the company is bringing luxury timepieces back to the city that was once home to several 19th century watch companies. With a reputable mechanical movement and design elements inspired by Chicago, Carpathia hopes to bring the reputation and quality of Swiss watchmaking to their city.Carpathia's founder Mark Para is no stranger to the watch world; as a long time horolophile and watch designer, it was only a matter of time before he set out to start his own brand. Mark and his wife Helena have dedicated themselves to building Carpathia...
Why I Bought The Grand Seiko SBGJ201 (And Love It)
A few months ago, I wrote why I did not buy the famous and much praised Grand Seiko Snowflake. Today I will tell you why I bought the Grand Seiko SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate instead.Without writing too much about the background story (you can read that here), I was undoubtedly after the Grand Seiko SBGA211, or Snowflake. I was mesmerized by the structure of the dial, ever since I handled it during my first trip to Japan in 2015 to see the Grand Seiko manufacture. Sure, there were some cons for me as well about this watch, like the power reserve indicator and the titanium material, but the beautiful snowflake structure of the dial and the Spring Drive movement were more important to me. There's nothing...
This Week in Watches February 8, 2020
Welcome to This Week in Watches for February 8, 2020.? Let’s get into some news!Chronoswiss Regulator Blue SteelFirst up on This Week in Watches is the Chronoswiss Regulator Blue Steel. Here, we have a blue PVD-treated steel watch in 41mm that’s meant to evoke the dashboard of a car. After all, the brand’s C295 automatic does things in regulator style with separate hands for the hours, minutes and seconds. A hand dyed Louisiana alligator strap keeps this wild watch strapped to your wrist. Surprisingly, I like this funky colored case, but realize it’s not for everyone. The new Chronoswiss retails for CHF 4,950/$4,850/$4,400 and can be found on the company’s offic...
Watch Spotting: Breitling Chronomat At Super Bowl LV
That’s it. It’s over. After a strange few months, the 2020/21 season has come to a stunningly normal conclusion. If Tom Brady keeps this up, he’ll be in the market for extra fingers before we know it. With his seventh ring and fifth Super Bowl MVP award in the bag, there is not much left to be said about a career that could be broken in half, viewed sideways, with one eye closed, while standing on your head and still be worthy of a first-ballot induction to the Hall of Fame. Instead, we’re turning our attention toward one of the most worn watches of the event. The new Breitling Chronomat.In all honesty, I am still bitter about the whole 2020/21 season. As a die-hard B...
Patek Philipe Reveals Three New Twenty~4 Models
Among many ladies’ releases from last year, perhaps the most bittersweet was Patek's minimalistic manchette-styled Twenty~4. Considering what modern women demand from a watch, it fell just short. My heart went out to the rectangular design but not to the movement. Almost as if Patek heard my cry, the brand has decided to start this year in a big way. I'm thrilled that two of the three ladies' novelties, feature the in-house Caliber 324 S C self-winding movement.Patek Twenty~4 AutomaticMany of you know that I adore ladies’ watches. They are sophisticated and many of them have a touch of flair that I love. Even without diamonds, they are attention-grabbers. Unfortunately, very few ...
Garrick Introduces The New S4 Watch
When the press release from British independent watchmaker, Garrick, dropped into our press inbox last week, it didn’t take long for me to get excited by what I saw. From just one glance at the pictures included in the email, I knew this was a real doozy.As a Brit, I am a big fan of British watchmakers. I guess it’s a sort of patriotic pride, not that I would usually describe myself as particularly patriotic in the traditional sense of the word. God save the queen and all that. We Brits are quite fortunate to have had some great watchmakers in our history. John Harrison, George Daniels, and Roger Smith are just a few notable examples. Still, Garrick is a small independent brand t...
RZE Endeavour Dive Watch Is Tougher Than The Kraken. Change My Mind.
I finally did it. I have entered the world of a 21st-century journalist and referenced a meme in the title of an article. Just as this might become a new habit of mine, so too does it seem producing compelling value propositions has become a (welcome) habit of RZE. Just last week I shared with you my hands-on experiences with the RZE Resolute. Now it is time to discuss the latest model in this young brand’s catalog: the RZE Endeavour.If you haven’t read my thoughts on the RZE Resolute, I would encourage you to check out that article. It goes into detail on why I am thrilled to see such an unusual case shape from RZE. This whole brand project has, right from the get-go, been riddl...
Starting An Omega Speedmaster Collection RJ's Best Tips
For Collector's Week here on Fratello, I thought it would be nice to tell you about collecting Speedmasters. I've been doing so since 1999. Even though that still doesn't make me an expert, I do have some advice for the beginning collector of Speedmaster watches.There are not that many watches that truly deserve the label “iconic” and, on top of that, are still somewhat affordable. The Omega Speedmaster Professional, however, belongs in that category. You can buy interesting Speedmaster models for a very acceptable amount below $4,000 or go as crazy as you'd like.Starting a Speedmaster collectionI am amazed that there are still some undiscovered beauties out there that can be had...
No Risk, No Reward: Buying Watches From Private Sellers
Watches are all about stories and experiences. That dent in the bezel reminds you of a particular holiday. You might have worn one of your watches on your wedding day. A watch might have been worn by an actor in your favorite movie. These are all things that you remember when you look down at your wrist. And I think the way you acquired a watch is just as significant as the memories you create with it when you wear it.?There are many different ways to acquire a watch, of course. You could, potentially, just walk into an AD and buy one. Or you might have to get on a waiting list for a while before getting the call. Maybe your watch was a present from your wife or your manager, or it was passe...
Czapek Antarctique With New Salmon And Ice Blue Dials
Yes! It’s finally happened. Czapek has released the Antarctique Passage de Drake with both salmon and ice blue dials. This comes after months (literally, months) of toying with the idea. Fratello had the pleasure of seeing the prototypes of these models last September in Geneva. Back then, we lent our collective voice in support of their release. It would seem the rest of the community reacted the same way. Now, thanks to that (and a modicum of common sense), these deliciously crisp variants of our favorite modern steel sports watch are available. Better still, you can choose the dial configuration right off the bat.What do I mean by “dial configuration”? Well, when the Ant...
Meet The Watch Designer: Davide Cerrato Of HYT Fratello On Air
In the first installment of this new podcast series, Balazs sits down with Davide Cerrato from HYT. The two talk about Davide’s career as a world-renowned watch designer in the industry.If you are a fan of the Fratello On Air podcast, first of all, thank you. Your support means a lot to us all, who sit down week after week to research, record, edit, and put out new episodes for your listening pleasure. I consume a lot of podcasts myself, so I know how it feels when my phone notifies me about a new episode from one of my favorite channels.But we do want to evolve the show, so we came up with the idea for the “Meet The” podcast series. Today, we’re bringing you an excit...
Trimming The Fat: How To Consolidate Your Watch Collection
The first step is standing up and saying it out loud: “My name is Thor and I am a watchaholic.” Some of us reached this stage in our watch collecting years ago but failed to realize it. You might have one display cabinet with ten watches; that's all good. But if you have another 40 at your office with weekly DHL deliveries there instead of your house, you're in trouble. If you have the walk-in closet full of dusty watch boxes like me, then maybe it's time to trim the fat.The definition of a collector from The Free Dictionary says that it is a person who collects books, paintings, stamps, etc., as a hobby or investment. So while it may be tempting, I'm not getting myself into the ...
Most Patek Philippe Nautilus Owners Don't Care About The Watch
Before you accuse me of writing a piece of clickbait, please allow me to explain how this article came about. The statement that the majority of Patek Philippe Nautilus owners don't care about the watch is the result of incidental and casual research with real people. And by real people, I mean a Nautilus 3700/1 owner who wears it in the wild, several watch journalists, and two fashion models, among others. Yes, the Nautilus is an icon created by an iconic designer for an iconic brand, but outside the world of watch insiders, that carries little to no meaning. Image, however, does have a lot of meaning outside the watch bubble. The Nautilus, the watch that transcends normality, bestows image...
Introducing: The Fratello Aquastar Deepstar II LE
We're thrilled to announce the Fratello Aquastar Deepstar II Limited Edition, an exciting new collaboration available in the Fratello Shop on February 15th at 15:00 CET. This is the first time that Aquastar has worked with a partner to create a bespoke watch since the brand’s resurrection in 2020. We couldn't be prouder, and we hope you'll like this unique and versatile diver.In my mind, the best collaborations arise organically. Instead of sitting down, picking a brand, and deciding to do a watch, it's far better when the finished product stems from real inspiration. The Fratello Aquastar Deepstar II Limited Edition is the result of such a process, and I love it!https://youtube.com/wa...
The Grand Seiko SBGC253 Spring Drive Chronograph GMT
Grand Seiko is known for attention to detail, exquisite finishing, and excellent dial work. Most of the brand’s timepieces are time-and-date watches, bereft of superfluous details and meant for everyday wear. However, now and then, Grand Seiko pulls out all of the stops, crafting a piece that illustrates its horological chops. The new version of the Spring Drive Chronograph GMT highlights everything that makes Grand Seiko the brand that it is.The lion is the king of the jungle, or so the saying goes. The lion has been the symbol of Grand Seiko since the line debuted back in 1960. With the aim to make the best watches possible in terms of accuracy, durability, and beauty, the lion is a ...
New: King Seiko SPB365 Plus Three New 39mm Models
It has been only 12 months since Seiko reintroduced the King Seiko name. Since early last year, we have seen a limited number of new releases added to the collection. It’s good to see that the King Seiko line is not growing exponentially, which makes it easy to keep an eye out for any new references. An early new addition for 2023 comes in the form of the King Seiko SPB365. The watch comes with a special dial to celebrate the 110th anniversary of Seiko watchmaking. The dial features a unique pattern inspired by the Japanese geometric pattern known as “kikkoumon.” Time to find out more.The new King Seiko SPB365(J1) is definitely an attention grabber. The moment that dial cat...
#TBT The Seiko 6119-8083 "Dressy 62MAS"
This Seiko 6119-8083 sat in my safe for about four or five years. I got it fully serviced upon arrival but never really wore it. Then it popped into my mind last week when I was thinking about what watches I would nominate for the perfect vintage watch collection for $25,000…Don’t panic. I’m not suggesting that I wanted to shortlist it. I rightly selected its role model, Seiko’s first dive watch, the ref. 6217-8001 “62MAS.” To be honest, though, I also haven’t sported my 62MAS for a long time, so I decided to look at it. And that was the moment that inspiration came. When I opened the safe, I found the pair of my 62MAS watches sitting nicely beside t...
New: Seiko Astron Morning Star GPS Solar Limited Editions
Today, we’ll look at two new Seiko Astron Morning Star GPS Solar limited editions. The watches follow familiar forms but bring dark cases and striking dials reminiscent of the early morning sky. The Astron has a huge global following, so let’s see if these are to your liking.It was back in 2015 that I first laid my hands on one of Seiko’s new Astron models. I was skeptical because I favor mechanical watches and was keen to see if the complicated titanium watch had any character. The result was surprising, and I walked away as an admirer of its high-quality finishing and relative ease of use. Plus, for travel, the Astron watches are great. Since then, the Seiko Astron series...
Hands-On: The Schofield Light A Modern Field Watch
Many brands have a certain style or genre, while some get stuck in a favorite period, like the ’60s. But in a time when even smaller brands are diversifying and offering different takes on horology, the pure focus of Schofield’s Giles Ellis is brave. He has stuck to the big case design, clean lines, and graphic focus of his first watch, offering a plethora of delightful variations. But by introducing the Light, Ellis and Schofield take a smaller-cased step into the future, and we’re all for it.I will add a disclaimer here: I owned one of the first examples of Ellis’s wrist art, the Signalman GMT, my odd-chosen first expensive watch. And though that is no longer with m...