Operation Deep Freeze And The Nivada Grenchen Antarctic
Nivada Grenchen is one of those “rebirthed watch brand” success stories. Today’s story, however, comes from the 1950s. First founded in 1926 in Granges, Switzerland, Nivada Grenchen went from strength to strength in the mid-20th century. Pioneering tough self-winding timepieces, Nivada Grenchen was one of the first companies to use the technology in 1930. Unfortunately, like so many other brands, the company went bust during the Quartz Crisis. Fast-forward to today, and it has been successfully revived.?One of the leading timepieces that Nivada Grenchen produced was the Antarctic, which debuted in 1950. It is also one of the brand’s leading model lines today, with mul...
Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Vs Omega Speedmaster Racing
Welcome to another edition of Sunday Morning Showdown! With the smell of fresh coffee filling the room, it’s time for a battle of chronographs - the Breitling Chronomat versus the Omega Speedmaster. More specifically, for this week’s battle, Jorg chose the Breitling Chronomat B01 42, and Thomas chose the Omega Speedmaster ’57. The first is an illustrious chronograph with roots in aviation, while the second is the modern version of the original Speedmaster from 1957. These two chronographs make for an interesting matchup on a Sunday morning. So grab a strong cup of coffee, and let’s get into it!Thomas and Jorg face off in this week’s showdown. Both men have selec...
New: The Oak & Oscar Atwood Wind Vintage Edition
When two of the most likable people in the watch industry collaborate on a watch, only good things can happen, right? With collaborations, success is never a guarantee, but the new Oak & Oscar Atwood Wind Vintage Edition is an absolute winner. The only complaint is that so few will be made.Here at Fratello, we’ve covered almost every release from Oak & Oscar, the Chicago-based independent brand celebrating its 10th anniversary. We’ve known Chase Fancher, the founder, since day one and have always been impressed with his passion for creating high-quality watches that exhibit design continuity. When you see an Oak & Oscar, you know it’s an Oak & Oscar. Eric Wi...
Up Close With Elvis Presley's Omega Watch
Elvis Presley was known to have a soft spot for nice watches. In 2018, Presley's Omega dress watch, made of white gold and with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel, was auctioned for US$1.8 million. The watch ended up in the Omega Museum in Biel, Switzerland.Elvis Presley’s Omega watchDuring my last visit to Omega in Biel, they took the Elvis Presley watch out of the display and let me wear it and observe it up close. But before I go into details about the Tiffany & Co.-signed Omega watch, let's dig into how it ended up with Elvis Presley.Now, I must admit, my knowledge about Elvis Presley is limited to what I have read about him on Wikipedia, a documentary I watched years ago, ...
New: Audemars Piguet's First-Semester Novelties For 2025
Do you like themed parties? I’m not a huge fan but, as they say, different strokes for different folks. Audemars Piguet celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and although such a monumental moment in the brand's history could well do without a theme, there is one. The theme “AP” picked and explored is ergonomics. It sounds boring, right? Wait until you see what the brand has in store. So, let's get this party started by introducing all of Audemars Piguet’s first-semester novelties, including a new ergonomically advanced perpetual calendar movement in the Royal Oak and Code 11.59 collection.The perpetual calendar is a complicated classic, and Audemars Piguet has m...
Fratello On Air: Myth-Busting Watch Influencers
We’re back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we’re in myth-busting mode. We’ve seen some silly things on social media, and it’s time to shed light on them. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 25 minutes....
Yema Introduces Its Superman Swiss Edition
We know Yema as an accessible French brand that offers fairly affordable watches. However, with the introduction of the company’s in-house Calibre Manufacture Morteau movements, its prices shifted upward a bit. To ensure that the watchmakers have enough time to work on the higher-end in-house movements and still offer watches at a more affordable price point, the company now shifts to Swiss-made Sellita movements for its entry-level mechanical watches. To mark this strategic turnaround, Yema introduces the Superman Swiss Edition in four colors.Before, Yema’s entry-level mechanical watches housed either a YEMA2000 or YEMA3000 automatic movement. The YEMA2000 was the brand’s ...
Omega DeVille Co-Axial
RogerCP (a TZ regular) wrote a nice review on the Omega DeVille Co-Axial GMT. It is a 18 karat ros?? gold version, but that’s not even the argument why I think it is ‘special’. The watch is only 35mm in size. That’s smaller than the average men’s modern wrist watch.Picture by RogerCPThe review is quite in-depth, not only on the movement (caliber 2628, which is based on the famous co-axial movement caliber 2500, which is based on ETA 2892-A2 again. Or did I forget to put the Omega caliber 1120 in there as well?), but also on the case, dial, hands, strap, deployant clasp and last but not least… the GMT watch as such (and links to some other GMT related artic...
Finally completed
Now that I think of it, it has been almost 8 years since I have this watch. And finally, completed! A few weeks back I noticed this reference 1039 bracelet for sale, which belongs to this type of Speedmaster. According to most sources that is, you are never sure with those vintage Omega watches. My watch left the Omega factory in 1968 (October 22nd to be exact) on a journey to Norway. The reference 1039 was used on this model in 1968 according to information by Omega. However, I have also seen them on earlier models as well. 1968 is also the year that the reference 1171 bracelet got introduced for its successor, the Speedmaster Pro with caliber 861 movement. Earlier models of the Speedmaster...
Omega Constellation Grand Luxe The MacDaddy Omega Of The 1950s
The Omega Constellation Grand Luxe is something really special. Omega introduced the Constellation in 1952, being more or less the successor of the Centenary watch that Omega introduced in 1948 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Biel watch factory. Already being the flagship of the Omega manufacture [because of the fine finish and chronometer movements], the Constellation came in several grades in the 1950s.The ultimate edition was the Constellation Grand Luxe, even one step above the Constellation Deluxe, available in all gold or platinum and with the famous brick bracelet. For those of you not very?familiar?with the vintage Constellation series: the brick bracelet was reintroduced b...
OMEGA Speedmaster A.C.P Ref.105.012 | Fratellowatches
Omega Museum in BienneIt’s Speedy Tuesday! Although we welcome any type of Speedmaster for this topic, today we have something really rare. No other than the OMEGA Museum in Bienne contributed this Speedmaster for this Speedy Tuesday. This Speedmaster ACP was in their museum archives and we had the opportunity to shoot some photos of it.Speedmaster ACP – Automovil Club PeruanoThe OMEGA Speedmaster ACP is a reference 105.012 Speedy that was delivered to the Automovil Club Peruano. A common misunderstanding is that ACP stands for Association of Chief of Police on these watches.The strange thing is, that the Speedmaster ref.105.012 goes back to 1963, together with the 105.003. The 1...
Omega Speedmaster 105.003 Back From The Watch Spa
It’s Speedy Tuesday! This week we have this wonderful Omega Speedmaster 105.003 from Georg from Germany and it just returned from the watch spa. He bought all of his watches between 1984 and 1987, merely because he liked the look of them. As this was definitely a period where mechanical watches were out-of-fashion, he was able to pick them up for unbelievable prices. At least for today’s standards. When mechanical watches tended to became a bit more main stream, when the first watch magazines popped up as well, he stopped buying them. It wasn’t until recently that he started checking details on his purchases from 20 years ago.One his 1980s purchases is this beautiful Omega ...
Seiko SilverWave 697990 Explained
Today's article is a lesson in watch esoterica: perhaps not for Seiko addicts, but I hope to bring some attention to what I think is a significant piece of the company's history. Recently, we featured an article about Seiko's first professional dive watch, the 62MAS. While I made it clear that this is the undisputable first of firsts, the question of lineage always exists. The simple question is, was there a progenitor to the 62MAS? Let's dive in and find out, but we won't dive too deeply as you'll soon see.While I wasn't alive, it doesn't take much reading or social awareness to realize that the mid 1960's were a time of tremendous transition. It seemed to be a period of transition away fro...
Hands-On Porsche Design Chronotimer Series 1 All Titanium Review
It was probably in 1997 or 1998 that I did an internship at this hospital for my Informatics study. There was a guy working there who had this stunning titanium watch on his wrists, a Porsche Design. I think it was one of the models done in partnership with IWC, but the memory doesn’t provide?any further details. I do know that he told me he got it for his graduation and longed for that specific watch for quite some time already. There was no further interest in watches I discovered, he just wanted to have that specific watch.Somehow, Porsche Design never reminded me about the Porsche cars, but merely about a well-designed and crafted lifestyle product, be it bags, glasses, pens or wat...
CREUX AUTOMATIQ GHOST SHADOW: CHANGING THE FACE OF SPORTS LUXE
Creux Automatiq has been going from strength to strength, the Aussie born, Swiss brand is proving to be a new force in the luxury watch industry.In late 2015 Creux Automatiq, a boutique watch company based in Sydney, Australia was born. They launched their first Swiss timepiece; the Ghost CA-01. The watch received glowing reviews from critics and industry all over the world. The design focus is avant garde, respective of the classics, but with an eye on the future of horology. Creux is now stocked in 17 different countries around the world.The Shadow and Gen II are the latest editions to GHOST series, these pieces boast a 10 atm water resistance, with a double anti glare coated sapphire crys...
Watches & Pencils #35 Tropical Dial
Since it is freezing cold out here I thought it was the right time to create something which does remind me of more sunny places: a tropical dial!Design versus NatureWe all love and hate certain things about a watch. When a brand launches a watch, every detail has been carefully designed (at least, let’s assume). Colors are an important aspect in this matter. Every brand wants to create the perfect watch and conserve it. But, the funny thing is, there is another player in the field: nature. Especially with vintage watches, some are partly formed by nature. Probably the most known?phenomenons are ‘patina’ and ‘tropical’ dials.What Is A Tropical Dial?When watch pr...
An Overview Of All Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI Models
rOmega has released Apollo XI editions of the Speedmaster since 1969. The first was the famous gold Speedmaster Professional with a burgundy bezel, a massive gold dial with onyx markers, and a gold bracelet. Only 1,014 of these watches were produced. Of them, a number were presented to the Apollo astronauts, President Nixon, and a few more important people who played a role in NASA’s space program.Again in 1980, Omega introduced a gold Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI. There were 320 numbered pieces in total, 20 of which were white gold. However, you could say that Omega made these Apollo XI limited editions a recurring event starting in 1989. That year marked the 20th anniversary of...
An Overview Of All Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI Models
rOmega has released Apollo XI editions of the Speedmaster since 1969. The first was the famous gold Speedmaster Professional with a burgundy bezel, a massive gold dial with onyx markers, and a gold bracelet. Only 1,014 of these watches were produced. Of them, a number were presented to the Apollo astronauts, President Nixon, and a few more important people who played a role in NASA’s space program.Again in 1980, Omega introduced a gold Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI. There were 320 numbered pieces in total, 20 of which were white gold. However, you could say that Omega made these Apollo XI limited editions a recurring event starting in 1989. That year marked the 20th anniversary of...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Eberhard Aviograf 31032
Wrist Game or Crying Shame soldiers on this week with a look at the Eberhard Aviograf 31032. We give you the opportunity to get naughty with this chronograph from the noughties. But first…I want to thank Rob for stepping in last week on Wrist Game while I stepped out onto the ocean blue. I’ll have you know that I spent a lot of time chatting with Isaac during my sojourn on the seas, but now I’m back! While I was off galavanting, Rob presented you with a real layup in the Datejust 16014.? You guys complain when we feature , but I’m calling that whining a case of peeing down my back and telling me it’s raining! Case in point, the DJ walked away with a storming 87...
Watch Strap Review 39 Genteel Handmade Straps
I started Watch Strap Review six years ago, soon after I joined Fratello.I felt that we talk about watches a lot (duh) but some of the accessories surrounding them often do not get enough attention. We featured your occasional watch winder or a roll here and there. However, I thought that the most important accessory a watch should have is a great quality leather strap. We can all agree on the fact that a strap can make or break the look of a watch. Pair your steel sports watch with a quality leather strap and it will soften the look. Perhaps even make it dressier. Attach a sports strap to it and eventually, the piece you previously only paired with formalwear might turn into a casual watch....