In a perfect world, it would be great to have all your watches at home, perhaps even on display or in a nice-looking presentation box. But the world isn't perfect, and there's always scum that will see you as a target. We can see that in the newspaper, or on Crimewatch UK, America's Most Wanted, or the equivalent in your country. Especially in recent years, a watch is enough to get you robbed or e

What do the Oyster, Zenith ladder, and Heuer beads-of-rice bracelets have in common? And the iconic integrated bracelets from the Royal Oak and Nautilus? Oh, and the Bonklip and Patek beads-of-rice? Well, they were all original designs from a company named Gay Frres, a cha?niste established in 1835 and integrated by in 1998. It is, arguably, the parts supplier that had the biggest impact on tod

Grand Seiko's Elegance line has produced several fan favorites in recent memory. Most of them have centered around a particular round case that usually features a GMT function. Several limited editions have come out in this shape with various dial colors and different movements. The new Grand Seiko SBGJ271 “Yukigesho” model, depicting snow that has fallen on tree branches, is a stunnin

This story is one of the most selfishly motivated ones I have written in a while, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Through these last four or five years, I have had almost all the cult-classic Seiko divers rotating through my collection, from Turtle to Samurai, and from Shogun to Marinemaster. There is, however, a big, can-shaped hole in my Seiko history that needs filling up. No, I have never own

Much to my amazement, 2024 marks my 10th year of writing for Fratello. Wow, how time has flown by! During this time, I’ve covered all sorts of topics, but my primary focus has always been on vintage watches. I have an undying love for older timepieces, and I’m thankful that Robert-Jan allowed me to kick off #TBT years ago. Aside from reviewing vintage pieces, I’ve also dabbled in

Don’t look so surprised! You already knew exactly which watches would go head to head in this week’s Sunday Morning Showdown. The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 was probably the watch that was most frequently mentioned after Piaget released its new Polo 79 this week. And it makes sense. They’re both based on an earlier version from the ’70s. Both watches have a so-call

Last year, Czapek introduced the new Promenade collection. Its design combines influences from the brand’s Quai des Bergues and Antarctique lines. Apart from the hollowed-out lugs and mid-case, the watches look quite classic. However, the peculiar dial designs are the real stars of the Promenade collection. The same goes for the newly introduced Promenade Plisse, which comes with a textile-i

Tissot released the PR516 Automatic Chronograph last month. The cool colorway and automatic caliber piqued our interest. So today, I’m going hands-on with one to see what it is all about. Could this be the chronograph to buy the sub-$2.5K segment, or does it miss the mark?This new model debuts a self-winding chronograph movement in the Tissot PR516 line. That has the potential of making it t

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we begin a two-part series on vintage chronographs. Apparently, our listeners like hearing about these complicated watches that measure elapsed time. Note that the watch content starts after approximately 25 minutes.

A few weeks ago, I visited the Omega headquarters in Biel, and the folks there showed me this new handsome white-dial Seamaster 37mm. It ticks many boxes for me, and many of you also enjoy the return of the dog-leg lugs and vintage-style cases. Omega also shipped the watch to us, so it’s time for a hands-on review. Does it live up to my expectations? Let's have a closer look.Seamaster 37mm M

Someone at the Paneristi.com forum asks: “Do you think it is better to wear PAM outside or inside long sleeves?? i feel so strange..better with the short sleeves, i think..but for people who are working and wearing long sleeves, how?”Well, to be honest.. I hate short sleeves. Especially in combination with a suit, short sleeves are never an option. So, long sleeves and a Panerai. Altho

Magus Bosse, regular on TimeZone and owner of the Ornatus Mundi site, posted an essay on Minerva watches on TimeZone. And not to forget, Magnus Bosse is moderating the official Blancpain forum.The first collection (called 1858) of Minerva after their change of management is showed on the TimeZone Minerva Forum.Below, you’ll see the Minerva Coll. 1858 Cal. 48 White Gold case/grey dial. By cli

When thinking of Bell & Ross many relate the company to the popular and conspicuous designs of the BR “Instruments.” It is pretty obvious that these square watches were responsible for exploding the manufacturer’s popularity, but Bell & Ross was very active even before the BR timepieces existed. Bell & Ross had built a solid collection of more traditional watches, of

It’s Speedy Tuesday! We came across this very rare OMEGA Speedmaster CK2998-3 last week on the interwebs. A normal ref. CK2998 Speedmaster is already becoming rare, but how about this FAP version. FAP stands for Fuerza Aerea del Peru which means that this Speedmaster has been issued to the Air Force of Peru.The OMEGA Speedmaster CK2998 is the successor of the very first Speedmaster, the ref.

Speedy Tuesday is here! Just recently, after a few of our posts on Instagram (follow @fratellowatches also on Instagram) we got in touch with Kathleen Yap. She followed-up with her precious Speedmaster in white. In case you didn’t know, also ladies can join Speedy Tuesday with specific ladies’ Speedmaster watches.Kathleen is wearing one of our favorite ladies Speedmaster models, refere

One of my first encounters with the Zenith El Primero movement was in the late 1990s, when my watchmaker picked up a watch of mine wearing his EL Primero Chronomaster in gold. This model, probably reference 17.0240.410/01.C495, had a full calendar on board including a moon phase indicator.The Zenith El Primero was one of the first automatic chronograph watches that was introduced back in 1969. Eve

It's been roughly three months since our last Vintage Market update, so it's high time for another. It's the middle of winter for most of our readership and it also coincides with a relatively dead spot in the calendar, so why not kick back and read a little bit about what's been happening and what may come? In this installment of the Vintage Market update, I'll cover some relatively recent phenom

Two electronic watches on Fratello Watches the same day, what are we thinking? The one I’m wearing this week, however, is totally different from the Grand Seiko Robert-Jan covered here today though. The Casio G-Shock GST-W130L is 52Mondayz week #7 watch.Casio G-Shock GST-W130LShowing the World Time function, with here UTC in the upper two round digital displaysHence, what s so totally diffe

Not particularly a fan of quartz, but I don’t hate it either. Especially when it is done right, in a special way or with specific functionality (think Breitling ExoSpace or Omega’s X-33 for example). The Grand Seiko does not provide digital or ‘specific’ functionality, but the quartz movement surely is special. In fact, I prefer a Grand Seiko 9F quartz movement over some of

Five years after the release of the hit movie Interstellar, we're treated to something that fans of the movie and watches alike have pined for: a serial production version of the Hamilton Khaki Field Murph.The 2014 Christopher Nolan film was incredibly popular and depicted Matthew McConaughey as a NASA physicist Cooper who travels via a wormhole to another dimension in order to find a place where