This might not come as a surprise, but my enthusiasm for watches is very real, even if it gets me in trouble occasionally. You might have read my story on how to consolidate a collection, and yes, that was an autobiographical tale. This is not the New York Times, so I am allowed to have a slightly colored, subjective viewpoint. I do try to put myself in other watch buyers' shoes though, as a watch

King Seiko is back on the minds of watch buyers once again. With the recently announced King Seiko Collection, I hear more and more folks talking about vintage references from this sub-line that first existed from 1961 to 1975. Let’s spend a few minutes on King Seiko, go over some do’s and don’ts, and talk about why they’re worth collecting (for some people). I’ll als

Last month’s Fratello REM strap for the Speedmaster (the Lunar Lander) was a huge success and received an incredible amount of interest. Today, we introduce to you our second collaboration, which is based on the Apollo 15 mission. However, you don’t need a Speedmaster Apollo 15 limited-edition watch. This strap will fit any Moonwatch with a 20mm lug spacing. We also took your feedback

Ah, Christopher Ward - the British brand that Fratello has written more than 15 articles about, highlighting the brand's unbeatable quality/value ratio. Each article highlighted something good that the brand did, and it seems the team behind it is not about to stop. Each new release seems to be more unique, intriguing, and better specced than the previous one. Either that or it espouses a differen

Almost all watch enthusiasts out there have their own history with Seiko. For many, a Seiko was even their first watch or at least their first diver. Others might be more into vintage Seiko. And what we noticed in the Fratello office is that almost every single one of us owns one Seiko watch or more. That’s why we decided to start this new series on our very own Seiko stories. We’d lik

It’s been only a few weeks since I reviewed the Casio G-Shock GM-2100C Utility Series. I was highly impressed by the presence of the brand’s different “CasiOak” models in combination with the straps that they come on. The versatility in the look of the four watches was a nice surprise, and seeing and wearing the full steel-colored GM-B2100D-1AER made me want one. But we mig

It’s probably been five years since I first went hands-on with one of Carl Suchy & Sohne’s watches. It was a memorable experience because the watches struck me as modern yet somehow traditional. On the Waltz N1, classic dial elements came together with a unique seconds display and an elegant, contemporary case. When the press release for today’s Waltz N1 Moll arrived in my

It’s hard to believe the 2024 Formula 1 season kicks off next month. Coincidentally, we have 24 races to look forward to this year. The preseason build-up has already witnessed surprising changes in team lineups. Affectionately known as “silly season,” these driver swaps do not go into effect until post-season. For now, we can enjoy the anticipation of what these 24 races can bri

This question has an affirmative answer, and this baller PRX even makes me forget my preference for the 35mm models. Yes, it might be that good, with just the right glitz in an already accomplished package. Is the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Damian Lillard Special Edition the start of the brand showing us a new side to its hit watch?I’ve had a PRX, the 40mm quartz version, and we all remember t

Finding your favorites in a single model range can be challenging, especially with an extensive collection like the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M. The latest generation of Omega’s popular diver has been around since 2018. Ever since then, we have seen the brand add models to the lineup with different colors and especially different materials. One is the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Ceramic,

Another Friday, another list! This week and next, I will be putting the spotlight on Zenith. To be a bit more specific, for this week, I picked my top five modern Zenith watches. Next week, I will put the spotlight on some of the brand’s best vintage models. These are somewhat self-indulgent lists because I love Zenith. The combination of great heritage and tradition, amazing watchmaking ski

Nomos released the original Club Campus in 2017. The watches are inspired by the age-old tradition of purchasing or receiving a mechanical watch to symbolize a significant event or achievement. The German brand even offers to engrave the bare case back as part of the sale. Today, two new colorways, Starlight and Night Sky, join the collection, giving more choice to celebrators.I have a soft spot f

In a world where dive watches increasingly serve as crossovers between daily timepieces and backups for dive computers, Sinn doubles down on hardcore tool divers. The press materials for the new Sinn 613 St and 613 St UTC read like a very serious proposition for a clientele wielding underwater welding equipment rather than a snorkel and a ticket to the tropics. But hey, Sinn is all business, and w

What's better than steel? You don't know how to answer that? I get it. Let me answer the question myself. Bronze is better, and the Bremont Terra Nova Bronze collection proves me right since it outshines the initial steel models introduced last year. And do you know what's better than plain old bronze? CuAl7Si2 is. This is the high-strength cupro-aluminum alloy Bremont uses to create cases and bra

Praesidus has quickly become the go-to brand for military-inspired watches. The company specializes in creating timepieces that recall historical military stories from different eras. On top of that, Praesidus offers incredible value for money. As a result, its watches have become popular storytellers and are hugely appreciated among fans. Last year’s D-Day 80th Commemoration series told one

Giuseppe Bonanno (January 18, 1905 ????? May 12, 2002), better known as Joseph Bonanno, was a Sicilian-born American organized crime figure who became the boss of the Bonanno crime family in 1931 until his retirement in 1968. Joseph Bonanno was instrumental in forming The Mafia Commission, which was designed to oversee all Mafia activities in the U.S. and serve to resolve conflicts between the

The First Chronograph ChronometerIn 1973, the people over at Omega decided to celebrate their 125th anniversary with something HUGE. The first automatic winding chronograph with a chronometer certificate. And not only that, the watch itself was also HUGE. Even for today’s standards, this chronograph chronometer watch is a massive piece of stainless steel. However, compared to today’s a

There is no such thing as a Grail when it comes to collecting watches. As soon as you think you’ve found one, the next Grail is arising. However, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is the Grail for many watch enthusiasts out there, especially those with a weak spot for Gerald Genta designs. One of our readers belongs to that category, and showed us his Patek Philipe Nautilus 3700/1A. After having h

Did you ever wonder what goes into the construction of a watch case and in particular a watch case made of high tech materials like carbon fiber? We got deeper insights into the Hublot carbon case manufacturing workshop in Gland, Switzerland to find out. We will follow the fabrication of one of the parts of the watch case from its arrival as a raw form, through its cutting, polishing and final ass

The front side of a watch gets lots of attention in general. Often more than the caseback, so I've decided to write an article dedicated to casebacks and their designs. Besides some nice and extravagant examples, I will discuss some general facts and my personal way of analyzing and categorizing case backs. So please, sit back and relax.General introduction and layoutThe back of a watch, often ref