Swatch always brings back sweet memories. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a lot of kids in school had them, in all sorts of colors. Over the last 20 years, the watch landscape has changed drastically and Swatch is not as disruptive as it used to be. Will the Swatch PAY! change that?Swatch PAY! was introduced last year. In November the introductions took place in The Netherlands and Germany

An idea that wouldn't be possible a few decades ago. But with the speed and creativity of today's market, it was only a matter of time before a brand allowed its followers to design a new watch.? I'm not saying it hasn't happened before. More and more brands are receptive to collaborative projects. You needn’t look far to find examples of brands working with companies, military factions, and

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame and this week we take a look at a familiar face in the Tudor Black Bay. As you’ll see, this one differs from the current model. But first…Last week, I dug deep and brought you the last version of the Minerva Pythagore and it came in 18K rose gold. Even at $8,700, you guys gave this rare bird a 79% Wrist Game win. But let me tell you, it wasn&#

First things first. This Panerai Luminor Tourbillon GMT PAM00768 is not a new watch. The “Lo Scienzato” (the scientist) collection has existed since 2010. It pays tribute to the Tuscan genius Galileo Galilei.In 2019, Panerai introduced this Luminor Tourbillon GMT PAM00768. It is a bold watch, with its 47mm case diameter and skeletonized dial and tourbillon complication. Most of the tim

Beware: the Gallet Multichron Yachting is hard to get in a decent condition, and it is equally as hard not to fall in love with. Shortly after arrival, I realized that it’s actually one of the most beautiful vintage dual-register chronographs that have ever passed through my hands.With hundreds of vintage watches having crossed my path over the years, I have definitely developed a personal s

From an outside perspective, watch collecting is often seen as an exclusive past-time for the wealthy. But as soon as you take a closer look, you begin to see that there is another side to it. It is one that is much more humble and down-to-earth - people who enjoy a Seiko diver, Vostok Amphibia, or a digital Casio watch as intensely as some might enjoy a , Omega, or Patek. This is where I made my

Welcome to Strap Check, a new 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 lookingbut looking for what? A brand new watch? Sometimes the answer lies not in the watch

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed casual Friday into casual every day. Sounds good, sounds comfy. But to be honest, wearing sweatpants 24/7 isn't as nice as it seems. That's because feeling good all too often goes hand in hand with looking good. Baggy gray cotton is just not very flattering. And that will affect your mood. Every once in a while you need to dress up, make an effort, think carefully

Today, we’re pleased to announce a new limited-edition watch from Monta. The Skyquest Opalin goes on sale today and picks up where the last generation Skyquest ended. Let’s take a quick look.At the tail end of 2022, I went hands-on with the second-generation Monta Skyquest and was impressed with just about everything on the watch. While some bemoan the use of the Sellita SW330 “c

This week’s Top 5 article has been giving me a bit of a headache. I consider myself a bit of a purist when it comes to watches, so to me, there’s basically only one essential Audemars Piguet Royal Oak - the “Jumbo.” And I could go the easy route and just list all the references for the Jumbos that AP has produced, starting with reference 5402 in the image above.But that wou

Piaget has announced a Pre Watches & Wonders Novelty with no holds barred. The Swiss watchmaker has bestowed for the first time a mechanical perpetual calendar on the iconic Polo collection. Continuing the legacy of ultra-slim movements, the newest Piaget Polo boasts a 4mm-thin 1255P caliber to power a triple calendar correct until the year 2100 and a moonphase indication. The high-mechanical

I should come out and say this right from the get-go: I'm a bracelet guy, especially when it comes to divers or sports watches. If a watch has an adequate and well-fitting bracelet, then that's how my watch will stay for most of its time on my wrist. However, there are occasions when even I like to cut loose and switch it up. Having a few good rubber straps to call on can offer great versatility o

We kicked off our Watch Box Stories series with an article from Philip Blumer, and here’s the second entry from Christopher from Germany. He is a long-time Fratello reader and guest at our events who will share the contents of his watch box - or roll, to be precise.After we share all the stories, we will raffle off a Peli case and a few other accessories among the contributors. So far, I've

It seems like Seiko has a thing for black this year. I’ve already covered releases of a black Speedtimer, Alpinist, and Turtle Origin, and Thomas covered the new black SLA067 diver. Well, today, I introduce you to the Seiko SSH127, a black-cased version of the 43.1mm Astron. Let’s take a quick look!I guess for most people, a watch is still a purely functional object, especially when tr

Many brands don’t make it past their second or third watch release. That could be due to a decline in inspiration, a downturn in desire, or even a lack of success. The fact that Second Hour is now on its fifth release suggests that the people behind the brand must be getting something right. Today, I’m looking at the Sattelberg, a watch that aims to balance the function-first aspects o

It’s no secret that I like my watches colorful. Well, let me rephrase that: I like my G-Shocks colorful. And the brand never lets me down with its releases that come in various bright colors. But the new eye-catching Casio G-Shock GWF-A1000APF-1AER Frogman “Poison Dart Frog” takes “colorful” to the next level, even for a G-Shock. This commemorative model immediately s

I wrote an article on the best Seiko watches under $500 a few weeks ago. The Japanese brand used to rule the “affordable watch” category, especially with diving watches. But with Seiko slowly moving upmarket, that territory is now open for other brands to conquer. An obvious pick is Citizen. The fellow Japanese brand offers a great number of affordable dive watches. With the Promaster

Please be aware that the headline does not refer to The Art of Speculation, a 1931 book by Philip Carret (1896C1998), a man considered a Wall Street legend and a leading thinker in basic value investing. Rather, I'm speculating what Vacheron Constantin has in store for us this year. As you're probably well aware, this year, Genevan watchmaker Vacheron Constantin celebrates its 270th birthday. The

John Holbrook recently bought this Submariner ref.1680 (approx. 1972), with red printing on the dial. As you can see on the photo below, the watch is quite worn. The bezel is incomplete (mind the missing luminous dot) and the bracelet is stretched. The watch case is still sharp edged, which means that this watch hasn’t been polished much before. Especially on older es, the sharp edges are g

As the name predicts, this watch is waterresistant till 1000 meters below the surface. It is the chronograph version of the U-series by Sinn. Made out of u-boat (submariner) steel. The S version, has a black coating added to the u-boat steel.This watch has a mechanical automatic chronograph movement, Sinn caliber SZ 02 (basis caliber 7750 by ETA/Valjoux). The watch has a diameter of 44mm and has a