Hands-On: Hamilton Ventura Edge And Ventura XXL Bright Dune
For the release of the second movie of the Dune trilogy, Hamilton teamed up with Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures. At the special request of filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, the brand created a special “Desert Watch” featured in the movie. So, to celebrate the release of the Dune: Part Two and the brand’s part in it, Hamilton is now releasing the futuristic Hamilton Ventura Edge Dune and Ventura XXL Bright Dune. These two limited editions are inspired by the watch from the movie. They make for a remarkable duo that proves once more that Hamilton does big things as part of the movie industry.My first introduction to Dune dates back to the late 1990s when I became...
Dave's Best Watches Of 2023: Czapek, Behrens, Ulysse Nardin
A belated welcome to 2024. Now that the dust has settled and we’ve had time to reflect on last year, I wanted to look at my favorite releases from 2023. It was an excellent year for us watch collectors, at least in my opinion. I’ve heard a few people suggest that 2023 was a tamer year for new releases, but I couldn’t disagree more. In fact, last year saw brands release a slew of watches that were so good that this article practically wrote itself. I want to say it’s been tough to pick my best watches of 2023, but, to be honest, it hasn’t.The watches on this list have genuinely blown me away. Each one left me a little weak in the knees when I saw it for the first...
Fratello Talks: With Jer?me And Gabriel Of Serica Watches
In this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, we’re pleased to welcome special guests Jer?me Burgert and Gabriel Vachette, the men behind Serica watches. They join your host and Fratello’s managing editor Nacho Conde for a deep dive into the ever-classy French microbrand ahead of its fifth anniversary. They delve into the brand’s origins and evolution over the last few years and give you a small taste of things to come later this year. So, whether you’re a fan of the brand, have heard about it, or are curious to learn more, make sure to tune in and listen to the entire chat, which exceptionally pushes the boundaries of the short-form podcast. As always, let’s ...
New: Sinn U15, U16, And U18 Divers Made Of Submarine Steel
When it comes to Sinn, you know that any limited edition does not come without a special functionally inspired story behind it. It’s not in the brand’s nature to release a new LE “just because.” To celebrate its 20th anniversary of creating diving watches made of submarine steel, Sinn has come up with the new U15, U16, and U18 limited editions based on existing models. However, the use of stainless steel from decommissioned German U-boats makes these watches special. Let’s find out more!When I first saw the picture of the three new Sinn U-models, it was hard to tell the differences between them. Besides their case sizes, the watches look the same at first glance...
Titanium Versus Steel: Which Should You Get And Why?
Stainless steel is, alongside plastics, the most common material used for watch cases today. Indeed, stainless steel is the benchmark material that most of us enthusiasts will commonly encounter. That said, titanium has been steadily gaining traction as a watchmaking material, so today, I thought we should look at titanium versus steel and go through some of the pros and cons of each.Titanium was once considered a rare and cutting-edge material in watchmaking. In the 1970s, Citizen broke new ground by introducing the X8 series of quartz watches that featured titanium. Since then, many brands have introduced titanium watches, including IWC, Tudor, and Audemars Piguet. Citizen continues to off...
Ueber Bargain Found for 3200 Euro
If I didn’t already have one, I would seriously consider this IWC Ingenieur 3227-01 that is for sale over at Horloge Platform Nederland. This discontinued model was only in production for a short time, 2005 – 2008. IWC introduced this new Ingenieur model in 2005, to be a worthy successor of the original IWC Ingenieur SL model as designed by Gerald Genta in 1976/1977. Last year, I wrote an article on Genta’s classics and their current versions here on Fratellowatches (click here to read the article) and although I concluded that this revised Ingenieur is only influenced by its original design (unlike the almost unchanged Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak),...
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari Review
When the first Royal Oak was introduced in 1972, nobody could have guessed how popular the design would be in the 21st century. Based on that original design, Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore collection 20 years after the first Royal Oak. At least here in The Netherlands, the Royal Oak Offshore is very popular and in my humble opinion, it is one of the watches that caused the end of the hype around the stainless steel Daytona (given the fact that it is widely available again and that they are going for list price).However, given the fact that I am the proud owner of the Royal Oak model that comes closest to the original of 1972, how does this Offshore compare to its ancesto...
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar Review
When I was spending my holidays in Italy last summer, I couldn’t resist doing some watch window-shopping in Verona. I came across a big retailer that carried a lot of brands, including Omega. I noticed that they had a number of Speedmaster Professional watches on display, so I went inside and asked about them. When the salesman carried in a couple of trays with Omega watches, there was also a tray with Seamaster Aqua Terra watches. One of the watches from that particular tray that caught my attention was the PGA Golf edition: a beautiful, sleek looking watch with green accents on the dial featuring Omega’s caliber 8500 movement. I thought that this might be a perfect watch for ev...
Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve Indicator
The first Tourbillon in the new generation Big Bang line. Features a beautiful skeleton movement and an added practical power reserve indicator function on the dial side. “More horology, more expertise, more innovation, more fusion” such is the ethos that drives the Complications department at the Hublot Manufacture. Born of a desire to pursue the path to independence, which means Hublot must be able to design and produce its own movements for all of its product lines, the Big Bang, with its new case (unveiled in 2013), is now available with a tourbillon.Designed, developed and produced entirely by Hublot’s micro-mechanics, engineers and watchmakers, this proprietary moveme...
Speedy Tuesday Omega Speedmaster Pro Moonphase ST345.0809
About a month ago, during the annual SIHH exhibition in Geneva, Omega introduced a new Speedmaster with moonphase indicator. We wrote about that new caliber 9904 Speedmaster Moonphase here. Besides this new Speedmaster Moonphase Chronometer that will be shown in a few weeks from now in Basel, there is a Speedmaster Professional with Moonphase available as well. It has been in the collection non-stop?since 2003?actually (click here to see this watch on the official Omega website).That particular Speedmaster Professional has roots that go back to 1985. In that year, Omega introduced no less than 3 different Speedmaster Moonphase models. All three had this caliber 866 – Lemania based R...
#TBT Gallet Multichron 12HR "Torch Dial" A Lesson in Watch Restoration
On today's #TBT, we'll take a brief look at a seldom seen version of a watch we've covered in the past. The subject of today's post is the Gallet Multichron 12HR Torch Dial. It's a piece that I hemmed and hawed about covering because of its similarity to a piece we already featured, but it's a bit of a fan favorite with more than one reader asking for more info. I'll also start with a detour and provide a cautionary tale regarding the servicing of our dear vintage specimens.A Rough Gallet Multichron 12HRIt was sometime late in 2015 that I spied the Gallet Multichron 12HR in today's article. It was on eBay and it looked a heck of a lot of different than today. Namely, the watch did not work a...
Certified Pre-Owned Watches The Industry's Answer To Grey Market?
You have probably heard by now that a number of brands are going to offer certified pre-owned watches themselves. Business that was mainly in the hands of watch dealers (sometimes authorized dealers, but most of the time independent watch dealers) and being advertised using platforms such as Chrono24.Linde Werdelin was among the first to offer pre-owned watches themselves, but now Audemars Piguet and Breitling recently announced this new business as well, it was picked up by titles like Bloomberg and suddenly everyone is talking about it. But what does it mean, for the market and especially for you, as a consumer? Let's have a closer look.Two Reasons For Offering Certified Pre-Owned WatchesI...
Why I Bought This Grand Seiko SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate
Karina and RJ talk about the Grand Seiko SBGJ201, also known as the Mt. Iwate, due to the structure of the dial. A beautiful stainless steel 44GS case style Grand Seiko, with Hi-Beat GMT movement.The Grand Seiko SBGJ201 Mt. Iwate was not his first choice, as the Snowflake (reference SBGA211) also made quite the impression. The Snowflake turned out to be one of the best-selling Grand Seiko models. In this video, we talk about what made me pick the Mt. Iwate over the Snowflake.Grand Seiko SBGJ201Grand Seiko’s reference SBGJ201 has a diameter of 40mm and a thickness of 14mm. The relative thickness is partly due to the GMT complication on the movement. Inside, is caliber 9S86, a Hi-Beat au...
SpeedyTuesday: Hands-On With The Omega Speedmaster Sedna Gold
I have a weak spot for gold Speedmaster watches. According to some, a Speedmaster doesn’t belong in gold, it’s a tool watch after all. However, I find precious metal a great way to celebrate one of the most iconic chronographs in the world.My first encounter with a gold Speedmaster was in 1999 or so, as my watchmaker had one of the original BA145.022-69 watches. The gold Speedmaster from 1969 was presented to the Apollo astronauts and officials of the White House. We all know the story (if not, click here). Omega made 1,014 of them in total. In 2019, for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XI mission, Omega introduced 1,014 pieces of the Speedmaster Professional in Moonshine gold....
Would You Gamble Your Watch Collection For A Single Grail?
Picture this; you're clutching four aces in a game of Texas hold em poker. It's down to you and a single opponent with all other players either folding or busting out. The only possible hand that could trump you at this point is a straight flush. Your chips are low, and it's all on the table, but your opponent has just pushed. It is not with more chips, but their wristwatch, which they remove from their wrist and gently slide to the middle. It just so happens this is your grail watch, the unicorn, the one that's hard to find, let alone purchase.Your eyes flicker from your hand to the table. You don't have enough chips to match the bet, but you also don't want to split the pot. It's too late ...
Two For Tuesday: Grand Seiko White Birch Vs. Snowflake
We’re back with a look at two Grand Seiko watches. One happens to be brand new, but it’s already gaining loads of attention. Does the new Grand Seiko White Birch have what it takes to dethrone the Snowflake in a battle of textured white dials?Over the last ten years, Grand Seiko has transformed itself from an eccentric JDM media darling into a legitimate global player. For certain, the brand no longer requires the “ooh-ing” and “aah-ing” of journalists and collectors to sell itself to the greater public. With a mix of models that draw upon past designs intermixed with a number of modern pieces, Grand Seiko has a lot to offer. Still, out of the entire lineu...
The Best James Bond Watches Of Roger Moore's Era
English actor?Roger Moore?took over Sean Connery's role as 007 in the 1973 movie Live and Let Die. The year after, he appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun, and five other Bond movies starring Moore followed - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only?(1981), Octopussy (1983), and A View to a Kill (1985). Moore (1927-2017) was the oldest Bond; he was 45 when he played 007 for the first time and retired at the age of 58. Moore portrayed Bond with humor… and a Submariner 5513. Seiko also had a strong presence in the 1980s Bond movies. Let’s have a look at the James Bond watches of Roger Moore's era.Who is your favorite Bond? Sean Connery? Daniel Craig? Bo...
URWERK Drops The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey
When URWERK released the UR-112 at the tail end of 2021, I was predictably in love. It was a completely new member of the URWERK fold, but here we had something totally new, yet still quintessentially URWERK. Now, the Swiss masters of the Avant-Garde have released the second iteration of the UR-112 with the new UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey.For a brand that has created its identity around futuristic mechanical time-telling sculptures, the UR-112 Aggregat was something I was not expecting. It was so clinical and perfectly executed. There was no hint of the playfulness that we see in some of the brand’s other models, but I liked that. URWERK intended to make a statement, and it had done just t...
Moonphase Dive Watches: Rarities From Blancpain, Oris, And More
A dive watch does a lot. It’s a tool for a safe dive in lieu of (or in combination with) a dive computer. It’s becoming an acceptable GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything) in modern culture. And, of course, dive watches capture an aesthetic and serve as robust companions for all of us non-divers. But of all the dive watches with all the additional complications possible, there are hardly any that have a moonphase indication. The Oris Aquis Dat Watt Limited Edition and Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Quantime Complet Phases de Lune show the phases of the Moon within the confines of a unidirectional diver’s bezel. The Panerai L’Astronomo “Luminor 1950 Tourb...
Starting a Watch Collection With $10K: Nacho's Top Three Picks
It’s is a hypothetical question for most of us, but it’s one you’ve asked us often, so we decided to take a stab at answering it. Given $10,000, which three watches would you pick to start a watch collection today? Now, all of our editors already have a “watch collection” of sorts, and (perhaps because of that) most of us don’t have $10K burning a hole in our pockets right now. However, it still makes for an interesting exercise, as there are so many watches out there today that offer a ton of value. Picking just three watches that, together, come in under the price limit is not as easy as you might think, but each of our editors will take their best shot!...