Valentine’s Day is upon us once again. And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for that special someone, Swatch has you covered. Whether you want to declare your love to your crush with a grand romantic gesture or to celebrate the day of love and romance with your significant other, nothing quite says “I love you” like offering someone half of your heart. No, not your ac

As watch reviewers, we are exposed to some of the most luxurious accessories with which one may pamper their collection should they so please. Finding the companies that can take an already privileged hobby and add that extra personal touch to it is a real joy. Discovering Genteel Handmade (which I also did through the pages of Fratello) was a treat. I must say, however, that it is a relationship

For today's Speedy Tuesday, I will go on a sentimental journey through Omega Speedmaster history. I will share my absolute favorite versions of one of my favorite lines of watches. It’s not an easy task as there are so many to choose from. So let's get stuck into it.In random order, these are my absolute favorite Omega Speedmasters to date.Omega Speedmaster ref. 145.022-69 220 bezelI cannot

Taking place this weekend near Birmingham, UK is WatchIt! Watch Fair, presented by 12&60. WatchIt! is a free one-day event where you can view, handle, talk, and buy watches in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.Boasting some of the best that Britain has to offer, WatchIt! is a gathering for enthusiastic watch lovers and like-minded individuals. Whether you're serious about watches or only just

It’s been ten days since Audemars Piguet unveiled its mindblowing Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4. The watch introduced a new movement that is nothing short of stunning. Add the ingenious usability and the friendly size, and the watch became one of the undisputed highlights of this new watch year. But it did something else too: it put the Code 11.59 collecti

That's right, I changed the series title to include the word “Japanese” to suit my own agenda. Well, that’s not quite true. I freely admit to having a few faves on both Jorg’s and Thomas’s lists, so I focused on my own watch-collecting origins. After fashion watches and vintage divers, my first new big-brand mechanical watch was a Seiko, and I was blown away. So this

Last week I wrote about the colorful G-Shock Frogman 30th Anniversary “Poison Dart Frog” that we had in the office. While that exotic watch was with us, we also received the G-Shock GMW-B5000TCC. At first sight, it might be less impressive than the standout Frogman, but take a closer look, and you’ll understand that some important things make this model stand out. First, this new

The Lapinist Watch Studio is a well-known source for case restorations of vintage Grand and King Seiko watches. Aside from his work, Kamil Rybarczyk, the Lapinist himself, also handcrafts display backs for these watches. Today, we’re pleased to report that his newest project is ready, and it should be sweet music to the ears of collectors. Sapphire crystals are now available for select vinta

Last year, we were treated to the brilliant Sinn T50 series. After trying the three watches out, I became an instant fan of the full-titanium, Goldbronze, and two-tone versions, and the last one made a particularly lasting impression. This time around, the German brand is extending its U-series of dive watches with four new models. Three new U50 versions feature the brand’s Hydro technology

Last year, Thomas gave an introduction to Citizen’s Miyota operation, with a focus on the Miyota 9-series movements and their use in many microbrands we are familiar with. The consensus is that this popular family of automatic calibers offers plenty in terms of specifications, variety, customization, and value. Today, I’m looking at the 8-series movements, and it’s hard not to dr

Some watches mimic an early morning sky in April; these three new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 42mm watches have a playful backstory involving toys. When he was young, former Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver used to build stuff with Meccano, a toy construction system invented in 1898 by Englishman Frank Hornby. I happen to be a Lego man, but I know people who started playing with Meccano in their youth and

Miyota is synonymous with high-quality, affordable mechanical movements. Collectors of independent and microbrand watches know the name well. This year is special for the brand because it marks the 50th anniversary of the popular Caliber 82 series. To celebrate this automatic movement’s success, let’s examine its core elements.In a world where small, creative watch brands wish to equip

It has been a few years since we last featured Mitch Mason on Fratello. We reported on the brand’s Maelstrom dive watch series, which has been quite a success for the Singaporean brand. The new Maelstrom Tales of the Sea is an updated version of the initial Maelstrom. It features a revised dial with a lot more depth and detail. This gives the Maelstrom renewed relevance, so it is time for us

Most of you will know the IWC Mark series, however, Jaeger-LeCoultre has produced a similar watch in the past. The British Military of Defense (MoD) issued watches to navigators in the RAF and later on, also in the Australian RAAF. These watches have been produced by both Jaeger-LeCoultra and IWC. And as you can see below, they appear to be very similar.With some help of Dale, I stumbled across a

Henri Germain Delauze, CEO and founder of COMEX passed away today at the age of 83. The diver watches everyone is craving for bear the name of this famous diving organization, also known for being the NASA of the sea.Although I’ve seen an OMEGA PlopPof COMEX edition just recently in the OMEGA museum in Biel,?we know watches best for being the choice of COMEX. Shown below, are two fine examp

Revisiting a piece of Italian naval historyNature can be cruel. I was born in Lancashire where the local dialect lacks the seductive timbre of an Italian accent.I could try to affect the ristretto flavoured vernacular of a Milanese resident but I would still lack the stylish coiffed locks, sun-kissed complexion and catwalk- worthy attire.To be Italian is to be bestowed with an intrinsic appeal, fe

A word from one of our sponsors. We just received an e-mail from Jeff Kuo, CEO of Xetum. A San Francisco based watch company that we’ve been following since the early start.The new automotive-themed Xetum timepieces will be officially introduce by the end of March. Xetum gives you the opportunity to have a sneak-preview at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas on February 19 and 20!Click here

Ask watch lovers which brand has been on the biggest roll over the past several years and there's a good chance they'll say Tudor.Since 2010's breakthrough introduction of the Heritage Chrono, Tudor has continued its streak by releasing exciting pieces such as the Black Bay, Pelagos, Advisor, and the Ranger.? Coinciding with these new models, Tudor has also upped its marketing game by actively rea

It is February and we have yet another Watch Strap Review for you. Even though we try and find strap makers from around the world we also have to give space for guys coming from the same country, especially if we’re talking about countries like the US or Italy where many craftsmen are dealing with leather goods. Don't worry, we will widen our map with a new country again but for now let's ta

We rarely cover watches promoted on the crowdfunding source Kickstarter, but today we'll take a look at what I'd consider to be a very well executed retro racing inspired piece, the Straton Syncro. I think that what you'll see after reading this is that we are in a new era of flexible manufacturing and this allows for near limitless customization. Think of these micro brands as semi-analogous to c